Favourite seats

[johnr57]

The thread

LNER - First Class unreserved seats

I don't know if this is the right place to post (apologies) I have booked a group of 4 of us to go from Edinburgh to Kings Cross next month, the seat generator has given us a table in Coach M, but having looked on the website, is this an unreserved coach? There are other tables in Coach K &...

www.railforums.co.uk

Around seat reservations in LNER first class got me thinking about my favourite seats and wondered around others thoughts on this important aspect.

On LNER, Azuma it’s L26 or L27 ax I usually travel alone , great window view and most of the time fairly private. This is definitely second to :-

The similar seats on the 225 mallard sets , masses of room , mk4 comfort L27 or L29 , I have no preference as to forward or rear facing

When I was a lad the seats just behind the driver on TransPennine DMU were just a delight, great visibility forwards and watching the driver do his stuff !

 

[Russel]

I like the pair of airline seats in coach A on a Pendolino half way down the carriage behind the luggage rack with it's own little table, if the luggage rack is empty it's great for leg room.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The single seat in a HST TGS was always popular with commuters.

 

[Russel]

The single seat in a HST TGS was always popular with commuters.

I'd forgotten about that one!

 

[Bald Rick]

LNER, M6 northbound, M7 southbound. (‘The Staff Room’)

Avanti, 390, J08 northbound, J11 southbound.

 

[43096]

The single seat in a HST TGS was always popular with commuters.

Seat A47 from memory.

The single seat in an HST TRFB is also rather nice.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

For me, forward facing full window seat with full view, airline style ideally or in a bay with no table.

Whether right or left hand side depends on the route and what's visible on which side.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I like the pair of airline seats in coach A on a Pendolino half way down the carriage behind the luggage rack with it's own little table, if the luggage rack is empty it's great for leg room.

In A I prefer the very end, full window view and extra legroom, never used as a priority seat as it's too far from the door, and plenty of luggage space behind the "reserved cyclist" rows opposite. Also the lighting is subdued as it's past the end of the tubes, it's only lit by a single spot. I forget the number though.

On the 730/2s I've found two extra legroom window aligned rows by the small bogs. There's one facing each way, coach 2 from the front faces forwards, coach 4 from the front faces backwards (fairly sure it's that way round anyway!). I prefer the Standard seats over the Sophias in "first" else I'd sit there. They don't seem very popular so I have a good record of getting that row, if I pick the backwards facing one getting it to myself is fairly likely. All other Standard extra legroom rows lack a full window view.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I like the pair of airline seats in coach A on a Pendolino half way down the carriage behind the luggage rack with it's own little table, if the luggage rack is empty it's great for leg room.

Absolutely.
A21 and A28 sat as my favourite seats before I started taking spotting seriously (most of my videos are voice notes so obviously can't do that in the quiet carriage).

Now I mostly use Coach D on Pendolinos, it's usually the quietest (second to G*, then U*, E, B, C, F).

* 11 car only

On 150s I usually take either the bike space where you can use the display frame as a kind of footrest, or one of the single seats by the toilet.
The bike spaces on 150s are inconsistent and I have not been keeping track of which have which type, some have benches like on Pacers (sideways).
I've noticed some 150/2s have single seats in the main area by the toilet rather than just to the side.

195/331s usually the table at the very front/back, with a bias towards the single seat.
Same for 196s and 197s although they lack the single seat.

158s a table well aligned without the openable window (usually towards the end of the carriage), alternatively a priority seat if all the tables are occupied first.

156s the table(s) just facing away from the pillar in the middle of the carriage, since if it's not too busy plenty of legroom (some seats have boxes under which inhibit legroom).

769s the ex-first class section with the 1+2 and better seats.

To be fair usually any declassified first class probably deserves a spot on this list.

 

[8ace]

On a 700/1, the rearmost seat in the declassified first class section, solo seat, table, window facing and right hand side of the train so you can see the traffic on the other line.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On a 700/1, the rearmost seat in the declassified first class section, solo seat, table, window facing and right hand side of the train so you can see the traffic on the other line.

I prefer Standard in 700s to be honest though I don't find any seats particularly good. The Fainsa supplied seats in 1st, while not actually Sophias, suffer the same metal bar problem as Sophias do and the cushions are very much starting to collapse.

 

[voyagerdude220]

On Avanti 221s I always aimed for coach E seat 40 when First was at the front, because I like a forward facing window seat and there wasn't anyone sat adjacent to you, unless a Wheelchair user was onboard. Also Avanti seemed to always leave this particular seat unreserved, whereas Cross Country do allow you to reserve it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On Avanti 221s I always aimed for coach E seat 40 when First was at the front, because I like a forward facing window seat and there wasn't anyone sat adjacent to you, unless a Wheelchair user was onboard. Also Avanti seemed to always leave this particular seat unreserved, whereas Cross Country do allow you to reserve it.

For 22x I just go for the end priority rows. Nowhere else has enough legroom though I still have to try a refurb, not come across one yet.

 

[8ace]

For me, forward facing full window seat with full view, airline style ideally or in a bay with no table.

Whether right or left hand side depends on the route and what's visible on which side.

This pretty much but with the caveat that I don't want the sun shining in my eyes if I've forgotten my shades.
Also for an extra special bonus a carriage with the pan up so you can hear the thud from the VCB at an OHNS

 

[8ace]

I prefer Standard in 700s to be honest though I don't find any seats particularly good. The Fainsa supplied seats in 1st, while not actually Sophias, suffer the same metal bar problem as Sophias do and the cushions are very much starting to collapse.

Ironing boards either way but at least you get armrests and a table in first.

 

[Russel]

In A I prefer the very end, full window view and extra legroom, never used as a priority seat as it's too far from the door, and plenty of luggage space behind the "reserved cyclist" rows opposite. Also the lighting is subdued as it's past the end of the tubes, it's only lit by a single spot. I forget the number though.

Not a bad shout, I'd forgotten about that row!

 

[bramling]

Not a bad shout, I'd forgotten about that row!

Definitely, the “Reserved Cyclist” seats are the nicest on the whole train. Used them many times when travelling with my Brompton - the space behind being just the perfect size for one as well. Not sure this is the intended use, but anyway…

 

[bramling]

On a 700/1, the rearmost seat in the declassified first class section, solo seat, table, window facing and right hand side of the train so you can see the traffic on the other line.

Yes the row adjacent to the cab bulkhead is probably the only seats on a 700 that actually offer a reasonable travelling experience. Though for “normals” as opposed to railway enthusiasts they’re probably not recommended as the ride is noticeably rougher here than elsewhere.

Sit here on a train where the driver has selected the standby lighting mode (dimmer than usual) and a 700 almost begins to become a pleasant experience.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This pretty much but with the caveat that I don't want the sun shining in my eyes if I've forgotten my shades.
Also for an extra special bonus a carriage with the pan up so you can hear the thud from the VCB at an OHNS

I forgot to mention that I also try to sit directly above the wheels whenever possible.

 

[yorkshirerail]

On 170453-457 which still have the old Scotrail first class interior the best seat is the single one at either end of the train

 

[D6130]

I forgot to mention that I also try to sit directly above the wheels whenever possible.

Having suffered for many years from ever-worsening back problems - directly related to driving class 141, 142 & 144 rail buses on jointed track - I actively try to avoid sitting directly above the bogies.... especially on anything 'built' by CAF.

 

[8ace]

I forgot to mention that I also try to sit directly above the wheels whenever possible.

Same - particularly ones with traction motors

 

[jamiestuart314]

Travelling on a 390, Coach G seat 67 (or any at that table seat area) is usually my go to, as usually I get on at Glasgow, and strangely nobody bothers using coach G (must be the fact its all the way down at the front usually) , bonus for it being right above the motors and wheels which usually drowns out most the noise if it does get busy further south. Just a shame its the crappy Transcal seats.

 

[citycat]

The single seat in a HST TGS was always popular with commuters.

It was my favorite seat too, but then I was the train guard.

More comfy than my seat in the TGS office and handy for when I had to get up to do pre arrival announcements and release the doors.

 

[boiledbeans2]

I forgot to mention that I also try to sit directly above the wheels whenever possible.

Same - particularly ones with traction motors

Yes, this is the right place for Electrics.

On diesels, the right place to sit is right in the middle of the carriage for maximum thrash.

 

[boiledbeans2]

[...]
Also for an extra special bonus a carriage with the pan up so you can hear the thud from the VCB at an OHNS

Yes, also Carriage 2 on a Class 700 when changing from AC to DC or vice-versa.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes, this is the right place for Electrics.

On diesels, the right place to sit is right in the middle of the carriage for maximum thrash.

In my case, it's more for the feel of the wheels - I can't say I notice much difference in the engine noise anywhere in a DMU carriage.