2+8 HST vs 2x Class 180 capacity

[adc82140]

Hi,

I'm a regular traveller on one of FGW's last Class 180 diagrams, being the 08:00 fast from Maidenhead to Paddington (originating Oxford). This is formed of 2x Class 180s. According to FGW's website, each 180 has a 282 seat capacity, making 564 seats available. This train is pretty much full on leaving Maidenhead, but not overcrowded- there is no vestibule standing needed. However I gather in December that the last 180s are going off lease. This means that this service will be replaced by a 2+8 HST, which again according to the website has a 472 seat capacity. This is a drop of nearly 100 seats.

I really don't think this has been thought through. This train is going to be seriously overcrowded come the New Year. I intend to bring this up at the next "Meet the Managers" session at Paddington. The following 08:04 fast is a 3 car 166, so is jammed even before Maidenhead

The question I'm asking you guys is whether the FGW website is accurate re: the HST capacity, or whether these are pre-refurb pre-HD figures (the picture adjacent is of a Barbie liveried power car, so that doesn't give me much confidence )

TIA,


ADC

 

[Jim]

Each standard coach has on average around 80seats. So we'll do 4 80's and a 50 (to cover loss of seats due to TSD/TGS makes 370. Add the FC of 23? Buffet and 48? FCx2 makes around 500.....

A: 50
B: 80
C: 80
D: 80
E: 80
F: 23
G: 48
H: 48

Total is 489. So lets say I've got too many seats and say 460 a HST...

 

[TEW]

That sounds about right, that certainly is a capacity drop, to be expected considering it is two less coaches.

 

[mumrar]

Although it is a capacity drop, what people have to grasp about busy commuter services is that operators can't run one 32 coach train just when everyone wants to travel. The cost in infrastructure etc would be ridiculous as well as the carriages lying dormant at quiet times.

Don't forget the tories got Beechings way, it's now a business on the railway not a service!

 

[devon_metro]

Each standard coach has on average around 80seats. So we'll do 4 80's and a 50 (to cover loss of seats due to TSD/TGS makes 370. Add the FC of 23? Buffet and 48? FCx2 makes around 500.....

A: 50
B: 80
C: 80
D: 80
E: 80
F: 23
G: 48
H: 48

Total is 489. So lets say I've got too many seats and say 460 a HST...

As I understood it.

A 74
B 86
C 86
D 86
E 80
F 23
G 48
H 48

Totalling 531

 

[adc82140]

As I understood it.

A 74
B 86
C 86
D 86
E 80
F 23
G 48
H 48

Totalling 531

Aha!! So FGW's website quotes pre refurb figures. Therefore a 2+8 High Density HST won't see that much of a capacity drop.

 

[devon_metro]

Aha!! So FGW's website quotes pre refurb figures. Therefore a 2+8 High Density HST won't see that much of a capacity drop.

Yes, FGW website figures are indeed old.