Best Standard class seating.

[Master29]

I can`t seem to find if this has been covered or not but as the title itself says.

I would have to say GWR HST`s. Always comfortable and quite roomy in comparison to other TOC`s. I like SWT`s 159`s as well. SE`s 395`s. GC and EMT HST`s all comfortable too. Only my opinions though.

 

[Bromley boy]

HSTs and 442s clinch it for me.

 

[DasLunatic]

Simple - the IC70s on GA's MkIIIs - deep and well padded

 

[Mag_seven]

I would have to say GWR HST`s. Always comfortable and quite roomy in comparison to other TOC`s

Really - you obviously have never traveled on BR Western Region HST's then?

 

[Clansman]

Regional:
Scotrail Class 170 seats are probably my favourite; probably the widest base of any standard class seat, and a great pitch. Although I preferred Scotrail's ex-Hull Trains ones slightly more since they had the nets behind them for newspapers and magazines, although the seat design is exactly the same.
Never tried XC or Chiltern (they use the same seats before anyone bites), but London Midland ones look a bit cramped going by photos.

Suburban:
Class 334s and 460s ones are probably my favourite - with a good amount of padding and covered armrests, as well as tables on the back of the seats, something you don't see on most older suburban stock such as Mk3 electrics and PEPs.

Intercity:
HST/225 - Mallard style seat which Virgin recently refurbished - find them quite comfortable although my only complaint would be that the seats are poorly drilled into the floor and tend to shake when moving around.

 

[swt class 450]

The Gatwick Express class 460 trains had some excellent comfortable well designed seats in Standard Class.

 

[Intercity 225]

Northern 158s - specifically the ones with the deep seat cushions.

 

[JaJaWa]

EMT Meridians - I find winged headrests make my journey many times more comfortable and it confuses me why more operators don't provide these.

 

[D6975]

I rode on a 317 last year that had some very nice standard class seats, but I'm pretty sure that they were first class that had been declassified.

 

[DarloRich]

Virgin East Coast. end of discussion.

 

[superalbs]

Pre-refurb SWT Class 158/Class 159. Standard class is better than first if you ignore the curtains and plug sockets of first. :P

The Turbostar seats (both variants) are quite nice, as is declassified first (if that counts) on Class 165/Class 166, and Class 319.

 

[yorksrob]

Pre-refurb SWT Class 158/Class 159. Standard class is better than first if you ignore the curtains and plug sockets of first. :P

The Turbostar seats (both variants) are quite nice, as is declassified first (if that counts) on Class 165/Class 166, and Class 319.

I agree with your point about standard seating being preferable to first on 159's. Actually, has anyone got a pic of the refurbished 159 interior ? I'd like to see if it looks worse.

 

[Mikey C]

I rode on a 317 last year that had some very nice standard class seats, but I'm pretty sure that they were first class that had been declassified.

My favourite standard class seats would be the declassified first class seats on Chiltern 165s, they feel like armchairs when compared to the normal Networker style seating!

 

[superalbs]

I agree with your point about standard seating being preferable to first on 159's. Actually, has anyone got a pic of the refurbished 159 interior ? I'd like to see if it looks worse.

New cushions in the seats, but same seats otherwise. Hoping they will soften out though, very hard at the moment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Virgin East Coast. end of discussion.

I've not tried post-refurb, but pre-refurb the single-piece cushions gave me serious back pain due to not supporting my back and under my thighs properly.

I'm going to vote for the GWR "tombstones" myself. As a taller passenger, it's nice to have a headrest on which I can rest my head. I also like these where used elsewhere, e.g. the ScotRail Inverness 158s (all of them in future). They just look good, too, projecting an image of high comfort compared with, say, the ironing board seats you get elsewhere. I like headrest "wings", but not when they are too low down and hit the backs of my shoulders, as the Mk2 ones and those used on most Turbostars do.

As for IC70s, there is only one thing to do with them - scrap. They might be comfortable for shorter, lighter built passengers (I don't mind the first class version), but for a heavily built and slightly podgy over-6-footer they are awful in every possible way. Though to be fair, where the IC70 cushion was used in the Mk2 shell without a centre armrest those were OKish.

Other honourable mention: the 2+2 Desiro seating, which also has small "wings" - ish. Hard but supportive and exactly the right shape for me.

Dishonourable mention: any 3+2. Disappointing that Abellio East Anglia are still talking about it in the new Aventras when every other TOC seems sensibly to have abandoned it, with LM having stated they regretted it on the 350/2s and said, and having stuck to it, that there would be no more.

 

[Bletchleyite]

HSTs and 442s clinch it for me.

The original 442 seat (how quickly they crept in!) is much better than the IC70, I wish they'd installed those in Mk3s instead.

Indeed, the 442 is basically the Mk3 with most problems (rubbish seats, slamming back and forth vestibule doors, slamdoors, excessively bright lighting) fixed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Northern 158s - specifically the ones with the deep seat cushions.

Actually the original 158 seat is quite good, if a little low to the floor - though because of that the spacing is way too tight (and if you space them out more then you lose the 100% window alignment of the originals). So for a 158 I would prefer a thinner backed more upright seat that allows window alignment to be maintained.

 

[47271]

Agree with the comments on Juniper Standard Class seats, both on 334s and the late lamented Gatwick Express 460s. I'm quite tall and hefty so I don't like airline style seats for legroom and both types are (or were) nicely free of them.

Likewise Scotrail and Chiltern Turbostars.

I'm fine with the Grammer seats on GWR HSTs but feel very hemmed in by them on Scotrail 158s.

Aside from the obvious stinkers like Pacers, I don't get on with Standard Class in 185s or Transpennine 350s. Not enough legroom and am I the only person who thinks 185 Standard Class tables are too high?

And yes, SWT 159s - I'd sooner cover hundreds of miles in a 159 Standard table seat than in a VTEC airline for example.

 

[yorksrob]

New cushions in the seats, but same seats otherwise. Hoping they will soften out though, very hard at the moment.

At least they are the right shape then

I'm reminded of the 4CEP refurb. Similar to IC70 seating but very, very hard. They never did soften out !

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agree with the comments on Juniper Standard Class seats, both on 334s and the late lamented Gatwick Express 460s. I'm quite tall and hefty so I don't like airline style seats for legroom and both types are (or were) nicely free of them.

I'm tall, and funnily enough I do like airline seats as I'd rather not play kneesie with other passengers. But only at a good spacing. The ones in the vehicle ends in 350s (both priority and non) are about perfect for me, and perfectly window aligned too. The cab end table seat in a 350/1 is the real prize due to its generous spacing

Aside from the obvious stinkers like Pacers, I don't get on with Standard Class in 185s or Transpennine 350s. Not enough legroom and am I the only person who thinks 185 Standard Class tables are too high?

Spacing in 185s is quite good though it's all tables. In 350s as noted above try the seats in the end sections of the coaches - the centre section is too tight and could do with a row taking out (which would have the added benefit of fixing the window alignment too).

 

[rebmcr]

TPE's 350/4s. Took a 4 hour journey on one last year and never ached once! Usually that sets in after 2 hours or so.

 

[DarloRich]

i also like the 350's except the 350/2 on long distance services. MKC - Stoke/Crewe is a LONG way on such a train!

 

[Bletchleyite]

i also like the 350's except the 350/2 on long distance services. MKC - Stoke/Crewe is a LONG way on such a train!

Ironically those trains carry a large proportion of families and groups who do actually like the bays of six.

 

[TimboM]

I'll whisper it quietly, but I'd suggest the Virgin Voyagers...

...but before you march me outside, not the normal cramped Standard Class, but 'Coach D' (or the one next to First with the shop in). Is used occasionally as a First coach on some Chester/Holyhead services, but mostly is used as Standard.

2+2 tables throughout, all with sockets etc., plenty of room, quite often doesn't have a lot of reserved seats in it and if you're lucky still has the free Wifi switched on too. And the shop immediately on hand if you like expensive soggy bacon butties.

 

[DarloRich]

Ironically those trains carry a large proportion of families and groups who do actually like the bays of six.

agreed - although they are still not great on a long jounry

 

[westv]

VTEC normal seats are rubbish
VTEC's EMT stock is better but the non folding arms are a right pain.
Hull Trains stock is better but the inability to select a specific seat is a right pain.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Northern 158s - specifically the ones with the deep seat cushions.

If you mean the ones in the unrefurbished centre cars, I'm with you. The refurbished ones are nice and firm too. For short journeys (and this will be controversial!) I quite like the "car seat" ones in the Northern Spirit refurbished 142s. They were horrible when new and kept falling apart, but when Northern refreshed them a few years back they solved those issues for the most part.

 

[Bletchleyite]

...but before you march me outside, not the normal cramped Standard Class, but 'Coach D' (or the one next to First with the shop in). Is used occasionally as a First coach on some Chester/Holyhead services, but mostly is used as Standard.

There is one set with two of those in. Nice when it turns up!

They have now been converted to Standard by replacing the seat covers with red and dark blue, and using slightly lower profile foam on the bases (which I welcome as I have big legs which were catching the bottom of the table with the thicker foams). But the layout has not changed - and is very popular. Think I'd rather a few more airline seats at a similarly generous spacing and full window alignment myself, though. They are no longer used for First Class.

 

[TimboM]

There is one set with two of those in. Nice when it turns up!

They have now been converted to Standard by replacing the seat covers with red and dark blue, and using slightly lower profile foam on the bases (which I welcome as I have big legs which were catching the bottom of the table with the thicker foams). But the layout has not changed - and is very popular. Think I'd rather a few more airline seats at a similarly generous spacing and full window alignment myself, though. They are no longer used for First Class.

Not been on one for a little while - used to get one on the first train up from the NW to Glasgow in the morning. Coach D always a good bet.

On a separate note, I'm assuming we're not allowing the First Class carriages on the Declassified 'extra' Pendolinos to Manchester that run on a Thursday (and Friday?) evenings

 

[Bletchleyite]

If they are still declassified, I don't see why not. Are those actually Pendolinos? I thought they were Voyager operated.