Best Standard class seating.

[TimboM]

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

Yes, Pendolino operated. The RTT link to this week's is below - per the details it's Class 390 EMU operated "Standard Class only".

I ended up on it once unbeknown to me. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of this 'special' train and was already settled in Standard when they announced it was a Declassified service (presumably to keep people out of First if they can help it...?). I'll know for next time, if there is a next time.

Thing is whilst you can sit in First, it's usually pretty full at 1857 out of London heading to Manchester on a Friday - and you don't get any of the 'freebies' so not exactly a First Class experience other than the bigger/nicer seats.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P51737/2017/03/03/advanced

 

[Bletchleyite]

Announcing a service as declassified is not intending to keep people out of 1st - quite the opposite - it's to encourage them to use it (and to suggest 1st passengers get off and use a train on which they will receive the full service).

 

[TimboM]

Announcing a service as declassified is not intending to keep people out of 1st - quite the opposite - it's to encourage them to use it (and to suggest 1st passengers get off and use a train on which they will receive the full service).

I probably wasn't clear. On the service I was on (departing Euston), they waited until Standard was full before putting over the tannoy it was declassified. So they did encourage people into First once Standard was full, but for the 10-15 mins or so I sat there as the train filled up, there was no mention of it. Could simply have been when the Train Manager got through other duties and round to it, or a whole host of other reasons, but wasn't exactly advertised heavily from the start of boarding.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I probably wasn't clear. On the service I was on (departing Euston), they waited until Standard was full before putting over the tannoy it was declassified. So they did encourage people into First once Standard was full, but for the 10-15 mins or so I sat there as the train filled up, there was no mention of it. Could simply have been when the Train Manager got through other duties and round to it, or a whole host of other reasons, but wasn't exactly advertised heavily from the start of boarding.

Usual practice when declassifying due to overcrowding is to wait for departure so that First Class ticketholders get first pick of the seats - certainly this is how LM almost universally do it. The other way round and the First Class seats would be gone first.

Of course that wasn't necessary here, but it could have been force of habit.

 

[TimboM]

Usual practice when declassifying due to overcrowding is to wait for departure so that First Class ticketholders get first pick of the seats - certainly this is how LM almost universally do it. The other way round and the First Class seats would be gone first.

Of course that wasn't necessary here, but it could have been force of habit.

Could well be. Logically, you can't book a First (Advanced) seat on this service. So it would be walk-up First passengers only - and if they were there's a 'normal' service to Manchester that goes 3 minutes later, so you'd be better off on that one with 'proper' First . That said, the 19:00 is probably pretty rammed too, and quite a few won't know all these intricacies and will just see the next train to Manchester (this one leaves first) - so maybe there is still an element of trying to ensure those with First tickets (and have arrived in good time for the train) have got a seat in "First" before announcing.

 

[shaun]

FGW HST seats. I've been on most rolling stock old and new across the UK and none of them are as comfy as those. Very roomy and plenty of legroom. Also really like the drop down tables.

 

[Adsy125]

For me it's the 444 seats, they're comfortable on both long distance and short distance services. Does anyone know what seats they are and who makes them?

 

[185143]

GTR Southern 377s.

Runs away very very quickly!

(Thankfully I'm not serious...)

 

[sk688]

Chiltern 168s

Dont mind LM 350s either , and S8 Stock Seats are comfortable too ( the facing ones )

GTR 365 1st is not too bad

I actually like the Ironing Board seats on 377s ( Southern MKC trains ) and 387s

 

[superalbs]

For me it's the 444 seats, they're comfortable on both long distance and short distance services. Does anyone know what seats they are and who makes them?

They're the great Grammer E3000, straight out of Deutschland.
http://www.grammer.co.uk/E3000.html

 

[dk1]

Anything other than the drivers seat will do me. Get sick to death of sitting in them

 

[Master29]

Have not yet tried the new VTEC refurbishments so can`t really comment. Hoping for a KGX - INV trip later this year for the sake of it. As they have a 6 month booking window may be that`s something to start thinking about.

 

[Master29]

Anything other than the drivers seat will do me. Get sick to death of sitting in them

Ironic as you have the seat most of us would really want.

 

[cjmillsnun]

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.

The original NSE/SWT standard 442 seat was lovely. A great shame that SN ripped them out for GatEx.

 

[dk1]

Ironic as you have the seat most of us would really want.

It's overrated mate believe me.

 

[Master29]

It's overrated mate believe me.

Not from the point of view watching rail cab rides on YouTube or DVD`s but as I`m not a driver sitting with a cuppa in one hand and the controller on the other I`d guess it isn`t quite the same in reality. In the mind of someone who saw being a train driver as the holy grail as a kid for you it must be like Christmas every day. You`d soon lose that magic.

 

[Kite159]

GTR Southern 377s.

Runs away very very quickly!

(Thankfully I'm not serious...)

It depends which sub-class of 377, the seats on the low density batch (101-116?) are quite nice

 

[Bevan Price]

Unable to comment about recent stock on "southern electric" system, "Up north", Class 175 are easily the best in my opinion, followed by Chiltern 168s. Chiltern hauled stock not bad, but rather spoiled by the armrests. However none of these compare well to the 4-COR emus or Bulleid hauled stock, with their wide, very-well padded seats. Some Hawksworth (GWR) stock was also OK.

Comfort has steadily declined since then, with narrower seats and less "padding"..

 

[sarahj]

GTR Southern 377s.

Runs away very very quickly!

(Thankfully I'm not serious...)

They could be worse. If you pick the right seat and get a double to yourself, they are ok for the 1-2 hour mark. If you want to find a naff seat, the tiny tip up seat in the back of a 313, but thats for staff only. But after being on one for over 5 hours tonight, it's better than standing

 

[387star]

They could be worse. If you pick the right seat and get a double to yourself, they are ok for the 1-2 hour mark. If you want to find a naff seat, the tiny tip up seat in the back of a 313, but thats for staff only. But after being on one for over 5 hours tonight, it's better than standing

Annoying how,the velcro on the seat covers is often on show

The seats are fine except the high density stuff in the middle when overcrowded

 

[DarloRich]

EDIT - the best standard class seat is surely the GC standard class carriage that has been declassified

 

[Bletchleyite]

EDIT - the best standard class seat is surely the GC standard class carriage that has been declassified

Been on that one, comfortable though it was quite scruffy.

 

[physics34]

Unable to comment about recent stock on "southern electric" system, "Up north", Class 175 are easily the best in my opinion, followed by Chiltern 168s. Chiltern hauled stock not bad, but rather spoiled by the armrests. However none of these compare well to the 4-COR emus or Bulleid hauled stock, with their wide, very-well padded seats. Some Hawksworth (GWR) stock was also OK.

Comfort has steadily declined since then, with narrower seats and less "padding"..

Remember its not just less padding its removal of springs too. Now your back gets all the impact from poor suspension

 

[Bletchleyite]

Remember its not just less padding its removal of springs too. Now your back gets all the impact from poor suspension

Fix that, then. The Class 158, unsurpassed in ride quality for a relatively lightweight unit, proves it can be done. Siemens are particularly bad at it, while the Mk4 might as well be cart-sprung. Will be interesting to see how good CAF and Stadler's units are.

 

[Clansman]

If the sleeper seated coach counts then I think nothing else could beat it.

 

[yorksrob]

EDIT - the best standard class seat is surely the GC standard class carriage that has been declassified

Shhhh, don't tell everyone !

 

[Great_Western]

Another vote for GWR HST's from me. They have by far the nicest interior of any UK rolling stock, unlike anything else you can have a 2/3/4 hour journey on one and feel just as fresh getting off as you did getting on. Honourable mentions the other grammar type seat in 350/444/450's, ATW 175's, SWT 458's and the origional 158 seats (these have the nicest bases, but legroom can let them down). Dont understand the obsession with IC70's, They're tollerable but average at best

 

[ChilternTurbo]

I'll also sing the praises of the GWR standard class seating. I'm pleased that the refurbishment has done away with the First Group fetish for magenta and mauve.
I also like the Chiltern 168s which I find far more comfortable than the low slung seats in their Mk.3 sets.

 

[43096]

Another vote for GWR HST's from me. They have by far the nicest interior of any UK rolling stock, unlike anything else you can have a 2/3/4 hour journey on one and feel just as fresh getting off as you did getting on. Honourable mentions the other grammar type seat in 350/444/450's, ATW 175's, SWT 458's and the origional 158 seats (these have the nicest bases, but legroom can let them down). Dont understand the obsession with IC70's, They're tollerable but average at best

I don't understand the liking for GWR's HST seat layout. The Grammer seats are fine, but the layout of virtually all "airline" style is absolutely atrocious - far too claustrophobic. It just says to me that GW is all about Swindon-Didcot-Reading-London commuters, to the exclusion of any other market GW serve.

It will be interesting to see what the layout is on the GW 2+4 sets for regional duties.

 

[Bevan Price]

Remember its not just less padding its removal of springs too. Now your back gets all the impact from poor suspension

The 4COR sets were a bit "bouncy", but Bulleid hauled stock gave very comfortable rides, as did most GWR Hawksworth stock.