Best Standard class seating.

[Great_Western]

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.

Personally, I much prefer airline seating so that doesnt bother me much. Although I can see why someone would find it claustrophobic, I think the colurs sort of make it feel less so. Additionally, I think pendolino's and their ilk feel far more cramped and uncomfortable inside.

 

[shaun]

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.

Sitting airline is much more preferable to having foot space battles with the person opposite if you ask me. On the GWR HSTs there is so much legroom i find that they never really feel that claustrophobic. Especially not compared to a Pendolino or Voyager.

 

[Intercity 225]

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

If we're including these, I'd also like to nominate the very small compartment of permanently declassified First Class on the 158 that EMT inherited from SWT.

That has brilliant seats and legroom even when compared to many First Class carriages/compartments where you need to pay the premium to sit!

 

[43096]

Sitting airline is much more preferable to having foot space battles with the person opposite if you ask me. On the GWR HSTs there is so much legroom i find that they never really feel that claustrophobic. Especially not compared to a Pendolino or Voyager.

I'm not saying no airline seating (if I'm on my own I will usually sit in an airline seat, if I'm with others, I'd rather a bay) I'm saying the layout has gone too far in terms of taking bays of four out. They need a better mix.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm not saying no airline seating (if I'm on my own I will usually sit in an airline seat, if I'm with others, I'd rather a bay) I'm saying the layout has gone too far in terms of taking bays of four out. They need a better mix.

The original Class 158 layout of about half of each (about 8 tables in a typical 23m coach) is to me about right.

 

[westv]

Sitting airline is much more preferable to having foot space battles with the person opposite if you ask me.

i couldn't agree more.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It always depends who you're travelling with. When I'm on my own I love the individual airline seats in VTEC first class (as does everyone else...) but when I'm with t'missus it's nice to be able to sit opposite each other and chat. I prefer airline seats generally as I don't have to play footsie with whoever is sat opposite.

The most comfortable standard class seats are on Grand Central's HSTs (leaving aside the declassified one!). The IC70's fixed armrest is a bit annoying, but the legroom is wonderful.

The worst standard class seat is definitely the middle one in any set of three. I was going to nominate the seats on the 350/2. But then I remembered Northern have 3-abreast seating...airline style. It was going to be the seats in the 150/1s, but the Merseyrail 142 seating just edges it by giving you both no legroom and crippling back pain.

 

[Bletchleyite]

the Merseyrail 142 seating just edges it by giving you both no legroom and crippling back pain.

That was a fine exercise in how to spend lots of money making a rubbish train even more rubbish, was it not.

 

[All Line Rover]

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.

No, the reservable seats in first class are reserved for standard class ticket holders. The 18:57 is permanently declassified.

 

[bramling]

That was a fine exercise in how to spend lots of money making a rubbish train even more rubbish, was it not.

Yes the mind absolutely boggles with how anyone came up what that design.

These have to be the most uncomfortable trains on the network by some margin. Personally I find the bus-seated class 142s quite comfortable, so always disappointing when one of the Merseyrail ones turn up. Hopefully these might just be the first to go.