Class 165 Refurbishment

[ChrisEJ1993]

It would appear that the refurbishment of First great Western's class 165's (And 166's?) has began. In the following photo, you can see the newly re-done interior of 165120:

Thank you to John Gardner for the photo - Please do not re-post without permission from him.

What do you think of them then?

 

[devon_metro]

Doesn't look finished, still got the old PIS screens.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Yeah - I'm hoping they get rid of those - They take so long to show where the train is going! And even longer if you miss it, because they then waffle on about finding train times online etc.

 

[GospelOak117]

I like it in that it has kept the Networker feel, but I HATE First's colour scheme, pinks and purples on all their units is hideous, just looks like a cheap bus not a train.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I love the colour scheme personally :P

 

[Voyager 2093]

Once again First need to learn from Chiltern. However I do like this colour scheme but this is nothing compared to a Chiltern 165.

Doesn't look finished, still got the old PIS screens.

It is finished and I think 165109 is the other one that is also finished, this was mentioned nearly 2 months back.

 

[GospelOak117]

I love the colour scheme personally :P

Then again I love LO's new retro brown and orange interiors, and I seem to alone there lol

 

[387star]

Interesting photo depicts FCC Capital lines style motique. Presume the trains still in 'intercity' dynamic lines livery? Otherwise looks good and colours look good especially recent varients without the grading of external livery.

Presume where carpets exist (166s) they will be retained. They were set to gain new PIS I thought?

 

[MCR247]

I thought that was a separate thing

 

[Aictos]

I love the colour scheme personally :P

Same here, kind of remains me of home when I'm off my usual routes,

 

[Helvellyn]

So if it has gained a FCC style interior, is First Class finished off in in the brown/cream style seat covers?

As to exterior paint, I believe that the dynamic lines are applied with vinyls over the original Thames Trains colours. Does Reading have the capability to repaint the units? Or is this something that's going to be done somewhere else (if at all)? If they do get a repaint I'd imagine it'd be a base colour of First Group purple, with vinyls added on top. Wonder if it would be dynamic lines (FGW) or dynamic blocks (FCC)? The latter wouldn't surprise, given the local dynamic lines used on the former Wessex stock.

Wonder who'll refurnished the 150/1 units for FGW too.

 

[RPM]

Very conservative. Not exactly cutting edge.

 

[87015]

Very conservative. Not exactly cutting edge.

Does new lights(?), seat covers and some paint even count as a refurbishment?

 

[ailsa]

Apart from the red hand-holds, it barely looks any different to when they were new, in NSE days. Not a bad thing in my view. The castles and stately homes seem to have disappeared though, I wonder if they're hiding under the advertising boards?

 

[starrymarkb]

I thought that was a separate thing

Might be - SWT's 159s received PIS/CCTV separate from the main refurb

 

[Dennis]

Does new lights(?), seat covers and some paint even count as a refurbishment?

No; it's a refresh.

 

[yorksrob]

I think the pinks and purples look rather soothing. Northern have used a similar colour scheme with some of their Pacers and they actually look a lot nicer than they used to.

 

[starrymarkb]

Would those be the ones FGW had? The 142s down here were given a 'smarten up' when they arrived from Northern (IIRC some had been in store looked it)

 

[yorksrob]

Could be - although the upholstery is definately Northern Purple (with vertical stripes). Have seen a couple of other units in it as well.

 

[Helvellyn]

Hard to tell from the picture, but the frame of the PIS screen doesn't appear purple - unlike the side, end and ceiling panels. If it's not been resprayed it might suggest it's going to get replaced?

 

[Drsatan]

The interior doesn't look too bad. It's good that FGW have retained the units' original seats instead of fitting Richmond or Chapman seating (both of which aren't especially comfortable IMO) since the original seats are perfectly adequate, although it's interesting that FGW have chosen to retain the original 3+2 seating layout.

SWT decided to change the seating layout from 3+2 to 2+2 in its refurbished 455s and create more standing space following passenger research which indicated that not only do passengers not like sitting in the middle seat, but passengers prefer to stand for short journeys.

The refurbishment of the 165/6s does not appear to be as comprehensive as SWT's refurbishment of its 455s, so perhaps FGW decided not to make any radical changes to the interior design as a result. I prefer to have a seat regardless of the journey time (which is why I don't like the longitudinal seating layout of the 378s), and I don't mind sitting in the middle seat of a 3+2 seating layout, so long as I get a seat.

 

[devon_metro]

Hard to tell from the picture, but the frame of the PIS screen doesn't appear purple - unlike the side, end and ceiling panels. If it's not been resprayed it might suggest it's going to get replaced?

New PIS was in the contract, so I suspect you are correct, hence my original comments about it not being finished (however they were soon rubbished by "Jamaal")

 

[starrymarkb]

The refurbishment of the 165/6s does not appear to be as comprehensive as SWT's refurbishment of its 455s, so perhaps FGW decided not to make any radical changes to the interior design as a result

TBH I'd have been surprised if they did spend a lot on the Turbo fleet - most are being displaced by Crossrail and hopefully further Electrification in the next few years

 

[mickey]

SWT decided to change the seating layout from 3+2 to 2+2 in its refurbished 455s and create more standing space following passenger research which indicated that not only do passengers not like sitting in the middle seat, but passengers prefer to stand for short journeys.

Merseyrail did this and immediately more passengers got seats, despite there being fewer available overall and increased passenger numbers generally. Bizarre really - it gives such incredible insight into the human psyche.

 

[ailsa]

TBH I'd have been surprised if they did spend a lot on the Turbo fleet - most are being displaced by Crossrail and hopefully further Electrification in the next few years

They may be being displaced, but if all goes to plan they will find there way down here (Cardiff/Bristol/Bath/Portsmouth). It's still within the FGW area so it's in the interest of FGW to make sure they're up and together. As I mentioned before though, I don't think there's much wrong with the interior, and all they need is a clean and tidy-up.

 

[turbo mick]

hope they have done something with the driving cabs some of them are awfull showing there years draught proofing needed 166 need the aircon sorted inside passangers open all the windows only in a emergency they dont read signs and knacks the system

 

[jon0844]

Are they the same seats as the 365s? If so, perhaps they've used the FCC seating pattern purely as a way of saving money (by bulk ordering one set of seat covers).

 

[Aictos]

Are they the same seats as the 365s? If so, perhaps they've used the FCC seating pattern purely as a way of saving money (by bulk ordering one set of seat covers).

Will save even more money by using the same exterior branding as well but with First Great Western text as opposed to First Capital Connect text!

 

[jon0844]

I guess the vinyl stuff is very low quantity stuff and printed as and when needed. Simply change the artwork and you're done.

I doubt you need to produce plates for printing on vinyl, so you could probably do a bespoke print for each and every train if you so wished.. even per carriage!

Don't quote me on that though!

 

[starrymarkb]

I guess the vinyl stuff is very low quantity stuff and printed as and when needed. Simply change the artwork and you're done.

I doubt you need to produce plates for printing on vinyl, so you could probably do a bespoke print for each and every train if you so wished.. even per carriage!

Don't quote me on that though!

Wessex Trains did that with their 150 fleet - each unit had a unique livery