Class 390 Pendoliono refurbishment (speculation) wishlist

[ScottGallagher]

Since the first Avanti Webcast this week revealed some possible features of a first refurbished Pendolino come December such as new unique seats which are not on any other TOC and the conversion of the shop to a cafe bar, it might be time for a thread to speculate on what will happen in the end and what we would like to happen.

Power points at airline seats will be a plus for me

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Number one priority in my opinion is the armrest. How ridiculous that the UK’s flagship Intercity service that operates up to five and half hour journey times runs with no window seat armrest in standard class. 150s and 153s on branch lines have them for goodness sake. Totally ruins what would otherwise be IMO a perfect train

 

[Kite159]

Number one priority in my opinion is the armrest. How ridiculous that the UK’s flagship Intercity service that operates up to five and half hour journey times runs with no window seat armrest in standard class. 150s and 153s on branch lines have them for goodness sake. Totally ruins what would otherwise be IMO a perfect train

As long if they are not fixed and can be moved out of the way

 

[markymark2000]

I would like to see the reservations screens updated to the same as what modern trains are getting like the 800s and the TPE CAF5s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would hope that any change to the lighting is pleasantly subdued and not, as seems to be the trend, something excessively bright, a nasty shade of blue and more suited to the kitchen than the lounge.

 

[elliotjelliot]

I think some more table bay seats or at least a larger seatback table/extendable laptop holder(similar to grammer seats and IEP Fainsa seats)

 

[VT 390]

I would like to see an improvement of the window alignment in standard class so more seats line up with windows, also having at least 1 plug per pair of seats. I hope they do not do what transpennine express have done on the 397's and have almost all table seats as I think that the amount of tables is good on the 390's, unless they maybe have 1 carriage all tables and the rest similar to now.
In first class I would like to see a few more single seats so that around half are tables for 2 and half single seats.

 

[hexagon789]

Lighting; armrests; tray-tables in standard, carpets; new reservation displays with traffic lights might be an idea, if not the present ones aren't too bad; plug sockets.

If I think of anything else I'll add it

Oh yes, the seat material needs renewed, but surely that's pretty much automatic anyway?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would like to see an improvement of the window alignment in standard class so more seats line up with windows, also having at least 1 plug per pair of seats. I hope they do not do what transpennine express have done on the 397's and have almost all table seats as I think that the amount of tables is good on the 390's, unless they maybe have 1 carriage all tables and the rest similar to now.
In first class I would like to see a few more single seats so that around half are tables for 2 and half single seats.

I believe they have confirmed no changes to seat layout because moving the reservation displays is too costly. I would still urge them to create more 1st single seats by turning some seats round, though, as this could be achieved without the need to do that.

The other thing I'd do but pretty certainly won't be done is to move the Coach K partition to create a bay of "staff messroom" seats to prevent them treating Coach K as that.

 

[ScottGallagher]

If they can find a way to improve the metrics of the overhead luggage racks (if they can be replaced) that would also be a plus otherwise without removing banks of seats in each carriage I can't see how luggage space can be increased easily.

 

[gazthomas]

Toilets that don't smell, seats aligned to windows with more leg-room for "airline seats". Faster opening/closing external doors and steps and to reduce dwell times

 

[Bletchleyite]

There allegedly will be more legroom due to a thinner seat back.

 

[The_Train]

Definitely plug sockets at all seats not just the tables. It amazes me that they failed to do this when built. I've never found the seats on a Pendo to be uncomfortable so I hope any changes are for the better. The lighting could be a bit better but other than that they just need a bit of a spruce up if you ask me.

Oh and if they could replace each driving cab with an 87 at one end and a DVT at the other, that would be perfect

 

[Aictos]

Dual power sockets for each pair of airline seats sited under the seats in front much like GWR did with their HSTs.

Thats it, leave everything else as it is.

 

[The_Train]

Dual power sockets for each pair of airline seats sited under the seats in front much like GWR did with their HSTs.

Thats it, leave everything else as it is.

Yes, that's a solid point. Always awkward if you're in the aisle seat of a voyager and want to use the socket.....

 

[Aictos]

Yes, that's a solid point. Always awkward if you're in the aisle seat of a voyager and want to use the socket.....

Also awkward trying to get to the power socket and someone is sitting next to you, see Class 395s, 717s and 700s (the last type in 1st) on how not to fit power sockets.

 

[The_Train]

Also awkward trying to get to the power socket and someone is sitting next to you, see Class 395s, 717s and 700s (the last type in 1st) on how not to fit power sockets.

Yeah that was the point I was making as you'd just sit in the window seat if it was free

I had a situation on a Pendolino once where I'd managed to grab a window seat at a table and I plugged my phone in only for the guy with a reservation to appear and ask me to move to the aisle seat as he'd reserved the window seat. I obviously complied but asked if he was ok with my phone remaining plugged in which he was but upon getting close to my destination I had to contemplate the best way of shoving my hand between a guys legs without causing any alarm.........I decided to just ask him to remove it for me in the end

 

[Bletchleyite]

Definitely plug sockets at all seats not just the tables. It amazes me that they failed to do this when built

Because they were designed and built in the late 1990s/early 2000s, when a mobile phone was made by Nokia and had a week's battery life so you wouldn't need one for that (while your music player - CD player, probably - would have used AA batteries - the first iPods were later than that). They were therefore only used for laptops, which back then were much larger and so really needed a table (or priority seat) to be usable.

That said, Voyagers have one at every seat pair which is unusual foresight!

 

[Mogz]

Family compartments, please!

 

[Aictos]

Family compartments, please!

Less seating for the rest of us to want to use economy? No thanks!

Pity the shop can’t be moved towards the middle of the set to separate First and Economy, I don’t know the technical side to the fleet so maybe it is possible?

Like GNER did with the Mk4s.

 

[Mag_seven]

I would still urge them to create more 1st single seats by turning some seats round, though, as this could be achieved without the need to do that.

The problem with single "airline" style seats is that bang goes the window alignment on every other one. I much prefer to sit in a bay of two even of it means having to sit opposite someone for good window alignment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The problem with single "airline" style seats is that bang goes the window alignment on every other one. I much prefer to sit in a bay of two even of it means having to sit opposite someone for good window alignment.

Only if you use them as a means of cramming in extra seats. If you instead use them to allow people the enjoyment of more space, there is no reason not to have them aligned - each one has half a window.

 

[Aictos]

The problem with single "airline" style seats is that bang goes the window alignment on every other one. I much prefer to sit in a bay of two even of it means having to sit opposite someone for good window alignment.

Well the East Coast managed with their Mk4s so can’t understand why the 390s are a issue.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well the East Coast managed with their Mk4s so can’t understand why the 390s are a issue.

I think @Mag_seven is being a proper purist with regard to window alignment. In my book, a seat which has precisely half a window (either half) is aligned.

 

[Aictos]

I think @Mag_seven is being a proper purist with regard to window alignment. In my book, a seat which has precisely half a window (either half) is aligned.

Indeed the First Class Mk4s with their mix of tables for 4, tables for two or solo tables was the right way to go just a pity companies don’t emulate that.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Since standard class is getting even more busier, I propose on the 11 car sets to make Coach G a half first/standard carriage, as it would add a touch more standard seats as well as removing some first seats but still keeping some.

 

[bramling]

The other thing I'd do but pretty certainly won't be done is to move the Coach K partition to create a bay of "staff messroom" seats to prevent them treating Coach K as that.

That would be wonderful, although any such partitioning would probably need an element of sound proofing! I agree I bet your idea won’t happen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Since standard class is getting even more busier, I propose on the 11 car sets to make Coach G a half first/standard carriage, as it would add a touch more standard seats as well as removing some first seats but still keeping some.

It's being reported on the non-speculative thread that they are going to convert Coach G so all Pendolinos will have 2.5 coaches of First (and if they reletter the coaches we'd then be back to the same letter having the same layout on all units - at present the layout of F varies depending if it's a 9 or an 11). First (!) thing I heard about it though and I don't know its veracity.

 

[coradiafan2000]

Do Avanti actually plan on keep on keeping the shop or are they gonna get rid of it? I'm hoping that they stay as I'm not a fan of trolleys but I would understand if they wanted to get rid of them to increase seating capacity.

Other than that, I'm just praying they don't do much to change the seats. If they're replacing them then I'm 99% sure they'll be less comfortable.

I'd also like them to somehow make them feel less claustrophobic, I enjoy the occasional short journey on them, but on longer journeys I've done on them in the past from Euston to Manchester and Edinburgh to Birmingham, I get a little uncomfortable- even in first class.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do Avanti actually plan on keep on keeping the shop or are they gonna get rid of it?

Converting it to a "cafe bar". Not sure if this will make it a bit smaller for more seats though.