East Coast seating plan wrong?

[ainsworth74]

(Not sure where to put this so by all means move it!)

Right, according to this seating plan here on HSTs in first class according to that seating plan all the seats that are the 1 part of the 2+1 formation are arranged facing each other (apart from one which is for the disabled access seat). However when I travelled from Kirkcaldy to York last summer I sat in a seat that faced the seat back of the next seat and there were several like that in front of mine.

So a) Did I imagine that, b) Is there an HST set running around with a different internal layout to the seating plan or c) Is the seating plan wrong?

 

[googolplex]

I'm aware the Mk.4 coaches have a number of individual airline seats, but I don't think the HSTs do. I'm not 100% sure though, which is frustrating as I was in first class on an EC HST only a few weeks ago!

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm aware the Mk.4 coaches have a number of individual airline seats, but I don't think the HSTs do.

Which is what the seating plan tells us. However I'm not kidding last time I was in first class on a HST there were several individual airline seats, numbered somewhere in the 50s or 60s I can't remember exactly. I sat in one of them! So what's going on?

 

[Failed Unit]

Yes the seating plan is wrong it they have some individual seats on the HsTs as well about 4 per end IIRC

 

[ainsworth74]

Ahh good I'm not going crazy, thanks!

 

[googolplex]

So the little niggling part of me that said HSTs did have them and I sat in one was right! I assumed I'd got them muddled with Electras .

In coach L, I'm aware the disabled seat faces south, but seem to recall somebody near the end of the carriage facing North in an individual seat, so how are the seats laid out at that end?

Also, slightly off-topic, but does anybody know why the HSTs don't have the walk way switch sides, or indeed why the Mk.4s do?

 

[rail-britain]

There are anomolies as not all the First Class coaches can be arranged the same

Coach M
Seats 3 and 5 do not always face each other (facing north)
Seats 63 and 65 do not always face each other (facing south)

Coach L
Seats 64 and 65 do not always face each other (facing south)

A similar anomoly exists between Coaches M and K on a Mallard (IC225) set, with seats 1 to 10 offset in Coach K but an additional (unnumbered) seat in Coach M

 

[silentone]

I'm not sure about the poster above, no seat is un-numbered unless the plastic sticker has fallen off the wall.

All HST's have the same layout and all MK4's have the same layout, there are no 'anomalies'. Only the distance between the seats is the only varying factor. Usually the 3rd or 4th Single from the Toilet in K has very little leg room.


That seating plan is wrong and seems to have been designed around the old HST layout. I think the layout as you go into L is 4 single, 4 tables, 4 Single/Disabled.

Coach M on a MK4 also has a different layout from K as it once had the smoking area which are 7 seats at the London end.

When you book tickets you will be booked as requested, the seating plan above has been created as a guide to help you find your seat.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Also, slightly off-topic, but does anybody know why the HSTs don't have the walk way switch sides, or indeed why the Mk.4s do?

I don't know, but I have to say the aisle snaking like that in the middle of a carriage is neither very aesthetic to look at nor very convenient to move through.

 

[Failed Unit]

I don't know, but I have to say the aisle snaking like that in the middle of a carriage is neither very aesthetic to look at nor very convenient to move through.

It was to help people pass the trolley. Why it was not put on refurbished mk3s we will never know. Maybe they didn't want to lose another 4 seats per set.

 

[Red Dragon]

Had dinner on the 4pm out of EDB last year coming back to YRK and the dining area was set up on all tables up to the snake - so I assumed that was the reason for the "snake", as it gave a dining area and a seating area within the same carriage. Doh !

 

[ChrisCooper]

The switch of the walkway side was on the Mk4 TFOs from the start and is unique to them. I presume the seat tracks would have had to be altered to either make a straight aisle on the Mk4s or kinked one on Mk3s, and it was decided not worth it.

 

[brel york]

you wouldnt need to alter the seat track on a mk3 they are the same on every vehicle ,you would just alter you pedestal position on the seat

 

[andylloyd]

Seat reservations were not available on the 1N07(EMT Hire in).
Plenty of folk moaning etc etc. At least there were plenty of seats
Numbers etc etc dont match to the regular HST's but hey ho.
At York though some of EC's Revenue Mgt team were on-board jotting seat numbers down. Is this going to be a permanent hire in?

 

[MCR247]

EC have signed to take one EMT HST, but it hasn't transferred permanently yet AFAIK

 

[andylloyd]

EC have signed to take one EMT HST, but it hasn't transferred permanently yet AFAIK

Many thanks for the heads up
So eventually going forward all will be ok.