Excessive heat and failed air conditioning on trains

[Bletchleyite]

Common problem on Avanti on both Everos and Pendos, I was on the 2031 to Preston on Saturday night, it was absolutely roasting, I've never suffered from travel sickness, but by the time I got off at Lichfield I was feeling decidedly unwell.

But that said, overwhelming heat on Pendolinos isn't uncommon and is one of the reasons I tend to stick with LNWR.

It can be worth asking staff on a Pendolino, as it's one of the few classes of unit where the on board staff are able to adjust it (unless the refurb has removed that ability). It does seem to happen not infrequently though. I've not had the same issue on an Evero and it seems to me rare on 80x generally. I even remember enjoying the on-board fridge (aircon, I mean) on a GWR 80x on that 40 degree day a few years back.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Apr 2026 ==

Am I imagining it - or were they not retro-fitted (to the early ones at least?)

(158s)

I'm pretty certain they were there from the start. The retrofit I did see was of similar hopper windows to West Coast (but not CrossCountry) Mk2s in the late 90s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Apr 2026 ==

I think there is a bit of a subjective opinion thing on this with regard to whether an individual prefers moving air even if it is quite hot over static air that is still hot but not as hot. Personally I can deal better with moving air at 30 degrees than static at 25, but I expect as many say the opposite. When we had that 40 degree day I had the windows open despite everyone advising to keep them closed, and I definitely preferred that.