FGW HST lighting

[Bristol Rover]

Travelled home late from Exeter the other night and had forgotten how unfriendly the lighting is on these trains.

They call it 'improved' lighting, but the nasty spotlights make the carriage feel like an office.

The cosy 'yellow' lighting of the old carriages was much more relaxing.

Does anyone else find it nasty, or am I just a sole grump on the issue?

 

[Max]

I find it akin to an operating theatre. The 180s are just as bad.

 

[Greenback]

I'm glad it's not just me! One good thing about it is it helps you forget how claustrophobic the high seats are!

 

[asylumxl]

Most people like to see what they're doing...

 

[WESSEX158]

What I hate is that you can't see a thing out of the windows when it's dark and the bright lights reflect so much.

If the interior were a lighter colour, dimmer lights would be more sufficient.

The worst thing though is the seats. Just so they can cram as many people in as possible they've removed nearly all the tables. It was quite disapointing seeing some old BR Mk2 coaches at Exeter St Davids with only tables and low back comfortable seats.

 

[Zoe]

The worst thing though is the seats. Just so they can cram as many people in as possible they've removed nearly all the tables. It was quite disapointing seeing some old BR Mk2 coaches at Exeter St Davids with only tables and low back comfortable seats.

As discussed in another thread, the HSTs these days have to both long distance interecity and London commuter trains so the extra seats were needed. As for the high seat backs as discussed in another thread this is due to health and safety, the IC70 seat was not crashworthy.

 

[WESSEX158]

Yes, I know that

 

[thefab444]

And besides, not everybody likes tables.

 

[Zoe]

And besides, not everybody likes tables.

Indeed, I always went for an airline seat before the refurbishments.

 

[Greenback]

Most people like to see what they're doing...

Which it's perfectly possible to do in lighting which isn't so harsh and bright! I managed to read a lot of books on my regular journeys back from Reading University to Swansea in the old days before the modern white light!

What I hate is that you can't see a thing out of the windows when it's dark and the bright lights reflect so much.

If the interior were a lighter colour, dimmer lights would be more sufficient

Yes, that's another thing. I find it difficult to tell where we are at night now if I'm unfortunate enough to be on a FGW HST!

 

[WESSEX158]

Yes, that's another thing. I find it difficult to tell where we are at night now if I'm unfortunate enough to be on a FGW HST!

That happens to me lots on the 2035 from Paddington.

 

[Greenback]

It's dificult to tell exactly where you are in the dark soemtimes anyway, but with the HST's all you can really see are reflections of the inside of the carriage!

 

[Zoe]

It's dificult to tell exactly where you are in the dark soemtimes anyway, but with the HST's all you can really see are reflections of the inside of the carriage!

At the end of the day though I doubt most passngers care exactly where they are.

 

[Aictos]

There is a neat little feature in that it is possible to dim the lights in the carriage however it's down to FGW if it's permitted to do so on very late night services.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

There is a neat little feature in that it is possible to dim the lights in the carriage however it's down to FGW if it's permitted to do so on very late night services.

They're meant to run on dim anyway.

 

[asylumxl]

At the end of the day though I doubt most passngers care exactly where they are.

Couldn't agree more. Any lighting in the carriage will cause problems seeing outside.

As I'm sure you and most people know, just like a camera, the eye can only see a certain range of brightnesses at once.

 

[yorkie]

I have removed an inappropriate post from this topic but can I please ask that if anyone spots anything inappropriate please use the report button, it looks like this:

and it appears in the bottom-left corner of each post. This greatly assists us. Also if you can not reply to the post or quote it that would be great (feel free to send a PM to the person though if you have an issue with what they have said). Thanks!

 

[Class 33]

I agree with what has been said. The lighting is dreadful, far too bright. The old carriages which had dimmer lighting(see my avatat photo to see what I mean) was far more comfortable, and for those who want to read the lighting was more than adequate. Nowadays they've probably made the lighting this bright as it's probably something to do with "health and safety".

Years ago FGW used to hand out questionnaires on trains. And they were fairly lengthy too asking all sorts of questions, taking up to half hour to fill out. It would be interesting to know if the travelling public preffered this new ultra bright lighting, or preffered the dimmer lighting.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I also agree the lighting is far too bright; this isn't just confined to FGW either - I find it quite uncomfortable on my eyes on SWT 455s as well, and wherever possible I will sit under a failed lighting tube.

While travelling at night I will almost invariably have my face to the window with my hands cupped round my eyes to keep the light out.

It also actually makes it difficult to read - too much shine off the pages; if I am reading on one of those I have to hold something up to keep the book in the shade!

 

[Greenback]

Couldn't agree more. Any lighting in the carriage will cause problems seeing outside.

As I'm sure you and most people know, just like a camera, the eye can only see a certain range of brightnesses at once.

Yes, well, you will obviously get reflection with any sort of light, but the lights in the HST's are very, very bright, and those people who do want an idea of where they are can't find out!

I agree with what has been said. The lighting is dreadful, far too bright. The old carriages which had dimmer lighting(see my avatat photo to see what I mean) was far more comfortable, and for those who want to read the lighting was more than adequate. Nowadays they've probably made the lighting this bright as it's probably something to do with "health and safety".

Years ago FGW used to hand out questionnaires on trains. And they were fairly lengthy too asking all sorts of questions, taking up to half hour to fill out. It would be interesting to know if the travelling public preffered this new ultra bright lighting, or preffered the dimmer lighting.

If there was an overall preference for the dimmer lights, then I doubt it would be reporte dor acted on!

I also agree the lighting is far too bright; this isn't just confined to FGW either - I find it quite uncomfortable on my eyes on SWT 455s as well, and wherever possible I will sit under a failed lighting tube.

While travelling at night I will almost invariably have my face to the window with my hands cupped round my eyes to keep the light out.

It also actually makes it difficult to read - too much shine off the pages; if I am reading on one of those I have to hold something up to keep the book in the shade!

I agree 100%!

I think it's been said before that it;s not actually the brightness, but the fact that the light is white or blue light that makes the difference. Clearly there are advantages to this sort of light, not elast in that it;s easier to see into the carriage from the outside, and therefore easier to spot anti social behaviour for example. The question is, couldn't we find some sort of compromise on the HST's in question, as the lights on them do seem to be so much harsher than on other trains.

 

[asylumxl]

Yes, well, you will obviously get reflection with any sort of light, but the lights in the HST's are very, very bright, and those people who do want an idea of where they are can't find out!

In all honesty, those who know the scenery are likely to travel the route often, and so would already know where they are.

No amount of dim lighting in an HST is going to allow them to see out properly.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Oh for the days when the Nightrider was allowed to run with half the seated carriages fully blacked out... *sigh*

 

[Greenback]

All I;m saying is that it used to be muche asier to see out and gauge where you are. I travel the Llanelli - Swansea route daily, and even I couldn;t work out whether we'd passed Gowerton when i raised my head from the paper. Does it matter a great deal, ,probably not in my case, but an irregular traveller who has nodded off and then wakes up not sure where they are, might find it useful to be able to look out of the window for landmarks. I thought I was ina very small minority, but perhaps not, judging by some of the comments on this thread!

 

[devon_metro]

Whilst I agree the lighting is too bright, i'd rather that lighting than exposed flourescent tubes throughout the carriage.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Must just be me, but I much prefer the brighter white / blue halogen or LED lighting. Makes everything feel a lot cleaner too?

 

[sprinterguy]

The brighter lighting makes everything look clinical and sterilised IMO; like another poster has said, reminds me of an operating theatre: The lighting on the Crosscountry HSTs is quite stark as well: It does help make the train interior feel more light and airy during the day, but nonetheless it's like walking into a solid wall of light! It's the sort of effect that trendy shopping centres and clothes stores are going for these days: Not for me thanks, I prefer to find myself a nice dingy pub with plenty of dark corners to lurk in, not this 21st century obsession with "shinyness".

 

[Greenback]

Whilst I agree with you sprinterguy, it may be that TOC's don;t want to encourage lurking in dark corners!

However, there should be a happy medium!

 

[sprinterguy]

Whilst I agree with you sprinterguy, it may be that TOC's don;t want to encourage lurking in dark corners!

However, there should be a happy medium!

I can see your point, there are some undesirable specimens travelling around that definitely don't need dark corners to "lurk" in. It's ok, I'm a very good natured and friendly lurker, especially after three or four pints in aforementioned dark pub

Train lighting should be bright enough to allow you to see what you are doing; reading, etc; and to make passengers feel safe, but it doesn't need to "shout" about its' brightness!

I like my train lighting to be "mellow": I think that first class on a Virgin Pendolino has just the right sort of ambience: Nice dim lighting as you sweep through the darkness along the WCML at 125mph, glass of wine in hand and basking in the yellowish glow of the table lamps; lovely

 

[Greenback]

I agree. I had no problems with the old yellow HST lighting, and in my opinion it was bright enough to feel perfectly safe. My eyes are sensitive to bright sunlight, and I find the new white lighting pretty objectionalbe!

 

[sprinterguy]

I agree. I had no problems with the old yellow HST lighting, and in my opinion it was bright enough to feel perfectly safe. My eyes are sensitive to bright sunlight, and I find the new white lighting pretty objectionalbe!

Agreed, the old yellow HST lighting was more than adequate; the whole carriage was perfectly visible and there was enough light to read by, etc. There is no doubt that the new lighting arrangements are a step forward in technology, and help to promote the railways as a modern way to travel and show rail travel in a good light (pun completely intended!), but if only it could be toned down a notch or two!