Grand Central Class 180 Interior Refresh

[M1544]

Refurbished 180108 was on the 0754 Bradford interchange to Kings Cross today

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

No that's true. These trains did already have lino in the aisle at the ends because the carpet had worn big holes at the ends of the aisle which looked awful. I can see why they've gone with the whole thing although it doesn't look amazing. A more durable carpet in the aisle and a softer carpet under the seats would look less incongruous, I believe some ScotRail units have this.

The new Trenitalia Frecciarossa trains have lino flooring throughout, even in Business and Executive class. It does look unusual. www.italymagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/624x400/public/story/executive-frecciarossa.jpg?itok=uu3hrxhp

That picture is of the old Frecciarossa train. Not the new one.

 

[Starmill]

That picture is of the old Frecciarossa train. Not the new one.

Does it have a lino floor?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Does it have a lino floor?

Most mainland European trains have lino floors. Carpet is very much a British thing (in houses, too, even more so the really odd but common in the UK practice of carpet in bathrooms).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Does it have a lino floor?

Not the new one.

 

[Starmill]

A TGV or ICE with lino in the saloon isn't something I have seen. But Trenitalia seem to like it.

 

[43096]

Most mainland European trains have lino floors. Carpet is very much a British thing (in houses, too, even more so the really odd but common in the UK practice of carpet in bathrooms).

As I remember it Mark 3s didn’t have carpets in second class from new - it was the InterCity refurbishment in the 1980s that added carpets.

 

[takno]

However, logic dictates that this type of flooring will be much easier and quicker to clean, far more hygenic and probably last longer. In reality, what practical difference does a carpet make to comfort - after all, who takes their shoes off on a train journey?

I do if I'm wearing anything slip on, or anyway for long journeys. I don't spend a whole lot of time watching other people's feet, but I reckon it's a lot more common than you give credit for.

 

[Goldfish62]

A TGV or ICE with lino in the saloon isn't something I have seen. But Trenitalia seem to like it.

Early TGVs had lino floors prior to refurb. The CZ RailJets have lino floors, whereas the ÖBB ones have carpet. Generally, eastern Europe goes for lino more.

 

[richa2002]

Lighting looks way too bright as usual. What is the obsession with this in new trains/refurbs? I always used to try and use the train where possible but in all honesty, the car is winning more and more.

 

[DenmarkRail]

Lino makes more long term sense. Easier to clean, harder to damage = longer life

 

[317 forever]

View attachment 44441 FINALLY !

Photos of the first refurbished GC 180 have been released on their facebook page. Not quite what i was expecting but a HUGELY improved look and more importantly a MUCH needed move.

What are your thoughts ?

https://m.facebook.com/grandcentralrail/?__tn__=*sH-R

I like this new interior. I wonder how long it will take for these all to be refurbished?

 

[507021]

I like this new interior. I wonder how long it will take for these all to be refurbished?

I like it as well, very smart indeed.

 

[47802]

I like it as well, very smart indeed.

Well each to their own I suppose, I think it looks dreadful was it designed by Victoria Beckham

 

[Adam0984]

I went on the refurbished one on Thursday and wasn’t impressed with the seats as they now have head support sides at the top of the back cushion and been quite tall it meant I either had to have them in my shoulders or sit further down in my seat so my shoulders were under them which meant the bottom of my back was unsupported

 

[317 forever]

Have any more 180s been refurbished recently? Perhaps more significantly, I wonder whether Grand Central have a target date for getting them all refurbished.

 

[Roger100]

I heard somewhere that 180104 is expected to be back after refurbishment in August. I haven't seen it since I photographed it with the vinyls for the OOC open day last year - or at least I have no photos of it in GC service. But I haven't been paying much attention recently despite living near Hartlepool, my photo activities have been of the spring flowers!

I went down to KGX last Thursday in 180107 which is rather tatty inside, but came back to Hartlepool in 180108. It started from platform 11 at KGX where I hoped to get some inside photos before the rest of the passengers migrated down from the usual end of the station but was thwarted! I'm rather short, and found the seats not much thicker than the GWR 387's but I was more comfortable in them than in the usual Virgin 225 sets I come down south in from Durham. But here's a photo of the seat opposite me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What’s with that orange plastic? Are the 80s back in vogue again?

 

[superalbs]

What’s with that orange plastic? Are the 80s back in vogue again?

Orange is one of the colours that Grand Central use on their brand!

 

[yorksrob]

Not the new one.
View attachment 44504

The chairs nearest seem to have an unappealing view of the pillar.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Orange is one of the colours that Grand Central use on their brand!

I know, and orange piping/stitching on leather as they have done is quite classy - just not huge areas of orange which is very 1980s.

 

[TUC]

I went on the refurbished one on Thursday and wasn’t impressed with the seats as they now have head support sides at the top of the back cushion and been quite tall it meant I either had to have them in my shoulders or sit further down in my seat so my shoulders were under them which meant the bottom of my back was unsupported

That's interesting because I'm someone on the shorter side and the head support sides are the main point of discomfort for me too as they are positioned such that they dig into the corner of my shoulders, so it looks like, short or tall, if you're not average height they are uncomforrable.

 

[Andyh82]

They look smart, no ironing board seats, looks almost like standard class should be first class.

I don’t agree with using lino on an intercity train though, even in the aisle.

 

[BestWestern]

They look smart, no ironing board seats, looks almost like standard class should be first class.

I don’t agree with using lino on an intercity train though, even in the aisle.

Personally I'd much prefer well cleaned lino to a grotty, stained carpet. I'm yet to see any regular service train with a carpet that doesn't look utterly revolting after a few weeks of use!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Personally I much prefer well cleaned lino to a grotty, stained carpet. I'm yet to see any regular service train with a carpet that doesn't look utterly revolting after a few weeks of use!

I'd like to see a premium-looking lino - wood effect works quite well. The flecked ones that are almost universally used just look like hospital flooring. The beige they have used looks terrible, adds to the horrible 1980s-ness of the whole thing.

 

[BestWestern]

I'd like to see a premium-looking lino - wood effect works quite well. The flecked ones that are almost universally used just look like hospital flooring.

That's a very fair point! Light wood effect would go very nicely in there.

 

[Ciderking]

180 103 left Eastleigh TRSMD today on the 11:30 Eastleigh TRSMD to Bounds Green TRSMD (5Q53).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sparrowhawk7/42392860345/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Goldfish62]

That's a very fair point! Light wood effect would go very nicely in there.

World well in buses

 

[cactustwirly]

Early TGVs had lino floors prior to refurb. The CZ RailJets have lino floors, whereas the ÖBB ones have carpet. Generally, eastern Europe goes for lino more.

The OeBB RailJets and IC/EC coaching stock also has lino floors

 

[Goldfish62]

World well in buses

I mean "works". The curse of spellchecker.