Great Western Livery

[JonathanH]

Was that be one of the de-classified first class sections? I know that one end of first class was 'removed' from 166s and I often try to sit in those parts on my various journeys to/from Deepdene

Apologies if I'm incorrect there

The seating in the declassified end former first class compartment is the same cloth used elsewhere in standard class in the unit so the picture is definitely of the first class end.

 

[greaterwest]

205 received a different version of the TrainFX firmware, enabling it to announce any delays attributed to the particular service along with a reason. However it was frequently announcing incorrect information, so it looks like it's been rolled back to the pre GWR version!

Also, when the system isn't set, all units still say 'Welcome aboard this First Great Western Service'.

I caught one saying "First Great Western welcomes you aboard this service from Reading to Redhill calling at..." then the usual calling points & safety/security information a couple of days ago, though it was incorrect (the train was travelling in the opposite direction, to Reading!) and it wasn't actually announcing anything.

 

[387star]

Looking good

 

[395 Olympic Javelin]

Looks good and what are the inside of the doors like are they like the HST ones?

 

[Parallel]

I was on 150247 earlier this week. The inside of the doors are indeed grey (similar to the HSTs). The disabled toilet booth has bright red doors. The PIS wasn't switched on though (But was on the 153 attached to the front, which said "Welcome to First Great Western". :roll:

I was going to take some pictures, but the service was full and standing so decided against it.

 

[387star]

I was on 150247 earlier this week. The inside of the doors are indeed grey (similar to the HSTs). The disabled toilet booth has bright red doors. The PIS wasn't switched on though (But was on the 153 attached to the front, which said "Welcome to First Great Western". :roll:

I was going to take some pictures, but the service was full and standing so decided against it.

Interesting I assumed the toilet door would be grey or green as that red is basically the old first group look

 

[FGW_DID]

This weekend a Class 166 is due at Wolverton and one 166 is returning. Is it 166217 returning and 166218 going out?

There was probably paths in for the swap, 166217 is indeed at Wolverton but didn't come back and 166218 was in action on the Thames Valley ( I had it on the 2150 Paddington - Oxford Sat night).

 

[BestWestern]

Rather surprised that black handrails are permissible...

 

[work-traveller]

Can anyone comment on the status of the Sleeper service re-fit? I've travelled on it a few times in recent years and am familiar with what's on offer. The berths are (or at least were) the same as those on the Caledonian Sleeper, but the lounge carriage (old Pullman carriage) wasn't as good as the sofas on the Caledonian Sleeper in my humble opinion. However, I was given cause for hope when I booked a mid-summer trip this week and noticed the graphic in the background of the 'Night Riviera Sleeper' page, which shows a digital image of a very modern lounge carriage. I'm assuming that this is a mock-up of what's being built now (?), but if so, when does it enter service?

Cornish Riviera Sleeper

 

[59CosG95]

As co-tr-paul has reported on the Riviera thread, Mk3 SLEP 10563 is next for repaint. EDIT: He's already put it on here-I have clearly lost the abaility to go back in a thread! Has it gone to Wolverton yet?

 

[BestWestern]

Can anyone comment on the status of the Sleeper service re-fit? I've travelled on it a few times in recent years and am familiar with what's on offer. The berths are (or at least were) the same as those on the Caledonian Sleeper, but the lounge carriage (old Pullman carriage) wasn't as good as the sofas on the Caledonian Sleeper in my humble opinion. However, I was given cause for hope when I booked a mid-summer trip this week and noticed the graphic in the background of the 'Night Riviera Sleeper' page, which shows a digital image of a very modern lounge carriage. I'm assuming that this is a mock-up of what's being built now (?), but if so, when does it enter service?

Cornish Riviera Sleeper

What is currently on the cards is a rebuild of the existing MK3 coaching stock, as far as I'm aware...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think they will regret the grey when coffee is inevitably spilt on it.

 

[BestWestern]

I think they will regret the grey when coffee is inevitably spilt on it.

They already have, apparently. The HST was outshopped with a plain light grey, which I'm told has not worn at al well.

 

[co-tr-paul]

First internally refurbished Riviera vehicle now due June.

 

[fgwrich]

They already have, apparently. The HST was outshopped with a plain light grey, which I'm told has not worn at al well.

Had the green set again last week, I really can't say it is wearing well at all. What was noticeable was how dirty the carpets are starting to look, seats where looking dirty and nearly every seat back had the appearance that it had been recovered in a rush job and rapidly put back in - some had the covers working loose so you could see the foam behind (and pull it off if you were that way inclined!) with nearly every seat looking loose. All the opposite to how even the oldest 'Dynamic Lines' Mk3s are looking with their semi worn carpets and slightly tired seats.

It's all in the choice of Moquette - Dark blue of the Dynamic Lines hides the dirt and daily use and abuse quite well. The chosen material doesn't, nor does it's colour choice of light grey.

Another recent and equally annoying feature I've started to notice on GWR are the PA systems. I've briefly touched upon this before in relation to the DDA-D 150/2s and their awful system, now the Turbos seem to have been updated too - to remind us about not boarding when the doors are closing. So now we have an announcement that reads like this ''Great Western Railway Welcomes you aboard this service to Basingstoke Please do not attempt to board this train when the doors are closing Our next station is Bramley''. Could have at least put a space into it!

 

[greaterwest]

Had the green set again last week, I really can't say it is wearing well at all. What was noticeable was how dirty the carpets are starting to look, seats where looking dirty and nearly every seat back had the appearance that it had been recovered in a rush job and rapidly put back in - some had the covers working loose so you could see the foam behind (and pull it off if you were that way inclined!) with nearly every seat looking loose. All the opposite to how even the oldest 'Dynamic Lines' Mk3s are looking with their semi worn carpets and slightly tired seats.

It's all in the choice of Moquette - Dark blue of the Dynamic Lines hides the dirt and daily use and abuse quite well. The chosen material doesn't, nor does it's colour choice of light grey.

Another recent and equally annoying feature I've started to notice on GWR are the PA systems. I've briefly touched upon this before in relation to the DDA-D 150/2s and their awful system, now the Turbos seem to have been updated too - to remind us about not boarding when the doors are closing. So now we have an announcement that reads like this ''Great Western Railway Welcomes you aboard this service to Basingstoke Please do not attempt to board this train when the doors are closing Our next station is Bramley''. Could have at least put a space into it!

I gave them a list of punctuation (lack of full stops) and sound issues with the Turbos (non end of sentence words at the end of a sentence eg Our next station is Reading) and nothing got done about it

 

[cactustwirly]

I gave them a list of punctuation (lack of full stops) and sound issues with the Turbos (non end of sentence words at the end of a sentence eg Our next station is Reading) and nothing got done about it

And the new voice is quiet, so you can hardly hear what it's saying

 

[Defiance149]

As co-tr-paul has reported on the Riviera thread, Mk3 SLEP 10563 is next for repaint. EDIT: He's already put it on here-I have clearly lost the abaility to go back in a thread! Has it gone to Wolverton yet?

The repaints of the existing Night Riviera stock are being done at Glasgow Works not Wolverton. 10563 moved north in the first week of April.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Had lots of problems with Kilmarnock so last one went to Wolverton. 563 should have gone there too but I'm off at moment so cant confirm any change to that. For discresion, cant say why changed.

 

[Deepgreen]

And the new voice is quiet, so you can hardly hear what it's saying

The lack of continuity in the announcemernts is now dire - station names are shoved in with totally different inflections so that most of them sound like questions rather than statements. It took me three years of complaining to get them to change "Bletchworth" to "Betchworth", so I assume we are stuck with this amateurish editing.

 

[greaterwest]

The lack of continuity in the announcemernts is now dire - station names are shoved in with totally different inflections so that most of them sound like questions rather than statements. It took me three years of complaining to get them to change "Bletchworth" to "Betchworth", so I assume we are stuck with this amateurish editing.

Yes, very few stations between Reading and Guildford sound correct.
Blackwater, Farnborough North and Guildford sound fine.
I can't tell with North Camp or Ash because both recordings sound almost the same.
Reading, Wokingham, Crowthorne and Sandhurst sound terrible

I think Dorking Deepdene, Redhill and Gatwick Airport are correct too, East of Guildford, though I haven't travelled that side of the North Downs in a while.

I suppose all of this doesn't really matter given that you can't hear them anyway on 50% of the units.

 

[irish_rail]

43002 out and about with a yellow cab roof now!!

 

[59CosG95]

I saw that on Facebook as well this afternoon-perhaps it'll be one of the repainted ones...if it is, GWR are cutting it very fine!

 

[leomartin125]

Talking of livery, this has recently appeared up at Bombardier Derby:

https://flic.kr/p/GnBvA9

I'm not sure on the green, prefer the GX red personally but everyone to their own.

 

[Deepgreen]

Talking of livery, this has recently appeared up at Bombardier Derby:

https://flic.kr/p/GnBvA9

I'm not sure on the green, prefer the GX red personally but everyone to their own.

Nice catch - as the unit is destined for GWR it wouldn't carry a red GX livery.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes, very few stations between Reading and Guildford sound correct.
Blackwater, Farnborough North and Guildford sound fine.
I can't tell with North Camp or Ash because both recordings sound almost the same.
Reading, Wokingham, Crowthorne and Sandhurst sound terrible

I think Dorking Deepdene, Redhill and Gatwick Airport are correct too, East of Guildford, though I haven't travelled that side of the North Downs in a while.

I suppose all of this doesn't really matter given that you can't hear them anyway on 50% of the units.

Betchworth is the rising inflection/question-type, whereas Basingstoke (as I heard when on that line a few dyas ago) is almost gruff and disappointed (some may say appropriately!).

 

[XCTurbostar]

43002 out and about with a yellow cab roof now!!

Looks like the orange shade for intercity.
As mentioned above, GWR are leaving this one very tight!

Thanks,
Ross

 

[Class377/5]

Talking of livery, this has recently appeared up at Bombardier Derby:

https://flic.kr/p/GnBvA9

I'm not sure on the green, prefer the GX red personally but everyone to their own.

Looking very smart.

 

[greaterwest]

Betchworth is the rising inflection/question-type, whereas Basingstoke (as I heard when on that line a few dyas ago) is almost gruff and disappointed (some may say appropriately!).

Indeed, do you know how the 150s in the West that have a PIS fitted are holding up?

 

[Parallel]

Indeed, do you know how the 150s in the West that have a PIS fitted are holding up?

To be honest, they're rarely switched on. Splitting/joining units seems to cause them to malfunction.
--

I couldn't believe my eyes today, I think I saw a seat cushion on a GWR 153 in Wessex Trains silver and maroon livery. I took a picture too - 153369 was the unit!

 

[fgwrich]

To be honest, they're rarely switched on. Splitting/joining units seems to cause them to malfunction.
--

I couldn't believe my eyes today, I think I saw a seat cushion on a GWR 153 in Wessex Trains silver and maroon livery. I took a picture too - 153369 was the unit!

That's the one! I've been meaning to phot that for a while, not sure when it gained the ex Wessex cushion but it's had it in there since at least January, if not earlier.

Incidentally it's not the only West Fleet unit running around with additional TOC seats, 150127 now seems to be sporting some fetching Thameslink Moquette now as well.