LM Desiros interiors

[j0hn0]

I've been on 2 different London Midland Desiros recently on the trent valley line and they had different interiors.

One had 3 + 2 seating with thin board-like green seats and no tables/shelf, the other had usual 2 + 2 seating with full tables and comfortable blue seats.

anyone know why there is a difference?

yes the green interiors had more capacity but they were desperately uncomfortable and unpractical.

 

[generalvegitable]

th 3+2 seating is in the newer 350/2s that I think are to be used on the high density services (and you have to be quite dense to get on one ) the 350/1 is the 2+2 seating one, as far as I know it is used on the faster serices (hence the tables and comfort and stuff). when I travel on lndon midland I always try to get a 350/1 because it is their best unit

 

[Danielo]

Yup, the 350/2s always seem a little cramped. The /1s seem more comfortable, even for standing passengers.

 

[87015]

th 3+2 seating is in the newer 350/2s that I think are to be used on the high density services (and you have to be quite dense to get on one ) the 350/1 is the 2+2 seating one, as far as I know it is used on the faster serices (hence the tables and comfort and stuff). when I travel on lndon midland I always try to get a 350/1 because it is their best unit

They are diagrammed as a common fleet.

 

[j0hn0]

cool thanks guys

 

[Thewanderer]

They are diagrammed as a common fleet.

Correct me if i'm wrong but weren't they supposed to keep the fleets seperate when first introduced?

 

[jv3531]

The ideas were that they were "supposed" to be kept as seperate fleets, ie. the 350/1s would work the longer distance services such as the crew/liverpools etc and that as said previously the 350/2s were meant for local work, hense the higher seating capacities. However, as we tend to see generally accross the board the services can be worked either by "down-graded" (using the term very loosly!!!) units of a lower spec or a mixture. Most of the ideas inpractice seem to be if it runs and the drivers sign it then goes out - mainly to keep services running rather than caping them or having to have un-necessary changeovers en-route.

Most people probably woulddn't know much different - it's a train, it runs so we'll catch it!

One of the other problems TOCs face is of course penaltys - some service have to be worked by certain types of train to avoid penalties being enforced - this is why you'l see certain services are formed regardlessly of the cost to other services of a certain type of train.

 

[Daimler]

They're used as one fleet at the moment, but it'd be nice to think this'll change when they've received the full lot of 350/2s and have got ride of the 321s - as their stock pool will be fixed then.

While I prefer the /1s, I like the /2s as well - they're a big improvement on the 321s!

 

[j0hn0]

While I prefer the /1s, I like the /2s as well - they're a big improvement on the 321s!

that really isn't difficlut though

Once they've phased out the 321's on the WCML, I will be happy. Noisy, dirty, uncomfortable, cramped and awful ex silverlink liveries.

More 350's please, except, why can't they make the 350/2's to have the same amount of padding on the seats as the 1's?

 

[2030720310]

But aren't LM keeping some 321s such as the one that's just been repainted?

 

[j0hn0]

yep, but that looks like they only had a box of stickers for the 350's left so "retro-fitted" them onto 321's, hideous

 

[Daimler]

But aren't LM keeping some 321s such as the one that's just been repainted?

7, I think - reputed to be for rush-hour London - Watford shuttles and the Abbey line.