NXEC Mk3 Mallard refurbishments

[cloudlake]

Just a quick question which, sadly, as I don't live in the UK anymore I can't walk down to the station to answer for myself...

Do the refurbished HST125 sets with NXEC still have windows that open in the doors (like all old Mk3s have) or are the windows now permanently shut (like on Mk4s which is what their Mallard refurbishment is based on)?

I'm booking a train ticket for the summer and I want to know whether to book onto the Highland Chieftain or one of the other HST services up the East Coast so that I can get some better photos (without reflections!) out of the open windows.

If the refurbished sets do have un-opening windows, any idea how far through the fleet the refurbishment has got?

Thanks for your help.

 

[richa2002]

All sets have opening windows.

 

[cloudlake]

Thankyou very much!

 

[P156KWJ]

I still prefer unrefurbed mk3s IMHO , but I prefer refurbed mk4s as opposed to unrefurbed mk4s

 

[me123]

Yes, they need to have the opening windows to allow you to open the door

As for unrefurbs; very depressing interior yet very comfortable. NXEC should've retained the original seats, but refurbished the train to "Mallard" standard otherwise. That said, the mallard seats aren't too bad.

 

[Techniquest]

I find the Mallard HST carriages to be alright (unlike the MK4s but there we go), it is such a nicer interior than the unrefurbished sets. I prefer the old seats, obviously, but it seemed rather unwelcoming compared to the Mallard sets.

 

[me123]

That's what I thought. The interior was, well, depressing! Made me long for the FSR turbos hock: (well, until I sat down, of course )

 

[Max]

Not sure why, but I feel quite nostalgic about the old NXEC mk3s. And they are very comfortable.

 

[devon_metro]

I think the unrefurb EC sets are excellent - my favourite for some reason.

 

[voyagerdude220]

With me only ever using GNER twice before NXEC took over, I experienced two GNER HSTs, one Edinburgh-Inverness, and the other being Aberdeen to Edinburgh a year or two later.

Both were in FC, and I rather enjoyed the unrefurbished MK3s...

However, On April 3rd 2008, I travelled on a refurbished MK4 set between Motherwell and Haymarket in FC, and i hated every second of it!

I couldn't stand it at all!

I got a very nice taste of a refurbished MK3 HST set a few weeks ago, when I did 24th May 07:24 Manchester Picc to Newquay, and 15:22 return, all the way there, and all the way back, in FC.

I found the seating very comfortable. It added to the joy of having Valenta 43108 a matter of centimetres away from my seat. 8)

I just can't tell you how pleased I am for not deciding to go on last weeks Newquay Saturday run instead, as it would have been seriously overpriced (£120-£140, vice the £40-50 I payed for a AP FC Return), it left Piccadilly 20 late, and only had a quick 15 minute turn-around in Newquay, and to top it all off, it appears that an MTU was on the FC end last Saturday as well, so I would have been very peeded off indeed!

All in all, i'd be willing to pay the extra to travel on NXEC for FC, but ONLY if it's an HST set, not MK4 set, and also, only if the FC end has a Valenta on it...

Does NXEC tend to put the MTU on an HST at a certain end of the set, when joined with a Valenta, or is it just pick and mix for which end the MTU is on?

 

[djw1981]

Hmm horses for courses I guess. I like both refurb'ed NX fleets, with exception of the Mk4 buffet /cafe car - but even then i cannot put my finger on it. Both IMO look more welcoming and calming than the Pendo / Voyager - a lot to do with bodyshape (for tilt) and window size / position. Not had a change to experience a 180 or FGW refurb HST for comparison though.

 

[xc170]

I walked through a set of NXEC MK4 coaches at leeds station on friday night and this may sound a bit odd but every coach smelt of wet dogs.

 

[Auximines]

The unrefurbed sets are a disgrace - lumpy torn dirty seats.

 

[Max]

The unrefurbed sets are a disgrace - lumpy torn dirty seats.

But strangely enough they're still very comfortable

The seats on the ex-Midland Mainline set are still in pretty good nick. Does anybody know if this set is to be refurbished to the same standards as the Mallard sets, or is it destined for another TOC?