Rolling stock interiors under Great British Railways

[317 forever]

I wonder whether rolling stock under GBR will have standard interiors in terms of moquette, pole colours etc, or have distinctive interiors according to type of operation or inherited TOC?

I ask because I have seen pictures of forthcoming LNER class 897s with similar red seating to current Azumas. Similarly, Cross Country and East Midlands Railway are progressing with refurbishments according to their own choice of interiors.

While the rolling stock interiors are fairly low down the list of changes needed to create a comparatively integrated railway, this will be a fairly visible change for travelling enthusiasts in particular.

 

[JonathanH]

If they do go for a standard interior, let's hope it is an attractive one. Having different ones reduces the risk of an unattractive interior being implemented on all stock.

There was a thread about this relatively recently, because someone pointed out that BR didn't get to the point where it had a standard interior across all stock. While a lot of stock in the 1980s had a common interior, with "Bournemouth Blue" moquette, it was by no means universal.

Intercity didn't have "Red Dogger" moquette in all of its stock.
Network South East didn't have "Blue Blaze 1" moquette in all of its stock
Regional Railways didn't quite manage to have that grey moquette with blue flecks in all of its stock.

 

[Topological]

Hopefully, it will just be a case of refurbishments as needed.

When the refurbishments are done, they will hopefully reflect the times. It would be silly to choose a look for the first stock to be refurbished and then stick to the same when the new 897s are up for their refresh. I assume that the voyagers won't actually get another complete refresh in their lifetimes. I feel like this was true under BR too. The Mk4s were not given a look which matched the Mk3s.

 

[SynthD]

What good is achieved by abandoning the brands we have now? It would just confuse people who have all this past experience of what colours and designs mean. Where trains are nearly uniform, I wish they’d be more distinctive.

Not to be confused with modern regulations (ironing board seats) or fashions (small amounts of wooden panelling?)

 

[Bletchleyite]

BR didn't have consistent interior designs generally speaking. Though IC did in a lot of cases use the red and grey, and Network SouthEast had a standard moquette. But the likes of Regional Railways had all manner of different schemes.

 

[ThatBloke]

Its unlikely anyone will fund a standardisation of seat coverings and paint finishes, on the basis of building a homogeneous 'brand' for the interior.

Perhaps the stickers and information signage could be harmonised, to build a brand at a minimal cost.

 

[swt_passenger]

I wonder whether rolling stock under GBR will have standard interiors in terms of moquette, pole colours etc, or have distinctive interiors according to type of operation or inherited TOC?

I ask because I have seen pictures of forthcoming LNER class 897s with similar red seating to current Azumas. Similarly, Cross Country and East Midlands Railway are progressing with refurbishments according to their own choice of interiors.

While the rolling stock interiors are fairly low down the list of changes needed to create a comparatively integrated railway, this will be a fairly visible change for travelling enthusiasts in particular.

I suggest no interiors will ever be altered for standardisation purpose before the normal planned lifespan of the materials. I expect stuff like grab handles and poles will not be changed at all. It’s a huge expense that would achieve nothing.