Rolling stock internal refits

[ess]

Is there a comparison of how many years apart refits took place on different classes after privatisation?

For example with the Class 800s being about 5 years old, how long until there's the chance of replacing the ironing boards?

 

[RailWonderer]

Is there a comparison of how many years apart refits took place on different classes after privatisation?

For example with the Class 800s being about 5 years old, how long until there's the chance of replacing the ironing boards?

GNER replaced the original seats in their Mk4 after 10 years so it is possible we don't have that long a wait although that was one of the benefits of a good private operator that some early refurbs were put out. With the current direction of the railway I expect DfT mandated ironing boards for many years to come.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is there a comparison of how many years apart refits took place on different classes after privatisation?

For example with the Class 800s being about 5 years old, how long until there's the chance of replacing the ironing boards?

No chance. These trains, like most post privatisation units, are expected to last 35-40 years in service. A refit of the type you’re hoping for would happen after around the 20 year point, but even then it would be relatively unusual to change all the seats.

 

[bramling]

Is there a comparison of how many years apart refits took place on different classes after privatisation?

For example with the Class 800s being about 5 years old, how long until there's the chance of replacing the ironing boards?

The 24x 317/2s lost their original seats fairly quickly. Refurbished by WAGN in the mid to late 90s, so 10-15 years at the most. Same must apply to some 158s who lost their original seats fairly early.

There was definitely a trend towards replacing with Chapman seats in the late 90s. Most of the Sprinter classes in particular had some units fitted with them, though no class got them entirely IIRC.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there a comparison of how many years apart refits took place on different classes after privatisation?

For example with the Class 800s being about 5 years old, how long until there's the chance of replacing the ironing boards?

The seat frame isn't the problem, they just need a better cushion. It (tentatively) appears TfW have fitted such better cushions on their Sophias, if this has worked I hope that once we've got the present cuts-led Government out of the way they can potentially be fitted to other 80x too.

Speaking more generally, a key reason for replacing older 1970s and 1980s seat designs was that they were dangerous in collisions, with the plastic backs breaking into sharp pieces which injured people. The IC70 was particularly bad for this, though some do still lurk e.g. on Chiltern LHCS. Most newer designs appear to be metal-backed and so won't suffer this issue. Plus some older designs were very space-inefficient - the 76 seat Mk3 layout for instance has terrible legroom despite actually being quite generously spaced.

 

[L401CJF]

Class 507/8s got a full refurbishment between 2003-3005 which involved a completely new interior and external face-lift with new headlights etc. The fleet was introduced from 1979 onwards I think.

They weren't really touched between new and 2003 except for a repaint out of BR Blue in the 90s, and they changed the seat moquette in the 90s too.

So around 25 years for those.

 

[Mat17]

Many first gen units kept their original seating until withdrawal - with moquette changes of course.

40+ years for a 101 then.