Seat cushions

[EM2]

Years ago, in the days of VEPs, the seat bases were always loose, rather than bolted to the frame.
Are modern units the same?

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Merseyrail 142s seem that way awful seats the underframe has falled off from under me on bolted track like on the Southport line.

 

[142094]

Depends on which stock you're talking about, but in general they should always be held in place by bolts/screws etc, otherwise they end up being thrown around or chucked through the windows.

The seats on some 142s (Richmond, ex- Northern Spirit ones) can be loose, which is why a lot of time when there is football specials on, the trains are a mess after everyone has left.

 

[gazthomas]

The seat cushions of 317's in WAGN days and likewise 319's in Thameslink days always came loose.

 

[yorksrob]

There were always plenty of EPB cushions mouldering away on the cuttings and embankments of South East London during the 90's

 

[fgwrich]

Depends on which stock you're talking about, but in general they should always be held in place by bolts/screws etc, otherwise they end up being thrown around or chucked through the windows.

The seats on some 142s (Richmond, ex- Northern Spirit ones) can be loose, which is why a lot of time when there is football specials on, the trains are a mess after everyone has left.

There were always plenty of EPB cushions mouldering away on the cuttings and embankments of South East London during the 90's

I remember those days, even including plenty of NSE & SWT Seat cushions lining the sides of the South Western Mainline well into the last days of the VEPs and pre 455 refurb. 313s on the North London Lines were also another good one, as the seats in those are clipped into the plastic seat bases - so all it took was a simple lift up and out of the window, a down side to slim designs!

Unfortunatly, many are still simply clipped in to the seat backs, the amount of times ive tried to 'bang' them back into the bases are unbelivable. Mind you, the majoiry of those have been the back parts, just wait (like i found out) till you sit down on a SWT 158 (or others for that matter!) with the original seat cushions... And then find yourself being tipped into the table as the unclipped cushion falls onto the floor.:-x:

 

[yorksrob]

I remember those days, even including plenty of NSE & SWT Seat cushions lining the sides of the South Western Mainline well into the last days of the VEPs and pre 455 refurb. 313s on the North London Lines were also another good one, as the seats in those are clipped into the plastic seat bases - so all it took was a simple lift up and out of the window, a down side to slim designs!

Unfortunatly, many are still simply clipped in to the seat backs, the amount of times ive tried to 'bang' them back into the bases are unbelivable. Mind you, the majoiry of those have been the back parts, just wait (like i found out) till you sit down on a SWT 158 (or others for that matter!) with the original seat cushions... And then find yourself being tipped into the table as the unclipped cushion falls onto the floor.:-x:

The CEP headrests had a habit of falling off as well

 

[Class172]

On some of the LM 150s, before the cascade, the whole seat bases could tip forwards or some extreme cases, slide off, as I found to my horror one day (yes I fell off it!). It revealed a yellow fibrous foam as the padding which puffed into the air; I dread to think what it was made of. hock:

 

[142094]

Quite common for the seat back to be held in place by clips at the top, with the bottom held in place by the seat cushion. Some of the newer Bombardier and Siemens stock seem to have moulded plastic seats, with well fitting cushions - the only problem being that they are as hard as rock sitting on them for a while.

 

[Muzer]

I remember those days, even including plenty of NSE & SWT Seat cushions lining the sides of the South Western Mainline well into the last days of the VEPs and pre 455 refurb. 313s on the North London Lines were also another good one, as the seats in those are clipped into the plastic seat bases - so all it took was a simple lift up and out of the window, a down side to slim designs!

Unfortunatly, many are still simply clipped in to the seat backs, the amount of times ive tried to 'bang' them back into the bases are unbelivable. Mind you, the majoiry of those have been the back parts, just wait (like i found out) till you sit down on a SWT 158 (or others for that matter!) with the original seat cushions... And then find yourself being tipped into the table as the unclipped cushion falls onto the floor.:-x:

As much as a problem them falling off is, they still remain bloody comfortable seats IMHO


Certainly no reason for FGW to replace them with rock solid ones that dig into your back :-x

 

[TEW]

Leaning forward on the standard 150 seats will cause the base to come off, rather useful when you've dropped your phone in there.

 

[tom1649]

I remember when the 308s were in service on Airedale/Wharfedale services there were a fair few headrests/seat bases scattered around the lineside.

 

[yorksrob]

I remember when the 308s were in service on Airedale/Wharfedale services there were a fair few headrests/seat bases scattered around the lineside.

Similar design to the CEP's.

 

[bronzeonion]

On some of the LM 150s, before the cascade, the whole seat bases could tip forwards or some extreme cases, slide off, as I found to my horror one day (yes I fell off it!). It revealed a yellow fibrous foam as the padding which puffed into the air; I dread to think what it was made of. hock:

Sponge maybe?!

 

[317666]

The original low-back seats fitted to the PEP-design EMUs (313s, 314s, 315s, 507s, 508s) have loose cushions.

 

[Prairie_5542]

The 321 seats are better than the 360 seats. The Intercity (GA) stock, the seats in first class can come off if pulled up!!

 

[Class172]

Sponge maybe?!

Probably, but the yellow plume of powder that emanated from it was not particulary attractive!

 

[bronzeonion]

Probably, but the yellow plume of powder that emanated from it was not particulary attractive!

Dried up old sponge!
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Quite odd how with Southeastern Networkers their seat cushions have been loose every time I have been on them but any other Networker I have travelled has had them secured down mind you pre refurb FGW ones were loose sometimes.

 

[Starmill]

Quite common for the seat back to be held in place by clips at the top, with the bottom held in place by the seat cushion. Some of the newer Bombardier and Siemens stock seem to have moulded plastic seats, with well fitting cushions - the only problem being that they are as hard as rock sitting on them for a while.

Couldn't agree more Ouch!

 

[Class172]

I sat on a 150 on the way home from Birmingham earlier, I decided to not sit in the window seat for it appeared that the sponge inside had disintegrated — you could feel the springs and it had flopped forward. That said, when in good condition (ie the adjacent seat), they are extremely comfortable.

 

[corin paul]

I know one thing, and that Cleethorpes to Manchester on class 185 is hard on the bum. after a hour it's non. I wish they would fall off.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/class_153/7595344672/in/set-72157630584397004

 

[EM2]

Thanks for all the replies.
So, to sum up, unless the unit is fairly new with the plastic seatframes (similar to the Overground 172s), then the cushions are generally clipped in place or loose.
This is some useful ammunition for an ongoing argument!

 

[bronzeonion]

The seats on MK1's (in second class) were fairly substantial and wont fall off easily at all but the First Class compartment cushions are literally loose massive cushions!

 

[fgwrich]

I sat on a 150 on the way home from Birmingham earlier, I decided to not sit in the window seat for it appeared that the sponge inside had disintegrated — you could feel the springs and it had flopped forward. That said, when in good condition (ie the adjacent seat), they are extremely comfortable.

To be fair, in this day and age i'd say the original seats in the 150s are pretty unsuitable, especially the hardly looked after units. When LM were using a majority fleet of 150s in their last few months, some of those seats were so awful that you might have well just taken the cushions off and sat on the seat basses - especially the odd few filled with newspaper instead of sponge!

Some of them aren't too bad (FGW have at least reupholstered and re-cushioned theirs), but they do remain pretty low and cramped.

 

[LE Greys]

The seat cushions of 317's in WAGN days and likewise 319's in Thameslink days always came loose.

They still do (certainly the last 317 I was on had plenty of loose cushions).

 

[142094]

Was on a 142 between Huddersfield and Manchester the other day with the original bus seating - have to say it was a lot more comfortable compared to the Voyager and 185 I'd been on earlier in the day.

 

[Muzer]

IMHO everyone (except LUL?) has forgotten how to make comfortable seats...

 

[corin paul]

Comfort on a bus seat of 142 is better then a class 185 any day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/class_153/6088291792/in/set-72157627192408787/

 

[tom1649]

Seat comfort has certainly declined over the last couple of decades in my opinion. Are deep sprung seats actually not allowed anymore or has market research decided that the majority prefer rock hard molded seating? Maybe they haven't done any research and it's just cheaper or they don't care about passenger comfort.

I long for the day when seat design and comfort is once again taken seriously. Say what you like about BR, at least they had the (majority of) seating well designed!

 

[ainsworth74]

Are deep sprung seats actually not allowed anymore or has market research decided that the majority prefer rock hard molded seating?

It's mostly driven, as far as I'm aware, by the requirements of crashworthiness standards.