SWR Repaints and Refurbishments

[Train Boy]

Just as an update: from recent observations, the following 444s now carry SWR branding;

444001, 444002, 444003, 444010, 444013, 444017, 444018, 444019, 444030, 444031, 444032, 444035, 444036 & 444043

 

[spark001uk]

On most jobs these days labour costs tend to be the expensive bit, as even if the materials cost a lot by the time they are on site a lot of that cost is to do with the labour of getting it there the raw material and construction/fabrication costs are fairly low.

Plus I'm pretty sure there's 240 AC available all through that conduit already, simply needing to be Tee'd off at each seat. I may be wrong, but one would assume Siemens would have thought of this eventuality and made it as easy as possible to retro-fit. (as said above there's already a hoover socket in every coach)

 

[winks]

Just a quick one on the sockets being installed; are they going to have USB ports on them as most people don’t want to carry a plug around with them. Would seem sensible

 

[spark001uk]

Just a quick one on the sockets being installed; are they going to have USB ports on them as most people don’t want to carry a plug around with them. Would seem sensible

From the tests I've carried out (with a usb meter) on USB sockets so far, they don't generally put out enough current to charge many of today's smartphones, so I would always carry the factory supplied plug as well. I've heard rumours of 2A USB sockets making their way to some newer stock, so we shall see. Hopefully they'll be fitted to the desiros.

Tested so far: mk3 HST stock 1st class 0.5A, Cl.800 1st class 0.5A, mk3 night riviera stock (new refurb, airline seats) 1A.
I've heard somewhere else that somebody managed to charge their smartphone OK on a 150/2 refurb with USBs, but I haven't got to testing one as yet.

 

[randompixel]

Just a quick one on the sockets being installed; are they going to have USB ports on them as most people don’t want to carry a plug around with them. Would seem sensible

Which format would you install? USB-A which would support older devices, or USB-C for all high and mid-level devices in the past few years (and the future). Most sockets I see seem to be for the older, more easily snap-able format which will be heading towards obsolescence in the lifetime of this refurbishment (every 10 years?). I'd rather see a standard plug which any device can use.

 

[winks]

0.5A is almost pointless.

Always future proof so I would say go for USB-C

 

[spark001uk]

All the USB cables I've seen to date have been USB-A at the supply end. Apart from the Apple cable for the newer macbooks, which is USB-C to lightning, but that's not technically a mains PSU charger cable, the phone will still have come with a cable with USB-A at the supply end. There are a few aftermarket power supplies about that now have a choice of sockets on them, including USB-C, but you would have to buy a seperate cable with a C at the supply end.

 

[randompixel]

All the USB cables I've seen to date have been USB-A at the supply end. Apart from the Apple cable for the newer macbooks, which is USB-C to lightning, but that's not technically a mains PSU charger cable, the phone will still have come with a cable with USB-A at the supply end. There are a few aftermarket power supplies about that now have a choice of sockets on them, including USB-C, but you would have to buy a seperate cable with a C at the supply end.

My Pixel doesn't. My Macbook doesn't. Maybe you're right and they're going to fudge it for backwards compatibility.

 

[DelW]

Travelled on reliveried and reupholstered 450111 this morning on the Portsmouth direct. The interior isn't as sombre as I expected, and new carpet is an improvement on the now very worn and dirty originals. Seat padding seemed slightly more sculpted than the original, and it was definitely more comfortable than the old style on a 455 that I changed onto. I couldn't see any sign of power points in standard class though.

Overall it looks smart inside if not as cheerful as the old SWT colour scheme.

 

[winks]

How do I travel on this today as I’m heading to Pompey (via BSK) later on !?
Cheers

 

[DelW]

How do I travel on this today as I’m heading to Pompey (via BSK) later on !?
Cheers

Sorry this is probably too late to help, but it was the second unit on 09.24 stopper from Pompey due into Waterloo at 11.14 (was running somewhat late).

 

[Goldfish62]

I've just travelled on 450031 between Reading and Bracknell It's another one to have an internal refurb. The seats are noticeably softer and more comfortable, with the correct profile restored due to new seat cushions. I note that cloth rather moquette is used, being less prone to fading. The 1st Class leather seats look good as well

 

[387star]

I've just travelled on 450031 between Reading and Bracknell It's another one to have an internal refurb. The seats are noticeably softer and more comfortable, with the correct profile restored due to new seat cushions. I note that cloth rather moquette is used, being less prone to fading. The 1st Class leather seats look good as well

Is this in new livery?
Is the interior finalised ?
When is the first 444 due out?

 

[Goldfish62]

Is this in new livery?
Is the interior finalised ?
When is the first 444 due out?

No, original layout still with orange handrails, no idea....

 

[Goldfish62]

I do wonder, given that at least three 450s now have new carpets and seat cushions, whether changing the seating layout has been abandoned. The carpet has to be cut around the seat legs and if there is a change of layout the affected carpet will have to be replaced.

 

[Monty]

I do wonder, given that at least three 450s now have new carpets and seat cushions, whether changing the seating layout has been abandoned. The carpet has to be cut around the seat legs and if there is a change of layout the affected carpet will have to be replaced.

Not a bad thing if the case, I'm rather keen to keep my office on board. But somehow I think they will get around to it eventually.

 

[moley]

Was talking to a guard on way to work this week. He had been told that there was a supply issue related to moving first class hence why the changes have not happened. He had been informed that they had to start as they couldn’t afford the delay but the first so many units will have to go back to be finished.

 

[TEW]

I believe that the part refurbished units done so far have all had work done at Northam Depot, the refurbishment project proper is being carried out at Eastleigh. The first 444 and 450 being done there have not yet been released. I would wait to see what they look like personally.

 

[Kite159]

159105 now has SWR branding

 

[Goldfish62]

159105 now has SWR branding

Looks like it's been done properly rather than just slap a label over the SWT name. Would have been a good idea to clean the application area, though...

 

[pompeyfan]

I’ve literally just walked past this, possibly even walked past yourself.

 

[K.o.R]

Travelled on 450031 the other day. Oddly, despite having the internal refurbishment (and very nice it is too), it is one of the few that doesn't have the SWR vinyls on the outside.

 

[lewisf]

159105 now has SWR branding

There’s at least two 159s with SWR logos as I saw two units in the same train earlier.

Also, 455733 finally has SWR logos

 

[pompeyfan]

Even 159s that haven’t been refreshed are starting to receive stickers, orange door’d 159018(?) has lost its SWT logo in that was in the swoosh and gained SWR branding in the same place as 159105.

 

[winks]

I’ve never knon a rebaranding take so long...is there anything SWR can get right ?

 

[swt_passenger]

I’ve never knon a rebaranding take so long...is there anything SWR can get right ?

Apparently DfT own the SWT branding and agreed that SWT did not need to remove the old branding. A different scenario entirely to most franchise changeovers.

 

[D2007wsm]

I’ve never knon a rebaranding take so long...is there anything SWR can get right ?

GWR have plenty of rolling stock still about with 'First Great Western' on them , especially the HSTs and it is still evident in some stations. It has been several years since the new 'GWR' brand was introdu ed.

It would have been a simple job when a unit was in for maintenance to simply remove the 'First' and rounded, leaving just 'Great Western' until the unit/power car/carriage is repainted or taken off of lease. Wouldn't have cost too much as no new stickers were being applied and a simple and affective solution to remove the 'First' from the old brand, whilst retaining the 'Great Western' of the current brand.

 

[59CosG95]

A friend of mine who has SWR connections dropped the news that 450033 was due to leave Eastleigh last night/this morning; new interior and new livery.

 

[theironroad]

I came across a 450 with the new seats and carpets, and seats felt good and capret was still springy, hopefully they'll stay that way.

My only issue was the placement of the electrical sockets. While they'll blanked over at moment, the casing is way too bulky and when I was sitting in the window seat, could feel the socket box pressing into my leg and that's without any plug in it or anyone in the aisle seat next to me. It looks like the same bulky casing that's always been used in the first class compartment.

I don't understand why they couldn't use a design that would be flush with the bulkhead as is used on most of trains that have outlets.

 

[randompixel]

I came across a 450 with the new seats and carpets, and seats felt good and capret was still springy, hopefully they'll stay that way.

My only issue was the placement of the electrical sockets. While they'll blanked over at moment, the casing is way too bulky and when I was sitting in the window seat, could feel the socket box pressing into my leg and that's without any plug in it or anyone in the aisle seat next to me. It looks like the same bulky casing that's always been used in the first class compartment.

I don't understand why they couldn't use a design that would be flush with the bulkhead as is used on most of trains that have outlets.

Or under the actual seats so you don't have charging cables draped all over the footwell causing potential trip hazards (a bit different from when a table is there).