SWT 158 & 159 Refurbishments

[Domh245]

I prefer that one over that awful zig-zagged one they did.

159103 by Keith, on Flickr

 

[387star]

159191/103

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was going to say the same, the newer one looks nicer, the toothed thing looks sort of a bit unfriendly.

It'd work if it was a smooth fade rather than the "teeth" though.

 

[swt_passenger]

Maybe they intend to have a referendum. Seems to be the in thing at the moment...

 

[Strathclyder]

If I may be slightly controversial, I like the 'Zig-Zag' livery. I'll coincide that the 'teeth' may be a bit unfriendly and brash (a fade effect would have also worked), but I think the overall concept works.

 

[pdeaves]

Not bad, but as 'ml' says, why tinker? Above the passenger windows, though, I think it looks like the masking tape slipped! That's a problem with trying to cross a continuous pattern 'under' a thick bold stripe.

 

[BestWestern]

That is far superior to the awful 'teeth', which just looks brash and nasty and resembles a packet of crisps or chewing gum.

However this new version still has the problem that the blue skirt stops short of the curve in the bodyside, which is a very poor alteration to the existing livery. Having seen the 'teeth' effort in the flesh, the whole train looks 'wrong' because the blue band stops awkwardly short of where it should naturally sit, which spoils the proportions of the livery. Ray Stenning, who I believe designed the current livery (is there anything with a livery that he hasn't designed?), has been quoted as suggesting that the main consideration with any colour scheme is that it sits naturally on the shape of the vehicle; it should work with it, not clash against it. If he's done this redesign then he's ignored his own rules, and demonstrated why they're important!

Pedantic fusspot mode now to 'OFF'!

 

[MCR247]

That is far superior to the awful 'teeth', which just looks brash and nasty and resembles a packet of crisps or chewing gum.

However this new version still has the problem that the blue skirt stops short of the curve in the bodyside, which is a very poor alteration to the existing livery. Having seen the 'teeth' effort in the flesh, the whole train looks 'wrong' because the blue band stops awkwardly short of where it should naturally sit, which spoils the proportions of the livery. Ray Stenning, who I believe designed the current livery (is there anything with a livery that he hasn't designed?), has been quoted as suggesting that the main consideration with any colour scheme is that it sits naturally on the shape of the vehicle; it should work with it, not clash against it. If he's done this redesign then he's ignored his own rules, and demonstrated why they're important!

Pedantic fusspot mode now to 'OFF'!

I guess you're not a fan of the EMT 158s then?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I prefer the old livery, btw, didn't the end doors used to be orange? Was it deemed to be not enough of a contrast with the main livery (DDA regs)?

 

[Uzair]

Very nice!

 

[swt_passenger]

I prefer the old livery, btw, didn't the end doors used to be orange? Was it deemed to be not enough of a contrast with the main livery (DDA regs)?

The orange doors were already there as contrast. Back in 2006 or so, when that livery was first applied to 159/1s post overhaul to SWT standards, the inner doors and both sets of doors on the middle cars, were still done in the red. It was a later change to make them all orange throughout the length of the units.

The latest change from orange to yellow doesn't look as if it is an essential 'requirement', so perhaps they just think it looks better overall.

 

[Townsend Hook]

This latest effort does seem to be so complex as to look untidy. I much prefer the previous sawtooth design.

 

[capital12]

That is far superior to the awful 'teeth', which just looks brash and nasty and resembles a packet of crisps or chewing gum.

However this new version still has the problem that the blue skirt stops short of the curve in the bodyside, which is a very poor alteration to the existing livery. Having seen the 'teeth' effort in the flesh, the whole train looks 'wrong' because the blue band stops awkwardly short of where it should naturally sit, which spoils the proportions of the livery. Ray Stenning, who I believe designed the current livery (is there anything with a livery that he hasn't designed?), has been quoted as suggesting that the main consideration with any colour scheme is that it sits naturally on the shape of the vehicle; it should work with it, not clash against it. If he's done this redesign then he's ignored his own rules, and demonstrated why they're important!

Pedantic fusspot mode now to 'OFF'!

Yes agree totally about the blue skirt. The subsequent increase in white coupled with the yellow doors also makes it look odd.

And yes Ray did the original but he hasn't done these updates.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Apart from the colour of the doors, why can't they make it exactly like it is on the 444s?

 

[Harbon 1]

Apart from the colour of the doors, why can't they make it exactly like it is on the 444s?

I assume you mean the black roof? If so I guess being diesel it'll get dirty pretty quickly.

Also the 444s and all Desiros for that matter have always looked 'chubby' to me.

(apologies for bump, didn't see the date, was redirected here from another thread and thought I'd rudely butt in)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Also the 444s and all Desiros for that matter have always looked 'chubby' to me.

The 23m Desiros are the narrowest current UK passenger rolling stock at 2.68m wide, so not so chubby

 

[Harbon 1]

The 23m Desiros are the narrowest current UK passenger rolling stock at 2.68m wide, so not so chubby

Ah, must be me then!

 

[Domh245]

Ah, must be me then!

I think it is their relatively square profile. The Desiros have got pretty vertical sides and wide, flat, roofs. Your Electrostars by comparison have got slanted sides and a curved roof, which gives them a slightly less top heavy look (and thus slightly less chubby)

 

[Helvellyn]

I think 159101 looks fresh. Better than 159103, and when you see it against a unit that hasn't been to Loughborough yet it looks brighter. The units coming back now are also getting First Class seats the same as fitted to the 159/0 units - my guess is they are ex-GWR ones from the Trailer Firsts. The 159/1s got their First Class seats from Anglia 170/2s, and in my view just are not as comfortable.

 

[swt_passenger]

The 23m Desiros are the narrowest current UK passenger rolling stock at 2.68m wide, so not so chubby

Maths pedantry, the 2.688 shown on the data plates should really be rounded to 2.69...

 

[Harbon 1]

So I haven't just pulled the thread off topic, I think the livery looks fresh, and a nice change to an already quite attractive livery IMO. much better than the zigzags, that looks like something Virgin would do!

 

[Kite159]

I see 159107 is back with the new seat cushions etc, does anybody know which 159 has been sent up to Loughborough next to be done?

(And when did the 158s get the new sink module fitted with a better handdryer?)

 

[xc170]

Is each unit coming back with a slightly different livery?

 

[yorksrob]

Does anyone know what these new seat cushions are like ?

I hope SWT haven't taken a currently superior interior design and replaced it with the usual rock hard rubbish of current train refurbs.

 

[TEW]

They divide opinion, some people like them, some people don't.

 

[yorksrob]

They divide opinion, some people like them, some people don't.

So I'm guessing they are significantly harder than the older ones.

I knew my comfortable journeys to Exeter were too good to last.

 

[TEW]

They're not significantly harder. They are firmer, but I still find them very comfortable.

 

[Kite159]

I call them memory foam as that is what the base felt like when first introduced (but having 103 a couple weeks ago they felt less firm so maybe they take time to wear in)

 

[swt_passenger]

They divide opinion, some people like them, some people don't.

Is each unit coming back with a slightly different livery?

As can be seen in the other 159 livery thread that started more recently. I'll ask the mods to combine the threads, or we'll get all the same posts again...

 

[159depotdriver]

159108 has just come back from C6 with 105 to go next