SWT First Class

[williamn]

Do they offer any freebies/extras in first class on the London - Exeter route? Their website is totally unhelpful.

 

[Greenback]

Do they offer any freebies/extras in first class on the London - Exeter route? Their website is totally unhelpful.

As far as I am aware, SWT offer nothing extra in first class anywhere.

 

[shedman]

That's what I thought too Greenback.

 

[wessex]

Bigger better seats, free plugs, the only riff raff is those that wander through, no food or drinks though

 

[Greenback]

Not really my area, so I don't know, but are there any services where the seats are the same as in standard?

 

[starrymarkb]

Not really my area, so I don't know, but are there any services where the seats are the same as in standard?

Not on the 158s/159s - Standard class uses the original style seats, Most first class seats are the same as those fitted to FGW HSTs (albeit not leather) and EC Mallards...

 

[TEW]

You do get a free drink but only if you are on a service which arrives at London before 09:00, or at least you used to.

 

[Ivo]

Not really my area, so I don't know, but are there any services where the seats are the same as in standard?

Not among SWT specifically to my knowledge, although I've only used 458 FC (and peered inside 159 FC). Elsewhere, at least some SN 377s fall foul of this, although to be fair the Std seating is 2+2 anyway so it's more a case of "guaranteed capacity".

 

[lookingforit35]

Bigger better seats, free plugs, the only riff raff is those that wander through, no food or drinks though

Travelling in the late evening on commuter routes, you'll be more likely to encounter said riff raff. Chavs tend to get brave and sit in 1st in a slightly "intimidating" manner, playing music, eating junk food and sometimes smoking.

Another good reason not to bother paying for this privelege on shorter distance trains. London - Exeter might be OK though.

 

[MCR247]

Not really my area, so I don't know, but are there any services where the seats are the same as in standard?

SWT First class from my experience:
458s - FGW standard class seating (Grammer)
450 - 377 First & Standard class seating, but with ability to recline, although its pretty awkward!
444 - Different seats to standard and thats afaik
158/9 - as said, same as FGW HST first class seats etc

 

[Nym]

So basically, aside from being in a separate bit that gets invaded anyway, there's sod all difference...?

 

[All Line Rover]

SWT First class from my experience:
458s - FGW standard class seating (Grammer)

I've no experience of 458's.

450 - 377 First & Standard class seating, but with ability to recline, although its pretty awkward!

First Class on 450's identical to those on 350's. In a word - crap, being identical to Standard Class. The "reclining" feature is a gimmick. It's not called reclining. It's called lifting up a seat and moving it!! :roll:

First Class on 377's is similar to those on 350's and 450's, but in my opinion, even worse! hock:

444 - Different seats to standard and thats afaik

I was impressed by First Class on these trains. No freebies, but the seats are far superior to Standard Class and are very, very comfortable. They also have a decent reclining mechanism, and the First Class compartment itself is very large.

158/9 - as said, same as FGW HST first class seats etc

OK, but not the most comfortable seats in the world. Rather tatty, and in need of a refurb.

 

[GarethW]

I've no experience of 458's.



First Class on 450's identical to those on 350's. In a word - crap, being identical to Standard Class. The "reclining" feature is a gimmick. It's not called reclining. It's called lifting up a seat and moving it!! :roll:

First Class on 377's is similar to those on 350's and 450's, but in my opinion, even worse! hock:



I was impressed by First Class on these trains. No freebies, but the seats are far superior to Standard Class and are very, very comfortable. They also have a decent reclining mechanism, and the First Class compartment itself is very large.



OK, but not the most comfortable seats in the world. Rather tatty, and in need of a refurb.

Not quite true - first class in swt 450s is 2+2, standard 2+3, first class is in the middle of the train and tiny so you get lots of walkthrough. Seats are comparable to standard class 444 but there are a couple of tables. Marginal call as to whether its worth even the £5 weekend upgrade.

First Class in 444s is most of an end coach, 2+1 seating, as opposed to 2+2 in standard. Worth the £5 upgrade, though they are getting quite tatty now and the air con is noisy.

 

[Shrub Hill]

2 + 1 seating, travelled that route plenty of times and never had any bother at all! 1st class is at the london end (usually) on the 159's, just sit at the rear of the train and you will absolutely fine,

 

[Helvellyn]

Just to add, the Class 159/1 units have First Class seating recovered from Anglia Railways 170/2 3-car units, when 'one' Railway reduced the amount of First Class seating by approximately two-thirds. This seating is slightly different to that in the 158 and 159/0 units, in that the middle armrest of the two side is very wide, and they have a slightly different headrest that seems bigger. Seating layout is also differnt on the one side, with a single seat near the partition between First and Standard, meaning seating is provided for 24 First Class passengers compared to 23 in a 159/0 and 13 in a 158.

 

[Essexman]

I'm not bothered about the lack of freebies but SWT Weekend First and Advance Firsts are relatively cheap and often worth the extra for the quieter ambience.

 

[BestWestern]

I'd say personally I think FC on SWT's 158/159's is pretty good, though only occupies a small part of one coach. The seating is very generous and comfortable, and even with the high quality interiors on these units FC is still notably superior. It's probably a better experience travelling towards London, when it's at the front, as the leading vestibule is always locked out of use and presumably helps reduce walkthrough, but nevertheless I'd pay for it in either direction.

 

[150222]

Why is the front vestibule locked out?

 

[Matt Taylor]

Unlike Desiro stock the driver has no cab door, thus the front vestibule is locked out to ensure there is a safe exit for the driver in an emergency or if they have to leave the cab to use a signal post telephone for example. It used to be the same on the 442s.

 

[150222]

Unlike Desiro stock the driver has no cab door, thus the front vestibule is locked out to ensure there is a safe exit for the driver in an emergency or if they have to leave the cab to use a signal post telephone for example. It used to be the same on the 442s.

That sounds reasonable however why do no other toc's with 158's operate this policy? Certainly northern don't and TPE didn't.

 

[Nym]

Because on most of Northern units that would be half the units' doors out...

 

[150222]

Because on most of Northern units that would be half the units' doors out...

Northern operate several 4 car 158's. Even if it was 2 car it would be 1 of 4 doors out. I'm not on about a 153!

 

[MCR247]

I thinks it's only SWT that bother with this

 

[BestWestern]

It's only SWT, and possibly I'd guess East Midlands but I don't know? It works well when you have a long-ish formation, a 3 car 159 or longer, and just about works on a 2 car set if it's on a very quiet run. But on anything which is remotely busy with just a 2 car it becomes a pain in the backside, as you end up with everybody in the leading carriage having to fight their way up to the middle of the train to exit, not ideal at all. When we used to have one on spot hire at our TOC many of use would isolate the saloon-vestibule doors at the front to allow people to access the front doors to alight. You can open them from inside the vestibule if you can get past the locking vestibule doors, just not from outside the train.

 

[swt_passenger]

That sounds reasonable however why do no other toc's with 158's operate this policy? Certainly northern don't and TPE didn't.

It was explained a few years ago that the orignal decision (that Matt mentions above, and that included the 442s) also took account of the area the trains normally work in. If a driver needs to leave the train east of Basingstoke he would normally be stopped in the middle roads of a four tracked third rail area. Having passengers in that vestibule wasn't a good idea, so it was decided to prevent normal access.

 

[wintonian]

SWT First class from my experience:
458s - FGW standard class seating (Grammer)
450 - 377 First & Standard class seating, but with ability to recline, although its pretty awkward!
444 - Different seats to standard and thats afaik
158/9 - as said, same as FGW HST first class seats etc

450's are 2+2 instead of 2+3 seating.

444's are 1+2 instead of 2+2 seating and recline quite well with lots of leg room.

IMO, first on the 444's is quite nice as a space, room and to get away from overcrowding in the morning/ evening etc. But the 450's are just paying extra for a better chance of a seat and not to sit almost on someone's lap.

Also worth noting that the 455's don't have first class.

 

[moonrakerz]

2 + 1 seating, travelled that route plenty of times and never had any bother at all! 1st class is at the london end (usually) on the 159's, just sit at the rear of the train and you will absolutely fine,

You won't be if you get on a service that divides at Salisbury - you'll end up at Temple Meads !