TfW Class 175 interior refurbishment

[Y Ddraig Coch]

It is out today working 1V93 0830 Llandudno to Cardiff

Any idea if it is making its way back up North again later today?

Would be nice to go and have a quick ride and see what its like.

 

[PHILIPE]

Any idea if it is making its way back up North again later today?

Would be nice to go and have a quick ride and see what its like.

Posted together

Should be 1W18 1510 Swansea to Chester subject to usual caveats.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Posted together

Should be 1W18 1510 Swansea to Chester subject to usual caveats.

Cheers

 

[anamyd]

I'd imagine they've switched to LED for the energy savings.

I was thinking the lower energy tubes like on the 158s, but you could be right with LEDs

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was thinking the lower energy tubes like on the 158s, but you could be right with LEDs

LED "tubes" (a plastic tube containing LEDs with fittings to just drop into a fluorescent type fitting) seem to be being used quite widely on the railway - all of Northern's refurbs for a start, XC 170s too.

 

[craigybagel]

what part is that...?

As I understand it, an air pipe broke.

 

[anamyd]

As I understand it, an air pipe broke.

thanks

 

[anamyd]

LED "tubes" (a plastic tube containing LEDs with fittings to just drop into a fluorescent type fitting) seem to be being used quite widely on the railway - all of Northern's refurbs for a start, XC 170s too.

ah yes!

 

[NewSt]

Does anyone have any idea what services 175 002 is on today? Hoping to go for a ride.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

On route to Cardiff now from Carmarthen then working 9:21 Cardiff to Holyhead

 

[Doomotron]

Unpopular opinion: the new interior looks awful. It looks like the IEP interior, which everybody hates, yet for some reason everybody likes this because... Red handrails? I don't know.

 

[NewSt]

On route to Cardiff now from Carmarthen then working 9:21 Cardiff to Holyhead

Many thanks!

 

[Llanigraham]

Unpopular opinion: the new interior looks awful. It looks like the IEP interior, which everybody hates, yet for some reason everybody likes this because... Red handrails? I don't know.

Do they?
I've used them a couple of times and thought they were quite pleasant.

 

[NewSt]

Unpopular opinion: the new interior looks awful. It looks like the IEP interior, which everybody hates, yet for some reason everybody likes this because... Red handrails? I don't know.

I beg to differ. The new interior is rather dissimilar to the IET interior anyway, but you also have to take into consideration what you're comparing it to. You are comparing an IET to an HST, and you're never going to win over an HST. In the case of the 175s, you're comparing it to the tatty old Arriva interior, so it's going to seem a lot better.

I travelled on one today (video here:

) and I thought it was a massive step up from the old interiors.

 

[anamyd]

I beg to differ. The new interior is rather dissimilar to the IET interior anyway, but you also have to take into consideration what you're comparing it to. You are comparing an IET to an HST, and you're never going to win over an HST. In the case of the 175s, you're comparing it to the tatty old Arriva interior, so it's going to seem a lot better.

I travelled on one today (video here:

) and I thought it was a massive step up from the old interiors.

that video is much appreciated! will watch it as soon as I get back home

 

[NewSt]

that video is much appreciated! will watch it as soon as I get back home

Glad to help!

 

[krus_aragon]

Glad to help!

One minor technicality on the video annotations: the "Arriva" purple was actually put there by First North Western when the units were built.

 

[NewSt]

One minor technicality on the video annotations: the "Arriva" purple was actually put there by First North Western when the units were built.

Someone else has also told me that but thanks for letting me know! I'll put the correction in the description.

 

[sw1ller]

Any pics of the cab by any chance?? Has that had a re fit???

 

[Doomotron]

Do they?
I've used them a couple of times and thought they were quite pleasant.

Wow, you're actually the first person I've ever met who likes the IEP interior.

I beg to differ. The new interior is rather dissimilar to the IET interior anyway, but you also have to take into consideration what you're comparing it to. You are comparing an IET to an HST, and you're never going to win over an HST. In the case of the 175s, you're comparing it to the tatty old Arriva interior, so it's going to seem a lot better.

I travelled on one today (video here:

) and I thought it was a massive step up from the old interiors.

Is it a step up though? The old interior was so much more colourful and happy - tatty, yes, but much more pleasant. Grey isn't a happy colour. Grey is a boring, depressing, 'giving up at life' colour. For the refurbishment, the seats should have been red to add some colour. I'm just waiting for another Wessex Trains to come along so we get a colourful pink train.

 

[NewSt]

Is it a step up though? The old interior was so much more colourful and happy - tatty, yes, but much more pleasant. Grey isn't a happy colour. Grey is a boring, depressing, 'giving up at life' colour. For the refurbishment, the seats should have been red to add some colour. I'm just waiting for another Wessex Trains to come along so we get a colourful pink train.

I think it is a step up overall, but it could definitely be a bit more uplifting, as it is very dull.

 

[hexagon789]

Is it a step up though? The old interior was so much more colourful and happy - tatty, yes, but much more pleasant. Grey isn't a happy colour. Grey is a boring, depressing, 'giving up at life' colour. For the refurbishment, the seats should have been red to add some colour. I'm just waiting for another Wessex Trains to come along so we get a colourful pink train.

It is, they needed a refurb. Not the best colour scheme ever perhaps but generally it looks so much better than the tattiness before.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wow, you're actually the first person I've ever met who likes the IEP interior.
Is it a step up though? The old interior was so much more colourful and happy - tatty, yes, but much more pleasant. Grey isn't a happy colour. Grey is a boring, depressing, 'giving up at life' colour.

Or a relaxing, inoffensive one.

To be fair my preference is for deep, rich colours (with dark grey leather effect headrests ideally), I can't think of a single interior scheme I dislike more than washed-out old FirstGroup purple-pink-puke, to be honest, though Dynamic Lines is much, much nicer.

I think it's very much a personal opinion thing, though grey with colour highlighting does seem to be a trend.

FWIW I don't like the GWR IEP interior scheme because of the plain grey seats and the nasty lime green 1980s bus style stripe and handles. Make those British Racing Green and add some British Racing Green highlights to the seats and yes, I'd like it (this is similar to the LNR interior on the 230s which will also be going on other stock). The seats themselves aside of course

 

[507 001]

Wow, you're actually the first person I've ever met who likes the IEP interior.
Is it a step up though? The old interior was so much more colourful and happy - tatty, yes, but much more pleasant. Grey isn't a happy colour. Grey is a boring, depressing, 'giving up at life' colour. For the refurbishment, the seats should have been red to add some colour. I'm just waiting for another Wessex Trains to come along so we get a colourful pink train.

My Bedroom is predominately grey, and it is most certainly not ‘boring, depressing and giving up at life’.

You would honestly prefer gaudy and tacky purple and pink? Ew.

 

[Welshman]

Ive been wanting to sample 175002 ever since it came out.
Last night, Mrs W dropped on it by accident!
Travelling back via Crewe on 2030 1V78 Manchester Pic- Cardiff.
"Nice new train from Manchester to Crewe" she said.
Grrr!

 

[anamyd]

Ive been wanting to sample 175002 ever since it came out.
Last night, Mrs W dropped on it by accident!
Travelling back via Crewe on 2030 1V78 Manchester Pic- Cardiff.
"Nice new train from Manchester to Crewe" she said.
Grrr!

Annoying!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't the XC 170s have a similar sort of cross-hatch upholstery?
I liked the ATW refurb, it was restful and smart.
But improvements were necessary. Note also the "Wales & Borders" external branding.
I wonder if the PIS has been changed - it never seemed right before, with a weird mixture of bossy warnings within the useful stuff.
Here's the Railway Gazette description with a close-up of the new upholstery:
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...pletes-first-class-175-dmu-refurbishment.html

It's not on the trains, but the latest TfW abomination is the announcement for Merseyrail trains at Chester.
This is voiced by "Ruth" as usual, but they have intercut "Anne" saying two words ("Merseyrail Electrics") into the message.
It's cut and paste, and you can see/hear the join!

 

[anamyd]

Don't the XC 170s have a similar sort of cross-hatch upholstery?
I liked the ATW refurb, it was restful and smart.
But improvements were necessary. Note also the "Wales & Borders" external branding.
I wonder if the PIS has been changed - it never seemed right before, with a weird mixture of bossy warnings within the useful stuff.
Here's the Railway Gazette description with a close-up of the new upholstery:
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...pletes-first-class-175-dmu-refurbishment.html

It's not on the trains, but the latest TfW abomination is the announcement for Merseyrail trains at Chester.
This is voiced by "Ruth" as usual, but they have intercut "Anne" saying two words ("Merseyrail Electrics") into the message.
It's cut and paste, and you can see/hear the join!

I believe Anne says Northern as well. What was the TOC name recording used for Merseyrail services before...?

 

[Entertexthere]

What's it supposed to be working tomorrow? Hoping to get to travel on it from Manchester Pic

 

[Bletchleyite]

I believe Anne says Northern as well. What was the TOC name recording used for Merseyrail services before...?

I don't think it was announcing any TOC.