'Upgraded' GWR IET seats

[Cloudrak]

Maybe if some forum members did a bit of travelling around Europe they'd realise what an insult the IET seats (and ride quality) are. We always seem to be all too ready to accept mediocrity in this country with everything.

All train seats here suck after getting spoiled by riding high speed trains in China. Even in 2rd class the seats are spacious, well padded and have proper armrests. They even recline well and can be rotated to face the direction of travel.

 

[physics34]

All train seats here suck after getting spoiled by riding high speed trains in China. Even in 2rd class the seats are spacious, well padded and have proper armrests. They even recline well and can be rotated to face the direction of travel.

Thats why its flipping ridiculous that we even need to complain about the seats. They should already be good enough.

 

[John R]

I reckon there are about 42,000 seats in the GWR fleet, so can’t help wondering what a pile of discarded seats cushions that size would look like sitting outside the IET depot in Bristol waiting to be recycled.

It would make a great advert for DfT’s “buy cheap, buy twice” policy. (See also Class 700 procurement.)

 

[Benjwri]

It would make a great advert for DfT’s “buy cheap, buy twice” policy. (See also Class 700 procurement.)

Are the DfT paying for this seat upgrade? I would argue it’s not entirely clear, and some of the wording has suggested it is included in the existing maintenance contract with Hitachi. Certainly the cost for the 700s is being absorbed by Siemens, so in that case they’ve managed to buy cheap, but once.

 

[Trainbike46]

I reckon there are about 42,000 seats in the GWR fleet, so can’t help wondering what a pile of discarded seats cushions that size would look like sitting outside the IET depot in Bristol waiting to be recycled.

It would make a great advert for DfT’s “buy cheap, buy twice” policy. (See also Class 700 procurement.)

Is this actually leading to more waste? seat cushions obviously wouldn't be expected to last as long as the train, so replacing them after ~10 years doesn't seem unreasonable. I just hope they replace them with something better, when they would have needed to replace them anyway. And it sounds like that is exactly what they are doing!

 

[thelongestroad]

The trains themselves must be due their first internal refurbishment soon. Maybe this time they can make the interiors resemble the brand, especially in 1st.

 

[Kilopylae]

Is this actually leading to more waste? seat cushions obviously wouldn't be expected to last as long as the train, so replacing them after ~10 years doesn't seem unreasonable.

The 25-year-old seats on Voyagers and the 30 (?)-year-old seats on the Central line do just fine!

 

[John R]

Is this actually leading to more waste? seat cushions obviously wouldn't be expected to last as long as the train, so replacing them after ~10 years doesn't seem unreasonable. I just hope they replace them with something better, when they would have needed to replace them anyway. And it sounds like that is exactly what they are doing!

I would have thought a 10 year refurb would maybe replace the seat covering, but not the cushions themselves. As @Kilopylae has noted, Voyager seats have worn well in terms of the cushioning. Didn't the Pendolino seats go 20 years before they were (fully) replaced?

 

[Russel]

The 25-year-old seats on Voyagers and the 30 (?)-year-old seats on the Central line do just fine!

This isn't a serious post, is it?

 

[43096]

Are the DfT paying for this seat upgrade? I would argue it’s not entirely clear, and some of the wording has suggested it is included in the existing maintenance contract with Hitachi. Certainly the cost for the 700s is being absorbed by Siemens, so in that case they’ve managed to buy cheap, but once.

They're still paying if it is the maintenance contract. Siemens won't have forgotten to include the cost!

 

[Benjwri]

They're still paying if it is the maintenance contract. Siemens won't have forgotten to include the cost!

Which is a fixed cost... They aren't paying anymore than if the seats weren't replaced.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 25-year-old seats on Voyagers and the 30 (?)-year-old seats on the Central line do just fine!

I seem to recall that the Voyager seat cushions have already been replaced once, but it wasn't noticeable as the colour was not changed.