Well I never...

[gazthomas]

Took a 365 and HST to Exeter today to do the Barnstaple and Exmouth branches. 150/2 up to Barnstaple felt very claustrophobic and seats poorly aligned.

I can't believe it but I enjoyed the return trip to Exmouth on a 142 more and wait for it, my first trip on a 143 was really enjoyable - it felt quite well built, relatively quiet and the view was even better than a 142!

Am I mad?!?

 

[anthony263]

Took a 365 and HST to Exeter today to do the Barnstaple and Exmouth branches. 150/2 up to Barnstaple felt very claustrophobic and seats poorly aligned.

I can't believe it but I enjoyed the return trip to Exmouth on a 142 more and wait for it, my first trip on a 143 was really enjoyable - it felt quite well built, relatively quiet and the view was even better than a 142!

Am I mad?!?

I agree that the FGW class 143's are better than the class 142's. I certainly hope FGW put 2 + 2 seating in the class 150's they have had from London Overground and London Midland the current seating is horrible.

 

[150001]

Well, the 150/1s have 3+2 and they have already been refreshed. I like the 150/2 interiors, but the 150/1 interior is nice. The LM units will look a lot better!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:150129interior.JPG

The picture is of 150129's refreshed interior. It looks good. Though, I don't agree with the 3+2 layout. If the seats were this with tables and 2+2, then it would be a lot better!

 

[anthony263]

I agree that they should be fitted with tables etc. To be honest these are no good for the Taunton - Cardiff route where they sometimes appear (I sadly had to do thwe whole length on 1 would rather a class 143 pacer., by all means put them on the severn beach line and local services around exeter just not on long distance services

 

[Temple Meads]

Yeah, a 142/143 is as good to ride in as a 150, the view is a lot better in a 142, but at the end of the day, I wouldn't want more than 30 minutes in any of the 3.

 

[trentside]

I've actually had a similar discussion only today. While I'm not a fan of the 142s, I quite like the 144s (I've never travelled on a 143 but can't imagine it's that different) and find that the better seating they've been fitted with helps soften some of the worst qualities of the Pacer breed.

 

[Yew]

I've actually had a similar discussion only today. While I'm not a fan of the 142s, I quite like the 144s (I've never travelled on a 143 but can't imagine it's that different) and find that the better seating they've been fitted with helps soften some of the worst qualities of the Pacer breed.

Personally i prefer a ATN 142 over a richmonded 144...

 

[tom1649]

I prefer the low backed seats (including the ATN examples) and bus benches because the visibility is so much better. Same can be said for the original Sprinter seats. I know I'm in a minority there though. I will say one thing about the ATN units though, the lighting is terrible. They should have stuck with the original diffusers.

The EMT 158s have been given a nice refurbishment but the seat backs (Grammer seating?) are far too high in my opinion.

 

[MCR247]

I like Grammer seats, too wide for a 158 though

 

[starrymarkb]

Took a 365 and HST to Exeter today to do the Barnstaple and Exmouth branches. 150/2 up to Barnstaple felt very claustrophobic and seats poorly aligned.

I can't believe it but I enjoyed the return trip to Exmouth on a 142 more and wait for it, my first trip on a 143 was really enjoyable - it felt quite well built, relatively quiet and the view was even better than a 142!

Am I mad?!?

The 150/2 layout was done by Wessex who wanted to convert their high denisity 3+2 150s into a layout more suited to longer journeys with catering in some cases. The layout is as a result of them having to work around things like the Header Tanks, pipes and heaters that were positioned under the original 3+2 interior. The Mk3 units never have been good for window alignment, the wessex refurb made it worse. Otherwise they are comfortable - especially if you get a table.

 

[150001]

The 150/2 layout was done by Wessex who wanted to convert their high denisity 3+2 150s into a layout more suited to longer journeys with catering in some cases. The layout is as a result of them having to work around things like the Header Tanks, pipes and heaters that were positioned under the original 3+2 interior. The Mk3 units never have been good for window alignment, the wessex refurb made it worse. Otherwise they are comfortable - especially if you get a table.

That is what the 150/1s want doing. I prefer the 142s over the 143s and then the 150 over the Pacer and then the 153s and 158s. My local trains are LM 150s which I've been on all the way to Worcester from Dorridge and it isn't that bad. Although, it would be a lot better with the seats they fitted to LM 153s.

 

[tbtc]

Since so many in the South West seem to prefer their Pacers to 150s, is it too late to call of the return of the FGW 142s to Northern?

 

[richw]

the pacers good side to Devon and areas, is the excellent visibility out of the windows, to see the scenery! thats the only plus side i can think of!

 

[Skimble19]

Well, the 150/1s have 3+2 and they have already been refreshed. I like the 150/2 interiors, but the 150/1 interior is nice. The LM units will look a lot better!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:150129interior.JPG

The picture is of 150129's refreshed interior. It looks good. Though, I don't agree with the 3+2 layout. If the seats were this with tables and 2+2, then it would be a lot better!

It looks horrible.. like they've literally just installed a load of FCC seat covers and said "TADA, it's refreshed!". Don't think the almost cigarette stain colour panels help that much either - would it really hurt for them to be resprayed white?

 

[valenta]

It looks horrible.. like they've literally just installed a load of FCC seat covers and said "TADA, it's refreshed!". Don't think the almost cigarette stain colour panels help that much either - would it really hurt for them to be resprayed white?

Agree with that. The colours of the seats don't go at all well with the rest of the train.

 

[HST Power]

It looks horrible.. like they've literally just installed a load of FCC seat covers and said "TADA, it's refreshed!". Don't think the almost cigarette stain colour panels help that much either - would it really hurt for them to be resprayed white?

Indeed they have, and I don't like the layout either.

 

[Schnellzug]

I'm glad someone agrees that a 142 is quite a good way of sightseeing, even with the original bus seats. The window pillars are a lot narrower, and you can see over the back of the seat in front.

 

[starrymarkb]

It looks horrible.. like they've literally just installed a load of FCC seat covers and said "TADA, it's refreshed!". Don't think the almost cigarette stain colour panels help that much either - would it really hurt for them to be resprayed white?

I understand DfT wouldn't approve a bigger job (given FGW are on Revenue support and are still losing money hand over fist) - they've just had a smarten up like the 142s got.

 

[TEW]

There was a tender out for a proper refurbishment. The plan is to retain 3+2 seating, but they would be tidied up a lot. A bit of painting would make them look a lot better. Could well be awaiting all the 150/1s to arrive before they start any refurbishment though. The seats are much better on the refurbished units, they have been reupholstered so they feel like new.