XC Hst's

[AlexS]

Just to go against the grain, having travelled in a refurbished set on Monday, I thought it was rather spiffing.

Nice tasteful fabric, comfortable seats, a nice internal temperature, no wheelflat on my coach!, lovely toilet revamp, and a nice quiet journey overall.

Even no problem with legroom in the airline seat, as an over 6 footer I have over an inch left even if I slouch in the seat.

Busy train but no luggage piled up in doorways either and no one standing either.

 

[P156KWJ]

at least they thought about the refurbs as opposed to FGW hock:

 

[class 313]

at least they thought about the refurbs as opposed to FGW hock:

:roll:

Yes because FGW did their refurbs on spare of the moment thing.

As I have said before, I quite like the FGW refurbs anyway. Pretty much what Alex said, but for FGW.

 

[devon_metro]

at least they thought about the refurbs as opposed to FGW hock:

The FGW refurbs were thought out well. Trains from London - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Penzance, Newquay etc are very often full and standing throughout. (1803 Paddington - Penzance is notorious and i've seen it crammed full as far as Newton Abbot)

Therefore the refurb is fit for purpose. Providing extra seats where they are needed. So what if a few tables are lost? Legroom in standard class is better than any East Midlands HST and if you are so desperate for space, go into First Class where there is adequate!

 

[mrcheek]

The FGW refurbs were thought out well. Trains from London - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Penzance, Newquay etc are very often full and standing throughout. (1803 Paddington - Penzance is notorious and i've seen it crammed full as far as Newton Abbot)

Therefore the refurb is fit for purpose. Providing extra seats where they are needed. So what if a few tables are lost? Legroom in standard class is better than any East Midlands HST and if you are so desperate for space, go into First Class where there is adequate!

I totally agree with this. it seems that so many people just like to leap on the "I hate FGW" bandwagon.
FGW had a problem: grossly overcrowded trains. they couldnt get new stock, or new carriages. so they came up with a brilliant idea, to make better use of the space on each carriage. and the end result is excellent. far more seats, and everyone still has plenty of legroom! ok, so we lost some tables, but how many families of 4 travel these days anyway? its mostly single people going in to London.
I guess the people complaining are the idiots who used to grab a table, put their bag on one seat, their feet on another, and take up 3 spaces. well, you cant do that now. but then you dont need to, as there is adequate leg room for all now, as there is no wasted space between seats!

Big up to FGW.

 

[Techniquest]

at least they thought about the refurbs as opposed to FGW hock:

Sorry but that's absolute spherical objects.

The FGW refurb is a good 'un. DJC_158, heart-of-wessex and I were all looking forward to trying the refurb. Indeed, we were trying to out-do each other and try it out before the others. DJC_158 beat James and I, with us two being a couple of days apart.

I can't speak for them exactly, but I know I not only looked forward to it but I recall writing by the moves in my AEB book that it was enjoyable. T'was only a Newport to Bristol Parkway leap, but still enough.

Legroom is definately quite considerable for the number of seats and getting a seat is much easier now. It's annoying the seats are so high because it can make it look like a seat is empty when there's some 7 year old brat on it or something. Otherwise it's actually not bad.

Yet to try the XC refurb, but I'm looking forward to it.

Hated the Mallard MK4s with a passion (I avoid them at all costs now), but the Mallard HST refurb was likeable to me once I tried it. Which shocks me to this day.

 

[class 313]

HST vice a Voyager today.

HST working on 9Z84 14:00 Bristol - Glasgow (running vice 9S84 1150 Plymouth - Glasgow)

 

[devon_metro]

How? Both HSTs were allox for 9S53/9V59

 

[class 313]

How? Both HSTs were allox for 9S53/9V59

XC control themselves have informed me of such a vice.

 

[devon_metro]

You believe those fools at Arriva?

 

[P156KWJ]

:roll:

Yes because FGW did their refurbs on spare of the moment thing.

As I have said before, I quite like the FGW refurbs anyway. Pretty much what Alex said, but for FGW.

woh! I'd heard from just about everyone that FGW's refurbed HSTs are pretty awful! I still don't agree with removing tables etc to cram more seats in (just my opinion - please please don't jump down my throat cos I've said that!!) and I think it'd be better to try wherever possible to trace extra carriages (yes I know that's what FGW wants and it isn't their fault - it's the fact that the DfT allocate rolling stock which was always a bad idea IMHO). I just prefer the original seats, I think it's better to re-moquette them and responge, and do deep cleans and so on.

 

[devon_metro]

woh! I'd heard from just about everyone that FGW's refurbed HSTs are pretty awful! I still don't agree with removing tables etc to cram more seats in (just my opinion - please please don't jump down my throat cos I've said that!!) and I think it'd be better to try wherever possible to trace extra carriages (yes I know that's what FGW wants and it isn't their fault - it's the fact that the DfT allocate rolling stock which was always a bad idea IMHO). I just prefer the original seats, I think it's better to re-moquette them and responge, and do deep cleans and so on.

The general public often comment on how nice the "new trains" are. I find that a re-upholstering of an HST is a cheap and shoddy refurb.

 

[1D53]

How? Both HSTs were allox for 9S53/9V59

9S53 and 9V59 were both HST certainly, 9S53 was the XC001 refurb set and 9V59 was an MML set with 43306/43285. Both passed me at Leeds within 2 minutes of each other this afternoon. 9S53 actually caused delay to my train (2W74) as it had been delayed back between Exeter & Tiverton. 9V59 also terminated Tiverton too.

 

[Techniquest]

43306 on an XC train?! Are you sure?!

 

[37412]

43306 on an XC train?! Are you sure?!

Was 303 with 285 when i had it yesterday!

 

[Techniquest]

I was hoping 306 ain't turned up on XC, some winning track down here for that!

 

[1D53]

Oops, it was 303, I must have misstyped that!

 

[GNERman]

Aren't the sets being kept and cleaned at Neville Hill just like what Virgin used to do with their HST's?

 

[1D53]

Eventually yes.

 

[mumrar]

Just thought I'd mention that XC02 is now and an refurb'd, so if it all runs smoothly, that's goodbye from the MMl stock and all running in corporate glory!

 

[xc170]

Will the refurbished sets have WiFi? BTW, sorry if this question has already been asked.

 

[mumrar]

Not AFAIK but I'm regularly proved wrong, I'm afraid I've never become one fo the many laptop users, because for the lack of flexibility of a desktop, you get more punch for your pound, so I stick with them. Obviously I'm a stickler for value for money, that and I know my work would sufferas I'd be editing shots lol!

 

[Pumbaa]

Will the 5 HST sets be ready for the Dec TT or not? Are they even having 5 sets - or I did I make that up off the top of my head?

 

[devon_metro]

5 sets correct!

 

[Bayum]

Will the refurbished sets have WiFi? BTW, sorry if this question has already been asked.

At some point, they should do. I'm not sure when though

 

[TEW]

43384 is currently on its way back to XC after conversion to an MTU, first one out that was in service this summer.

 

[ian13]

So does this mean XC HST's are coming down to Bristol area then? If so, when?

 

[class 313]

So does this mean XC HST's are coming down to Bristol area then? If so, when?

They have been going down there for a while

 

[Aureol]

Bit late I know but I don't generally read this thread, but anyway, I agree with the majority that the refurbished FGW HSTs are excellent. Whenever I've been on them I've always been impressed with the seats, the layout, the lighting, the air con...everything about them, even the MTUs at each end Miles, have you ever been on a refurbished FGW one, and if so, how many?

 

[ian13]

They have been going down there for a while

It seems I always manage to miss them then. I'm getting sick of Voyagers. Timetables never seem to say which it will be.