Great Western Coffee Shop

I have done Warminster to Waterloo (and back) twice in the last two weeks - on each occasion I have traveled in one of the re-liveried and internally refurbished 159s. What a cracking good job they have done on these trains !

First Class has been done exactly the same as previously - same seats, same seat coverings as before, new carpet and new tables........excellent.
Standard Class has been completely rehashed: orange seats have gone and been replaced with grey ones. The new seats seem to have slightly lower backs than before and appear to be a little wider - although this may be an optical illusion due to the lower backs. The seats appear to have leather covering at the headrest.  Most amazingly of all they have managed to get additional legroom into the airline seating. I can't think that they have actually increased the seat pitch, but I was able to sit comfortably with daylight between my knees and the back of the seat in front of me - for the first time ever on a 158/9.

Any chance of GWR getting the same seating put in the 165/6s ??.................no........ I thought not !

My daughter came down Waterloo to Warminster today, in a refurb 159 - she says that the seat pitch has been increased. Her "usual" seat in Std used to have a small luggage rack behind it, this rack has gone and the seat is now back against the bulkhead. She is fairly tall and said the increase in legroom is a great improvement.
I have to say that I usually travel 1st on SWR 159s just because of the lack of legroom - I might well give Std a try again !