Great Western Coffee Shop

Your new look class 158


http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/BackIssues/Issue102HIGH.pdf (http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/BackIssues/Issue102HIGH.pdf)

find it on page 3

They look good and we've only had to wait a year and a half since First took over the franchise to see the first set come out of the workshop. First ARE transforming travel allbeit very slowly.

Any idea if its in service or when it will be in service? Definetly will improve journeys, better than the dark and dingy TPE units. Any idea what happened to the ex-first class section? Will they still have bigger, more comfortable seats?

Expect to see the new train anyday now as FGW will be desperate to get it in service for two reasons, a)they need the stock b)it will improve their image with new rolling stock running on local services.

The first class section will have been ripped out as all 'West' services are designated standard class only. By doing this they should be able to get a few more seats in.

Are the extra seats going to be new? Just a thought because they'll stick out from the rest of the carriage and either everyone will sit there or no one will sit there. On the TPE units people are always afraid to sit in the ex-first class section because they think it still is first class.

I guess the high seat backs as in the refurbished HSTs do not feature? 

Every seat has been ripped out and replaced with the same type throughout the train so this should elimate any confusion that the current ex-TPX can cause because of the declasified first class section.

New big tables though, I think! And they look smaller

Seats are the same spec as the ones fitted in the refurb SWT 159s (new or not i'm not sure)
Tables are HST tables hence the smallness. I'm all for new seats vice a few tables.

Anyone know when the West refurbishment is due to be completed?  Lets say 2010 for the 143s?!  They will be 25 years old then!, and I guess the 158s will be 20 years old as well then!

Lucky lot?  Whilst other franchises get brand new 172s, 350s, we still get the cast-offs! 

Why o Why?!

It's supposed to be a one year program, ending in September 2008.  The 142 units are here (as a matter of certainty) only until the end of that program - I may be a little out of date now, but I heard it was an open question as to what happens to them then.

And to answer "Why, o Why?!", I'll offer multiple choice

1. Because there are very few government MPS who will loose their seats if we have old trains in these parts

2. Because they're cheaper for the TOC to hire

3. Because we're a quiet bunch here out West how will put up with anything

4. Because if they're down here they won't be on the services that the Civil Servants who make teh decision use.

5. None of the above - they're the best trains for the lines concerned.

To note that the 180s are staying till 2010