Great Western Coffee Shop

I think nearly everyone who travels on HST's reguarly must have travelled on a refreshed HST by now and I thought it would be interesting to know what people think. Also please post as to why.
I am in favour of them because they have brought a new lease of life into thirty year old trains, I like the new buffet and the lighting especially. I also think they have done a good job of legroom on the seats.

Hi,

I travel WOS to PAD every day (well 3-4 days a week) first class.  As a 5' 3" female who travels in first class my comments are as follows:

Pros:
1. Power sockets at the seats mean I can work happily the entire jorney
2. They are brighter and dont look as shabby
3. Toilets are a big improvement (although the flush button is temperamental)

Cons:
1. Seats not suited to a short female - you cant reach the table whilst sitting comfortably and if you perch on the end the back slope of the squab puts pressure on your lower back
2. Seats actually less comforable - they are like sitting on a hard bench whilst the old were nice and squishy - means I cant get 2 hours sleep every morning
3. Seats dont recline as easily
4. I like the new buffet car, I just dont like the change of stock e.g. poncy hand fried crisps rather than the old favourite of walkers

In all, the jury is out

These are my views as someone who works on them and as a passenger.

pro's,
more seats = less moaning punters when busy,
more leg room for passengers = happier passengers,
better range in the buffet such as grilled pannini's, propper coffe machine (when it works),
plug sockets at every seat in First and Standard,
better external livery,

con's
toilets always broken,
too bright in coaches, BUT most Train managers seem to put the lights on dim which makes it better,
seats a bit hard but will probably soften up as they wear in.

all in all I like them.

Then you think wrong - I haven't been on any HST - refurbed, refreshed, or otherwise - for at least two years!

As I never have the privaldige of standing my verdict as a 'long distance' passenger.

Pros:
Toilets looks nice
Vestiable greaty improved lighting/carpets
Better exterior
Safer windows
Powerpoints
More legroom
Buffet is good

Cons:
Toilet flush and wash hands button never work, the hand sensor is simply awful
Bright Lights
Seats are only adequete (first and standard) for somebody who is fairly tall otherwise they are v. uncomfortable
Large table removed and replaced with tiny table
High back seats
Yellow windows
Seats (first class particularly) are like sitting on a block of concrete
Arm rests are very high up and very hard
Seats are pretty high of the ground
I can't quite imagine relaxing in one of these trains

Thankfully I havn't been to penzance on one of these yet!

I meant people who travel on HST's. Sorry. Ihave changed the main post.

sorry but i find the refurbished std class sears claustrophobic, and whilst the first class seats are better than std, they are not as comfortable as the previous mk3 seats !   they may be modern, but they are not as comfortable in my opinion (15+ years commuting experience on the gw!)

they are wonderful!!!

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/newseat1.jpg)
New Seat (First Class)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/oldseat1.jpg)
Old Seat (First Class)

(OK - so there were some VERY cheap First class bargains this weekend  ;) )

I have never travvelled first class but on the odd occasion have sat in first class due to overcrowding and have travelled on a first class coach being used as standard class. I had a quick try of a new first class seat at Penzance once and they seem very hard and uncomfortable compared to the old style seats which are very comfortable.

Yes I do.

I find the seats in standard class comfortable with plentiful leg room. The high seat backs provide a greater feeling of privacy and help block out some background noise. I prefer airline style seats anyway, so the new configuration is fine from my point of view. I know that some passengers prefer tables, and they are obviously more convenient for, say, a family travelling together. If possible, FGW should use the reservations system to ensure that remaining tables are used to best advantage (i.e. priority booking to passengers travelling in groups of 3/4).

I have tried first class a couple of times, and I much prefer the new, firmer seat cushions rather than the old armchairs.

Most importantly, from my perspective as a commuter, there are more standard class seats.

(i.e. priority booking to passengers travelling in groups of 3/4).

NO!

Priority to those actually using the table productively and not merely reading the paper and using it as a repository for coffee cups

Much better than the old hst's

FGW in doing something remotely useful shocker!

I have a couple of gripes with FGW's refurbishment.  Why can't they ever get anything completely right.

1, One toilet has been lost to a storage cupboard.  Is there not ebough soom in teh Powercars/ guards vans?  Or is ot just an excuse to reduce the number of toilets that need cleaning?

2. A large number of power sockets are damaged already because people kick them and rest their feet on them.  Some are pointingthe wrong way and otehrs have lost their bezels.  Why do people put their feet on them?  because they are badly positioned.

[smartarse mode] It's a trolley store, with a hot water tank in - to be more precise :P  [/smartarse mode]

Hpoefully its not people's feet because one a table was taped off where I was sitting the other day.

Thanks Jim - I didn't know that

Ah, fair enough - there was a set going round for 4 odd weeks with it open for investigation!