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Author Topic: Night Riviera Sleeper refurb  (Read 38420 times)
Tim
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« Reply #15 on: September 15, 2016, 09:58:35 »

If you board at Paddington just before the departure time at 2345, you will want to go straight to bed will you not?  I know you can board at 2230, but surely that is for people who want to turn in early, cos if you want to stay awake you would be better off in the Paddington Lounge. 

Departure at Penzance is at 2145 which is before bedtime, but you would still have the use of the lounge car if activities of a non horizontal nature appealed.

If the daytime configuration to encourage people to eat their breakfast in their compartment?  I have only had breakfast on the Scottish Sleeper where we ate our breakfast box in an almost deserted seated coach.
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Umberleigh
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« Reply #16 on: September 15, 2016, 13:02:16 »

Too claustrophobic for my liking, the Southeastern EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) I took to from Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells yesterday had more tables and space than that. I would feel quite trapped in a window seat with a stranger besides me.

Investment is welcome, but that's a retrograde step
« Last Edit: September 15, 2016, 13:10:18 by Umberleigh » Logged
broadgage
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« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2016, 16:31:55 »

Tables, like buffets are now VERY last year.
The survey to show that buffets are not wanted anymore has already been done.
I expect that a similar survey has also been done to show that tables are not wanted either.

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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
ChrisB
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« Reply #18 on: September 16, 2016, 16:53:09 »

Certainly, 50% of the population (women) generally prefer airline (& their privacy) seats.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #19 on: September 16, 2016, 17:05:38 »

A nice sensible mix of airline and tabled seating is what you want.  Something like what the new Class 387 and 800 trains we're getting have got.  Certainly this seated sleeper carriage doesn't look as nice as the layout it's replacing, though I'll reserve full judgement until I've seen it in person.
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To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
ellendune
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« Reply #20 on: September 16, 2016, 17:31:40 »

With the current seat spacing I cannot use a laptop with airline seating as I cannot reach the fron keys on the keyboard without pushing my elbows through a non existent hole in the seat back.
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Umberleigh
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« Reply #21 on: September 23, 2016, 08:31:49 »

Tables, like buffets are now VERY last year.
The survey to show that buffets are not wanted anymore has already been done.
I expect that a similar survey has also been done to show that tables are not wanted either.



The loss of 2 + 1 seating is the greatest shame, the loss of rankles only adds to the claustrophobic feel
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1st fan
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« Reply #22 on: November 04, 2016, 14:14:52 »

First post Smiley and on something that I love using when I can. I agree with the comments about the new seats on the night Riviera. It's almost as if they are expecting to be able to use the carriages elsewhere when not used for overnight runs. That would explain the high density seating I suppose which is hardly conducive to sleep. I've done the seated sleeper once and found it quite comfortable, I was sitting at a table with two other people.

As to the new daytime config I have no idea why that's been introduced. I only know of one time the sleeper was used as a daytime train and that was to Oxford when FGW (First Great Western) (as they were at the time) found they didn't have an HST (High Speed Train) to do the journey. http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/4886488.display/ On that occasion the sleeper berths were all locked and it probably wouldn't work having the NR» (Network Rail - home page) doing the journey when the new trains are running. I doubt the NR being loco hauled could keep to the timetabled running of a Class 8xx. So unless they're moving into the charter business during the day....
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1st fan
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« Reply #23 on: November 04, 2016, 14:25:36 »

Thanks.

Does anyone know why the sleeper compartments have been given a day time configuration.  Surely that only makes sense on long continental journeys where the occupants will be awake some of the time.  For journeys lasting from 11:30pm to 7am (or thereabouts) why would you need anything other than a bed?

Are the beds made up by an attendant en route or are they already beds when you board at Paddington or Penzance? As the boarding time is relatively early at the starting points, many people may not want to get straight into bed, so presumably the 'daytime' configuration is to allow those folk somewhere comfy to sit before they're ready to sleep?

As far as I know all the berths are made up at the depot and then only the ones in use that night are unlocked for passenger occupation. Whilst a 21:45 departure from Penzance is far earlier than from Paddington I can't imagine anyone wanting their berth in daytime config. I've just spotted that on the CRS link it does say daytime running so maybe this is for some new GWR (Great Western Railway) venture into charter trains. Or maybe they've found a use for the train outside of the overnight runs.
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JayMac
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« Reply #24 on: November 04, 2016, 14:43:44 »

Welcome to the forum 1st fan.  Smiley
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
1st fan
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« Reply #25 on: November 04, 2016, 14:58:45 »

Thank you!
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #26 on: November 04, 2016, 17:05:09 »

1st fan, to add to your point of you being unaware of day time services, it is used in service summer Saturdays day time to boost services through cornwall to Exeter
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
bobm
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« Reply #27 on: November 04, 2016, 21:05:27 »

Any excuse to dig out a photo....

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broadgage
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« Reply #28 on: November 04, 2016, 23:40:32 »

Is that a 57 moving under its own power ! or perhaps photoshoped, or propelled by a steamer on the back of the train.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
bobm
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« Reply #29 on: November 05, 2016, 08:40:52 »

Can honestly say of the 700 or so photos I have posted here not one has been photoshopped - simply because I have never taken the time to learn how to do it - despite several tips and encouragement from bignosemac.

For the record the photo was taken late afternoon on the 21st June 2014.
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