'West' fleet refurbishment

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Seeing yet more pictures, following on from their 159/1s, of brand new looking refurbished SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 158s on various railway websites this past week being rolled out from Wabtec works in Doncaster serves only to rub it in even more for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) passengers who continue to have put up with tatty unrefurbished rolling stock.

Remind me who's new franchise started first FGW's or SWT's

We keep hearing about this 'refresh' that the 'West' fleet is going to receive. Is it ever going to happen? Why can one franchise get this sorted out even before their new franchise started yet over a year into it's franchise FGW havent replaced a single seat cover?

However, I have heard in FGW's defence that DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about) may be behind some of this delay with their continued meddling of who gets what stock.

[devon_metro]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are busy with the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refresh. Don't expect too much 

[Jim]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are busy with the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refresh. Don't expect too much 

^63 Million IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) goes to High Speed - look how much local gets, ^0!

[devon_metro]

Well, they are planning to give the local fleet a face lift. When is a different question.

[Scooby]

The unit fleet 'refresh' will start very soon, a class 158 will 'go in' mid July and emerge mid August in the new look. The fleet will get 'refreshed' interiours hence vinyling of the 150s has stopped and will only be done when they get the full job. 150261 should be the first 150 to be done in September.....

[Timmer]

The unit fleet 'refresh' will start very soon, a class 158 will 'go in' mid July and emerge mid August in the new look. The fleet will get 'refreshed' interiours hence vinyling of the 150s has stopped and will only be done when they get the full job. 150261 should be the first 150 to be done in September.....

Well thats something I suppose but im sure you would agree its taking a long time in getting this 'refresh' job underway, almost a year and a half since FGW^▸ (First Great Western) took over the Wessex franchise. It looks like SWT^▸ (South West Trains) jumped the queue by getting all the three car 158s and two car 158s into the workshop before taking ownership of them from TPX. By the time the first 'refreshed' FGW set finally rolls out, SWT's fleet of 158s will already be well into service. That was the main reason for posting was the appearance that once again this franchise seems to have less of a priority than others.

Thanks for the update though.

[Jim]

I belive the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurbs were booked as soon as FGW^▸ (First Great Western) got the franchise, o yes, ^63 Million of it, shows how much "Auntie Alison" cares about the local fleet, until she realised that they will HAVE to be done

[Timmer]

I belive the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurbs were booked as soon as FGW^▸ (First Great Western) got the franchise, o yes, ^63 Million of it, shows how much "Auntie Alison" cares about the local fleet, until she realised that they will HAVE to be done

Oh yes of course they were booked in as soon they won the franchise Jim, probably a bit before that. Didnt stop the first set rolling out almost a year after they won the franchise though did it 

I wonder if Alison has ever had the privilege of travelling on any of her 'West Fleet' just to see how good they really are. I think a trip in a 143 would make a good experience for her. The 7.23 from Warminster to Cardiff would be a good one, especially when it's thrashing along at 75mph under the Severn Tunnel!

[Jim]

I wonder if Alison has ever had the privilege of travelling on any of her 'West Fleet' just to see how good they really are. I think a trip in a 143 would make a good experience for her. The 7.23 from Warminster to Cardiff would be a good one, especially when it's thrashing along at 75mph under the Severn Tunnel!

She should be shouting "Hellfire"!

[devon_metro]

The refurb isn't all good mind: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6702869.stm

[Timmer]

The refurb isn't all good mind: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6702869.stm

Not good at all, they sure need to sort that out pretty quick.

[grahame]

The refurb isn't all good mind: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6702869.stm

Not good at all, they sure need to sort that out pretty quick.

This is a "125" rather than "West Fleet" issue, I think?

I happened to be able to travel 1st class to London yesterday and back - just 1.50 extra ... an had a chance to try out the older and the newer trains.   Pictures / comment here

In summary, the older train was MUCH more comfortable, and the newly refurbished train had some teething and design problems - a broken recliner already, and power sockets that don't leave spaces for many bigger plugs. But the fac that an entire carriage was taped out of service on the older train does show the need to do something.

[devon_metro]

Duff link?

[grahame]

The link works ... perhaps I went a bit off topic by going into the technology behind these things and advertising myself.

Note to Lee and Nick (Global Moderators) - if you feel I overstepped the mark, please feel free to delete my adverpost!

Graham

[Graz]

Says I need to login to view and am not an authorised user...I'd find it interesting to see the comparisons, as I've never been first class yet and would love to see the difference between old vs new.
EDIT: I found the working link on the other thread here. A very interesting read!