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ChrisB
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« Reply #300 on: March 14, 2014, 13:47:02 » |
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More info.... On 35 of our High Speed Trains we will be taking a first class carriage and converting it into a standard class carriage with 80 standard class seats. In addition to the extra seats, we have listened to customer feedback and these carriages will also have more 4-person tables. The other 18 High Speed Trains will have a first class carriage converted into a composite carriage, half standard and half first, with the saloons fully divided with a door.
.....re-covered leather seats.....LED lighting....Catering will not be affected as a result of the investment; both the first class at seat trolley service and a buffet car service will continue to be offered and our very popular Pullman dining services will continue....All the work to convert the carriages and to refresh the first class environment will be done in the UK▸ , with the work to the first class carriages being undertaken at our depot in Laira, Plymouth and the reseating work being undertaken in Scotland
Our programme to fit Wi-Fi to all these trains is unaffected. The first services with Wi-Fi will operate from June and by December of this year all our high speed trains should be offering the free service to both standard and first class customers. snap! |
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JayMac
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« Reply #301 on: March 14, 2014, 14:22:49 » |
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The converted coaches will have 8 4-person tables....
How are they going to get 80 seats, with 32 around tables, in these converted coaches? Current low density carriages, with 4 tables, only manage 80 seats. Are the toilets/trolley store/luggage racks coming out of the former 1st Class carriages to make the extra room? |
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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.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #302 on: March 14, 2014, 14:53:15 » |
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Or high-density, god-forbid?
Toilet removal wouldn't cause too much hassle though...
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JayMac
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« Reply #303 on: March 14, 2014, 15:11:03 » |
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All high density means is there are 2 tables as opposed to 4. Still only gives you a total seating capacity of 84.
I can't see how's it's possible to have a carriage with 80 seats, 32 of which will be around 8 tables. Unless toilets/trolley stores are removed and luggage racks reduced.
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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.
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paul7575
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« Reply #304 on: March 14, 2014, 16:02:11 » |
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Is the consensus now that all the modified trains will still have one and a half coaches of first class seating, with some of the half coaches being the full buffets, and the rest being 50/50 first and standard?
So there'll be no trains which only have one first class coach?
Paul
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ChrisB
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« Reply #305 on: March 14, 2014, 16:38:18 » |
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Correct. As stated in FGW▸ releases today
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Timmer
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« Reply #306 on: March 14, 2014, 16:54:36 » |
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How are they going to manage to provide the Pullman service with less First Class seating as they currently use part of coach G as well as the section of First next to the buffet on peak services. Going to leave very little seating for those not dining?
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bobm
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« Reply #307 on: March 14, 2014, 17:09:12 » |
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I was wondering that, and what about the quiet coach?
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #308 on: March 14, 2014, 21:56:12 » |
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As ever, I'll wait to see the refresh in the flesh before I comment too much, though welcome that FGW▸ has apparently listened to criticism that there are too few tables on HST▸ sets and are putting eight more in the additional carriage. That might not be enough for some of course, but goes some small way to redressing the balance which should be an appropriate ratio between seats at tables and airline seats - the original refresh went too far down the airline route in my opinion, which is why I'm pleased that tables are making an appropriate return in this refresh and also in the likely IEP▸ seating layouts. We'll see how the reduction in first class seating goes down with the passengers, as the press release says, on the vast majority of trains accommodation will be more than adequate still, but there will be a few services that pose a problem - that's the problem with the same train having to be both a long distance leisure train and a commuter express in one. Heaven forbid that first class passengers have to share a table of four with someone else  |
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To view my GWML▸ 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/ |
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Network SouthEast
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« Reply #309 on: March 14, 2014, 22:58:43 » |
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The term bus seating is inappropriate to apply to HSTs▸ .
Bus seating = low back rest, no arm rests, no pull down tables. Like the Northern Rail class 142s that appeared on FGW▸ routes for a short while.
Airline seating = high back rest, arm rests, pull down tables. Just like HSTs.
As usual, I'm with IndustryInsider on this. Let's actually wait to see what the first refreshed coach looks like before passing judgement.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #310 on: March 21, 2014, 01:13:59 » |
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From the Slough Express: Slough MP supports more seats on train plans Plans to expand the number of standard class seats on First Great Western trains have been supported by Fiona Mactaggart. The operator has agreed with the Department for Transport ( DfT» ) to create almost 3,000 more standard class seats a day for customers across its network by introducing the changes to all of its high speed trains. The Slough MP said: "Like other passengers on the busy route I feel very frustrated when I am forced to stand squashed up against other people in a train where there are a number of empty first class carriages. I'm glad that the DFT▸ and First Great Western have listened to commuters who experience poor rail services every day. There is still a way to go to improve rail services overall, but this is a good step in the right direction." The first completed carriages are expected to be running in June, with the entire fleet due to be completed by late summer 2015. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #311 on: March 21, 2014, 10:16:58 » |
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yeah, right. Don't MPs▸ get 1st class priviledges?
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paul7575
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« Reply #312 on: March 21, 2014, 10:25:19 » |
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yeah, right. Don't MPs▸ get 1st class priviledges?
Not any more, hence the conspiracy theory that it is the MPs along the route who are behind the decision... Paul |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #313 on: March 21, 2014, 10:30:15 » |
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Yes, her & Mrs May in particular....
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broadgage
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« Reply #314 on: March 21, 2014, 16:32:39 » |
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yeah, right. Don't MPs▸ get 1st class priviledges?
Not any more, hence the conspiracy theory that it is the MPs along the route who are behind the decision... Paul Agree, I think that MPs should be allowed first class, not because they deserve it, but to stop this sort of thing. I bet that if MPs were allowed First, that it would soon become "a vital service for local employers, that should be protected" |
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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▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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