Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Lee]

If you travel on the First Great Western Night Riviera Sleeper you'll be treated to a free copy of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (link below.)
http://firstlatewestern.blogspot.com/2007/08/thoughts-on-du-mauriers-manderleyor.html

[Lee]

First Great Western has announced that as part of a ^200 million package of investment , it is updating its Sleeper Service , also known as the Night Riviera Sleeper , which runs between Penzance and London Paddington (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=541

The contract to carry out the work , which is worth ^2,000,000 has been awarded to Railcare in Wolverton. Michael Rodber,  who has worked for Porsche and Eurostar and was responsible for designing First Great Western's new look High Speed Trains (HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)) that were introduced earlier this year , has been tasked with creating a refreshed interior that is more akin to a hotel room than a train carriage.

Work has already started on upgrading the 17 carriages and is expected to be completed by March 2008.

[Jim]

As long as the beds don't go high density!

[martyjon]

Does the "more akin to a hotel room than a train carriage." mean a mini bar in every berth ?

[Conner]

Does anybody have any info on whats happening to the seated sleeper carriages as I have seen one in new livery so I think its refurb but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) arent' publising it.

[oooooo]

There are 'refreshed' sleeper coachs in traffic, expect they are waiting for a full set to be complete before doing the normal 'we are great' press launch.

Only one Ive seen was a first class seating coach and although I was a bit drunk at the time I think they are the old HST^▸ (High Speed Train) first class seats but covered in the new trim.....

[Conner]

Yeh it was a first class seating coach but as t was from a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) window I couldn't really see much- only got to see it because it was unusually parked in the sidings at Long Rock instead of in the shed.

[devon_metro]

First Class is nice

http://www.rollingstock.fotopic.net/p46358354.html

[Timmer]

First Class is nice

http://www.rollingstock.fotopic.net/p46358354.html

Don't know why they couldn't have done that with the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) first class seats rather than pay millions for the new leather seats as these look really nice.

[Jim]

They really do look like the OLD FGW^▸ (First Great Western) MK3 FC^‡(resolve) seats!

[Shazz]

They really do look like the OLD FGW^▸ (First Great Western) MK3 FC^‡(resolve) seats!

Thats because they are...?

[devon_metro]

Indeed, much better than the leather replacement IMO^▸ (in my opinion)!

[martyjon]

Following this mornings DSD^▸ (Driver's Safety Device) failure on last nights down sleeper from Paddington, tonights Up Riviera Sleeperr will be hauled by a heritage locomotive, 47805.

The BRUSH fans WILL be burning the midnight oil tonight.   

22:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:25
This train has been revised.
The Full Sleeper service will start from Plymouth. A HST^▸ (High Speed Train) will operate for the Penzance to Plymouth part of the journey.

[vacman]

They really do look like the OLD FGW^▸ (First Great Western) MK3 FC^‡(resolve) seats!

They are re-covered HST^▸ (High Speed Train) FC seats.

[Conner]

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1555
It is now possible to buy tickets for the sleeper service online, something that has been missing for years.