Turbo refresh started.

[whole diary]

[coachflyer]

From the 'news' section of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website:

Train operator gives Thames Valley Trains an ^8million makeover

25 January 2010
First Great Western has announced it is investing more than ^8 million to improve its fleet of commuter trains in the London and Thames Valley area, as part of its plans to provide the best service possible to customers.
The budget for the work has been increased by ^2 million to incorporate improvements suggested by customers in last year^s National Passenger Survey.

The upgrade will see 151 carriages, a mix of Class 165s and 166s carrying more than 36 million passengers every year, improved as part of the programme that will include:

A GPS-linked public address and customer information system to improve the accuracy and clarity of journey information for customers
Toilet system upgrade for more reliable operation
Upgraded air-conditioning, to improve the existing systems, which are prone to breaking down
New carpets, refreshed seats, overhead racks and repainted interiors
Work, which is being carried out at Reading Depot, has already started on the first two vehicles, with the entire fleet scheduled to be up and running on the network by the end of March 2012.

Improvements will take place on up to five carriages at a time so some trains on quieter routes will be made up of fewer carriages than normal.

First Great Western^s Managing Director, Mark Hopwood, said: ^This investment is a direct response to the issues our customers have been telling us about. Understandably their first priority is for their trains to be on time, and with improvements in punctuality and reliability of more than three per cent in the past year, we^re making real progress in that area.

^Their second priority is the quality and clarity of journey information and the comfort of their journeys with us, which this work will significantly improve.^

/quote]

[Btline]

Let's hope the refurbed coaches are prioritised first on the Cotswold line. It's the LEAST passengers making 3 hours journeys should get.

[IndustryInsider]

Let's hope the refurbed coaches are prioritised first on the Cotswold line. It's the LEAST passengers making 3 hours journeys should get.

Sadly, that won't happen - they'll just be chucked straight back into the rotating diagram cycle of their class designed to ensure all units are refuelled, do similar mileage, and undergo light exams at regular enough intervals. The fleet is at full stretch as it is without trying to accommodate those sort of suggestions. Bear in mind that only just over half of the fleet return to Reading depot on a given night for long enough for the serious stuff to be undertaken. Refuelling cannot take place at stabling points such as Oxford (where up to 15 units can spend the night).

It's also important that HST^▸ (High Speed Train) availability improves, so that those left in service can cover their own workings in the peak.

[Timmer]

At last, its taken long enough to get this refresh underway and its going to take 2 years to complete it so long suffering Thames line passengers will have to put up with the turbos in their current state for a while yet it would seem. Good that its finally underway though.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Does anyone know what's happening to seating in this refurbishment? Are the Turbos going to get the same claustophobic high seat backs as on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Will the pointless 2+3 seating be replaced by 2+2? ("Pointless" because nobody ever sits in the middle one of the three - it's mainly used for luggage).

[Electric train]

Does anyone know what's happening to seating in this refurbishment? Are the Turbos going to get the same claustophobic high seat backs as on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Will the pointless 2+3 seating be replaced by 2+2? ("Pointless" because nobody ever sits in the middle one of the three - it's mainly used for luggage).

Does say "refreshed seating" so I expect that to mean a clean coat of paint and new cushions

I do hope they fix the windows on the 165's so that they can a) stay shut when supposed too and b) can be opened when required

Oh and good news about a refresh on the toilets as they currently lack any freshness

[inspector_blakey]

It's the LEAST passengers making 3 hours journeys should get.

Btline, do you moonlight as the author of the Hogrider newsletter for South Hampshire Rail Users' Group (SHRUG), by any chance...?  You both seem very fond of random capitalizations

[smithy]

Does anyone know what's happening to seating in this refurbishment? Are the Turbos going to get the same claustophobic high seat backs as on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Will the pointless 2+3 seating be replaced by 2+2? ("Pointless" because nobody ever sits in the middle one of the three - it's mainly used for luggage).

Does say "refreshed seating" so I expect that to mean a clean coat of paint and new cushions

I do hope they fix the windows on the 165's so that they can a) stay shut when supposed too and b) can be opened when required

Oh and good news about a refresh on the toilets as they currently lack any freshness

exactly right fresh paint and new cloth,as for the toilets they will get refreshed but will no doubt end up back in a crap state like the west fleet is now

[Chris from Nailsea]

Rather topically, on the subject of toilets being in a 'crap' state - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Remembering Thomas Crapper, the godfather of toilets

Wednesday marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Thomas Crapper, the man who revolutionised the flushing lavatory.
The company he founded still exists, being run from a country estate in Warwickshire.
It is owned by a businessman who sold his vintage car collection to stop the company going under.
Phil Mackie went to meet Simon Kirby and look behind the scenes at Thomas Crapper & Co.

[willc]

As I understand it, the work programme is to do the 165s first, then tackle the 166s, due to the added complication of trying to sort out the air conditioning.

3+2 seats stay, though there was talk at customer panel meetings a year ago or so of a 'stretch' refreshment, which would at least mean new seats for the 166s, though with the existing interior layout retained. Whether this is accounted for by some of the extra spending remains to be seen.

All windows are to be renewed with laminated glass, so hopefully this will give the opportunity to sort out the window frames and catches while they're at it.

[johoare]

Does anyone know what's happening to seating in this refurbishment? Are the Turbos going to get the same claustophobic high seat backs as on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? Will the pointless 2+3 seating be replaced by 2+2? ("Pointless" because nobody ever sits in the middle one of the three - it's mainly used for luggage).

On the Paddington to Maidenhead commute all 3 seats are usually used in the threes in the rush hour... So I'd like to hope they will keep them..where will all the people stand otherwise, there's no room for any more standing people as it is..

[hornbeam]

 For about two months, untill they moved just after xmas there was two carriages from a 3-car unit dumped outside the depot, so maybe this is the unit they have started on. Lets hope they clean the units better now so as not to undo all their good work. I wonder if the units were designed to the miles they now do?

[ChrisB]

As I understand it, the work programme is to do the 165s first, then tackle the 166s, due to the added complication of trying to sort out the air conditioning.

Yup, I can confirm that.

3+2 seats stay, though there was talk at customer panel meetings a year ago or so of a 'stretch' refreshment, which would at least mean new seats for the 166s, though with the existing interior layout retained. Whether this is accounted for by some of the extra spending remains to be seen.

Correct again, the 'stretch' refreshment was cancelled because of the recession.

[smithy]

For about two months, untill they moved just after xmas there was two carriages from a 3-car unit dumped outside the depot, so maybe this is the unit they have started on. Lets hope they clean the units better now so as not to undo all their good work. I wonder if the units were designed to the miles they now do?

would not hold my breath about better cleaning after refresh so as not to undo the hard work,just take a look at west fleet now.millions spent yet they are now nearing condition pre refresh inside not to mention they no longer look blue on outside due to dirt build up.maybe the depots are on water meter and trying to cut costs??

[Electric train]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) (TV Units) are possibly the worst in terms of cleanliness on any of the London suburban routes and I do use services out of most London terminals