This is the original forum of the Bristol Railway Archive that existed between 2003 and 2013. I finally rescued it after it seemed unrecoverable after a large crash. I have made it available for viewing. It is locked, all posts to the new version please!
Blackthorn wrote:After looking at the interior pictures and seating plans, (many thanks for the links), our decision has been made a lot easier. I don't think that after spending seven hours in a seat on a plane I will want to spend another two in an airline type seat on a train. We'll probably opt for the fist class seats so we can actually sit facing each other. The trick will be talking my girlfriend out of packing most of the contents of her closet so we're not overloaded with bags!
If you're prepared to get a completely inflexible advance ticket (no refunds, must use on booked train, fee for changes to travel plans) then you can get some really good first-class advance purchase deals.
Alternatively if you're travelling on a weekend, you can upgrade any standard class ticket to first class on the train by sitting yourself down in first class and paying a supplement of ú10 (regardless of journey length) to the conductor.
I like those refurbished HSTs, comfy and clean plus I provide a bonus comedy service for fellow travellers when I try to get all 6'6" of me into the seats. Better than those bloody awful Virgin/Cross Country/insert this week's name express trains. Sealed by lawyers and shared carriage/toilet airconditioning circuits mean they constantly stink of turds. More tea vicar?
Agency_Scum wrote:I like those refurbished HSTs, comfy and clean plus I provide a bonus comedy service for fellow travellers when I try to get all 6'6" of me into the seats. Better than those bloody awful Virgin/Cross Country/insert this week's name express trains. Sealed by lawyers and shared carriage/toilet airconditioning circuits mean they constantly stink of turds. More tea vicar?
Woo hoo! Someone who agrees with me about the FGW refurb!
And if you think the XC Voyagers are bad now, just wait for the "refurbished" version. Haven't seen it yet but I have heard that it's got the seating rearranged with less legroom (not quite sure how that's possible unless it's actually touching the seat in front) so that the seats do not align with those cruddy little reservation screens. And it doesn't sound like there's actually been much in the way of refurbishment, e.g. the seats have not been re-covered.
Agency_Scum wrote:I like those refurbished HSTs, comfy and clean plus I provide a bonus comedy service for fellow travellers when I try to get all 6'6" of me into the seats. Better than those bloody awful Virgin/Cross Country/insert this week's name express trains. Sealed by lawyers and shared carriage/toilet airconditioning circuits mean they constantly stink of turds. More tea vicar?
Woo hoo! Someone who agrees with me about the FGW refurb!
And if you think the XC Voyagers are bad now, just wait for the "refurbished" version. Haven't seen it yet but I have heard that it's got the seating rearranged with less legroom (not quite sure how that's possible unless it's actually touching the seat in front) so that the seats do not align with those cruddy little reservation screens. And it doesn't sound like there's actually been much in the way of refurbishment, e.g. the seats have not been re-covered.
Classy.
I have been on it and you are spot on, also the space where the shop was is now a bike store similar to the 158s, problem is your normal type of mountain bike wont fit it because the handle bars are too wide.
Incidentally i have read the comments about airline seats on Hst refurb, i they are not actually airline seats!!...but are a transport seat made by grammer in germany
I was working HST's on the GWML in the late eighties when they were becoming very overcrowded. BR spent money on providing more seats, only for them to become unoccupied as the recession of the early nineties hit hard.
As we find ourselves in a similar situation today, I'm wondering whether FGW will regret spending millions on cramming in yet more seats which it will be hard put to find customers for.
