FGW - New look trains for First Great Western

[TheLastMinute]

From http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=414:

The daily commute will be radically transformed for millions of train passengers from January 2007 when First Great Western unveils the first of its new contemporary and stylish interiors for its High Speed Train (HST) fleet.


The new interiors are the result of more than two years of design work by ex Porsche and award winning Eurostar designer Michael Rodber. The complete redesign covers everything from seats, lighting and toilets to power points, catering and dÚcor. The hi-tech new designs and added facilities are part of First Great WesternÆs ú63 million æRefreshÆ programme for the 53 HSTs, which has also seen new external liveries. Work on the new look interiors is currently underway at Bombardier TransportationÆs refurbishment facility in Derby.

Michael Rodber and Mike Muldoon, who designed many of the groundbreaking new trains around the world, were tasked with updating the interiors of the HST carriages to respond to modern passenger needs as well as improve comfort. Michael Rodber explains: ôAt the briefing, we agreed with the First Great Western team that this should not be just the usual, superficial makeover. The result is that this has become one of the most comprehensive interior redesigns of any train fleet. Particular details I am proud of are the new Standard Class seats, which encourage a comfortable posture, the all-new leather trimmed First Class seats, the superb lighting and the exciting, contemporary bar.

ôOverall, I have been impressed by First Great WesternÆs obsessive attitude to getting all the details æright onÆ in quality, especially the sophisticated patterns and colourways. I do believe that the result goes way beyond what is normally expected in rail travel,ö concluded Rodber, who carried out the work in his capacity as founder of specialist transportation design company, Jones Garrard Move Limited.

Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western, says: ôOur market research told us that our customers wanted a product and service that is fresh, modern and innovative and we have created a design for the HST fleet which answers all those criteria. Our aim is to deliver a better travel experience for customers and I am confident that the new interiors will do just that.ö

The first thing passengers will notice is the vibrant new colour schemes - taupe and blue in First Class and lilac and blue in Standard. In Standard they will then notice firmer seat cushions and a completely new seat design created to offer support for a good posture as well as maximum comfort. First Class passengers will also be treated to the only leather seats available on trains in the UK. Seats in both First and Standard Class have lift up arms as a result of customer demand.

The last five years has seen an enormous increase in the number of people using laptops on trains and, to reflect that, the new design has incorporated 240V power points at table level in First Class seats and between the seats in Standard, which are now mostly airline style.

The lighting in the carriages has also been changed to give a brighter overall feel. Glass screens replace the old partitions of the luggage rack meaning passengers can see their luggage far more easily from their seats.

The old buffet car has been radically redesigned and is now the Express CafÚ. Far more open in design than the buffet car, Express CafÚ will offer freshly ground and brewed coffee, as well as a wide range of healthy and imaginative snacks.


Other key features of the new look carriages include:
À Toilets have been completely stripped out and replaced with a new toilet. The facilities are grouped logically and ergonomically. The sink is of a contemporary design in porcelain with modern taps, which have sensors. There are two hooks on the back of the door for handbags and coats, as well as a handbag shelf.
À Textured, ridged carpets in the vestibules, which are anti-slip and easy to clean;
À Dividers in the overhead luggage racks stop luggage moving along the luggage racks;
À Hooks for jackets in both First and Standard Class;
À Braille signs on toilet doors and facilities inside the toilets;
À Both wheelchair spaces are in Coach E where the disabled toilet is.

[ENDS]

Mike

[James]

The daily commute will be radically transformed for millions of train passengers from January 2007 when First Great Western unveils the first of its new contemporary and stylish interiors for its High Speed Train (HST) fleet.

aka uncomfortable and cheap.

ôOverall, I have been impressed by First Great WesternÆs obsessive attitude to getting all the details æright onÆ in quality, especially the sophisticated patterns and colourways. I do believe that the result goes way beyond what is normally expected in rail travel,ö concluded Rodber, who carried out the work in his capacity as founder of specialist transportation design company, Jones Garrard Move Limited.

Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western, says: ôOur market research told us that our customers wanted a product and service that is fresh, modern and innovative and we have created a design for the HST fleet which answers all those criteria. Our aim is to deliver a better travel experience for customers and I am confident that the new interiors will do just that.ö

The first thing passengers will notice is the vibrant new colour schemes - taupe and blue in First Class and lilac and blue in Standard. In Standard they will then notice firmer seat cushions and a completely new seat design created to offer support for a good posture as well as maximum comfort. First Class passengers will also be treated to the only leather seats available on trains in the UK. Seats in both First and Standard Class have lift up arms as a result of customer demand.

I can't believe they've actually just admitted the seats will be rock-hard. And weren't they told to fit seats with "lift-up arms" by some law or something? They're not even new seats...it's the same design the German ICE trains have been using for years.

I don't care what colour the seats are. I just want them to be comfortable. Colour does not make the trains run on time, which if you ask any passenger, is a million times more important, and FGW's biggest failing. Alison's market research evidently didn't cover this insignificant little trifle. If anyone's been following my Delay Diaries on SWRGF then you'll see just how terrible the "service" really is.