Great Western Coffee Shop

Does anybody know which 153 was supposedly in Eastleigh for refurb? it was supposed to be 372 but that uit was on the St Ives yesterday and was DEFINATELY not refurbished!

Are you sure it hasn't been refurbed, and you couldn't tell the difference? This must have happened to the 142's at Exeter as we were told that they would be 'refreshed' before coming into service. Apart from some paint in the toilets and one unit with new seat coverings they don't look very refreshed to me! ;)

Well can't be totally sure....lol. I think they've done a really good job on the 158's though! credit where it's due!

arnt all the 153's being put into the dynamic lines livery anyway?

Should be going into "local lines" livery, and be totally refurbished inside, 372 is still in grafitied "heart of wessex" livery with manky seats with no cushions.

dynamic lines, local lines, same thing :P

They both look cheap! ;D

The FGW fleet are going to Wabtec at Doncaster for refurbishment - I don't think there are any 153s left at Eastleigh after East Midlands Trains took 4 (reliverying took place at Bournemouth West).

FGW 153's are to be refurbished by Wabtec at Eastleigh (according to FGW), 158's at Wabtec Doncaster and 150/143's at Pullman group Cardiff.

Considering that Wabtec haven't even moved into Eastleigh and there are some 21 class 442 units to shift before they can do anything there I'm wondering how that will work.

Still, should be 4 442s back at Bournemouth for some C4 mods soon enough .....

Oh well!!

Just been informed that Network Rail allegedly won't issue a path for the 153s along the ECML which is why they won't go to Doncaster (according to FGW). I was certainly previously under the impression from my contacts that 153s and 158s were going to Doncaster, with 150s and 143s going to Canton for some Canton tape

Pullman group is based in the old EWS depot at Canton, not the Arriva deopt-aka "birthplace of Cantotape"  ;)

I still think it's the same place ;)

I'm sure Canton tape has made its way over to the ex-EWS portion in the past!!

Of note: A FNW blue livery 153 was on the PGN-EXM run today.

does that mean the one we swapped managed to make it out of the region without being on a truck?  :o

wonderful trains!!!!!!!!!!!