Great Western Coffee Shop

Today, at Worcester Foregate Street at 8am, I saw a single refurbished 153 in platform one, facing towards Malvern (although it could have been terminating)!

What on earth was it doing in Worcester? This is the first time I have seen one (on its own) at Worcester. These trains should be at least a 2 car 150, and preferably a 2/3 car 158!

Anyone know?

PS The refurb looked good, although the windows looked as crummy and dirty as usual (why not fit air con and get rid of the open-able windows?)!

Are local services to Bristol busy from Worcester?

Not from Worcester itself no!

if the 153 was at Worcester Foregate Street at 8, it would have been going to Great Malvern, and then going back to westbury as the 0851 arriving westbury 1143, apparently the depot of First Great Western that serves the south west services to malvern and worcester is the westbury depot..

many thanks..

Oh, so it will be permanent then. I hope it does not get too overcrowded! I wonder what the refurbished units are like inside- hte seats look good.

Very similar to the 158 I believe

Are they removing the "parcels locker?"

It always seems a waste of space to me.

I realised was when I was shoved into a single Central Trains 153 (normally it would be a 3 car 150) and it was dreadful!

The guard could hardly reach the door control box, and when he got out at stations he could hardly get back onboard. He had to reject passengers! After stops, he quickly retreated to the rear cab!

I laughed when I read a sticker stuck above the cab door saying "for safety reasons, passengers should keep the vestibules clear"   :D

I worked refurbed 153305 this week, it is very similar to the refurbed HST's. High seat backs etc. Also has cctv fitted. Engine is still gutless though!

no one got any good pics of it yet then??

I have a small selection on my webby, link in my 'name' on the left, the globe symbol.

had a good look at it Friday and its basically been transformed inside, you would think it was an HST, the locker effort is still there and the seats  which i belive are from grammar in germany are the same as the refurb 158 with the round pink grab handle.

Why is the locker still there?

Is it used? They could put a bigger bike store in!

what is this locker effort people are on about???

THe 153s have a large luggage rack with a parcels locker.

It takes up a lot of the carriage.

if it were to be removed, more space could be made available for bikes, wheelchairs and customers

And a lot less room for luggage! And it currently holds the bike space so won't make any difference to that effect!

When I have been on them, the locker is often locked.

Therefore, useless.

Besides, is there a lot of luggage carried on 153 services?

Yes if they are used with a 158 to add capacity as 158's are usually on luggage carrying services.

oh i know what you mean know,but if removed not much would be gained really as there is no luggage space on a 153 other than that.
also it could not be used for wheelchairs as access to that area is restricted.
just a shame fgw decided to fit the saloon carpet all the way down to area outside toilet and bike area on refurbed sets,on 153305 the toilet was leaking first time out so area was like a swamp.

They could have been a little more inventive with that area though. (unless it's structurally important  ;D)

That end of a 153 is very restricted though, have you ever noticed ho narrow the door is at that end when you get on? it's where they put the extra cab when they were converyed from half decent 155's to crappy 153's!