Great Western Coffee Shop

I had forgotten to post this up until now, but on Saturday 16/5 I made a return journey to Severn Beach and had a wander up the coast line on the public footpaths running between the two Severn Bridges. Nothing out of the ordinary...

until the train arrived at Severn Beach for the return journey.

The train was 150219 and it looks like it has been repainted on the outside (all the place names have gone and it's just dark blue with the pink doors, and the yellow ends are yellow!), and on the inside it looks like a new train; the seats look re-fitted, and the floors and walls (correct word?) were almost spotless.

They've also fitted new audio signals for the doors, which include 5 loud beeps when the doors are unlocked by the conductor, and also an automated customer information system on the inside including scrolling LED screens in the middle of the train with supporting audio announcements.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures but I wondered if anyone knew if this was being rolled out across the FGW network on all the 150/153/158's etc? Or is it a one off train received from somewhere else? I would have thought it may be a one off, but then thought why would they go through the effort of recording FGW specific announcements for just one train, unless it's a trial?

Note to Mods - apologies if I've put this in the wrong place, feel free to move, or delete if a post on this already exists!

DDA Modifications.  I suspect all FGW 150s will be done in turn when they are due to visit Wolverton Works.

I've traveled on it. The automated announcements are awful! I understand a number of seats have been lost in fitting the disabled toilet too, otherwise very nice internally.

10 seats I have read.

Not strictly DDA modifications as the Disability Discrimination Act has been replaced by the Equality Act.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-accessible-transport/2010-to-2015-government-policy-accessible-transport

Also relevant perhaps is the EU TSI (Technical Specification for Interoprability) for PRM (Persons of Reduced Mobility)?

On the very unit right this minute. Heading to Avonmouth.

Scrolling display is fine. Auto-announcer less so. Too quiet.

The 18.03 from TM today?.... I was on it too.....except in the other carriage as far as Redland.

1847 from BRI to AVN.

I have a feeling I was on this train on 18th or 19th May - announcements were far too loud! Sounds like they may be tinkering then to get it right.