Great Western Coffee Shop

Excuse me for asking a question, which has probably been asked before, but what class of train/Sprinter DMU runs direct from Taunton to Cardiff Central, or Penzance to Cardiff in some cases?  I haven't found any seating plan, which would indicate toilets, luggage racks or priority seating, and that lack of information, when travelling for up to two hours, puts me off.  Even the Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour service, where individual seat reservations are possible, doesn't appear to have an accompanying plan.

Typically a class 150 or 158.  Toilets yes, room for luggage yes, no seat reservations available, but (as on all trains I believe) some seats are marked as priority.

Unless you are travelling in the rush hour there will usually be adequate seating.

Thank you, John R.  Within the carriage, what's the visible difference between the 150 and the 158?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_150#/media/File:FGW_Class_150.JPG
(but beware - some class 150 units have 5 seats across not 4)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_158#/media/File:158760_Interior.JPG

Class 158s are air conditioned. 150s not.

Allegedly!  ;)

Thank you, Grahame, bignosemac and IndustryInsider.  Looking at the photos of the interiors of a 150 and 158, it's like bird watching, with a bit of observation the differences between the two are clear.  However, I shall still look out for the down draught from the air con.

The main difference is that the 150's have doors at 1/3rd and 2/3rd away along the carriage, so they feel much more like shorter distance suburban services, whereas the 158s have doors at the end.   As Grahame has noted some of the 150s have 5 across seating and they feel even less appropriate for longer distance services in my opinion.

Hello, John R, I'm amazed at how unobservant I have been.  Next time I'm at Taunton Station, I'll have a good look at the doors of the DMU, as the train for Cardiff is often waiting.

Plus 153 strengtheners.