Great Western Coffee Shop

Very much Stagecoach colour scheme for the interior but still plenty of tables in standard:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1754767.html

Just a bit of re-upholstery then. Those blinking awkward fixed armrests remain. Can't see any evidence of power sockets in standard either.

Is it only FGW who screwed up the location of the first class power sockets?

That's a pretty perfunctory refurbishment. Agree completely about the fixed armrests, and the airline seating on the old-style HSTs was terrible. Shame they kept those rubbish drop-down tables as well - never tried but I suspect they're not much use with a lap top. All you need to do is brush against them inadvertently and they come crashing down. And yes there are fixed tables but I've said my piece about what I consider to be their over-rated-ness on here before so will refrain this time!

Summary - give me the FGW refresh any day!

i cant find the pictures now but the one off mk3 refresh of the virgin pendo replacement is quite nice

Here you go: http://victorialine67.locos.fpic.co.uk/c1733785.html Better than a Pendo or a Voyager anyday IMHO.

LOVE the Virgin "Warbonnet" livery on that stock. It's a real shame that the proposed 5-car "Challenger" HST sets for Virgin XC never made it off the drawing board...they'd have looked fantastic as well.