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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Looking forward - the next 5, 10 and 20 years > Potential bidders for the next Greater Western franchise
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Author Topic: Potential bidders for the next Greater Western franchise  (Read 102856 times)
The SprinterMeister
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« Reply #165 on: April 08, 2012, 18:44:01 »
Quote from: Temple Meads on April 07, 2012, 22:15:22
Quote from: bignosemac on April 07, 2012, 22:08:04
I would.  Wink

Regularly go Bristol TM‡(resolve) - Waterloo in one. Perfectly acceptable.

That is an SWT▸ (South West Trains) unit though, the 159's and SWT 158's seem to have a bit more legroom over the FGW▸ (First Great Western) 158's, which are a bit cramped for me (6ft 1in).

Still an OK ride though.

The SWT units have OEM 158 / 159 seats in them but with extra padding. Nice and comfy on the posterior but a bit tight on legroom as the seat pitch is the same as previously. Not sure I could hack 3,5 hours on one.
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JayMac
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« Reply #166 on: April 08, 2012, 19:04:40 »
Ahhh, but 'tis only 3 hours from Bristol - Waterloo. Less on the return.  Tongue Wink Grin.
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The SprinterMeister
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« Reply #167 on: April 08, 2012, 19:30:51 »
Quote from: bignosemac on April 08, 2012, 19:04:40
Ahhh, but 'tis only 3 hours from Bristol - Waterloo. Less on the return.  Tongue Wink Grin.
Downhill on the way back presumably...
 Grin
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #168 on: April 08, 2012, 19:48:05 »
Quote from: The SprinterMeister on April 08, 2012, 18:44:01
The SWT▸ (South West Trains) units have OEM 158 / 159 seats in them but with extra padding. Nice and comfy on the posterior but a bit tight on legroom as the seat pitch is the same as previously. Not sure I could hack 3,5 hours on one.

Tend to agree - Salisbury to Basingstoke was about as far as I felt comfortable with on a 159. Although I changed into a Voyager at BSK▸ (Brake Standard Corridor (carriage)) which wasn't exactly an upgrade.
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smokey
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« Reply #169 on: April 12, 2012, 13:07:46 »
I travelled West Cornwall to Shrewsbury (or vicky versa)  on a Class 158 many times in Wales & West days and didn't find it at all bad, though it did get busy in places, but that was a shortage of carriage(s) problem!

Put another way I'd prefer 6 hours on a 158 Penzance to Shrewsury, than less than an Hour Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads on a class 150, 153, 143 or even a class 221
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #170 on: June 25, 2012, 22:11:06 »
Back on the topic of potential bidders for FGW▸ (First Great Western) (and with due apologies if anyone has already posted this elsewhere), Barry Doe comes out very strongly in favour of First retaining the franchise in his column in RAIL issue 698.
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« Reply #171 on: June 25, 2012, 22:21:27 »
Is it December we find out?
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anthony215
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« Reply #172 on: June 25, 2012, 23:35:49 »
Quote from: relex109 on June 25, 2012, 22:21:27
Is it December we find out?


Yes that was when we were supposed to find out but as I posted on the Intercity express program thread it looks like it will be delayed til January/February 2013 (This information taken from WNXX▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) and person who made the post is normally pretty reliable)
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