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broadgage
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« Reply #90 on: August 21, 2012, 15:03:04 » |
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First is indeed comfortable and I often travel thus, the negative remarks refer to the new "improved" seats and seating layout in steerage, and to my concerns that something similar may be planned to "improve" Pendolinos.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #91 on: August 21, 2012, 15:25:48 » |
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A nice comfortable seat that one can sink into (like the SWT▸ 159s) encourage better posture as once you've sat down, there is no need to slouch or curl up. You CAN design a safe and comfortable saloon without giving people stones to sit on with backs so high it blocks all the view of the carriage out!
Sinking into a seat does not encourage good posture. Your back is not properly supported. You'll notice the FGW▸ seats have an arched back to support your back, they may not be comfortable simply because as a society we are used to sitting in poorly designed chairs. |
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Btline
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« Reply #92 on: August 21, 2012, 16:44:18 » |
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Rubbish. The base of a seat is different to the back. It is possible to sink into the seat, whilst having a decent firm support for the back. Unfortunately, the HST▸ seat bottoms are rock hard.
I have very good posture, and I never curl up in the HST seats. It's everyone else that I see doing it. I sit in plenty of specially designed seats that are good for posture at work and at home. They are all comfortable.
A similar problem has occurred on the Jubilee line. They used to be spingy and soft and were refurbed for the Games with a really hard seat.
The fact of the matter is, the HSTs are now designed for commuters travelling out to Reading, not us poor folk who have to stay on to Worcester for several hours.
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Btline
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« Reply #93 on: August 21, 2012, 16:57:48 » |
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Grahame, having some express trains to Worcester in the peaks would not muck up a standard timetable.
Basically the pattern is hourly stopping everywhere, fine off peak. During the peaks, they extend about an extra two Oxford Fasts to Worcester. Why not cut some stops on these? The villagers still have their hourly service, whilst Worcester and Hereford gain better journey times.
Yes, some of these places have high passenger nos compared to Worcester - but that's simply because of untapped demand from Worcester. Worcester itself is massively untapped - with 1tph to New Street off peak, only 2-3 packed coaches, limited to 75 mph timings as 150/153s are still used on some services. A dreadful service South to Tewksbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Bristol, again limited to 75 mph stock, with the result that everyone uses the M5 without a thought. In contrast, Malvern and Droitwich/Kidderminster to Worcester which is very frequent has crowds of passengers.
You could run two "expresses" (missing out Colwall, Malvern Link, Pershore, Honeybourne, Hanborough and Slough) each morning peak in between the standard hourly service encouraging commuter traffic to Oxford, Reading and London. Ditto in the afternoon/evening peak. Then once the redoubling is complete, slot a couple of commuter services from evesham and Pershore into Worcester to improve frequencies to half hourly.
As for fares, the Cotswold line does not have low fares, it is Chippenham that has had it's fares raised ridiculously high. No-one would get away with that on the CL as the service is so bad.
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Super Guard
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« Reply #94 on: August 21, 2012, 17:53:55 » |
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All this talk of only Reading to Paddington commuters benefit from the increased number of HST▸ seats...
Have any of you seen the Paddington-Plymouth/Penzance services that are full AND standing all the way to Exeter/Plymouth and beyond? Go and tell those passengers who have to stand for 2-3 HOURS that the old layout with less seats would be more comfortable!
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Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own. I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.
If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #95 on: August 21, 2012, 18:17:43 » |
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Grahame, having some express trains to Worcester in the peaks would not muck up a standard timetable.
Basically the pattern is hourly stopping everywhere, fine off peak. During the peaks, they extend about an extra two Oxford Fasts to Worcester. Why not cut some stops on these? The villagers still have their hourly service, whilst Worcester and Hereford gain better journey times.
You could run two "expresses" (missing out Colwall, Malvern Link, Pershore, Honeybourne, Hanborough and Slough) each morning peak in between the standard hourly service encouraging commuter traffic to Oxford, Reading and London. Ditto in the afternoon/evening peak. Then once the redoubling is complete, slot a couple of commuter services from evesham and Pershore into Worcester to improve frequencies to half hourly.
Oh no! We're not going to go there again, are we?  I remember the hours of effort I put into a post-redoubling timetable around four years ago that tried to tick all those boxes and it was pretty much impossible without the full redoubling of the route. What sounds like it would not muck up a standard timetable in your head, doesn't necessarily work on paper. Unless you want to prove that it is possible, 'Btline'? |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Ollie
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« Reply #96 on: August 21, 2012, 18:44:22 » |
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Ollie, we're talking about us in the back - I'm sure first is as perfect as ever  Ah if only, no First Class for me! |
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TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 6594
The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!
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« Reply #97 on: August 21, 2012, 19:37:19 » |
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All this talk of only Reading to Paddington commuters benefit from the increased number of HST▸ seats...
Have any of you seen the Paddington-Plymouth/Penzance services that are full AND standing all the way to Exeter/Plymouth and beyond? Go and tell those passengers who have to stand for 2-3 HOURS that the old layout with less seats would be more comfortable!
Certainly have! Outside of peak holiday season, I have seen people standing as the train leaves Penzance. It didn't start to get any emptier until Plymouth. |
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Now, please!
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vacman
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« Reply #98 on: August 22, 2012, 10:33:39 » |
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All this talk of only Reading to Paddington commuters benefit from the increased number of HST▸ seats...
Have any of you seen the Paddington-Plymouth/Penzance services that are full AND standing all the way to Exeter/Plymouth and beyond? Go and tell those passengers who have to stand for 2-3 HOURS that the old layout with less seats would be more comfortable!
Certainly have! Outside of peak holiday season, I have seen people standing as the train leaves Penzance. It didn't start to get any emptier until Plymouth. I've seen busy trains from Penzance but never seen one full and standing leaving Penzance! |
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Brucey
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« Reply #100 on: August 22, 2012, 16:54:03 » |
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4. We have the fastest trains and we^re getting quicker. We've slashed journey times - Manchester is now two hours eight minutes from London, down from two hours 30 minutes. Erm, your trains can manage 140mph .... but the line is only signalled for 125mph. So Southeastern and Eurostar have the fastest trains. 31. Our state-of-the art electric Pendolino trains are environmentally friendly emitting at least 76% less CO2 than cars and 78% less than domestic flights. I'm sure First's state-of-the art electric Pendolino trains will be environmentally friendly emitting at least 76% less CO2 than cars and 78% less than domestic flights. I could go on, but it just isn't worth it. |
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Btline
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« Reply #101 on: August 22, 2012, 17:19:19 » |
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The epetition has passed the half way mark in it's travels to the key 100,000 figure, going up by thousands in an hour.
According to a source, Virgin staff are giving out leaflets at stations and sending out emails telling people to sign.
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mjones
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« Reply #102 on: August 22, 2012, 17:23:40 » |
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4. We have the fastest trains and we^re getting quicker. We've slashed journey times - Manchester is now two hours eight minutes from London, down from two hours 30 minutes. Erm, your trains can manage 140mph .... but the line is only signalled for 125mph. So Southeastern and Eurostar have the fastest trains. 31. Our state-of-the art electric Pendolino trains are environmentally friendly emitting at least 76% less CO2 than cars and 78% less than domestic flights. I'm sure First's state-of-the art electric Pendolino trains will be environmentally friendly emitting at least 76% less CO2 than cars and 78% less than domestic flights.I could go on, but it just isn't worth it. Such as the new flights Virgin Atlantic has just announced from London to Manchester and Scotland... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-19329706# |
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Timmer
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« Reply #104 on: August 22, 2012, 19:12:15 » |
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Have to say Btline I totally agree with you on this one. When I read this earlier I thought they were pretty weak reasons why they should keep the franchise. First should be allowed to show what they can do on West Coast. Virgin Trains are good but I would never put them massively ahead of any of the other IC▸ TOCs▸ . |
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