South Western Railway unveils refurbished carriages

[whole diary]

[Surrey 455]

From ITV meridian

New refurbished train carriages have been unveiled by South Western Railway, albeit amid delays, as part of a £110 million upgrade.

The company's biggest ever upgrade aims to ease overcrowding on what is the busiest rail network in Europe.

£100,000 a carriage is being spent on new seats, carpets, power sockets and better information.
Around 5,000 more standard class seats are being added on 1,000 carriages used across the network.

On the fleet of long distance trains, the guards and buffet area has been removed, and first class is smaller to allow for extra seats to ease overcrowding.

The project is creating 200 new jobs in Eastleigh where the work is being carried out.

The ongoing refurbishment will continue over the next six months.

The ITV link also contains a video report. A source at ITV tells me that their news stories don't always stay online for long.

More photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/30876744837/in/photostream/
Use the right arrow next to each photo to see more

[YouKnowNothing]

Who actually paid the £100m? I have a feeling that SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) didn’t...

[Clan Line]

Which classes are being refurbished ?  This morning's 0946 from Warminster to Waterloo was the usual 159 - but in the new livery and it looked absolutely immaculate. Don't know whether anything had been done internally though as I was not close enough to see.

[paul7575]

Which classes are being refurbished ?  This morning's 0946 from Warminster to Waterloo was the usual 159 - but in the new livery and it looked absolutely immaculate. Don't know whether anything had been done internally though as I was not close enough to see.

The announcement was mainly about the 450 and 444 fleets, it’s basically alterations to provide extra standard seating capacity.  In the 444 this is mainly achieved by First class changing from 35 in 2+1 layout, to 32 in 2+2.  That allows for 16 extra standard seats in that coach.  Also 12 extra seats achieved by removing the mini buffet and guards office.

There are some minor interior layout mods due for the 158, 159/0 and 159/1, all slightly different in terms of numbers, but the principle is to reduce first and increase standard.  But nothing like the magnitude of the 444 changes.

The 442s also get new layouts, but supposedly won’t be seen with their earlier Gatwick Express layout, with First going back to an end coach, but again in 2+2 layout and only half the coach, like the 444.

So in summary, the entire retained fleet is getting layout changes and new seat covers, carpets and such.

The table on page 176 of the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) franchise agreement shows all the before and after numbers:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668663/south-western-railways-2017-rail-franchise-agreement.pdf

Paul

[Surrey 455]

I remember when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains were re-liveried into GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the slow pace that took. The transition from SWT^▸ (South West Trains) livery into SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) seems even slower. I very rarely see the new design that was introduced over a year ago. I know that SWR don't want to keep the suburban trains that I use daily but most of the fleet they do want to keep is still in Stagecoach colours.

[Clan Line]

The table on page 176 of the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) franchise agreement shows all the before and after numbers:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668663/south-western-railways-2017-rail-franchise-agreement.pdf

Paul

Very many thanks for that.
Just one other comment in passing: the franchise agreement you refer to, just for one TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company), is 800 pages long - the Brexit  "agreement" is only 500 !!!!

[Phantom]

I remember when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trains were re-liveried into GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the slow pace that took.

Still plenty of blue and green GWR trains on the circuit

[Umberleigh]

Rows of seat without a single window, what progress.

More buffets ripped out.

Add to that another downgraded First Class offering.

Travelling on the NSW 442s in the early 90s seems like halcyon days now.

[paul7575]

Of course the minibuffets were hardly ever used, ever since new.  Sometimes used in the morning peak by the trolley person if the train was busy.

I wouldn’t consider this removal in quite the same way as GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)’s change from HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)...

Paul

[Surrey 455]

Of course the minibuffets were hardly ever used, ever since new.  Sometimes used in the morning peak by the trolley person if the train was busy.

I wouldn’t consider this removal in quite the same way as GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)’s change from HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)...

Paul

I used to use long distance services about 6 times a year when SWT^▸ (South West Trains) gave away free tickets for season ticket holders. Sometimes I would pass the buffet and in those 8 years I have never seen the shutters up and the buffet open. So I can't miss something I have never used. I would normally pop in to a shop near the station and buy beer or cider and crisps before I got on the train. (On my return journey! - Mornings would be a Cappuccino and a sausage roll or panini).