Turbo refresh started.

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

It shouldn't make any difference as the HVAC system is all independently controlled from each vehicle.

[IndustryInsider]

Another software update has been applied to the Turbo APIS system.

The good news is that is seems to have made further improvements to the reliability of the system, so hopefully the days of the wrong station being announced are finally over.

The bad news is that there are now 'information' announcements after some station calls.  For example, after Hayes, Southall, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway and Acton Main Line there is a long rambling announcement about the Monday-Thursday evening service curtailment.  So, if you're on a stopper you have to put up with that after every stop which is bloody annoying, and also misleading as it says "From February" rather than "From February 2013", so people might be misled into thinking that is from next February.  A similar announcement is made at Reading about the overbridge closure "From March..." - old information in my opinion and should not be announced more than once per trip (if at all), and perhaps only displayed on the internal screens.  Mind you, the grammar on those internal screens is pretty terrible with missing full stops, 'Network Rails' rather than 'Network Rail's' and wrongly spelt stations (Acton Mainline).

Shame really as we have a nice little system without too long and frequent announcements that plague other types of train, and the number of announcements is slowly creeping up to annoying levels - still, hopefully the reliability has now been improved.

[Southern Stag]

Seems bizarre to add more announcements to the automatic system just as manual announcements are being cut on most services.

[IndustryInsider]

Excatly.  Regular Turbo commuters, please let FGW^▸ (First Great Western) know if you find these announcements excessive!

[BerkshireBugsy]

I noticed recently that there seems to be an extra announcment on the turbos about the overbridge closing on the 1st of March 2013 (or something like that).

Now I have been on plenty of turbos in the last year but don't remember hearing that until recently.

[IndustryInsider]

See my post #256.

[BerkshireBugsy]

See my post #256.

Ahh sorry II - I was doing a quick catchup having been absent for a while but I totally agree with you

Dave

[Thatcham Crossing]

I was on a 166 between Thatcham and Reading last night (Thurs 11th) and wanted to report that the aircon seemed to be working pretty well on what was a warm evening. Definite surge of hot air coming in when the doors opened at Reading

[Fourbee]

I was in the leading car of a 166 the other day and the air con was not having much effect, as I moved into the centre car it was almost fridge like.

Seems to be quite hit and miss.

[lordgoata]

My partner, who doesn't use the train that often, decided to use it yesterday. She was not at all impressed that the windows were all bolted closed, that the aircon was not working (or having any effect at least) and the carriage was like a sauna.

I explained why, told her to speak the the driver to get them opened next time, or to move carriage on the off chance it might be working better - so at least she is better prepared next time.

Its all well and good us regulars knowing these tips, but for the average joe, I really do feel sorry for them having to deal with these problems.

Thankfully my morning service seems to be aircon (while its cooler anyway), and the evening service seems to all have the (opened) windows - so things have been reasonably comfortable for me this week!


Also, ironically, the train I was on last night had the station announcements out of sync with the stations again. I say ironically as II mentioned it had been updated few days ago to hopefully improve things, yet this is the first time I have seen it out of sync for quite some months!

[mathmo]

Yesterday I got two 166s and the air-con was working on both!

[Surrey 455]

I was on a 166 between Thatcham and Reading last night (Thurs 11th) and wanted to report that the aircon seemed to be working pretty well on what was a warm evening. Definite surge of hot air coming in when the doors opened at Reading

Took a short journey from Hayes to West Drayton on Friday evening (12/7). All windows in the 166 carriage I was on were open. Some people using makeshift fans out of magazines. Didn't look to see if windows in other carriages were open.

[johoare]

What would be useful would be if there was some way of someone checking if the air con is working before the train starts out for the day, and at various points during the day too... It's all very well and good saying the driver can open the windows, but when you're crammed in on a train where it's not working 1) How do you get to the driver and 2) how does he get to the windows (even if he agreed to it which I imagine he might not)...

[TonyK]

A similar announcement is made at Reading about the overbridge closure "From March..." - old information in my opinion and should not be announced more than once per trip (if at all)

As you passed through several stations, you heard it ad nauseam. Had your journey been to the next station only, you would have heard it once per trip. The announcement would have to be made after departure from every station to be sure of every passenger hearing. Of course, there is the question of whether it needed making at all...

[BBM]

A similar announcement is made at Reading about the overbridge closure "From March..." - old information in my opinion and should not be announced more than once per trip (if at all)

As you passed through several stations, you heard it ad nauseam. Had your journey been to the next station only, you would have heard it once per trip. The announcement would have to be made after departure from every station to be sure of every passenger hearing. Of course, there is the question of whether it needed making at all...

I heard it this morning on departure from Twyford on a London-bound train, obviously something wrong with the system. Incidentally I spotted 5 different 166s this morning and each of them had most if not all of their windows open.