Turbo refresh started.

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

Made several trips around the Thames Valley in the last couple of weeks when I was back in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), and saw two or three refurbished units. Annoyingly though they were all on late night Oxford - Didcot services and locked out of use so was unable to see what they're like inside other than by peering through the windows!

[ChrisB]

165120 has already blown a ceiling light and the sliding doors across the 1st Class compartment don't meet by several milimeters. Draughty in winter, I reckon.

[inspector_blakey]

The lighting definitely appears brighter in the refreshed Turbos - I had the chance to compare when I travelled on what was essentially an ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) movement back to Reading depot the other night (2255 OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) - DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains), eight cars of which only the front two were in use, not that that was a problem given the number of passengers) which had a refurbished 3-car unit, which may even have been 120, sandwiched in the middle.

Incidentally why are the lights left on when a turbo unit forms part of a train but isn't in use? It would make it easier to figure out which cars are actually available, as the "Sorry this door not in use" lights on the outside of the units are both small and dim!

[Electric train]

The lighting definitely appears brighter in the refreshed Turbos -

Lamp cleaning generally increases the light output of defused fitting up to 10% add to that the paintwork in the carriage is new and clean and the choice of colours FGW^▸ (First Great Western) "lavender" will enhance the UV end of the lighting replacing all the tubes for new ones, also the type of tube used may have been changed

[IainH]

Have had a few runs on the non air con "refreshed" 2 car 165s between Basing and Reading. Really seems just like a fresh coat of paint and new seat covers except - where have the little tables between the standard class face to face seats gone? My morning coffee used to rest there - now it has to be juggled with a copy of the metro for the journey. Surely taking these tables away is not an improvement?

[IndustryInsider]

Incidentally why are the lights left on when a turbo unit forms part of a train but isn't in use? It would make it easier to figure out which cars are actually available, as the "Sorry this door not in use" lights on the outside of the units are both small and dim!

They sometimes are - depends on the circumstances.  Unfortunately there's no way of switching the lights off on a specific set if they're coupled together (without tripping circuit breakers in each individual coach which is way too time consuming!) - so unless the set that's being locked out of use already has its lights switched off, they will stay on.

[James Vertigan]

Currently on board 165124 waiting to pull out
of Paddington working the Greenford
route - looking very resplendent in it's new interior! So
that's another unit to add to the list!

[hornbeam]

Well,

   been on a few now, two of which had internal panels falling off already, not happy about the tables going either! its alsom a shame they are not replacing the damaged glazing units and one the unit this moring there was a chunk missing off the front above the light so noting has been dont on the outside, but I know funds are tight. Also Ive noticed a real downturn in the running of units over the last few months- a lot of units are sounding very rough indeed, and been effected by two break downs in the same week. Seems pointless doing this work if they wont look after the units any better- nothing against the overworked fitters I add.

[IndustryInsider]

Have had a few runs on the non air con "refreshed" 2 car 165s between Basing and Reading. Really seems just like a fresh coat of paint and new seat covers except - where have the little tables between the standard class face to face seats gone? My morning coffee used to rest there - now it has to be juggled with a copy of the metro for the journey. Surely taking these tables away is not an improvement?

Nope, it's not.  Neither was when several years ago the little fold down tables at the back of the airline seats disappeared without trace.  I can only assume it's to reduce maintenance?

Slightly better news is that a unit with the new CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) system installed should be imminent, though initially only on the one unit to trial the new system out.

[polonia]

Had my first experience of one of the refurbished units on Saturday on a Basingstoke - Reading service. Overall impression was cleaner and brighter but couldn't help noticing that three windows had jammed and the stuffing was already emerging from a number of seat cushions - I hope this hasn't been a rush job done on the cheap otherwise given the use they get they won't be looking good for long....

[IndustryInsider]

Nipped to the loo on one of the refreshed sets today (forget which one) and was greeted with a nice clean toilet spoiled by thick blue scrawled graffiti covering most of the panels.  Struck me as a bit of a shame, but just how do you stop 'people' doing that sort of thing in areas where CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) can't ever monitor?  I wonder whether some kind of laminate covering of the surfaces, similar to the ones which have all but eliminated the horrible scratching on the windows (along with CCTV), could be used, so that it just gets peeled off and a fresh covering applied?  Sadly, the graffiti remover seems to just smear the worst of it when staff try to get it off.

On a more positive note, the wording indicated the individual who did the graffiti was obviously pleased with himself that he'd been the first to tag a brand new train - so at least, in that 'customers' eyes, the refurb has made a dramatic difference to the train!

[James]

Is anyone who uses the new refreshed Class 165 Turbo shocked that no air conditioning is fitted to them, also some windows are stuck shut meaning it would take a mammoth amount of strength to open it. And also the new door design is good although how on earth does a women's skirt get trapped in the doors which then can't shut properly? So much for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) refresh programme what a failure it is. Might use Chiltern service instead nice and better designed Class 165 with air conditioning but I can't since travelling between Maidenhead and Windsor and Eton Central. So looks like I have to put up with New refresh class 165 until the line gets electrified which looks increasing unlikely 

[Electric train]

165's were never designed for air-con (not sure the chiltern ones have been retro fitted either) it is indeed very sad that all FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have done to the 165's is a lick of paint, new lino and cushions inside and not addressed the poor window latches that in the summer can be stuck shut and in the winter fail to stay shut.  The 166's which are supposed to be air-con are the last for the refresh there was some debate here if FGW had the funds to fix the systems or not

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

would you like to swap for some 142's

[Electric train]

would you like to swap for some 142's

No thanks we have enough rubbish of our own ta.

Not too much wrong with the 165's just some attention to the window latches and in the winter ensuring the thermostats switch the heating on.
166's either the air con is fixed or replace the windows with 165 stylee to provide better ventilation in the summer

The Thames Turbos have proved to be reliable units especially given their punishing diagrams