A tail of two HSTs

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Was on the 1119 east midlands service to st pancras.
1. Seating excellent - even sc had a decent number of tables
2. Configuration excellent in fc - could sit IN the chair and comfortably work on the the table
3. Sc tables able to be used productively
4. Service - pigging awful - one trolley for the entire train.  Trolley dolly had to be summoned twice to deal with the sparsely populated fc (can understand why fewer upgrades as had I known the accommodation upfront, I would not have paid the extra).  On e second summons I overheard her bitching that she made more sales in sc so no wonder she wanted to spend more time down there.

Currently on the 1600 from paddington
1. Doing my usual per h on the centre bit between the seats as they are too bucket like for the tables and short people cannot easily sit back and work
2. Quick reccy in sc and guess what no tables which even if were free cant be used as they are too low
3. But there is a buffet (micro one) so at least can go fetch

Now if you could combine the east midlands layout with a buffet - perfect.  Oh of course, that's what we used to have.........

[Btline]

You could do a tale of two 158s!

FGW^▸ (First Great Western): Uncomfortable seats
SWT^▸ (South West Trains): Seats you can sink into

Why do FGW insist on putting in the seats they do, they can't be any good for people travelling long distances in them. I shudder at the thought of 5 hours on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train), you'd have DVT^‡(resolve) and a bad back by Penzance!

[inspector_blakey]

Utter nonsense!

We've been here before, haven't we? I've just posted something else on another thread Btline about people having different opinions and it applies here too. Whilst you might not like the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) or 158 seats, there are plenty of people, myself included, who would much rather sit on something firm and supportive than some ancient squishy seat that swallows you. Frankly comments about DVT^‡(resolve) and bad backs just sound silly! (And yes, just to pre-empt any possible frothing, I've done 5 hours in standard on an FGW HST and it was absolutely fine )

[Btline]

Recently travelled on the loco set - most comfortable seat ever!

[devon_metro]

Without going into my opinion etc, it's worth remembering that it is purely personal preference.

[Brucey]

If you don't like FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s seats, try sitting on one of Southern's Electrostars for 2hr and 30mins (Southampton to Victoria).  Numb bum is a bit of an understatement!

I find the FGW 158 seats very comfortable, even on a 2hr 15min journey.  My concern is the lack of leg space, which isn't great for those of us who happen to be slightly vertically challenged (and I'm only 6ft).  End up playing footsie with the person opposite when I'm lucky enough to get a table ... well, not always a bad thing!

[Mookiemoo]

ok - I didnt mean to start a row

but I can say one thing - if you are short - it is almost impossible to sit in the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) FC^‡(resolve) seats and work on the table - as I said - I sit on the hard bit between the two

I do not understand why they have to be so ergonomically bad

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

the problem is that all humans are built differently, for me the seats on the xc hst's and the swt 158/159's are the best... well that was until today, i fell asleep on one of the fold down seats on a wait for it

143

bliss! and im not joking

[matt473]

I only have one complaint about the First Class on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hst's, why are most of the seats grey yet one seat in each bay of 4 is blue/purple? 

[Btline]

The thing is, the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) seat backs feel basically the same, it's that the SWT seats have a soft cushion base and the FGW ones a hard base. I agree about SN's 377s.

I've dropped off on a 150 before, but a 143 is impressive!

[inspector_blakey]

143

bliss! and im not joking

It was stationary, right...?!

[JayMac]

Do HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) have tails? Ain't they got a head at both ends?

 

[welshman]

This is the wrong discussion.  In view of overcrowding the debate ought to be about the best trains for standing.

Worst are Pacers without a doubt.  It's the bounce and the draughts.  As bad as the Tube.

Class 442s get my vote.

[Btline]

A 153 for standing is awful, esp if you are rammed next to the doors and get hit by them every time they close.

Made even worse, if you are at the rear of the unit, as you have the scramble of the guard squeezing past twice per stop!

[TerminalJunkie]