[RichmondCommu]

G'day,

The windows on Voyagers and Pendolinos get a really bad press at times on this forum but are the positioning / size of windows really that important? I travel by train a lot and in my experience passengers pay very little attention to the passing countryside. Not only that but safety and the chance of getting a seat are far more of a priority than a panoramic view.

Your views on this would be very much appreciated!

Richmond Commuter.

[John55]

Originally Posted by RichmondCommu

G'day,

The windows on Voyagers and Pendolinos get a really bad press at times on this forum but are the positioning / size of windows really that important? I travel by train a lot and in my experience passengers pay very little attention to the passing countryside. Not only that but safety and the chance of getting a seat are far more of a priority than a panoramic view.

Your views on this would be very much appreciated!

Richmond Commuter.

The size and position of windows are important otherwise how do you know it is time to get off the train? Not all trains have public address that works or that can be heard (or sometimes that gives the correct information). Now while many passengers do not look out of the window I do and would very much prefer to continue to do so.

PS The position of the seats relative to the windows probably is the bug bear for most.

[RichmondCommu]

Originally Posted by John55

The size and position of windows are important otherwise how do you know it is time to get off the train? Not all trains have public address that works or that can be heard (or sometimes that gives the correct information). Now while many passengers do not look out of the window I do and would very much prefer to continue to do so.

PS The position of the seats relative to the windows probably is the bug bear for most.

In all fairness Cross Country and Virgin are very good at telling customers where the train will next be stopping at. In my experience the vast majority of passengers are far more interested in; their newspapers, books, Kindles, laptops, tablets, smart phones et al rather than whats going on outside.

[dubscottie]

Originally Posted by RichmondCommu

In all fairness Cross Country and Virgin are very good at telling customers where the train will next be stopping at. In my experience the vast majority of passengers are far more interested in; their newspapers, books, Kindles, laptops, tablets, smart phones et al rather than whats going on outside.

For me having a window is the main priority.. Thats why I travel by train and not plane! I like to watch the world go by.

For short 20 min trips Ill stand.

[RichmondCommu]

Originally Posted by dubscottie

For me having a window is the main priority.. Thats why I travel by train and not plane! I like to watch the world go by.

For short 20 min trips Ill stand.

Fair enough but I would suggest that you are in the minority and should the transport industry pander to the minority? Not only that but airline style seating (which may not join up with windows) means that you get a seat for journeys of more than 20 minutes!

[dubscottie]

Originally Posted by RichmondCommu

Fair enough but I would suggest that you are in the minority and should the transport industry pander to the minority? Not only that but airline style seating (which may not join up with windows) means that you get a seat for journeys of more than 20 minutes!

If only the minority want windows get rid altogether! However the first tubes never had windows but they soon released the passengers wanted them even although all they could see was walls!

Ireland has done it.. I book a window seat, I get a window. Nowadays in the UK a window could mean a partition. Started when Mk3's went from 72 to 76 seaters and did not stop.

As for airline seats, like having to stand I don't care as long as its not a long journey!

[RichmondCommu]

Originally Posted by dubscottie

Ireland has done it.. I book a window seat, I get a window. Nowadays in the UK a window could mean a partition. Started when Mk3's went from 72 to 76 seaters and did not stop.

But surely this is a good thing as four more passengers now have a chance of getting a seat?

[87015]

Watch an IC set filling up at Euston, Padd, Kings X or wherever- the window/table seats will fill up far more quickly than the airline/plastics, almost always. Some minority it seems.

[Welshman]

For me, being able to look out of the window is an important part of the journey.

During a recent trip over the Settle and Carlisle line, there were some passengers playing computer games or watching videos while the most amazing scenery was unveiling, free of charge, just through the window adjacent to them.

Even on a "non-scenic" route, like Birmingham to Wolverhampton, there's always something to see and take an interest in, and at dusk or early morning there are often fascinating sunsets/rises to enjoy, were it not for the ultra-bright interior lighting we now have to endure, reflecting in the windows.

[AndyLandy]

Originally Posted by 87015

the window/table seats will fill up far more quickly than the airline/plastics, almost always. Some minority it seems.

Every time I've travelled by train, the table seats are always the first to go. I've never really noticed any particular bias in favour of window seats though. If anything, people tend to be antisocial and sit in the aisle and leave the window seat unoccupied.

That all said, I personally far prefer to be looking out of the window and watching the world go by than sat staring at the inside of the train.

[ml]

When Virgin introduced the Voyagers they had a window glazer guide which was effective. Pointed out landmarks and interest spots along the various routes

[pdq]

Originally Posted by AndyLandy

Every time I've travelled by train, the table seats are always the first to go.

Am I the only one that tries to avoid tables unless I am with my family? I'd far rather be able to stretch my legs under the seat in front of me than play footsie with a complete stranger.

Out of interest, what increase could there be in the capacity of, say, coach B of a 185 if it was all airline seats?

[John Webb]

As a number of the replies have indicated, I suspect poor positioning of seats to windows is of particular relevence to most of this Forum's contributors as they do take a greater interest in the passing world than other passengers, particularly if it contains railway-related material!
I, being retired, don't travel much by train, but I certainly like to look out of the windows at the very least to see what's changed since I last passed that way, and find the non-alignment of seats and windows can be irksome.

[317666]

Whilst the windows on the Pendolinos are quite small, those seats which are aligned with them are aligned quite well - for instance a bay of 4 won't have a random pillar in the middle of it. Voyagers have larger windows but the alignment is much worse, you get bays of 4 with a random pillar in the middle of the window for instance.

[AndyLandy]

Yeah, I never got what all the fuss was about Pendolino windows. Sure, they're smaller than Voyager ones, but if you're in an actual window seat, you can get a perfectly decent view of the countryside passing you by.