Hi all,
Are FGW planning to refurbish the Night Riviera soon?
They're running a radio advert with a mention of the "soon to be refurbished" Night Riviera sleeper.
Or are they referring to the forthcoming stock replacement?
Many thanks.
Hi all,
Are FGW planning to refurbish the Night Riviera soon?
They're running a radio advert with a mention of the "soon to be refurbished" Night Riviera sleeper.
Or are they referring to the forthcoming stock replacement?
Many thanks.
I thought I read somewhere that there is a possibility of HST MK3 coaches being added to the Night Riviera when they are shortened to 5 car and replaced possibly by AT300's?
They are indeed being refurbished and will come back in GWR Green. Not sure what's going on with the seats at the moment, but I believe they should be the ex HST FC seats just recovered - far more comfortable than the rather threadbare IC70s still in use today.
Another SLEP and TSO are also to be added, bringing the formation up to a regular 8/9 cars with 10 possible.
One of the Refurbed carriages is on 1C99 tonight currently at PAD. 10594 possibly to be removed at Plymouth in GWR Green. Carriage Locked Out of Use.
Love the colour scheme, does look a bit plain at the moment though - branding should help, as would a stripe or two to match the doors.
One of the Refurbed carriages is on 1C99 tonight currently at PAD. 10594 possibly to be removed at Plymouth in GWR Green. Carriage Locked Out of Use.
I think if they were serious about the long term future of the Riviera sleeper they would be looking to replace the current sleepers and surely now would be their best ever chance to do that. The current European trend is a planned withdrawal of sleeper services and I can only see the Riviera service going the same way.
Can't say I'm impressed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66024/17148417828/in/photolist-s8m8bm-oSTTWq-qSDSqd-qg8mBe/
Can't work out why there seems to be an addition of a matt effect band across the side either.
A third one is that the UK subsidises them - German long distance services, for instance, do not receive direct operating subsidy.
I'd be interested to know how much subsidy is paid by the Government to FGW to run the sleeper service. The harsh reality is that the transport budget is likely to be cut after the election and the Riviera sleeper could well be considered an easy target. I would have said the same about the Scottish sleeper two years a go but spending a fortune on new rolling stock has changed everything.
I'm surprised, with a close election coming up, and a lot of marginal seats in the south west, that the order for new Caledonian Sleeper carriages didn't have a few more tacked on for the Riviera service, the stock is the same vintage after all.
Having said that, I travelled on it on Friday and the trip was just fine, and I slept as well as I do at home. The carpets and lounge seats are looking a little tired these days, but it at least was reasonably quite, didn't lurch about too much or squeak and rattle, and the temperature in the cabin was fine for me.
Here is a picture of 57605:
https://flic.kr/p/si4kXV
Which certainly looks more forest-y green than the sort of brunswick/bottle green that has been used in the SET renderings
IIRC bidders for the last Great Western franchise were asked to price the sleeper service separately.
I suspect it is subsidised but in reality withdrawing it would be unpalatable, politically.
I agree. It would be good to have new stock though.
I cannot see there be any new stock for the Night Riviera until the stock for the daytime trains has been totally resolved.
If the order for the Hitachi AT300's that FGW wants goes ahead, do you think that if any new stock for the Night Riviera is going to be provided that it might be Hitachi that provides it as part of a Hybrid AT300 multiple unit?
Can't say I'm impressed.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66024/17148417828/in/photolist-s8m8bm-oSTTWq-qSDSqd-qg8mBe/
Can't work out why there seems to be an addition of a matt effect band across the side either.
I cannot see there be any new stock for the Night Riviera until the stock for the daytime trains has been totally resolved.
If the order for the Hitachi AT300's that FGW wants goes ahead, do you think that if any new stock for the Night Riviera is going to be provided that it might be Hitachi that provides it as part of a Hybrid AT300 multiple unit?