ECML class 91 & 43 carriage sets refurb 2016?

[NightatLaira]

it's been about 12 years since the ECML 'Mallard' refurbishment started in late 2003, which was the first refurbishment of the 91 sets which were about 13 years old at the time...

So - VTEC / their ROSCO probably need to think about their 2nd refurb...

Standard class has not worn well at all, and I hope the next rendition of seats are more like the 222 Meridian sets

 

[najaB]

So - VTEC / their ROSCO probably need to think about their 2nd refurb...

VTEC has nice shiny new trains heading their way soon so I don't imagine they'll be putting a lot of money into the fleet - at least not the ones they are going to be handing back to the ROSCO.

 

[D365]

VTEC has nice shiny new trains heading their way soon so I don't imagine they'll be putting a lot of money into the fleet - at least not the ones they are going to be handing back to the ROSCO.

They plan to retain only a few of their electric IC225 rakes if the additional services to Edinburgh are approved.

 

[NightatLaira]

Surely the 91 sets aren't heading to scrap heap after only 30 years?

Will they not get cascaded somewhere? GEML? It's HSBC Rail / Porterbrook who are the ROSCO isn't it?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Seat Covers, carpets, internal repaint and general tidy up is about all youl get me thinks.

 

[najaB]

Will they not get cascaded somewhere? GEML? It's HSBC Rail / Porterbrook who are the ROSCO isn't it?

It's almost certain that they'll be cascaded.

 

[D365]

Surely the 91 sets aren't heading to scrap heap after only 30 years?

Why do you sound so shocked? The design life for the Class 91 was 30 years... Fairly typical for a high-speed train, the HSTs obviously being the anomaly.

 

[thealexweb]

There has been near constant silence on where the vast majority of the '225' sets are heading in the next few years. I know it is a long shot but I am still hoping they make an appearance on the Manchester to Scotland services.

 

[NightatLaira]

Manchester / Scotland services would be a good use for them.

 

[jopsuk]

In Japan on the Shinkansen they've started scrapping units built in the late 90s

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Midland mainline had been mooted as a cascade route as they were supposed to be stringing the wires up now!

Greater anglia is also a possible cascade route, but apart from dieselised and put on XC routes there really arent any suitable routes for the stock to be used on.

 

[dk1]

It doesn't look like they will head over to the GEML for use with cl90s now. The new franchise is looking for new build & as train length cannot be extended at Liverpool Street the space taken up by the loco & DVT is not deemed to be the best option to run with.

 

[sprinterguy]

£13.4 million has been earmarked for a refresh of the current East Coast train fleet during the first two years of the franchise. This will include an initial deep clean of the entire fleet, refurbished toilets, new carpets and seat covers.

 

[fishquinn]

You could send a few MK4s and DVTs to the Chilterns to replace the 168s on the Marylebone-Birmingham route. These could then work the Oxford Parkway and Milton Keynes services with the MK4s and DVTs working with a loco so everything between Marylebone and Brum is hauled.

 

[3141]

There has been near constant silence on where the vast majority of the '225' sets are heading in the next few years.

That's probably because nobody knows. The ROSCO that owns them is probably looking at possibilities and hoping it can persuade someone to take them. The DfT may be thinking where they might be used. A lot depends on where there are wires to use them under. The idea of using them with a loco on Chiltern, or maybe somewhere else, is an interesting one and an example of how the whole network is open to speculation on the subject. (Well, maybe not Gunnislake.)

 

[Tempest3K]

Are MK4's 100% compliant with the disability regs? If so, the class 91 sets could be a cheap option for an open access 'startup' in future?

 

[NSEFAN]

Are MK4's 100% compliant with the disability regs? If so, the class 91 sets could be a cheap option for an open access 'startup' in future?

In that case the DfT will want them sent to Booths asap.

 

[43367]

The VTEC fleet will be getting a refurbishment, this involves all seat covers, wall and floor carpets, tables and toilets getting replaced, the std seats will be done in a red fabric and the first class will be getting leather seat covers. Expect the first set to go in when they have finished stickering up the exteriors, and it is expected that once underway a set will be completed in a fortnight, which is pretty good going, although i guess the first few sets may take a tad longer whilst it becomes clear what is actually required and experience is gained

 

[yorksrob]

Yet more gaudy red upholstery on its way.

Why does the private sector have such a blind spot when it comes to soothing pastel interiors.

I also don't get the whole leather seats thing frankly, but given I can rarely afford to travel first class on VTEC anyway it's a bit of a moot point.

 

[47271]

They do seem to be getting the exteriors done pretty quickly, the last three I've been on have all been in Stagecoach colours.

Stagecoach red on the seats is probably fine to my eyes: I've never understood the unpatterned light greys and beiges used on the present interiors, far too susceptible to stains and marks.

If they could repair the presently large number of broken recline mechanisms in First Class - one out of four on my last few trips - when they're about it that would be helpful. They run loose adding an interesting extra experience during braking or acceleration, or are permanently reclined.

 

[yorksrob]

Stagecoach red on the seats is probably fine to my eyes: I've never understood the unpatterned light greys and beiges used on the present interiors, far too susceptible to stains and marks.

the present yellowy-grey might be susceptible to stains, but the dark blue used on some seats is quite resistant.

 

[DarloRich]

In Japan on the Shinkansen they've started scrapping units built in the late 90s

that is because they have built better trains - we havent
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Yet more gaudy red upholstery on its way.

Why does the private sector have such a blind spot when it comes to soothing pastel interiors.

And lighting - why cant they get lighting right. The Pendos have a dark interior and dim lighting? why?

And paint schemes - why cant the internal decorations on, say, a Pendolino be light coloured. They have tiny slit like windows so you need to maximise natural lighting not soak it up with browns and reds and grays

I also don't get the whole leather seats thing frankly, but given I can rarely afford to travel first class on VTEC anyway it's a bit of a moot point.

the "leather" seats are popular as they are easy to clean and don't stain easily.
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I would hope a home is found for the 91/mkiv combo but knowing our railways they will be scrapped and replaced with a sub voyager/javelin clone that offers a reduction in passenger comfort.

( i quite like these trains as you might have realised!)

 

[yorksrob]

And paint schemes - why cant the internal decorations on, say, a Pendolino be light coloured. They have tiny slit like windows so you need to maximise natural lighting not soak it up with browns and reds and grays

And yet Virgin came up with one of my favourite post privatisation colour schemes with their refurbished Mk 2's, whose turquoisy-green upholstery and managed to be light without being vulgar.

I would hope a home is found for the 91/mkiv combo but knowing our railways they will be scrapped and replaced with a sub voyager/javelin clone that offers a reduction in passenger comfort.

( i quite like these trains as you might have realised!)

Yes, me too. I would be sad to see them go.

 

[DarloRich]

And yet Virgin came up with one of my favourite post privatisation colour schemes with their refurbished Mk 2's, whose turquoisy-green upholstery and managed to be light without being vulgar.

I don't understand how they pay all that money for new trains then skimp on a bit of interior design. They clealry sacked the ones employed for the Mkii refurb when they fitted out the Pendos!

 

[47271]

the present yellowy-grey might be susceptible to stains, but the dark blue used on some seats is quite resistant.

I totally agree on the dark blue on both the mk4s and HSTs, it's stood up well.

This is probably better suited to another not unrelated thread, and I don't think about seat covers that much, but a few months ago I got stopped on the main concourse at King's Cross by a man with a clipboard. He was standing by some nice seats, which he explained were testers for the new ECML trains. I sat on both First and Standard and declared them comfortable but maybe a little short on lumbar support.

Their upholstery was also light in colour (First was a greyish pink and roughish in surface like Southern Electrostars I recall) and lacking in pattern. I said that this would probably mark readily, so if VTEC's seats look grubby by 2021 I did warn the researcher!

That said, and quite off topic, those unusual grey-green abrasive seat covers on Southern don't seem to have got quite as filthy over the years as you'd think?

 

[FOH]

And yet Virgin came up with one of my favourite post privatisation colour schemes with their refurbished Mk 2's, whose turquoisy-green upholstery and managed to be light without being vulgar.

Do you mean WC or XC? If WC, I'm pretty sure I remember a photo of a beaming Ivor Warburton on the first refurbished ICWC rake with green seats just weeks before Virgin won the franchise.

 

[hibtastic]

Manchester / Scotland services would be a good use for them.

I agree, I think they would be a fantastic train for Manchester to Scotland.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And lighting - why cant they get lighting right. The Pendos have a dark interior and dim lighting? why?

And paint schemes - why cant the internal decorations on, say, a Pendolino be light coloured. They have tiny slit like windows so you need to maximise natural lighting not soak it up with browns and reds and grays

Because some of us like subdued lighting and relaxing interior colours (my favourite seat in a Pendolino is the very end priority seat in Coach A, which has even more subdued lighting as the tubes don't quite reach it). Individual reading lights are provided if you want increased personal lighting. Whereas I can't avoid sitting in an interrogation room if I use a fGW HST.

I think the dark colours look classy, personally.