The root cause was FGW making an utter mess of the spec for that refurb - the combination of the over-bright lighting and over-tinted windows was a massive mistake. GNER and MML managed to get their replacement lighting right, thankfully.
Oh hell, don't start me on the windows, I forgot about that when I posted last night. They never registered with me to the same extent on GWR.
So it's dark outside. The interior is lit to operating theatre standards. So why not put an ultra reflective coating on the inside of the windows so that all the passenger can see is their own face when they look about? I genuinely had precious little clue where I was unless I peered out with my hands round my head, and this was in fully lit stations.
Funny that this famously p***poor interior was FGW's when GWR is regarded as the victim at the hands of the DfT with the insides of the IETs.
Anyway, I'm moaning about a temporary state of affairs on Scotrail, but I doubt that the refurbs are doing anything about those windows.