State of GWR’s IETs

[Anonymous10]

Whoever it was at the DfT who specified those seats should be punished, but having their office chair replaced by a knackered IET seat, and being forced to sit on it all day.

Better yet they're forced to work from on board an iet for the next month

 

[YourMum666]

ah yes - classic DfT absolutely doing everything in their power to chase people off the railways

 

[PG]

Different seats were originally specified. DfT changed them to the current spec to save some cost, Hitachi were horrified and protested vociferously but we're overruled. Told to me by an insider.

Okay so we've established its the DfTs fault for skimping on the seats but its now Hitachi's problem to rectify as they are responsible for the maintenance.

 

[Anonymous10]

Okay so we've established its the DfTs fault for skimping on the seats but its now Hitachi's problem to rectify as they are responsible for the maintenance.

However surely they'd only need to repair them to the spec originally specified, so the issue will happen again unless someone spends some money.

 

[urpert]

Interesting reading these comments. Having only travelled on the TPE 802’s their condition seems miles apart with them still being a very smart product

The LNER ones are also well turned out in my experience.

 

[PG]

However surely they'd only need to repair them to the spec originally specified, so the issue will happen again unless someone spends some money.

Thats true in that it'd only be kicking the can down the line but at least it would remedy the current situation for a few years.

 

[Anonymous10]

Thats true in that it'd only be kicking the can down the line but at least it would remedy the current situation for a few years.

In my humble opinion they'd be better served just fixing it properly for good

 

[387star]

They are far quieter on diesel than voyagers so that's a plus

 

[PG]

In my humble opinion they'd be better served just fixing it properly for good

Yes indeed that makes good sense, so in all likelihood thats what won't happen

 

[Anonymous10]

Yes indeed that makes good sense, so in all likelihood thats what won't happen

Quite the obvious solution Is usually not the solution they want

 

[Versa274]

I eagerly await the inevitable replacement of the cushion with a plain metal seat base.

Ignoring ant ideas about comfort, did they just get the seat spec entirely wrong & not fully consider wear, just like the wheels? lordy.

The next replacement will be a Star wars rebel transport design where you just stand in a cubicle and no seating

 

[Peter Mugridge]

802 003 returned to North Pole earlier today.

 

[EKing]

As we know from this forum's propensity for circular discussions on seat comfort, it's always going to be an incredibly subjective issue dependent on your size, build and personal preferences—in the same way people often have very particular preferences about the type of mattress they sleep on! For me personally, of the seats I have used frequently enough to have formed an opinion, some of the most comfortable for me are the Lazzerini seats fitted to the ex-WMR 170s.

I disagree, comfortable seat design applies to all. Anyone will be more comfortable on a seat with back recline.
On this forum people mainly seem to discuss the base and its padding, or lack of it. But IMO the single most important factor in seat comfort is the angle of the base and back. For me the IET seats are extremely uncomfortable because the back is almost completely vertical, no recline whatsoever, and this does my back in. I find train seats hard to tolerate for any longer than 45 minutes or so. And its the same on all trains. In a months time I'll be trying first class on GWR, London to Falmouth, hopefully the 1st class seats will make the journey tolerable.
I've got a wooden bench at home, its got a well contoured seat and the back is sufficiently reclined, this makes it comfortable to sit on for ages, more comfortable than a train seat i reckon.

 

[irish_rail]

I disagree, comfortable seat design applies to all. Anyone will be more comfortable on a seat with back recline.
On this forum people mainly seem to discuss the base and its padding, or lack of it. But IMO the single most important factor in seat comfort is the angle of the base and back. For me the IET seats are extremely uncomfortable because the back is almost completely vertical, no recline whatsoever, and this does my back in. I find train seats hard to tolerate for any longer than 45 minutes or so. And its the same on all trains. In a months time I'll be trying first class on GWR, London to Falmouth, hopefully the 1st class seats will make the journey tolerable.
I've got a wooden bench at home, its got a well contoured seat and the back is sufficiently reclined, this makes it comfortable to sit on for ages, more comfortable than a train seat i reckon.

I feel your pain. The first class seats do indeed recline and in my opinion are infinitely better than standard ones.

 

[fgwrich]

I disagree, comfortable seat design applies to all. Anyone will be more comfortable on a seat with back recline.
On this forum people mainly seem to discuss the base and its padding, or lack of it. But IMO the single most important factor in seat comfort is the angle of the base and back. For me the IET seats are extremely uncomfortable because the back is almost completely vertical, no recline whatsoever, and this does my back in. I find train seats hard to tolerate for any longer than 45 minutes or so. And its the same on all trains. In a months time I'll be trying first class on GWR, London to Falmouth, hopefully the 1st class seats will make the journey tolerable.
I've got a wooden bench at home, its got a well contoured seat and the back is sufficiently reclined, this makes it comfortable to sit on for ages, more comfortable than a train seat i reckon.

No recline made worse by that wretched bar!

 

[Non Multi]

No recline made worse by that wretched bar!

Is the bar underneath that faded fabric line?

 

[fgwrich]

Is the bar underneath that faded fabric line?

It is indeed. Where you see the lighter patch, that is where the metal bar running across the seat base is located. Unfortunately, any cushioning around it has long since collapsed leaving you with a sunken piece of rough moquette sitting across a metal base and raised horizontal bar.

 

[irish_rail]

No recline made worse by that wretched bar!

They really are in a sorry state now. I usually have to try two or three seats these days before I get one that isn't fully collapsed. Its affecting the 802s now, where previously I only really found it on the older 800s.

 

[XAM2175]

I disagree, comfortable seat design applies to all. Anyone will be more comfortable on a seat with back recline.
On this forum people mainly seem to discuss the base and its padding, or lack of it. But IMO the single most important factor in seat comfort is the angle of the base and back. For me the IET seats are extremely uncomfortable because the back is almost completely vertical, no recline whatsoever, and this does my back in.

No, it's still hugely subjective. Recline does my back and neck in, for instance.

 

[Mikey C]

Personally I find the shaping of the IET seats adequate, it's the thinness which is more of an issue. As shown by how quickly the padding has worn down.

 

[PG]

They really are in a sorry state now. I usually have to try two or three seats these days before I get one that isn't fully collapsed. Its affecting the 802s now, where previously I only really found it on the older 800s.

I presume train crew travelling passenger no longer refer to it as on the cushions?!!

 

[irish_rail]

I presume train crew travelling passenger no longer refer to it as on the cushions?!!

Haha good point!

 

[Snow1964]

No recline made worse by that wretched bar!

So the fabric is wearing where the bar is, so now there is a visible line across the seat.

GWR need to kick Hitachi, and when they come off maintenance start marking it as a fault, or rejecting the so called repaired train until they are fixed.

No point in having a maintenance contract if allow them to not be fully maintained to letter of contract.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

So the fabric is wearing where the bar is, so now there is a visible line across the seat.

GWR need to kick Hitachi, and when they come off maintenance start marking it as a fault, or rejecting the so called repaired train until they are fixed.

No point in having a maintenance contract if allow them to not be fully maintained to letter of contract.

Who’s going to check every seat on every train each morning?

And then GWR are cancelling loads of trains each day. Regardless of fault, that’s not a good look.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Who’s going to check every seat on every train each morning?

And then GWR are cancelling loads of trains each day. Regardless of fault, that’s not a good look.

Not to mention the forthcoming reduction in spare sets when the HSTs kick the bucket.

Different seats were originally specified. DfT changed them to the current spec to save some cost, Hitachi were horrified and protested vociferously but we're overruled. Told to me by an insider.

Forgive me if it’s somewhere in this thread but what were the original seats?

They are far quieter on diesel than voyagers so that's a plus

Even quieter if one or more engines has gone kaput!

 

[trebor79]

Forgive me if it’s somewhere in this thread but what were the original seats?

No idea I'm afraid.

 

[chuff chuff]

I presume train crew travelling passenger no longer refer to it as on the cushions?!!

Some of us still do but it is one of those that's slowly disappearing into the distance.

 

[Wokingham]

Sitting on the last iet back to London from Penzance, forgot about and have discovered the metal bar by myself and remembered this post.

How do they get away this it's literally a metal pole under the seat cushion.

 

[Trainlog]

Its dissapointing that the IET seats are terrible especially when Hitachi where capable of making the ones on the 395s rather comfortable and with great legroom a decade previously.

 

[irish_rail]

Sitting on the last iet back to London from Penzance, forgot about and have discovered the metal bar by myself and remembered this post.

How do they get away this it's literally a metal pole until the seat

I can only apologise on behalf of GWR. Its shocking just how bad the seating is now,it has to be experienced to be believed and yet nothing seems to be being done about it. It really isn't fair on GWRs fare paying customers, Hitachi need to pull their finger out and do something about this issue. First step , hold the seat manufacturer to account, as no seat should be designed for a 5 year life max.