Class 222 refurbishment

[STINT47]

EMR have stated on Twitter that the class 222 Meridians are going through a mid life refresh after someone complained about the state of the arm rests and seats.

Apparently they only have a few left to do but I have yet to see a refreshed train in service. Does anyone know any more details about the refresh and what work has been done on the very tired interiors?

 

[Hairy Bear]

No interior work at all, unless you like the duck tape on the seats/armrests. There's no plans to do the interior, just overhauled bogies and vinyl wraps.
Those manning the comm desk using have no idea what's going on in day to day operations and shouldn't be relied upon for there information given out.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I haven't used a 222 since early 2018 but that one was in a shocking state even then. To think that EMR's predecessor put notices up apologising for the state of Sprinters cascaded in from Northern, it's somewhat ironic that they've let their "pride of the fleet" units deteriorate so badly. In January I even chose to wait 20mins for an XC Voyager service rather than using a 222. If Arriva are showing you up, you have a problem!

 

[DB]

I haven't used a 222 since early 2018 but that one was in a shocking state even then. To think that EMR's predecessor put notices up apologising for the state of Sprinters cascaded in from Northern, it's somewhat ironic that they've let their "pride of the fleet" units deteriorate so badly. In January I even chose to wait 20mins for an XC Voyager service rather than using a 222. If Arriva are showing you up, you have a problem!

It basically comes down primarily to using flat fabric on the seats -that always looks absolutely knackered after a few years, but every few years a TOC or two decides to try it yet again. Northern did it too for a while with the current round of refurbishments, before switching back to moquette again.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It basically comes down primarily to using flat fabric on the seats -that always looks absolutely knackered after a few years, but every few years a TOC or two decides to try it yet again. Northern did it too for a while with the current round of refurbishments, before switching back to moquette again.

That's a factor for sure, but I'd argue that the biggest factor is the lack of TLC on the part of the operator and/or owner. After the best part of two decades in traffic the seats would be in a state even if they were covered in kevlar.

 

[DB]

That's a factor for sure, but I'd argue that the biggest factor is the lack of TLC on the part of the operator and/or owner. After the best part of two decades in traffic the seats would be in a state even if they were covered in kevlar.

EMT did a refurbishment, with new seat covers, less than ten years ago.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

EMT did a refurbishment, with new seat covers, less than ten years ago.

Of course, for some reason I was misremembering how long Stagecoach had held the franchise and was thinking they'd been delivered in Stagecoach livery .

Rather makes me wonder why they went for flat cloth, considering that at SWT they continued to recover seats in moquette on the VEPs and CIGs until those classes were already being phased out.

 

[DB]

Of course, for some reason I was misremembering how long Stagecoach had held the franchise and was thinking they'd been delivered in Stagecoach livery .

Rather makes me wonder why they went for flat cloth, considering that at SWT they continued to recover seats in moquette on the VEPs and CIGs until those classes were already being phased out.

EMT didn't do it with any other classes either - the Sprinters all have moquette.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

EMT didn't do it with any other classes either - the Sprinters all have moquette.

Perhaps it was the ROSCO's decision? Either way it (and the ongoing decline) seems daft at best.

 

[LowLevel]

They were delivered to Midland Mainline with flat cloth moquette that was purple and used to be covered in dark stains where things had been spilled on it. They moved to leather for first class which is much easier to wipe down when EMT refreshed the sets but stuck with the cloth in standard, changed to red.

 

[Energy]

Perhaps it was the ROSCO's decision? Either way it (and the ongoing decline) seems daft at best.

222s are owned by Eversholt who do not own any other EMR/EMT rolling stock, could have been a ROSCO decision.

Were the 222s done before the sprinters? If so they may have learnt from the 222s and decided to go with moquette for the rest of the fleet.

 

[JonathanH]

Is the 222 seat covering a function of the design of the seat that it can only accommodate a thin covering and not the deeper pile of a moquette covering?

 

[Domh245]

I suspect the (unique?) seat design is probably behind the flat cloth. Large, single piece, and complicated geometry

 

[DB]

222s are owned by Eversholt who do not own any other EMR/EMT rolling stock, could have been a ROSCO decision.

Were the 222s done before the sprinters? If so they may have learnt from the 222s and decided to go with moquette for the rest of the fleet.

Afterwards, so far as I recall.

The HSTs also have moquette - think they were done before the 222s as well. Not sure about the ex-Grand Central sets - have been on them but can't remember what the seating in standard was (first class had leather covers).

So far as I know the seats in the 222s are unique to the class, but can't see why moquette would pose any particular problem. Before refurbishment they had that strange strip with LEDs in it down one side of the gangway too, which I've also not seen on anything else.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Is the 222 seat covering a function of the design of the seat that it can only accommodate a thin covering and not the deeper pile of a moquette covering?

I think they had moquette when delivered to Midland Mainline, but could be misremembering.

 

[JonathanH]

I think they had moquette when delivered to Midland Mainline, but could be misremembering.

No, both the Midland Mainline and Hull Trains 222s had a flat cloth when new. It was not a pile moquette.

 

[hexagon789]

Standard Class interior, March 2005:

 

[LowLevel]

Not exactly 810 related but to do with their predecessors, the class 222s are finally having their seat covers completely replaced between now and March whilst on exam. New ones below:

 

[The_Train]

Not exactly 810 related but to do with their predecessors, the class 222s are finally having their seat covers completely replaced between now and March whilst on exam. New ones below:

View attachment 145927

Just that change makes the units a million times better - just hope they actually clean these covers now and again

 

[LowLevel]

Just that change makes the units a million times better - just hope they actually clean these covers now and again

They would appear to be moquette rather than flat cloth which should help significantly.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just that change makes the units a million times better - just hope they actually clean these covers now and again

I think the warm red going is a major loss, but I appreciate it wasn’t on brand in the slightest.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just that change makes the units a million times better - just hope they actually clean these covers now and again

Ooh, classy. And very much needed, the old ones were in a terrible condition.

 

[The_Train]

I think the warm red going is a major loss, but I appreciate it wasn’t on brand in the slightest.

I'm all for colour so I agree, but these new ones look like they are going to be much safer to sit on without contracting a disease that scientists don't yet know exists like on the current seats

And if they don't stop this, at least the grime won't be quite as visible

 

[LowLevel]

I think the warm red going is a major loss, but I appreciate it wasn’t on brand in the slightest.

I agree - one of the things I do miss about the Stagecoach era (and there isn't a huge amount) was the brand image which I always thought was bright, cheery and generally classy. To be fair I also liked the luminous Central Trains green after the greys of the 90s

However, it's 15 years old now and very tired.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Not exactly 810 related but to do with their predecessors, the class 222s are finally having their seat covers completely replaced between now and March whilst on exam. New ones below:

View attachment 145927

Are the cushions going to be replaced as well or just the covers?

 

[InTheEastMids]

Not exactly 810 related but to do with their predecessors, the class 222s are finally having their seat covers completely replaced between now and March whilst on exam. New ones below:

View attachment 145927

Thanks for sharing. To be honest I thought it had started and they were just using old EMT red offcuts, as have seen some bits of fabric that look both a bit cleaner and a lot less well fitted than usual.

Does EMR have any plans to clean the outsides of the 222s?

And to bring it back on topic...
Does EMR have any plans to clean the outsides of the 810s?

 

[AJDesiro]

Thanks for sharing. To be honest I thought it had started and they were just using old EMT red offcuts, as have seen some bits of fabric that look both a bit cleaner and a lot less well fitted than usual.

Does EMR have any plans to clean the outsides of the 222s?

And to bring it back on topic...
Does EMR have any plans to clean the outsides of the 810s?

On the other side of the midlands, I generally found that units that were either leaving the franchise or pending refurbishment were generally filthy, it seemed they didn't bother cleaning them because they'd be leaving the franchise soon/getting refurbished. Since unit refurbishments, I've noticed a general increase in the cleanliness of units and general presentation. I'd imagine EMR will want to keep their nice shiny toys in good condition for the remainder of the franchise.

 

[QSK19]

Can’t help but be cynical, but shouldn’t this effort and expenditure be going into the permanent fleet (ie the 170s & 360s) instead of a fleet which will probably be gone in 18 months?

Granted that the 222s look worn out and that multiple ROSCOs are in play (Porterbrook, Eversholt and Angel); however there are surely more pressing needs elsewhere.

Finally, back on topic, does anybody have any pics of the 810s in electric operation? I think that the interview in Modern Railways stated that they have run at high speed in electric mode; but the only pictures I’ve found with the pan up were attached in my post number 2,024.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Can’t help but be cynical, but shouldn’t this effort and expenditure be going into the permanent fleet (ie the 170s & 360s) instead of a fleet which will probably be gone in 18 months?

Gone from EMR but they won't be scrapped, another TOC will take them on. (There are speculative threads for who that might be).

 

[Killingworth]

Gone from EMR but they won't be scrapped, another TOC will take them on. (There are speculative threads for who that might be).

And the new colour is fairly neutral in a way the red is not. Looking to the next operators ROSCO's may have had a hand in that.