Should trains have full/partial leather seats?

[Zomboid]

I'd rather not sit on bits of dead animal if I can avoid it, thanks.

 

[supervc-10]

You don't slide around on them, and if done correctly and using decent leather they are tasteful. Take British Airways for example. Their Pinnacle seats look very smart, I think, far more so than their long haul stuff in moquette. And I think the ECML leather first class looked (and still does) far more tasteful than the Azuma moquette seats. Same goes for GWR HST (and current ScotRail) first class.

They *look* smart, but leather is not comfortable on long-haul. There's a reason that BA are sticking with cloth on the long-haul fleet. We tend to fly BA on our trips to the US (mostly Chicago, so it's BA, AA, or United) and their Premium Economy seats with cloth are far more comfortable on a long trip than AA's or Norse's, both of whom use grey leather/pleather.

Planes also have the advantage in that most people sat down are belted in (and if you're not belted when sat down... you're an idiot). Same with cars. Leather is slippery and so having a train bouncing around with leather seats isn't ideal. Especially with the more questionable ride quality of modern stock!

The SWR style moquette with pleather headrest cover is optimal in my opinion.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They *look* smart, but leather is not comfortable on long-haul. There's a reason that BA are sticking with cloth on the long-haul fleet. We tend to fly BA on our trips to the US (mostly Chicago, so it's BA, AA, or United) and their Premium Economy seats with cloth are far more comfortable on a long trip than AA's or Norse's, both of whom use grey leather/pleather.

Planes also have the advantage in that most people sat down are belted in (and if you're not belted when sat down... you're an idiot). Same with cars. Leather is slippery and so having a train bouncing around with leather seats isn't ideal. Especially with the more questionable ride quality of modern stock!

The SWR style moquette with pleather headrest cover is optimal in my opinion.

So much of what you just said is highly subjective.

 

[Harpo]

So much of what you just said is highly subjective.

Apart from how many the DfT can cram in, almost everything about train seats is entirely subjective.

 

[cactustwirly]

They *look* smart, but leather is not comfortable on long-haul. There's a reason that BA are sticking with cloth on the long-haul fleet. We tend to fly BA on our trips to the US (mostly Chicago, so it's BA, AA, or United) and their Premium Economy seats with cloth are far more comfortable on a long trip than AA's or Norse's, both of whom use grey leather/pleather.

Planes also have the advantage in that most people sat down are belted in (and if you're not belted when sat down... you're an idiot). Same with cars. Leather is slippery and so having a train bouncing around with leather seats isn't ideal. Especially with the more questionable ride quality of modern stock!

The SWR style moquette with pleather headrest cover is optimal in my opinion.

I really rate the BA Short Haul seats, very comfortable and supportive, except the slimline seats in the NEOs ofc
Although I have to say the leather covered slimlines are better than the IET seats because they don't have to hard scratchy fabric.

I flew easyJet and their cloth seats were nowhere near as comfortable as the leather BA pinnacle seats. The interior also looked very tatty

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'd rather not sit on bits of dead animal if I can avoid it, thanks.

Given the origin of any plastics (if you go back far enough) that restricts you to cotton or wool (which of course does not require the donor animal to killed). Though I know some vegans even object to sheep being sheared.

 

[supervc-10]

So much of what you just said is highly subjective.

Likewise you saying you like them....

I agree that the leather seats are great on shorter trips. But longer ones where you're trying to sleep, they often get sweaty and sticky as leather (or pleather) doesn't breathe. There's also leather and leather - the seats BA use are far superior to the leather covered seats Ryanair use. Kind of the same way that a moquette covered seat out of the TFW 175s is much better than a moquette covered ironing board on a 700!

There's a reason why BA aren't using leather in long-haul business or first class either. Except, interestingly, on the headrest of their new first class seat.

 

[Zomboid]

Given the origin of any plastics (if you go back far enough) that restricts you to cotton or wool (which of course does not require the donor animal to killed). Though I know some vegans even object to sheep being sheared.

Ok, I'll bite. Stuff that died naturally millions of years ago isn't "bits of dead animal".
I'm not vegan, and wouldn't claim to be vegetarian either, but I don't think there's any reason to farm and kill animals when we've got plenty of alternatives that don't involve that, and so I'd rather not sit on leather. Having traveled on a budget airline with leather seats and having previously owned a leather sofa, I think mocquette is a much nicer thing to sit on anyway.

That's just my view though. Everyone is free to have a different one.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Likewise you saying you like them....

I agree that the leather seats are great on shorter trips. But longer ones where you're trying to sleep, they often get sweaty and sticky as leather (or pleather) doesn't breathe. There's also leather and leather - the seats BA use are far superior to the leather covered seats Ryanair use. Kind of the same way that a moquette covered seat out of the TFW 175s is much better than a moquette covered ironing board on a 700!

There's a reason why BA aren't using leather in long-haul business or first class either. Except, interestingly, on the headrest of their new first class seat.

Ryanair don’t use leather, they use pleather

 

[davart]

Having read many of the 'which seat is best/window alignment/moquette vs flat cloth' discussions over the years and never actually commented, my solution is this:

Have one of each type of seat in a row, covered in moquette, flat cloth, leather, pleather and just for completeness, a Recaro from a 1980s Ford Escort, trimmed in faux-tiger fur...

The seats will be mounted on tracks so the pitch distance can be adjusted to suit. You would also be able to nudge it back and forth to obtain perfect window alignment. While we're at it, height adjustment would ensure that everyone has the ideal vantage point to view the passing scenery.

Of course, this would never work but it would be amusing to see... I reckon someone would still find fault.

Personally, I'd be happy with one of those plastic seats you find on some European buses, pop rivetted to the frame.

 

[Peeled Apples]

Having read many of the 'which seat is best/window alignment/moquette vs flat cloth' discussions over the years and never actually commented, my solution is this:

Have one of each type of seat in a row, covered in moquette, flat cloth, leather, pleather and just for completeness, a Recaro from a 1980s Ford Escort, trimmed in faux-tiger fur...

The seats will be mounted on tracks so the pitch distance can be adjusted to suit. You would also be able to nudge it back and forth to obtain perfect window alignment. While we're at it, height adjustment would ensure that everyone has the ideal vantage point to view the passing scenery.

Of course, this would never work but it would be amusing to see... I reckon someone would still find fault.

Personally, I'd be happy with one of those plastic seats you find on some European buses, pop rivetted to the frame.

I’ll go for the 1980s Escort seat.

 

[yorksrob]

Having read many of the 'which seat is best/window alignment/moquette vs flat cloth' discussions over the years and never actually commented, my solution is this:

Have one of each type of seat in a row, covered in moquette, flat cloth, leather, pleather and just for completeness, a Recaro from a 1980s Ford Escort, trimmed in faux-tiger fur...

The seats will be mounted on tracks so the pitch distance can be adjusted to suit. You would also be able to nudge it back and forth to obtain perfect window alignment. While we're at it, height adjustment would ensure that everyone has the ideal vantage point to view the passing scenery.

Of course, this would never work but it would be amusing to see... I reckon someone would still find fault.

Personally, I'd be happy with one of those plastic seats you find on some European buses, pop rivetted to the frame.

Can we have a bay of mk1 bouncy seats. That would be my option.

 

[trainmania100]

I'd rather not sit on bits of dead animal if I can avoid it, thanks.

Id be more concerned about the acceleration of global warming due to the extra cattle required to make the seats lol

 

[cactustwirly]

Id be more concerned about the acceleration of global warming due to the extra cattle required to make the seats lol

As opposed to the extraction and processing of crude oil to make the synthetic fibres?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Id be more concerned about the acceleration of global warming due to the extra cattle required to make the seats lol

Leather is a byproduct of producing cattle to eat; if it's not used it would just go in the bin. Now of course if you're veggie that is fair enough, but if not then they need producing anyway.

 

[davart]

I wonder how much longer leather would last vs synthetics or moquette.

Perhaps having leather panels on the areas prone to wear (leading edges) with moquette inserts on the centre base and middle of the backrest.

Furthermore, do seats really need to be patterned or branded? Would a plain colour suffice thus making it easier to spot repair?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder how much longer leather would last vs synthetics or moquette.

Perhaps having leather panels on the areas prone to wear (leading edges) with moquette inserts on the centre base and middle of the backrest.

Furthermore, do seats really need to be patterned or branded? Would a plain colour suffice thus making it easier to spot repair?

Patterned moquette hides damage and dirt.

 

[yorksrob]

Patterned moquette hides damage and dirt.

And looks better anyway.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And looks better anyway.

Obviously that’s not going to be a universal opinion.

 

[yorksrob]

Obviously that’s not going to be a universal opinion.

It certainly looks less boring than a plain design.

 

[Egg Centric]

Can we have a bay of mk1 bouncy seats. That would be my option.

Mine too. The pinnacle of seating. And frankly so obviously so I don't really understand why we moved away from it.

Not only are they super comfy and characterful, they also let the fat and thin sit together in harmony

 

[AndrewP]

Definitely in the mixed materials camp here

Moquette on the main seat and leather / e-leather on the headrest, armrests and possibly bolsters

I think the importance of colour needs to be considered as it makes such a difference and there have been some horrible schemes over the years. LNER looks good and much better than similar seats in Trans Pennine and GWR

 

[davart]

After careful consideration of several colour schemes, I've decided that this is the perfect antidote to Northern's stark class 150s...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

After careful consideration of several colour schemes, I've decided that this is the perfect antidote to Northern's stark class 150s...

Ah, that's one of the Z5600 on the Versailles RG service on RER C isn't it?