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5x Class 153 conversion to bike and baggage vans for Scotrail

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Bletchleyite

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Apologies for it being a Link from the Scotsman, however concept details and images (Including another new livery for ScotRail) have now been revealed. Apart from the slightly odd / cafe counter - and replacing the rather comfortable Richmond seats with ironing boards, they actually look rather nice.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...aloXZQ-V2L23GJaBHtvOrKCDDfFdeNQISUgEbxFDegTBE

Like. Like a lot. Like a massive, massive lot.

This all looks rather Swiss. If it happens like that - well done ScotRail - this is exactly the kind of model you need to be following.

"Panoramawagen" next?
 
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Journeyman

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Like. Like a lot. Like a massive, massive lot.

This all looks rather Swiss. If it happens like that - well done ScotRail - this is exactly the kind of model you need to be following.

"Panoramawagen" next?

I'd say it's a step in the right direction, certainly. Reasonably decent catering on long journeys is certainly a big improvement, and I'd welcome that.
 

adamedwards

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A comment for the designers which I've just sent to Scotrail and asked them to pass on:

Please can one space in each 153 allow for a tandem to be carried?

My partner is disabled and cannot ride a two wheeled bike on her own. She can ride behind me on a tandem, in her case because of balance issues, but I know of lots of blind people who also do this. Tandems can only get to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Virgin West Coast, as LNER have now blocked us (because the Azumas are not designed for tandems). It would be fab to be able to get further north. I can imagine 153 to Oban and then a ride to Fort William up the Caledonia Way for example or connecting with CalMac to the Hebrides. At the moment we would either have to ride in to and from Glasgow which is either nasty trunk roads like the A82 or a long detour via Sustrans routes, which impacts when you only have 2 weeks leave.

Its 2018 and it would be really good if disabled cyclists could explore a bit more of Scotland more easily. It surely can't be too hard to design this in?
 

Stompehh

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A comment for the designers which I've just sent to Scotrail and asked them to pass on:

Please can one space in each 153 allow for a tandem to be carried?

My partner is disabled and cannot ride a two wheeled bike on her own. She can ride behind me on a tandem, in her case because of balance issues, but I know of lots of blind people who also do this. Tandems can only get to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Virgin West Coast, as LNER have now blocked us (because the Azumas are not designed for tandems). It would be fab to be able to get further north. I can imagine 153 to Oban and then a ride to Fort William up the Caledonia Way for example or connecting with CalMac to the Hebrides. At the moment we would either have to ride in to and from Glasgow which is either nasty trunk roads like the A82 or a long detour via Sustrans routes, which impacts when you only have 2 weeks leave.

Its 2018 and it would be really good if disabled cyclists could explore a bit more of Scotland more easily. It surely can't be too hard to design this in?
The space on the right hand side in the picture looks to be able to take any kind of bicycle including a tandem. I think I read about this being a requirement somewhere.
 

JohnMcL7

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The space on the right hand side in the picture looks to be able to take any kind of bicycle including a tandem. I think I read about this being a requirement somewhere.

That's what I was thinking, looks ideal for tandems and any kitted out bikes that would be easier to leave on their wheels rather than stood op on the other side.
 

Highland37

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Tandems would be great. We have a full-sus mountain bike and this would open up a lot of potential.
 

Bletchleyite

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I'd say it's a step in the right direction, certainly. Reasonably decent catering on long journeys is certainly a big improvement, and I'd welcome that.

Having enjoyed a nice lunchtime journey on the WHL on Friday, it's definitely one where I'd have happily paid over the odds for a nice hot meal. Even a DB style one, i.e. microwaved but then put on a proper plate.
 

VioletEclipse

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Having enjoyed a nice lunchtime journey on the WHL on Friday, it's definitely one where I'd have happily paid over the odds for a nice hot meal. Even a DB style one, i.e. microwaved but then put on a proper plate.
I think the demand for hot meals on a far flung line in the Highlands is slightly less than on high speed arterial lines that go right across Germany... I agree though, it would be great to have a proper hot meal on a Sprinter on the WHL ;)
 

HLE

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Meals being served on a dogbox....whatever next! The antimassacre's must be on order already.
 

hexagon789

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Meals being served on a dogbox....whatever next! The antimassacre's must be on order already.

Thought the West Highland was fairly peaceful generally, are those for protection against the massacre of the midges? ;)
 

alangla

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TBH, an on-board Haddows would probably be the most lucrative option. Would certainly make the journey quicker. Is it DB or one of the Swiss railways that have an on-board McDonalds?
 

hexagon789

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TBH, an on-board Haddows would probably be the most lucrative option. Would certainly make the journey quicker. Is it DB or one of the Swiss railways that have an on-board McDonalds?

SBB used to have 4 or 5 McDonalds buffet cars, they went out of use some years ago IIRC.
 

mde

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TBH, an on-board Haddows would probably be the most lucrative option.
Ha!

I suspect any meal service is likely to follow the service on the HST - pre-prepared and heated, no substantial meals (pies, and panini etc). Page 11 of the Inter7City menu might give some hints…
 

Bletchleyite

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Ha!

I suspect any meal service is likely to follow the service on the HST - pre-prepared and heated, no substantial meals (pies, and panini etc). Page 11 of the Inter7City menu might give some hints…

Yet Inter7City is about rather shorter journeys than the WHL in most cases...I still genuinely think a "Glacier Express" style service could be made to pay up there (there specifically, not so much Kyle or the Far North).

VTWC have started doing some quite good "hot pots" by the way - perfect microwave food. Not everything needs to be between two slices of bread!
 

mde

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VTWC have started doing some quite good "hot pots" by the way - perfect microwave food. Not everything needs to be between two slices of bread!
Indeed. THey could do worse than sourcing from the supplier that Caley Sleeper get their microwave meals from (RSF Group). As long as it’s shelf stable in a fridge for a few days this would keep wastage low and hopefully give a reasonable chance of success.

It’s likely a dipping toes in the water scenario though, SR rolling out any form of hot food is something of a step change on non-sleeper services. :)
 

Bletchleyite

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Indeed. THey could do worse than sourcing from the supplier that Caley Sleeper get their microwave meals from (RSF Group). As long as it’s shelf stable in a fridge for a few days this would keep wastage low and hopefully give a reasonable chance of success.

Agreed. It's a case of choosing things that microwave well and are of decent quality (people don't baulk, for instance, at paying £4 for a premium beer but they do baulk at £3 for a can of Fosters, for instance). My home made beef chilli tastes better microwaved as it's had more time for the flavours to infuse. That should be the aim. Rice, stew and pasta based stuff (perhaps served with actually fresh bread), not soggy wet microwave food. For breakfasts, look at what the likes of Eat are doing with hot-pots - might have to leave the egg out, but sausage, bacon and beans would go well.

And spend time on the presentation, as well - it needs to look premium. It might not be practical to have reusable plates, for instance, but the quality wood-fibre ones and wooden cutlery (both compostable) give the right impression.
 

fgwrich

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Ha!

I suspect any meal service is likely to follow the service on the HST - pre-prepared and heated, no substantial meals (pies, and panini etc). Page 11 of the Inter7City menu might give some hints…

The now disappointing GWR had the right idea with their "Express Cafe" a few years ago, in fact I believe it was until the start of this year when they used to offer the Kuboto Noodle Pots on their HSTs. I enjoyed them, offering something different to the now familiar sandwich offering and perhaps being one of the first TOCs to offer "hot pots" type meals. Disapointingly, like most of the rather good buffet offerings they have since been dropped - a decision I find a little odd on the IETs given that the trollies still cart plenty of hot water up and down to provide hot drinks.

Looking at the menu makes me even more sorry to loose our HSTs! However, with the rise in premium "hot pots", an offering like these on WHL services would be a good idea. Along with a slightly larger range of hot drinks for those winter months!
 

AndrewE

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Meals being served on a dogbox....whatever next! The antimassacre's must be on order already.

Thought the West Highland was fairly peaceful generally, are those for protection against the massacre of the midges? ;)
My thoughts too. It's a long time since Glencoe, the Highland Clearances and Culloden etc.
 

InOban

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As I suggested above the whole business , not just haddows but also wine rack etc. went bust in 2009.
 
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