TRIVIA: Examples of train refurbishments (past or present) that were a step up from the same train's previous interior

stadler said:

In my opinion the SWT 455/456 refurbishment was the best refurbishment ever done. They made them seem like brand new trains. Normally when trains are refurbished you can tell that it is just an old train that has been refurbished. But with the SWT 455/456 many non enthusiast passengers genuinely thought that they were brand new trains. They were hugely improved.

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Agreed. Often overlooked is the improvements made to the doors and circulation areas (ie placement of grab-poles and handrails and bins, the perch seats, the sections of transverse seating) which helped speed up boarding and alighting. This makes a huge difference on an intensive metro service, compare it to e.g. Southern metro 455 and especially Electrostar services where boarding is much slower.

Some very clever thinking went in to the refurb, and I still maintain it's the best refurb done to any train.

although it was fairly recent, the GWR HST refurbishment when they put leather seats in 1st Class was a massive step up

mrcheek said:

although it was fairly recent, the GWR HST refurbishment when they put leather seats in 1st Class was a massive step up

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Yes the leather seats were nice, and still in good condition when the coaches were withdrawn. I wonder if they found another use somewhere?

Western 52 said:

Yes the leather seats were nice, and still in good condition when the coaches were withdrawn. I wonder if they found another use somewhere?

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Haven't some of those coaches gone to Mexico and Nigeria?

The original 158 seats are comfortable, yes, but no legroom. The refurbs where the cushions have been made thicker (yes, you, GWR) make them worse still.

I can't think of any other refurb of post Mk1 stock that hasn't improved things to some degree. Though some are particularly good, e.g. the new Pendolino seats. And I did slightly miss the charm of the wood panelled XC Mk2 set when it was made the same as the others.

Oh actually I can - one, GNER Mallard. They installed quite hard single piece seat cushions in Standard that sloped the base forwards, totally unergonomic. Fortunately VTEC later replaced them with softer two piece cushions without that problem. Two, the "first class" in the 350s has got new oddly shaped back cushions that hurt my back. Three, SWR - 2+2 is not first class. Four, the new Avanti 1st seats aren't *quite* as good as the originals.

Taunton said:

In the 1980s many Great Eastern outer suburban EMUs out of Liverpool Street were substantially redone, all the old style non-corridor compartments ripped out and completely rebuilt inside, fluorescent lights, new purple-upholstered seats, even substantial draughtproofing to the seating bay doors. A number of passengers thought they were new trains.

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Agreed the changes were amazing and transformed the travelling experience, especially as the 307s and 302s trailer cars eventually were re-bogied with surplus B4/5 bogies from withdrawn MkI hauled stock.

mrcheek said:

although it was fairly recent, the GWR HST refurbishment when they put leather seats in 1st Class was a massive step up

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They looked absolutely amazing, but I found them very uncomfortable to actually sit in

Definitely agree with the WAGN 317/6 scheme which was to make them more like 365s.

Much nicer inside, smart outside and really lifted the experience, the same units had looked and felt second class when 365s had arrived, but not after this work.

Western 52 said:

Yes the leather seats were nice, and still in good condition when the coaches were withdrawn. I wonder if they found another use somewhere?

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Some of those leather seats have made their way into LSL's charter stock.

mrcheek said:

although it was fairly recent, the GWR HST refurbishment when they put leather seats in 1st Class was a massive step up

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The initial (2006 - 2009) refurbishment introducing leather seats in 1st class was remarkably bland, and I always thought that it was a bit of a downgrade with the slippery seats and the loss of the reading lights. The flat colours, cold lighting and same paint as standard class didn't suggest a premium product, nor did the rather hard leather-covered seats in drab tones. Given that they began replacing it in 2014, it was rightly short-lived.

The GWR First Class refurbishment showed much more ambition and flair, with great attention to detail, from the practicalities of the self-dimming lights and 90-degree-rotated sockets to the softer layer of foam under the contrast stitching on the seats. It genuinely felt like a class-leading product and, most importantly, felt like it was designed by people who understood the difference between a bus, a plane and a train. It could not be bettered when laid up for dinner.

GWR's refurb of the sleeper was even more ambitious, and an even bigger step mostly upwards. The lounge car is a remarkable conversion that changes a Mk3 into something really far from British Rail, with its (admittedly style-over-substance) 'cocktail bar' and a seat arrangement that breaks the usual grid. I'd argue that the sleeping compartments are cosier and come much closer to a 'hotel room' quality than Caledonian Sleeper's. Again, they are a huge transformation from the BR interior, with their 'starry sky' LED lighting, properly retracting upper bunk (at last!), clever folding ladder and tiny wardrobe that really shouldn't work but which actually cuts down the rattle of clothes on their hangers. If they hadn't swapped the bed ends round (I don't want to have my head by a bin or within splashing range of my fellow traveller when they use the basin, thank you) and they had kept the book/phone-nets by the beds and luggage shelf next to the basin, I'd have been unstinting in my praise.