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Best And Worst Train Interior Lighting

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mralexn

mralexn

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so basically in your opinion what is the Best And Worst Train Interior Lighting?

For me the Best would either be on the Crosscountry HST's especially in first class, as they are not directly in your face or too bright
and also the Night Riviera sleeper, in coach A when they are dimmed it is indeed very dark and cosy,

The worst IMO is on the FGW HST's as they are way too bright and harsh, and are way too "in your face"
 
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tsr

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377s have good interior lighting, with a pleasant tone, an acceptable level of brightness and good diffusers. In addition, they have some slightly underwhelming spotlights above the seats which are the sort that can be turned on and off by pax. I am amused that the 377/4s (I think) have these spotlights above the luggage racks, which, as I have said before, can be useful if you turn them on whilst looking for something in the recesses of your bag, but can seem pointless at nearly all other times.
 
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dcmbarton

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Personally, I find lights on trains far too bright when it's dark outside, but that's probably my eyes:lol:

I did travel on a Chiltern train into Marylebone once which had no lights on: that was for sure an interesting experience!

David
 
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michael769

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dcmbarton said:
I did travel on a Chiltern train into Marylebone once which had no lights on: that was for sure an interesting experience!
Click to expand...

I have twice been through the tunnels at haymarket with no lights on. Interesting experience, all you see are watch hands and the emergency signs.
 
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HYPODERMIC

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michael769 said:
I have twice been through the tunnels at haymarket with no lights on. Interesting experience, all you see are watch hands and the emergency signs.
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Sometimes I wish the carriage lights failed more often. Long cross-country journeys in the dark winters would be much more pleasant if I could actually see anything outside the window - but, alas, no, the interior lighting is always so bright that you'd be hard pressed to get a better reflection of yourself from a mirror!

Yes, I know, 'elf and safety and all that. And in the darkest nights you wouldn't see that much anyway, but four hours staring at the back of a seat is mind-numbing!
 
Aictos

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When National Express completed the Mallard refurbishments of the HSTs, the lighting was akin to being in a surgery being operated on - The lighting was that bright, however as time has gone by the lighting is now a more relaxing mellow colours.
 
317666

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I find the lighting inside Class 390s to be quite good. For all their faults (well, in other peoples' eyes, personally I quite like them), the interior lighting is a nice, warm tone, and isn't too bright either.

Worst interior lighting for me would have to be the London Underground A Stock. As much as I like them, they are far too bright inside!
 
wintonian

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The Island line and all tube stock, due to t he regular flicking on and of off the lights.

Sent from my HTC Desire S
 
tom1649

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What's the reason for this current obsession with using cool white fluorescent tubes instead of the warm white ones which had always been used previously?

It doesn't exactly create a relaxing environment, particularly on InterCity trains.
 
mralexn

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amcluesent said:
+1 It's hideous in FC, I've been in more inviting A&E.
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Lol funny you should mention that, as in a review on them, it was said it has all the charm of a police station! and being in a cell :P

but yea, FGW FC is terrible, Compared to the mallard refurbishment
 
Yew

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I quite liked the Lighting on the caledonian sleeper, however no doubt it will be replaced with LED's when its updated. (so will become a harsh clinical environment) If they kept the old bulbs, and made the interior white again, it would be perfect
 
TGVDUDE

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mralexn said:
The worst IMO is on the FGW HST's as they are way too bright and harsh, and are way too "in your face"
Click to expand...

have to agree there, also I've found the refurbed atw 158s to be a tad on the bright side, with the pre refurbs being just about right for me :)
 
Hydro

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Meridians take some beating for a comfortable lighting level. It's a perfect level for night travel.

FGW HST sets have awful lighting. So harsh and cold.
 
shedman

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I'm suprised no-one has mentioned the ex Northern Spirit class 142s. They are very dim inside and mixed with the green and greys I must admit is very 'cosy'
 
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mralexn said:
Lol funny you should mention that, as in a review on them, it was said it has all the charm of a police station! and being in a cell :P

but yea, FGW FC is terrible, Compared to the mallard refurbishment
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The lighting in FGW HSTs in First Class is currently being changed. Now far more similar to the lighting in the HSTs before refurbishment. If you see a set in a dark the difference between Standard lighting and the new First Class lighting is very noticeable.
 
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WillPS

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Meridians are totally lush when lit up - a lovely soft cream.

EMT's HSTs on the other hand are far FAR too bright.
 
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Clip

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Yew said:
I quite liked the Lighting on the caledonian sleeper, however no doubt it will be replaced with LED's when its updated. (so will become a harsh clinical environment) If they kept the old bulbs, and made the interior white again, it would be perfect
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They cant though. Those bulbs are being phased out and LED lamps are more environmentally friendly and also should last longer and therefore keep costs down in the maintenence programme.

What they should be doing when putting in new lamps is make the diffusers/covers a more opaque shade to reduce the harsh glare.

I quite like the lighting on the DLR especially at the front as they are a darker blue colour from the rest of the vehicles so for some reason make it feel warmer when dark.
 
Schnellzug

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You get an interesting variety of lighting in 153s, sometimes in the same unit. Some are white, some are more yellowish, some are pinkish. I suppose it's either differences in the fluoruescent rubes, or the plastic covers.
 
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michael769

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Schnellzug said:
You get an interesting variety of lighting in 153s, sometimes in the same unit. Some are white, some are more yellowish, some are pinkish. I suppose it's either differences in the fluoruescent rubes, or the plastic covers.
Click to expand...

It's probably just ageing. Standard tubes are much whiter when new and yellow with age. The pinkish colour is a sign that they are about to wear out completely.
 
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Michael.Y

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TGVDUDE said:
have to agree there, also I've found the refurbed atw 158s to be a tad on the bright side, with the pre refurbs being just about right for me :)
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I find the pre-refurbs way way too gloomy at night time, especially when I'm trying to count how many Cokes I've not sold in my trolley's cool box!

Also, the vestibule lighting in the class 175s is a bit dim for my tastes -- one big plastic circular light which could probably do with a bit of a clean.
 
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ChrisCooper

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185s don't seem too bad on the lighting front, especially when you switch to an ultra bright EMT 158 afterwards. Coming back from Blackpool in November I was almost falling asleep on the 185 to Manchester Oxford Road, but once I got on the 158 I was wide awake and wouldn't relax as it was too bright. I can see lighting is going to be quite a big subject for designers soon as there are more and more studies showing that too bright lighting can have negative health effects, especially when combined with reflective surfaces which create a lot of glare. It's something shops are already starting to take seriously, as afterall uncomfortable customers aren't going to be spending the most money.
 
tsr

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Schnellzug said:
You get an interesting variety of lighting in 153s, sometimes in the same unit. Some are white, some are more yellowish, some are pinkish. I suppose it's either differences in the fluoruescent rubes, or the plastic covers.
Click to expand...

I find the vestibule/door lighting rather dingy when the station outside is not brightly lit. A recent journey on the Marston Vale Line in a 153 was a case in point. The door was very dimly lit and I had a suitcase which I needed to see to manoeuvre out. The sodium lamps above the platform at Millbrook were relatively dim. Fortunately the conductor was quite alert and very considerate, and gave me all the time I needed to make sure I hadn't snagged anything.

Fortunately I was carrying a mil-spec spotlight in case anything went wrong, but that's a different story.
 
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stut

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Another thumbs down for the FGW HSTs here. The brightness coupled with the tinted film on the windows means that you have a permanent reflection in view, and to me, window-gazing is one of the greatest pleasures of a journey down to Cornwall...

I dislike bright lights in general, though.
 
LexyBoy

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I turn down the lighting on FGW HSTs if it's on 'bright' as it actually hurts my eyes when coming in from the platform of an evening. Just terrible, terrible lighting which is obviously acknowledged by FGW as they are restoring the first class lights to a slightly dimmer, warmer tone.

Best? Voyagers and Pendos are pretty decent (one of the few decent things about the latter). EC HSTs I like, a little bright though. Electrostars not bad too in my opinion.
 
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