Class 373 Seats

[Breadman]

Hi all

as most of us know the class 373 is being scrapped.

Recently I have spoken to Eurostar and EMR Kingsbury about purchasing a used first class seat to turn into an office chair.

They have both said this cannot be done as the recycling contract does not allow spare parts to be sold.

The lady at kingsbury said that my best chance is contacting SNCF.

My knowledge of the French rail TOC is very limited and have no idea who to call.

Can anyone help?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They have both said this cannot be done as the recycling contract does not allow spare parts to be sold.

This, FWIW, is because Eurostar are terrified of the sets ending up complete in another operator's hands.

 

[XCTurbostar]

This, FWIW, is because Eurostar are terrified of the sets ending up complete in another operator's hands.

Why would they be terrified? Its not they're problem if they get used by another operator? Sounds to me like this is similar to the spitefulness of EWS when they scrapped hundreds of useful locos in the early 2000s..

 

[rebmcr]

Why would they be terrified? Its not they're problem if they get used by another operator? Sounds to me like this is similar to the spitefulness of EWS when they scrapped hundreds of useful locos in the early 2000s..

French corporate culture is rather protectionist.

 

[goblinuser]

That's a great idea and I would also like to have a class 373 seat...
Maybe drive to france and get a couple from that abandoned 373 seen on that video recently?

 

[Bletchleyite]

French corporate culture is rather protectionist.

And any company likes to prevent competition. Particularly as if there was a low-cost operator wanting to start up through the Tunnel, the 373s are about the only stock they could use.

 

[Breadman]

That's a great idea and I would also like to have a class 373 seat...
Maybe drive to france and get a couple from that abandoned 373 seen on that video recently?

Hmm that does seem like the only way.

 

[whhistle]

Sounds to me like this is similar to the spitefulness of EWS when they scrapped hundreds of useful locos in the early 2000s..

Can you elaborate on this?

The only way to get one, I suspect would be an act of criminality.
Not that I'm bothered about that... I mean, it's a seat, not exactly the Crown Jewels!
If I lived nearer the scrappage depot...

 

[goblinuser]

Can you elaborate on this?

The only way to get one, I suspect would be an act of criminality.
Not that I'm bothered about that... I mean, it's a seat, not exactly the Crown Jewels!
If I lived nearer the scrappage depot...

EWS scrapped hundreds of perfectly serviceable locos that they purchased from BR at a pittance upon privatisation. When they replaced them all with American 66s and 67s, they sent all their taxpayer funded, working locos, to scrap rather than selling them to prevent competition.

 

[DarloRich]

Sounds to me like this is similar to the spitefulness of EWS when they scrapped hundreds of useful locos in the early 2000s..

Can you elaborate on this?

EWS scrapped hundreds of perfectly serviceable locos that they purchased from BR at a pittance upon privatisation. When they replaced them all with American 66s and 67s, they sent all their taxpayer funded, working locos, to scrap rather than selling them to prevent competition.

or to remove the emotion: EWS took a business decision to replace a fleet of aged, unreliable and often under powered locomotives with imported, modern locomotives from the USA and Europe.

They then decided that their business interests were best protected and best value realised when disposing of assets to sell them for scrap rather than on the open market.

They got those lovely British classic locos ( and i bet this wouldn't be an issue for people if they bought British) at a cut price because they were unreliable and often under powered and in the majority towards the end of their working lives.

 

[ChilternTurbo]

That's a great idea and I would also like to have a class 373 seat...

Me too! It's a shame that these could not be available to purchase, perhaps with proceeds going to charity? It seems a bit churlish on the part of Eurostar as the seats, alongside most of the interior fittings and soft furnishings will probably end up as non-recyclable landfill.

 

[HainultLoop]

It's a shame they're not giving us the opportunity to buy the seats - I'd love one! Perhaps they should take a leaf out of TfL's book and odd bits of memorabilia from the 373s like TfL do at the Acton Depot - old moquette cushions, A Stock luggage racks, footplates and spare carriage maps which I'm sure it raises quite a bit more money selling such things to enthusiasts rather than for scrap.