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Class 395, "...real step change in the passenger experience," refurb.

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nlogax

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Interesting to see both USB types A and C but beyond that I'm unsurprised at the lack of 'step change' in the refurb. Words are cheaper than actions.

That said it looks...fine? How do (or will) those who regularly travel on 395s feel about this, I wonder?
 

Doomotron

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That said it looks...fine? How do (or will) those who regularly travel on 395s feel about this, I wonder?
This thread will probably be merged or locked but in case it isn't I'll answer anyway as a frequent user of them. I went on the refurbished unit, and it isn't a massive change (does it need to be?) but it was nice to have a new-feeling Javelin. The unrefurbished units do feel tired inside, with most seats having different shades of blue on each piece of moquette. On the outside they are tired as well with similar issues, but that isn't being sorted out this time round.

I think the article is a bit harsh. This was hardly going to be like the Pendolino refurbishment, it's just an update to what's already there. The 395s are already very well-liked by commuters, arguably the type of train that's liked by passengers the most on the SE network.
 

Blindtraveler

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The sort of thing that journalist has written is the sort of thing that ultimately sells new stories in whatever format people want to read them, for myself I think that doing anything other than providing a bit of tender loving care and a slight step forward technologically speaking with lighting and charging capability would be fixing a problem that doesn't actually exist where the 395 are concerned. As a regular user over the years and more so since moving to the southeast in the spring I like doubtless many others will just be glad to see seat covers and cushions taken care of and floor coverings renewed, I hope they've fixed all the various bits and pieces that were starting to break in terms of toilet seats and so dispensers and flooring in toilet compartments and obviously all the paneling and grab poles should have had a generous repainting job but seriously, I'd be more frustrated if they had swapped out all the nice comfortable seats for ironing boards and mucked around with loads of other stuff, what the three nine five offers is a really really great product for the types of journey that it operates and indeed I'd be quite happy to travel further on the where the high speed line capacity available, possibly with the addition of a vending machine or something for some cold drinks and coffee
 

FOH

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I think the article is well balanced and isn't just the usual reiterating of the press release with as little journalistic effort as possible involved.
The main gist of the article is 'I don't really see the value from nearly £1m spent per unit'. Based on what's written above, I'd say the article has a point.
 
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