Having just got off an LNER HST most EMR passengers are going to think these are pretty smart new trains when they get them! Whilst I find the IC70 seats in the existing EMR HSTs comfy and smart enough, the scale of the interior refurb on the LNER sets looks so different that the avg passenger is going to think it's all new and be fairly impressed - unless they have specific disability issues that the sets don't meet - but that will not be a large proportion of travellers.
Is it known when the 1st LNER sets will start coming across?
The real disappointment will come when the EMR Hitachi's get delivered...
, tho I suspect they will be a decent step up from the Meridiens maybe.