I am slightly concerned about the Northern 158 refurb programme. The first 158s that were coming out of the works were done to an excellent standard, with all the little niggles fixed. Refurbished toilets, new door buttons, more powerful headlights, new carpets etc.
However, the recent outputs have been far less satisfactory. I travelled on one of these the other day (can't remember the number). The seats had all been recovered with what felt like new cushions, but the carpets were disgusting, and clearly had had nothing done to them! These can't have been replaced for at least 10 years (being in regional railways colours), so why are Northern leaving them in place? Meanwhile, the vestibule doors still didn't work (and hadn't been refurbished as in the earlier units), and the lighting was an awful mix of different types of bulbs (something else that had been rectified in earlier refurbs).
Why have Northern apparently started doing things on the cheap?
However, the recent outputs have been far less satisfactory. I travelled on one of these the other day (can't remember the number). The seats had all been recovered with what felt like new cushions, but the carpets were disgusting, and clearly had had nothing done to them! These can't have been replaced for at least 10 years (being in regional railways colours), so why are Northern leaving them in place? Meanwhile, the vestibule doors still didn't work (and hadn't been refurbished as in the earlier units), and the lighting was an awful mix of different types of bulbs (something else that had been rectified in earlier refurbs).
Why have Northern apparently started doing things on the cheap?
150s that are nackard, 156 that are showing age and PACERS! 153s and 155s aren't the best units on the network.