Never publicised as a proposal by Stagecoach as far as I recall. Using 12.450s with 2+3 seating was their solution to meet the peak seating numbers required by DfT on various routes such as the Portsmouth direct.
Should really be the other way round (2+2 in the middle section) as standees are more likely to move into the middle than the ends, so that doors are easier to reach if getting off before the terminus.
You say Porterbrook charge astronomical leases but the 458s that SWR are leasing are being leased from…. Porterbrook.
You know they charge astronomical leasing fees, do you? Other than Bletchleyite's ad nauseam repetition of this, there's little hard evidence. Interesting that the 172s, procured at the same time as the 350/2s from the same ROSCO, haven't been replaced by a large 196 order.
By Porterbrook - who charge astronomical leasing fees, apparently...
Leasing costs vary from fleet to fleet, and are usually representative of the economic conditions around when the units were first procured. Not all Porterbrook fleets are poorly priced.
Widnes doesn't have space for a fourth unit.
If you wade through the ocean of posts about 2+2 450s cluttering up this thread you'll find this has been corrected. It's going away for repair.
That's not a new photo based on the filename comprising of the date and time.
It seems the project is currently proceeding on the assumption that all 28 units will be refurbished but that they will not enter passenger service, which seems absolutely bonkers. That's not to say things can't change.
Ah interesting.
If there’s a ticking off to be given I rather suspect you’re not whose place it is to do so. That said, it’s a picture I’m not familiar with, but I’m rather keen to see one stickered up with logos.
It seems not just bonkers but a repeat of the 442 waste of money. Really they need to decide now whether to proceed or not, not after the money has been spent and the time and resources used.
By no means is this the only railway rolling stock project where this is happening!
I don't consider Bigfoot's comment to be unreasonable; after all, one of the forum rules reads:
As Doomotron notes, there's probably been a difference of understanding - you say you posted it in response to the comment "I have not seen any photos", but I suspect of lot of people here interpreted it as responding to "Are there any updates on the Class 458 refurbishment" instead and thus assumed it would be a new photo.
I shared some a few months back, but I’m not sure where I’ve put the photos now!
Posting a photo months old in a reply to a thread asking for updates with no date or information/description isn't doing 'a solid'. Exif data isn't exactly hard to find/read.
Eww, why are they replacing the seats?View attachment 131193
Sorry I beg your pardon I was wrong, it wasn’t an interior shot just the seats to be fitted.
Description: Fainsa LEAN First and Standard seats in SWR flat cloth coverings, leather headpieces and blue.
For clarity the first class seats will be new FISA Leans (same as refurb desiros). The standards seats are the originals retrimed.
Are they though? I thought they were but they do look ever so slightly like FISA Lean as well.
Seeing the seat back would confirm either way. The current seats are quite distinctive.
