SWR Repaints and Refurbishments

[SWRtrain_fan]

and the 450 work has been slowed down.

That's correct, the Desiro refurbishment has slowed down due to the 442 delay. It's a bit annoying because personally I much prefer the SWR interiors to the old SWT ones. And doing 2 450s a week is not enough for 127 450s in total.

 

[Mills444]

That's correct, the Desiro refurbishment has slowed down due to the 442 delay. It's a bit annoying because personally I much prefer the SWR interiors to the old SWT ones. And doing 2 450s a week is not enough for 127 450s in total.

You prefer the new interiors?

Do you even use them frequently

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

You prefer the new interiors?

Yes, because I don't really like the SWT moquette, and the refurbished interiors are more modern and cleaner imo.

 

[Ethano92]

I prefer them too. Carpets are soft (for now). Although I usually don't like dull interiors I think the refurbished units look smarter and they also get rid of a certain prominent but not overwhelming smell that I can only guess is sweat building up on the seats

 

[43096]

I prefer them too. Carpets are soft (for now). Although I usually don't like dull interiors I think the refurbished units look smarter and they also get rid of a certain prominent but not overwhelming smell that I can only guess is sweat building up on the seats

Shame the service is going backwards: fleet reliability down, staff shortages up, cancellations up. Add in that the fleet refurbishment is running late - very late - and it's become a dismal operation that is significantly worse than when Stagecoach had it.

 

[pompeyfan]

I prefer them too. Carpets are soft (for now). Although I usually don't like dull interiors I think the refurbished units look smarter and they also get rid of a certain prominent but not overwhelming smell that I can only guess is sweat building up on the seats

It’s strange but I also had that thought. There’s a definite difference in smell walking from a refurb unit to a 450/5 or other similar unrefreshed unit.

That said I actually prefer the colour scheme of SWT even if it is a tad dated.

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

Shame the service is going backwards: fleet reliability down, staff shortages up, cancellations up. Add in that the fleet refurbishment is running late - very late - and it's become a dismal operation that is significantly worse than when Stagecoach had it.

Not all delays are down to the TOC, there can be Network Rail signalling problems/track circuit failures e.t.c. Or emergency services dealing with an incident. However, train faults are caused by poor maintenance of the trains, which is SWR's fault.

The fleet refurbishment was delayed because the contractor (Siemens) had difficulty sourcing some parts (therefore the Dec 2019 deadline was missed). Then the deadline was to complete it by May 2019, but it was too much work for Siemens to refurbish 1 Desiro per day, so that deadline was missed as well. And because the 442s were delayed (due to the door safety issue), Siemens had to slow down the refurb to keep as many units in service since the May timetable change. None of this is SWR's fault though.

 

[43096]

Not all delays are down to the TOC, there can be Network Rail signalling problems/track circuit failures e.t.c. Or emergency services dealing with an incident. However, train faults are caused by poor maintenance of the trains, which is SWR's fault.

The fleet refurbishment was delayed because the contractor (Siemens) had difficulty sourcing some parts (therefore the Dec 2019 deadline was missed). Then the deadline was to complete it by May 2019, but it was too much work for Siemens to refurbish 1 Desiro per day, so that deadline was missed as well. And because the 442s were delayed (due to the door safety issue), Siemens had to slow down the refurb to keep as many units in service since the May timetable change. None of this is SWR's fault though.

Excuses excuses excuses. Always the same with this mob. Never their fault, always someone else.

It was SWR who put this in their bid; it is up to them to deliver. The refurb programme always looked unachievable even to my untrained eye, yet they still promised it. They’re almost two years in and progress on the big ticket items is as follows:
Fleet refurb due Dec 2018 - FAILED
Fleet refurb backstop May 2019 - FAILED
442 squadron service Dec 2018 - FAILED
New timetable Dec 2018 - FAILED
Not one of those has been completed, two years on.

 

[Mills444]

Yes, because I don't really like the SWT moquette, and the refurbished interiors are more modern and cleaner imo.

Fair enough I do agree that the carpet and seat covers were rather knackered.

 

[RealTrains07]

A repaint is when the exterior of a train is given a new coat of paint. A refurbishment is when the interior of a train is improved e.g. by installing new seat covers and carpets. The 159s are currently being repainted and having a semi-refurbishment inside, but the Desiros are having a full interior refurbishment.

I Wouldnt call it a full refurbishment but it’s something

 

[Goldfish62]

You prefer the new interiors?

Do you even use them frequently

I certainly prefer the new Standard class interiors, apart from the retention of the orange grabrails. The addition of "leather" headrests gives a quality feel and the seats are now more supportive given the old collapsed cushions have been replaced.

I don't however like the 1st Class in the 450s. Quite apart from the location, the seats are now savagely hard.

 

[pompeyfan]

I certainly prefer the new Standard class interiors, apart from the retention of the orange grabrails. The addition of "leather" headrests gives a quality feel and the seats are now more supportive given the old collapsed cushions have been replaced.

I don't however like the 1st Class in the 450s. Quite apart from the location, the seats are now savagely hard.

Lots of leisure travellers have commented on the refurbished 444 saying how nice they are etc. Many confusing standard for first.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Lots of leisure travellers have commented on the refurbished 444 saying how nice they are etc. Many confusing standard for first.

Standard is very nice, I agree (leather headrests really do look good) and there's the double-legroom Standard row in the coach with First which is the nicest row on the train. However, First is a joke - it is the same as Standard in Greater Anglia's FLIRTs and therefore not acceptable as First.

 

[pompeyfan]

Standard is very nice, I agree (leather headrests really do look good) and there's the double-legroom Standard row in the coach with First which is the nicest row on the train. However, First is a joke - it is the same as Standard in Greater Anglia's FLIRTs and therefore not acceptable as First.

Completely agree with you on the point about first, but was the only way to increase standard seats whilst retaining the same volume in first. Not sure how to get around it, although those first class seats & 2+1 were lovely.

 

[Rick1984]

there's the double-legroom Standard row in the coach with First which is the nicest row on the train.

I sat in that row not knowing about it. Amazing legroom. I do find the new scheme a bit dreary and shows dirt up easily. Maybe a very subtle use of yellow might have livened it up a tad

 

[TEW]

The flat cloth seat covers do show up the dirt terribly, which is completely unsurprising given the experience of other train operators. It's a shame as the seats themselves are much more comfortable after the refurb, they just look dirty so quickly.

 

[WVL14]

A quick Desiro update:
.
444012 (unit 29) in 31-7-19, out 8-8-19
444004 (unit 30) in 8-8-19, on hand
.
450120 (unit 66) in 2-8-19, out 8-8-19
450090 (unit 67) in 4-8-19, out 12-8-19
450007 (unit 68) in 8-8-19, on hand
450017 (unit 69) in 12-8-19, on hand
.
Hope that helps update records
.

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

A quick Desiro update:
.
444012 (unit 29) in 31-7-19, out 8-8-19
444004 (unit 30) in 8-8-19, on hand
.
450120 (unit 66) in 2-8-19, out 8-8-19
450090 (unit 67) in 4-8-19, out 12-8-19
450007 (unit 68) in 8-8-19, on hand
450017 (unit 69) in 12-8-19, on hand
.
Hope that helps update records
.

Great, thanks.

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

SWR Desiro Refurbishment

NB: SWR Desiro refurbishment is currently being done at a slower rate due to the class 442 delay.

Non-refurbished 444s:

001*, 002, 016, 017, 018, 023, 024, 026, 028, 030, 031, 036, 037, 043 (14 units)

The other 31 444s are refurbished.

450s without the relocated First Class:

Units 544-570 and

004, 009, 014, 021, 022, 023, 026, 028, 029, 030, 035, 036, 039, 040, 042, 071, 074, 076, 077, 088, 098*, 099, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 118, and 124 (13 partly refurbished)(43 non-refurbished)

The other 70 450s are fully refurbished.

*currently being done to fully refurbished state

Let me know if any more trains have been refurbished and I will edit this post regularly

 

[Dan15812]

SWR Desiro Refurbishment (completed units)

NB: SWR Desiro refurbishment is currently being done at a slower rate due to class 442 delay

Partly refurbished 450s:

014, 026, 028, 030, 035, 036, 040, 074, 076, 086, 099, 109, 110, and 124 (14 units)

Fully refurbished 444s:

003, 005, 004, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 019, 020, 021, 022, 025, 027, 029, 033, 034, 035, 038, 039, 040, 041, 042, 044 and 045 (31 units completed)(69% complete)

Fully refurbished 450s:

001, 002, 003, 005, 006, 007, 008, 010, 011, 012, 013, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019, 020, 024, 025, 027, 031, 032, 033, 034, 037, 038, 041, 543, 073, 075, 078, 079, 080, 081, 082, 083, 084, 085, 087, 089, 090, 091, 092, 093, 094, 095, 096, 097, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126 and 127 (69 units completed)(54% complete)
*currently being done to fully refurbished state

Let me know if any more trains have been refurbished and I will edit this post regularly

 

[RealTrains07]

Would partial refurbishment count as having just new stickers applied to the inside of the train?

On a 444 at the moment and still has the old seating and carpets and no plugs

However nearly all the inside information stickers have been replaced and the doors stickers and routes also

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

Would partial refurbishment count as having just new stickers applied to the inside of the train?

On a 444 at the moment and still has the old seating and carpets and no plugs

However nearly all the inside information stickers have been replaced and the doors stickers and routes also

All SWR Desiros have new signage inside, even the non-refurbished ones, so its not really a partial refurbishment. I would call it a minor refresh.

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

Has 159002 returned to Salisbury yet?

 

[WVL14]

Has 159002 returned to Salisbury yet?

Not yet. Still at Loughborough.

 

[WVL14]

And another one... 450007 (unit 68) left Eastleigh today and was replaced by 450087 (unit 70).

 

[Dan15812]

And another one... 450007 (unit 68) left Eastleigh today and was replaced by 450087 (unit 70).

Thanks for the update!

 

[387star]

The finalised livery with no stripes looks great on the 158s/9s

 

[lsdghasu]

444019 has received a rainbow at each end. Photo here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cna87/48542842996/in/feed

 

[lsdghasu]

Has 159002 returned to Salisbury yet?

159002 returned back to Salisbury T&R.S.M.D today working - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01475/2019/08/15/advanced

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

444019 has received a rainbow at each end. Photo here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cna87/48542842996/in/feed

Nice, that rainbow looks good on that 444.