Telegraph article regarding ironing board seating

[Japan0913]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...-firm-ditches-ironing-board-seats-new-trains/

Commuter victory as rail firm ditches 'ironing board' seats on new trains

Commuters are enjoying a rare victory after one of the UK’s main rail operators upgraded its seating following complaints about “ironing board” chairs on trains.

LNER, the operator of the East Coast mainline which goes from London to Scotland, has designed ergonomic, padded seats with record leg room.

So-called ironing board seats, which have minimal padding and are therefore hard to sit on, had been introduced by a number of train operators since cushioning was deemed as a potential fire hazard by the Department for Transport.

However, a backlash ensued...

It becomes a little bit comfortable?

 

[CapitalStar378]

But then the seats on GWR 800s are apparently ergonomically designed. Hopefully for LNER customers their's will be a substantial improvement.


.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The picture on that article looks like the standard seat. Have they changed the cushions?

 

[Japan0913]

The picture on that article looks like the standard seat. Have they changed the cushions?

”The new Hitachi trains are currently being tested and will be on the tracks by February next year.”
Now, it seems to during the test.

 

[JN114]

The article doesn’t mention a single thing that isn’t a feature of the existing seats on the 800s. I suspect this is clever LNER spin.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The article doesn’t mention a single thing that isn’t a feature of the existing seats on the 800s. I suspect this is clever LNER spin.

Or taking advantage of the fact that the standard IEP seats are not "ironing boards"?

(they are less comfortable than ironing boards...)

 

[samuelmorris]

Commuter victory as rail firm ditches 'ironing board' seats on new trains
11 DECEMBER 2018
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...-firm-ditches-ironing-board-seats-new-trains/


”・・・
Commuters are enjoying a rare victory after one of the UK’s main rail operators upgraded its seating following complaints about “ironing board” chairs on trains.

LNER, the operator of the East Coast mainline which goes from London to Scotland, has designed ergonomic, padded seats with record leg room.

So-called ironing board seats, which have minimal padding and are therefore hard to sit on, had been introduced by a number of train operators since cushioning was deemed as a potential fire hazard by the Department for Transport.

However, a backlash ensued, with companies including Greater Anglia, and now LNER is re-designing the interiors of its trains.
The new Hitachi trains are currently being tested and will be on the tracks by February next year.
These class 800 trains, when used on other lines, have come under fire for having uncomfortable seats.
In response, LNER has said its new fleet with have new, “ergonomically-designed” chairs with “7cm of extra legroom”, boasting that passengers will “enjoy the best leg room on the east coast.”
The company said: "All the seats are ergonomic, that means they're really comfortable."
The trains, described as “Japanese bullet-style”, have been adapted for the operator, which is adding a power socket by every seat and electronic seat reservations.
・・・”

It becomes a little bit comfortable?

What an absolute atrocity of an article, the telegraph should be ashamed.

That's a bit more abrupt than my usual style, but reading this just makes me angry, given how many people might believe this until they find out for themselves.

 

[northernbelle]

The LNER sets will have identical seats to the GWR ones - the difference being the cut-pile moquette used instead.

 

[SamYeager]

The LNER sets will have identical seats to the GWR ones - the difference being the cut-pile moquette used instead.

Well apparently people find the new GWR moquette seats more comfortable than the original moqette covered seats so there may be a tad of truth in their claims. Shrugs.

 

[FGW_DID]

Another seat related post

Mentioned in the latest GWR staff magazine, all the 800s are to get the same seat coverings/ material as the 802. I don’t mind the seats myself but haven’t been on an 802 yet so can’t personally compare.

 

[PaulHarding150]

Commuter victory as rail firm ditches 'ironing board' seats on new trains

Commuters are enjoying a rare victory after one of the UK’s main rail operators upgraded its seating following complaints about “ironing board” chairs on trains.

LNER, the operator of the East Coast mainline, says it has designed ergonomic, padded seats with increased leg room for new trains that will be introduced on the London-to-Scotland route from next year.

The new Hitachi Class 800 trains are currently being tested and will be on the tracks by February, but with improved seating following a backlash against so-called 'ironing boards' used by other operators.

Passengers complained over the uncomfortable seating, but rail operators blamed Department for Transport guidelines, which had deemed too much cushioning to be a potential fire hazard.

LNER has said its new fleet will have new, “ergonomically-designed” chairs with “7cm of extra legroom”, boasting that passengers will “enjoy the best leg room on the east coast.”

The company said: "All the seats are ergonomic, that means they're really comfortable."

The trains, described as “Japanese bullet-style”, have been adapted for the operator, which is adding a power socket by every seat and electronic seat reservations.

The "ironing board seat" backlash has affected other rail companies, including Greater Anglia which redesigned its carriage interiors after complaints from customers earlier this year.

The company said at the time: "We’ve heard the feedback from customers, we’ve listened, and we care about them being as comfortable as possible so we’ve selected a seat which is far more comfortable for customers."

Thameslink claimed that its much-derided unpadded seats were due to strict DfT health and safety guidelines.

The issue has even been raised in parliament, with then-transport minister Jo Johnson promising commuters that the un-cushioned seats would become “more comfortable with use.”

And to think GWR are getting it in the neck that they've got rid of the 'ironing board seats'

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...-firm-ditches-ironing-board-seats-new-trains/

 

[cactustwirly]

And to think GWR are getting it in the neck that they've got rid of the 'ironing board seats'

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...-firm-ditches-ironing-board-seats-new-trains/

They look like the same ''ergonomically designed" seats as on the GWR 800s..

 

[samuelmorris]

They look like the same ''ergonomically designed" seats as on the GWR 800s..

Because they are. Different covers but that's literally it. True, the 800s don't have ironing board seats but what they get instead is even worse, at least for the intended application. By itself the article is rather disingenuous but when it compares them to Anglia's 720s where they have swapped them for seats that are allegedly actually decent, that's not remotely appropriate. Passengers will find out soon enough when the units enter service that this article is a complete lie...

It's all gone fairly quiet regarding introduction, I'm assuming the units already manufactured are being hastily modified...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Swapping seat covers is hardly a massive job...

 

[Taunton]

LNER, the operator of the East Coast mainline which goes from London to Scotland, has designed ergonomic ...

Every time I see new seating described as "ergonomic" my heart sinks.