Train Seat Guide

[SEClass375]

Can anyone help me?

Whenever you guys talk about seats, all you say is the type of seat e.g Grammar etc.
this means nothing to me as I have no idea what trains to find these on. Not even a guide on the web.

Can you create a guide for each class (and subclass in cases) with a picture and a name of the type of seat for standard and 1st class and a comfy rating where possible so I can understand where to find comfy seats.

Thanks

 

[class387]

Great idea! I'll start it off:

Grammer IC3000:

(not my photo)

Found in: GWR HSTs, EMT, ATW and some Scotrail 158s:

Pros: Good posture, supportive, decently padded and overall very comfortable.
Cons: Some find it too high-backed, therefore claustrophobic.

MY OVERALL RATING: 9/10

 

[class387]

Fainsa 'ironing board':

(not my photo)

Found in: Class 377/6, 377/7, All 387s, 700s, 707s and other classes yet to enter service

Pros: Very good posture, very supportive, comes with good legroom in Electrostars
Cons: Lack of padding can cause discomfort, seat spacing problems in the 700

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Highly subjective, many would disagree strongly on this)

 

[class387]

Last one for now:

Ashbourne:

(not my photo)

Found in: Ex-BR units including classes: 150, 319, 320, 321, 322

Pros: Well sprung and padded.
Cons: Seats too low to ground and leans back too much, so bad posture, unsupportive.

MY OVERALL RATING: 3/10

 

[physics34]

grammer....not enough padding (5/10), fainsa not enough padding...(5/10) (see a pattern here?!)
Ashbourne...not maintained well enough so springs are warn out.... (6/10) Also too low.

 

[Roger100]

I don't think I'd dare rate these ones which carry us along the Durham Coast. But I guess they'll all be gone in 21 months from now (Northern Class 142 Pacers).

 

[Roger100]

While I'm looking at some recent photos, here's a Northern Class 156(?) Sprinter. Much more comfortable than the Pacers, but obviously the ride is a different class too! I've no idea what the seats are called.

 

[xotGD]

View attachment 44624 I don't think I'd dare rate these ones which carry us along the Durham Coast. But I guess they'll all be gone in 21 months from now (Northern Class 142 Pacers).

And these are the best seats you'll find in a 142.

 

[D365]

While I'm looking at some recent photos, here's a Northern Class 156(?) Sprinter. Much more comfortable than the Pacers, but obviously the ride is a different class too! I've no idea what the seats are called.

These are the Chapman Richmond seats - also found on the Class 144.

In terms of personal opinion I'd say I'll agree with class387; satisfied with the Grammer and Fainsa seating, and very much pleased to be seeing a lot less of the Ashbourne now.

 

[Marton]

The other 142 style.

I’m surprised the H&S people haven’t banned the metal handles as dangerous.

 

[jimm]

Great idea! I'll start it off:

Grammer IC3000:

Found in: GWR HSTs, EMT, ATW and some Scotrail 158s:

Pros: Good posture, supportive, decently padded and overall very comfortable.
Cons: Some find it too high-backed, therefore claustrophobic.

MY OVERALL RATING: 9/10

You may find Grammers okay for posture, I find them anything but, only compounding the claustrophobic feel GWR HSTs have had ever since the things were fitted.

One person's comfy seat is another person's instrument of torture - as proven by the contents of every thread about seating ever posted on this forum...

 

[Marton]

View attachment 44625 While I'm looking at some recent photos, here's a Northern Class 156(?) Sprinter. Much more comfortable than the Pacers, but obviously the ride is a different class too! I've no idea what the seats are called.

The tables are very low. Must be hard for a ‘larger’ person.

 

[D365]

One person's comfy seat is another person's instrument of torture - as proven by the contents of every thread about seating ever posted on this forum...

And every other thread not about seating!

 

[cactustwirly]

View attachment 44625 While I'm looking at some recent photos, here's a Northern Class 156(?) Sprinter. Much more comfortable than the Pacers, but obviously the ride is a different class too! I've no idea what the seats are called.

They're Richmond seats, also found in 144s and ex ATN 153s

The far superior Chapman's are the ones found in the Allerton, EMT & GA 156s.



Also found in ATW & GWR 150/2s & EMT, GA, WM, some Northern & GWR 153s

 

[class387]

Grammer E3000 - 2+2 style:

(not my photo)

Found in: Class 185, Class 350/1/3 and /4, Class 444, Class 380

Pros: Supportive, good posture, decent width, decent padding
Cons: Some could say they are too hard, 350/1 seats threadbare

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

 

[class387]

Grammer E3000 - 3+2 style:

(not my photo)

Found in: Class 350/2, Class 360, Class 450, SWT 455 and 456s

Pros: Supportive, good posture, decent padding
Cons: Quite narrow, some could say they are too hard

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

 

[DanNCL]

"Mallard" standard class seats

(not my photo)

Found in all standard class Mark 4 coaches, most VTEC HSTs, and all CrossCountry HSTs

 

[class387]

IC70:

(not my photo)

Found in: Chiltern, Greater Anglia etc. Mk3s, Mk2 Short sets, EMT (and two VTEC) HSTs

Pros: Very well padded and sprung, good width, seats low meaning good view
Cons: Seats low, therefore unsupportive, posture encourages slouching, especially if tall, fixed armrests a nuisance and limit shoulder space

MY OVERALL RATING: 5/10

 

[LOL The Irony]

Grammer E3000 - 2+2 style:

(not my photo)

Found in: Class 350/1/3 and /4, Class 444, Class 380

Pros: Supportive, good posture, decent width, decent padding
Cons: Some could say they are too hard, 350/1 seats threadbare

MY OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Also found on 185's.

 

[pemma]

The other 142 style.

There's 4 types of seating on 142s - ATW ones have Chapman seating and I don't think anyone has posted about the Merseytravel bus style seats on Northern units yet - arguably the worst seats on British rolling stock.

 

[pemma]

Also found on 185's.

And 350/1s and 350/3s.

 

[LOL The Irony]

and I don't think anyone has posted about the Merseytravel bus style seats on Northern units yet - arguably the worst seats on British rolling stock.

What do you mean arguably?

 

[physics34]

IC70:

(not my photo)

Found in: Chiltern, Greater Anglia etc. Mk3s, Mk2 Short sets, EMT (and two VTEC) HSTs

Pros: Very well padded and sprung, good width, seats low meaning good view
Cons: Seats low, therefore unsupportive, posture encourages slouching, especially if tall, fixed armrests a nuisance and limit shoulder space

MY OVERALL RATING: 5/10

my biggest gripe with them is the fixed armrests..and yes they are a touch too low

 

[class387]

Also found on 185's.

Edited. Thanks!

 

[DanTrain]

Great idea! I'll start it off:

Grammer IC3000:

(not my photo)

Found in: GWR HSTs, EMT, ATW and some Scotrail 158s:

Pros: Good posture, supportive, decently padded and overall very comfortable.
Cons: Some find it too high-backed, therefore claustrophobic.

MY OVERALL RATING: 9/10

Are these the ones on the 222s? If so, they are very good, although I agree they’re quite high backed (I quite like the privacy myself though).

Are they on the EMT 158s too?

 

[class387]

Are these the ones on the 222s? If so, they are very good, although I agree they’re quite high backed (I quite like the privacy myself though).

Are they on the EMT 158s too?

They are the ones on the EMT 158, but I the 222 is a different type (I don't know the make).

Also in 458/5 first class.

 

[SEClass375]

All very good so far. Still have a frew questions as I live in the Southeast.

What about MK1 Electrostars e.g. Class 375?
And what about a Networker, they seem to have very similar seats to Ashbourne?

Also class387, I like the way that you do it.

 

[wls1]

They're Richmond seats, also found in 144s and ex ATN 153s

The far superior Chapman's are the ones found in the Allerton, EMT & GA 156s.


View attachment 44633
Also found in ATW & GWR 150/2s & EMT, GA, WM, some Northern & GWR 153s

Also found in 357s, and 319/2, arriva 142s & 143s, 150s and 153s.

 

[wls1]

Grammer E3000 - 3+2 style:

Found in: Class 350/2, Class 450, SWT 455 and 456s

Pros: Supportive, good posture, decent padding
Cons: Quite narrow, some could say they are too hard

MY OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Also found in 360s however not a comfortable material. (too rough)

(pic is large so took it out of quote)

 

[Roger100]

What seating was like a while ago. Not sure exactly which vehicle but I rode behind Tornado in it at Didcot.