Coat of paint (Was:CrossCountry HST and Rebranding)

[JamieLei]

I'm quite short (I found out the other day I'm exactly in-line with the 10th percentile, so 90% of adults are taller than me) so things like that aren't an issue. I even too two 7-hour plane journeys in economy and quite comfortably put a rucksack on the floor between my legs. I do the same on trains too - ah the advantages of being small.

Also I don't think the 153 does the LM livery justice. Like - the 153 looks good with it on, but the LM livery looks crap on a 153 if you get what I mean

[JamieLei]

So CrossCountry have refurbished a HST rake which is looking highly impressive on the inside, especially with regard to the ceiling and lighting. If I'm not mistaken, the seats are identical to those that GNER fitted on the Mallard sets. The carpet is also looking far more suited to the HST than on a 170

With 4 more HSTs working the Plymouth-Edinburgh route, more services can be doubled up, providing much needed capacity improvements on CrossCountry.

(Pics from this week's RMOL)

[Ameecher]

This would have done fine in this thread that you started not too long ago. It's even on the first page still.

The interior doesn't look too shabby though. Had my doubts about the exterior ever since I saw it at Doncaster the other week.

[JamieLei]

Sigh... more backseat moderation. A mod can easily merge the threads should they want to.

I quite like the exterior - it looks pretty smart. Also it seems to have become the style to have a solid vertical block of yellow cutting halfway through the headlamps on the front of the HSTs. Although Grand Central breaks the mould by having a ridiculously small amount of yellow (which looks ridiculous anyway).

[Ameecher]

Sigh... more backseat moderation. A mod can easily merge the threads should they want to.

Frankly couldn't care.

I quite like the exterior - it looks pretty smart. Also it seems to have become the style to have a solid vertical block of yellow cutting halfway through the headlamps on the front of the HSTs. Although Grand Central breaks the mould by having a ridiculously small amount of yellow (which looks ridiculous anyway).

The colours of the coaches don't work well, it looks like it half way through a repaint and be released into traffic anyway.

[Dave]

Sigh... more backseat moderation. A mod can easily merge the threads should they want to.

Quite possibly the most hypocritical comment of the week. No wait... Of the year.

It might even be all time.

[beeb375]

Quite possibly the most hypocritical comment of the week. No wait... Of the year.

It might even be all time.

Are you sure? What about, ooh I dunno... HALF of the words that you have ever written on this forum XD [/twat mode]

[Badger]

Saw that HST pulling out of Leeds last week, looked pretty damn nice in my opinion.

[Dreamcatcher]

TBH, I wish those hst sets of XC worked past Plymouth and into Cornwall as they are a lot better than the voyagers I've made it a habbit when travelling from Truro to Plymouth to use an FGW hst rake simply because its a better (if slightly more cramped legroom wise) ride

[EXTspotter]

So happy to see them. HSTs are wonderful. Might see some down at Hackney Marshes later (the GWML goes stright through them on an embankment, near Newton Abbot Racecourse, plus there are loads of blackberries there.)

[JamieLei]

TBH, I wish those hst sets of XC worked past Plymouth and into Cornwall as they are a lot better than the voyagers I've made it a habbit when travelling from Truro to Plymouth to use an FGW hst rake simply because its a better (if slightly more cramped legroom wise) ride

On the other hand, I've heard a (non rail-enthusiast) remark that he always tried to get the Virgin Train rather than the First train since the windows were bigger and you get a better view - different people like different things I guess

[Kevo00]

Really? Surely the Voyagers have more seats without a view.

[JamieLei]

That's what i thought...!

But thenagain at least the Voyagers tend to be on time

[Dave]

There are around 7 seats in each carriage with what Virgin describe as "restricted/no view".

The windows are frigging huge though. Pendolinos, on the other hand, are horrible things. Claustrophobic, small windows, and they don't work.

[andysine]

The windows are frigging huge though. Pendolinos, on the other hand, are horrible things. Claustrophobic, small windows, and they don't work.

I thought that was to stop people getting motion sickness because of the tilting. I could be to make the interior more like an aircraft? (I don't know why you'd really want to though!)

Anyway, they are pretty nasty if you like looking out of the window...

[JamieLei]

The 17 Thameslink* 377s are now under construction in FCC colours


From the Thameslink Programme website

*Will be sub-leased by Southern

[beeb375]

NatEx East Coast's HST stock interiors look arse, despite only being refurbished not so long ago, I believe? Who decided to make everything inside brown? The Mk4 stock is much nicer.

[Ameecher]

You must have got one of the old ones. The HSTs have been refurbished to Mallard standard (ie Mk4 standard) from the dreary 1970s Intercity corporate beige.

[beeb375]

Bah, I was in one of these:

[Ameecher]

That'd be the unrefurbished one

Edit:

that's what they should look like!