Thameslink Review : The "Ironing Board" Seats
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- A review of the infamous Thameslink "Ironing Board" seats on a journey between London St Pancras and Gatwick Airport.
A massive thanks to my $5+ Patreons:
Austen McKenna
Russell Franke
Roy Humphrey
Nonstop Eurotrip
Dave T Chicago
Cole S
Anonymous donor x2
Link to Patreon: / dylanstravelreports
Join them on Patreon and get early access to all of my content for as little as $1 per month!
Want to tip me? www.paypal.me/... (100% of all tips goes towards creating new videos!)
Follow me on Instagram(@dylanstravelreports): / dylanstravelreports
Twitter (@DylanReports): Dy...
Have a question? Please comment and I will try to provide you with an answer.
Date of Travel: 12/03/2020
Class of Travel: Standard Class (2nd Class)
Rolling Stock: Class 700 Desiro City
Cost of Ticket: £8.20 ($10.07, €9.13; railcard discount included)
Origin: St Pancras International, London, United Kingdom (England)
Destination: Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom (England)
*Currency conversions correct as of 28/05/2020
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.82[2/2] เมาท์มอยกับ 3 สาวเพื่อนซี้ ที่พร้อมขยี้พ่อหมีได้ทุกเมื่อ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wwn7WnylNtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Don't forget to check out my review of the other train you can catch to Gatwick Airport!
Southern Standard Class Review: th-cam.com/video/DazuJ-bzRVM/w-d-xo.html
@Chubby Squidz although Southern is definitely not my fave, its way better than Thameslink. I would prefer to rely on Gatwick Express to reach the airport.
Growing up in South London and going to uni in Brighton I have a lot of experience with these trains. From my South London perspective, as a local heavy metro service in central London and its suburbs, these are an absolute godsend, clean, spacious, and very modern feeling. However, from my Brighton perspective, they're just not comfortable enough to be used as regional commuter trains, and when coming home from uni I would always go out of my way to use Southern when heading home, and parent company Govia know it, as they will often charge passengers a premium to use Southern instead of Thameslink, and there are even plans to end Southern services to central Brighton completely.
These trains are unfortunately being used for a job they were never built for, and should only run on local routes, because let's face it, no one is gonna want to go from Brighton to Cambridge on an ironing board for two hours
@@gregorybrett1142 I can't believe this. Govia is ripping us off, making us pay more for their shit product. This company is a mistake and a shame to the train industry. It's in the name, Thames Link, not Brighton Link
What about Gatwick Express Class 387/2s. Those seats are ironing board and hard to sit down on.
Next time I should do Thameslink first class
Fun fact, the rear first class is free on all Thameslink services. It comes with plugs to charge your phone and very comfy seats.
the seats in first class is no where near comfy
@@wisehat_yt definitely more comfortable than the standard class seats
@@CreatorPolar yes, thats true. But they still leave a lot to be desired.
@@dodahspeak welcome to the world of suburban first class my friend
@@CreatorPolar yea, I guess so!
Just thought I'd mention when heading to Gatwick from London by Thameslink, it's almost always quicker to take a Brighton train than a Horsham train, even if the Horsham train arrives first. The Brighton trains travel non stop between East Croydon and Gatwick, whilst the Horsham trains stop at almost every local station in between so take a lot longer. The local tracks on this route are separate from the express tracks, so it's possible for Brighton services to overtake Horsham services
Will bear that in mind.
Yup I previously took a Brighton-bound train (from Blackfriars) & the train reached Gatwick within 40min
My back was groaning when you showed the seats remember them well when I was in London in December absolutely rock hard
For me it' not the back of the seat that I dislike, it's the fact that the bottom base is rock hard solid, through they have gotten better as more people have sat on them it seems to have broken through. I have read that these harder seats are due to "new fire regulations". Load of rubbish if you ask me. I hate the fact that there are no power outlets, arm rests, coat hooks or reading lamps. Some seats do offer more legroom in standard class. First Class is much nicer with large tables, wider thicker seats, head rests, more leg room etc. And it is always declassified at the rear.
it felt like my bum broke the first time i sat on them seats
The first class seats are the level I would expect for the entire train tbh.
Nothing to do with fire regs. Stupid excuse.
First class at the very least does have some power sockets, including the declassified area at the back.
Perhaps the fire regulations are more strict because it goes underground?
I remember riding the class 700 and getting so excited until I sat on the seat I waited 6 years for that one moment
"My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined"
I'm old enough to remember the days of the slammers, and as far as I'm aware their seats were springs and horse hair. And you would quite literally bounce on them. Such a different experience.
I always think it's a shame the days of slam doors and compartments are all but over here in Britain.
I'm so glad I saw this video. I HATE those seats, they are are so rock hard that I find them literally painful to sit on for more than a few seconds. I can only imagine what it's like for older people. Dreadful passenger-hostile design.
They are sadly in 707s(SWR)😭😭😭😭😭😡😡😡😭😭😭😭😡😭😭😭😡😭😡😡😡😡😭😭😡😭😭😡😭😭😭
@@TheArkamedBat well to be honest I don’t think the 707s are that bad the seats are bad and that they don’t have any tables the rest of the train is not to bad
@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer No toilets
True
That train looks almost identical to the trains on the Gold Coast train line in Australia that replaced the old trains in 2018 in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. From the start people called them the ironing board seats because there is very little cushioning and with the straight back, they're much more uncomfortable compared to the old train's seats.
Thank you, Dylan! The London Saint-Pancras station is magnificent, thank you for showing us around! We saw the station, thank you! The city of London is beautiful. I think that despite the weird seats of this train (lol), it's interesting to take it, if only for the magnificent panoramic views of London: moreover, the train is well ventilated and very bright. Too bad the seats are so "rustic".
It is a pleasure to see your videos, and in addition you think like me.
Thanks! I always love it when I get to catch a train from St Pancras. Great scenery but not so great seats.
In my opinion, we can see, just in the design of the seats, that they are not comfortable and above all really weird. It is still curious.
For a tourist who only takes this train twice, it's cool. But it is certain that if it is every day or often, it is another story.
It's really curious.
Yes, I take these trains quite often and I'm certainly not fond of them.
@TheRenaissanceman65 agree
Always worth remembering that 1st class at the rear of a Thameslink train is declassified. Not much difference with the seat, but you do get a power socket
I have to do the full Bedford to Brighton day return fairly frequently and totally dread the 2hours plus each way in those seats. Whoever designed them needs strapping to them and sending on a nonstop all day journey as punishment.
I'm assuming changing at Bletchley and then Clapham Junction isn't worth the extra cost/risk with the transfers?
Another brilliant review, I live in Chatham and I remember riding on these when they started running to Rainham and I have never ever complained about 375 seating since. So far the only person i know who loves them is my local osteopath.
Thanks! I too don't complain about the 375s any more 😅
As can Aussie who traveled the UK by train last year, the videos you have are bringing back vivid memories. We are starting to use the ironing board seats on our short trip country services in Victoria
Go to First Class at the rear of 700 Thames link trains, ie any thames link service, they are declassified, there you will find power sockets, and more space, though still same seats, I always do this when on 700’s.
Don’t tell anyone 🤫
1:18 Inspector Sands!!
You can also hear the alert comming from the fire alarms at 1:34
Or is it’s SANS que megalomania
Lol also heard when departing St Pancras
Sans is going to kill you all
Who is inspector sands
I wasted time taking Gatwick Express to Victoria and then to my hotel near Euston Square. Thameslink would've put me a lot closer - near Kings X. Will remember for next time.
And would have saved you money.
I never took GX
I travel (well before Corona virus) to work on these and actually find the seats quite comfortable. In the mornings I tend to go in the first class section as it's 'declassified' in the rear so anyone can sit in there.
How do you know that the First Class section in the rear of the train is declassified? I never knew that and wish that I had before I travelled in a Class 700 from Gatwick Airport to Cambridge!
@@KempSimon www.thameslinkrailway.com/tickets/first-class
"The first class compartment at the rear of Thameslink trains is always declassified." :)
Thank you very much indeed for this useful information! I wish I'd known this before I travelled all the way from Gatwick Airport to Cambridge in Standard Class accommodation in a Class 700!
Thanks to those evil seats, I will deliberately avoid taking the train to London whenever possible. It's a shame because in other respects class 700 trains aren't all that bad, I really miss the comfy class 365s that they replaced.
About the seats, being a local for Thameslink services, In used to the ironing boards. Wierdly, they don’t bother me very much
I think its cus people like me and you are used to sitting on em' lol
I’m also used to the “Ironing board” seats; I don’t think they feel like one
4:18
Geoff Marshal.
Nah, that's Matt not Geoff.
This station is really quite stunning and I love it! An amazing building and everything to go with it! I just love the adventure of traveling Home & Away. You never know who you will meet !! Romances can begin on trains❤
Whaaat? No mention at all of Southeastern services also serving this station despite Eurostar using HS1 too . It is not only EMR and Thameslink.
I like the displays on Thameslink showing the carriages and numbers, where toilets are situate and if they are working, vacant or out of service plus of course the route and stations.
Other than the seats, they are very well thought out trains imo.
I travel between london and south croydon, and catch these trains quite a lot from school, and here are a few things to take note of:
Ironboard seats and poor legroom because its a commuter train, during the rush hour these are packed to the brim and overflowing...
First class at the back is declassified, so you could have gone there where there are power sockets.
You also missed out the SE Highspeed platforms at st pancreas (Which are also under the canopy but you need to go up from downstairs to get there)
Your also lucky your train was ontime, there are usually delays, especially at the selhurst triangle (the big junction before east Croydon)
Clapham junction is actually the second busiest station in the UK, which is just up the line towards victoria from east Croydon... I usually commute from there, although I catch 700s for the short hop between East and South croydon.
The funny thing about the wifi is that it's upload speed is faster than the one I have at home...
And, if you travel in the rush hour, the seats wont be a problem as there are none available!
Best thing is, apart from the super overpriced Gatwick express also equipped with iron board seats, and Southern rail which is the same franchise but more delayed, this the only way there!
Great video, but its a completely different story in the rush hours!
Thanks! Ik right, at rush hour, you're lucky if you even have breathing room 😂
You can link your railcard to your oyster card and take advantage of 1/3 off the oyster fare. I showed up to the ticket office with my rail and Oyster cards, asked them to be linked and it was done in 60 seconds 👍
This is true, but be aware that this doesn't work with Network Cards :-(
The secret extra that comes with the declassified 1st Class at the rear is the reduced draught - it's rather blowy in the main accommodation, thanks to the open plan layout \m/
Great video. I recently travelled on the TL to Horsham. A little tip - Standard class ticket holders are permitted to sit in the first class section at the back of the train. :-)
Thanks! I wish I'd known that when I travelled 😭
Dylan's Travel Reports just make sure you keep an eye on the information board until it's cycled through once, it tells you if it's first class tickets or declassified :)
But there's still a yellow stripe painted at cantrail level on the outside of the train, which is the internationally-accepted definition of First Class accommodation, over the First Class sections at both the front and the rear! And the timetable for that route - which is a legal document admissible in court - can presumably only show whether the whole train is, or is not, classified! I'd better check this out for when I can travel again for leisure purposes!
Seats look hard! Might as well bring a cushion with you whenever you go on a journey.
I'm from Canada, and I've seen worse seats. The intercity trains that run from Toronto to Montreal have very hard seats (I think they're even harder than Thameslink seats) but even worse there is some kind of plastic covering which means it's very hard to breathe, meaning a sticky ride on hot days.
Yeah and Seats on the New York Subway trains is just as bad
Love the fact how as you left the station a inspector sands alarm goes off
It was going off quite a bit while I was there.
Thank you so much! I learned a lot from your videos. I am excited to visit London …hopefully next year 😁
I remember similar seats on the class 158 trains that Scotrail used to run, they were rock hard too
Keep up the good content mate it's lovely to see! No need for commentary when the content is as good as this.
Thanks, will do!
When I visited London one the best rail trip I did was the Thameslink as I got to see all the historic buildings.
I use these trains everyday on my commute and they are a Godsend. The seats really aren’t that bad, I just find the space between seats lacking, so I sit in the priority seats with extra legroom. During the summer these trains are like a fridge so that’s an added bonus. Thank you for your videos!
If your on the inside seat the support will block your legs if you stretch them out , also over a long journey you shuffle around for comfortability , tbh anything is better than the 319s they were finished
I knew you'd mention the 319's. Nobody likes them. No wonder Northern Trains (in particular) and LNWR are binning them. Don't miss those trains at all not one tiny bit lol. 🤣🤣
I've only taken this train once for an hour's journey and the seats aren't as bad as they look. The ergonomics of the train more than make up for it. A good commuter train.
St. Pancras is beautiful! We have seats like that on our local buses and it's definitely no fun to ride for any length of time. I suppose as you said it's a matter of what your priorities are for the journey. Another great video, thank you sir !
Thanks! St Pancras is the most beautiful station in the UK imo. Shame about the seats though.
Hi Dylan! Great report today! Wow! What an impressive station the London - St. Pancras is! Aside from the seats, the train looks pretty good! Open, with lots of natural light coming in. I'll be honest, seeing this review makes want to visit even more now, especially since my trip to the UK to watch Wimbledon had to be cancelled due to the pandemic! 😡 I was flying in and out of Gatwick and was planning on taking the Thameslink. Here's hoping for Wimbledon 2021! 🤞🏻I'll be sure to continue tuning in to your Travel Reports until then 🙂. Thanks for sharing another informative report Dylan! Looking forward to next Friday's report!
Thanks! Honestly, if they'd put better seats in these trains, they'd be perfect as commuter trains go.
The first time I set foot inside St Pancras I was genuinely blown away by just how stunning it was.
Indeed, I would have called those ironing board seats The COMMUTER TORTURE SEATS!! However, I did like the Thameslink train. I would have enjoyed the Virginia Railway Express more often if they designed their train that way. My short time in the St. Paul/Minneopolis, MN which had a commuter train there, has very nice seats as well. I don't know now because it was 2005 when I saw them the first time. Safe travels, my friend.
I travelled all the way from Peterborough to East Croydon on one of these (and even further on the way back) and I have to say I did not have a problem with the seats - although southbound I did take advantage of the declassified 1st Class seats but I travelled in the Standard seat northbound. They are firm, but if thew shape is right (and it is right for me) the firmness is fine.
thanks for this review. i am missing travelling on thameslink and sadly my station 8:10 ECR is one to be avoid due to covid19 situation. I remember the old london bridge, it as so dark even in morning. the new London Bridge is so lovely despite being a bit cold in the winter
You're welcome! I think we're all missing getting the train. Shouldn't be too long now though.
You can add your railcard to your Oyster if you didn’t already know - you have to ask staff at a tube station and they do it on one of the ticket machines. Saves a lot of time and paper!
Someone else was telling me that. I'll have to order an oyster card and add my railcard to it.
That station was awesome and massive. The hard seats, well you get what you pay for and that looked like a pretty cheap
ticket. I think the seats are made for heavy use so they are constructed to be durable. They looked like they were
in pretty good shape not worn or frayed. Great video thanks Dylan.
Thanks! On a per mile basis, it's not the cheapest trip in the country. Then again, at peak hours, you're lucky if you get a seat at all.
It's not any cheaper per mile than other journeys, and people without a railcard discount still get the same horrid seats
From my experience, the Thameslink train I took last year had a really smooth ride (comparable to ScotRail's Class385 Express sets) so that probably compensated for how hard the seats were.
One other thing I like about these 700s is that I didn't feel the air pressure change when going through tunnels.
The lack of air pressure change is probably due to the fact that there's not doors to separate the coaches. Come to think of it, I don't think I noticed it either.
@@DylansTravelReports same thing happens on the S stock
Wonderful report!!!! Most trains now have those seats.... which is horrible but it is ok for a ride no more than 45 minutes.
Look forwards to see your next vid!!
Thanks 😁
Thanks Dylan. Generally speaking I find these trains are a welcome improvement to the Thameslink service, the walk-through layout making it so much easier to locate a seat at busy times. On a personal level, I've found seat comfort acceptable for a journey duration of around 30 to 40 minutes but anything longer could leave you with numb-bum syndrome as experienced on a journey from Letchworth to Gatwick last year. A serious oversight is the lack of provision for phone charging, a rather strange omission by GTR, seeing as we are all reliant on mobile devices. I hope there is a plan to add these in the near future.
I find these seats ok for short journeys . I think when I went to Gatwick I had a zone 1 to 6 , I then bought a ticket from Croydon to Gatwick.
Another excellent review as usual Dylan. I fully agree with you about the awful 'ironing board' seats....they're getting everywhere nowadays - ScotRail 385s, Northern 195s and 331s, etc. I have to take issue with you about the Shard being the tallest building in Britain though. It's actually the second tallest....the tallest being the 320 metre Emley Moor television tower in West Yorkshire.
Thanks! Idk why they keep on putting these seats in trains. As much as I'd like to claim Emley More Television Tower as the tallest building in the UK (given it's in my native West Yorkshire) it's not classed as a building but rather only gets classed as a free standing structure. As you correctly say though, it does beat the Shard on the list of tallest free standing structures in the UK.
I've travelled in these units a lot, into King's X and through St Pancras. I'm quite tall and the legroom is completely inadequate in the aircraft layout, so I try to sit in one of the group-of-four seats. I find the seats uncomfortable, and the ride of the units always seems rough and jiggly to me. However, I really like the units otherwise. The openness of a walk-through train is great and they are so much better than their various predecessor units.
props to you for using the word 'alight'
Remeber the rear first class cabin is declassified I believe!
The seats are designed that way for fire resistance. Because the trains are in the tunnel section from St Pancras to Blackfriars they need to give adequate fire protection as there are no interconnecting doors between carriages to contain a fire. They are bloody uncomfortable though.
The inside of those cars even the seats look a lot like Montreal's new subway cars. Seats are not comfortable but easy to clean and rugged. No one is more than an hour on the train anyway, seems ok to me. Thanks Dylan stay safe and 'till next week.
Yeah I guess a lot of people on these trains are only on them for an hour or so. Honestly, at peak hours you're lucky to have a seat at all though.
I wish that was true, once I was sat on those awful seats for two hours
I have done a few trips from Gatwick to London on these trains. Seats are rather hard, but you can always bring your own cushion. With 12 carriages at least there's plenty of capacity.
One thing missing is a buffet car or trolley service. That would be nice, given that some long routes are operated. In the 1980s the Brighton line had 4-CIG units. These were more comfortable and had a buffet car.
Trouble is if you take a cushion you have to carry it around with you all day ....
Hi Dylan I enjoyed the video!!!Thank in you for uploading this video!!!
Thanks 😁
One thing to note about these trains, is when Thameslink were in the market to upgrade their fleet of 319’s and 377’s, they are the only company to go through the core of London, so the idea of the 700s feeling wide and spacious was the intended target, to allow more people to Travel on peak time trains. I agree thoUgh the seats aren’t the best but being a local I’m used to them. But these trains are certainly an upgrade from the old 319’s. Great trip report 👍
Thanks 😁
319s may be old but they are more comfortable
Seems like the seats might be okay for short journeys -- maybe 30 minutes or less but certainly not for longer. Like you, I liked the wide open carriages. I love St. Pancras, such a lovely station. Thanks for the video, Dylan!
You're welcome 😁
They don't look fun for the 2 and a half hours it takes to go from Brighton to Cambridge or Bedford or the three hours from Horsham to Peterborough (although it's quicker to use faster trains for that journey)
Thameslink is also an excellent way of getting from the north (my home) from Leeds to Redhill (family home) or Gatwick avoiding the hassle of hauling luggage around central London or the tube. LNER to Stevenage then simply stroll the 5 metres from Platform 2 (LNER arrival) to 1 (Thameslink southbound departure) and stay on the train through the city, and The City, via the tunnels without any further changes!
Will have to bear that one in mind the next time I come at London from the north. I never thought of changing at Stevenage as opposed to Kings Cross. What a great idea!
Remember Dylhan 1st *Class at the back is declassified
The seats are still awful in 1st on Class 700's.
@@Jmcd1986 not as bad as standard tho
🤫
I'm 6'5" and can only fit in a few of the seats - like buses in Asia ! Great service though, and the stations tell you which is the quickest service to Gatwick.
Of course there's the Gatwick Express if time is pressing (and cost isn't)
Tbh, I don't really see the point in the Gatwick Express (unless the 15 mins ot saves is going to be the difference between you missing your flight and you making your flight) other than to make money out of tourists and people travelling on their company's money.
The seats remind me of the seats on Queensland Rail New Generation Rollingstock, but without a tray table.
I’ve just saw that TFL added Thameslink to the tube map so I decided to rewatch it 😅
12.03.20 - The day before my last normal commute on Thameslink. 13 months later, perhaps travel to London will return to normality soon. I find those seats OK. Better than the seats 10 years ago on Thameslink. Sometimes the cushion moved or a spring twanged when you sat down.
My hack for riding these trains is use the back 1st class seats to the rear of the train from the direction of travel as these are declassified meaning you can sit there for the price of the standard class ticket
The St Pancras underground station reminds me of me visiting London 2 years ago. I used to visit one of my friends, and believe it or not, i still exactly know the route!
I have been on these trains on my trips down to London (obviously before the pandemic) and I actually find the seats rather comfortable, if just a little harder than other trains.
Great video, I think the facilities and ambience offered inside these trains is not bad but I agree about the ironing board seats. Hope to see you review some more GWR and Transport for Wales stock in the future!
Thanks! I've got a review of GWR coming soon. As for TfW, that'll have to wait until after lock down.
@@DylansTravelReports as you mentioned GWR and TFW can you do more trip reports on those Train Operaterating Companies?
Hi Dylan. Definition of masochism would be to endure one of these seats all the way from Bedford or Peterborough to Gatwick Airport. On my last day in the UK two years ago, I was fortunate only to have to travel one stop from Three Bridges on a 700. Nice train, shame about the seats. I see someone else from downunder having a go at seats on regional services here in Victoria. Must have been thinking about the seats on the now-withdrawn Hitachi suburban units that plied the Melbourne Metro Area. Keep up the good work.
Great video Dylan🙆
Thanks!
Nice trip report dylan in terms of the 700s
The seats are hard regardless of standard or first
There are power outlet in first but not standard which is annoying seeing as the train is usually 8 to 12 carriage long and first class only at the front and rear end of the trains
The WiFi on there is shite only gives you 50mb allowance so better to use your own data or WiFi if you have one
I like the toilet space but I nearly got trapped in one because I was confused about the locking door thing
The passanger information system is there best feature very informative time date status updates carriage space like there sister units 707 and 717 on GN and SWR respectively
I also like the fact due to there length I know people will only really use the carriages closer to the stairs and not many people venture to the other end which gives a level of privacy and peace
The air con is really useful and good space to walk around
I have been on then a few times not the best of trains but at least they are reliable
Also I never knew theses had tables on the seat backs in standard I thought only tables were proper ones in first
IIRC, the tray tables were bolted on later after the initial outcry that these brand new trains had no tables or power sockets.
@@stewartbrodie1720 that's a good thing
The ironing board seats do make me laugh! 😂
They make me want to cry. Or scream with frustration!
Simon Kemp Welp, rather only need to sit in them for a few minutes rather than a few hours. Azumas anyone?
Well they don't make me laugh at all. Weird.
@@NaenaeGaming No Azuma.#HST4EVER
My dad worked for British rail in Derby started when he was 15 doing the seat upholstery they layed him off when he was 60😢 my first dining table chairs were covered in intercity 125 covers 😀
Nice! I can't say my chairs are like that. Shame about him getting laid off after such a long time.
I completely agree with your comments on the Thameslink Desiro 700 type trains. I use them frequently, and whilst they are very spacious, and ride quite well, the seats are diabolical. Having ridden on them from the time they were introduced, they have got worse ! The seats are a disgrace, and whoever specified them should be shot. They are not even acceptable for short journeys, and when many of the Desiros run on the longer routes like Brighton to Cambridge, Govia Thameslink should not be "improving" the Class 377s, but should instead re-seat the whole fleet of Desiro 700s !
I am somewhat new to your channel and really like it. Have been going over the older trips. I notice that you sometimes seem to use a 3 axis stabilizer can you say which one you like
Thanks! I used to use the iSteady Pro 2 but since getting a Gopro Hero 8, it isn't compatible and, tbh, there's no real need.
the train fares in UK are so expensive >
Yep 🙃
You could have used first class for ‘free’ at the rear, it’s declassified on thameslink
I used to travel from St Pancras to Huntingdon each week and I travelled in the declassified coach at the back. Comfier seats, and charging sockets,
Don’t tell them 😂 I want the back first class to myself
I like new trains, they are very clean and modern, but I am really annoyed of those hard seats, not all of the new trains but a majority of them
I travel on Thames link. From Sevenoaks to Denmark Hill. It take about 50 minutes. That's long enough sitting on those seats.
Great video, love the 7000s.🙂
Ahh, those good times before covid.
Great video. Yeah those seats look narrow and really uncomfortable
Thanks! Yes, comfort is pretty poor on these trains!
I agree about the "ironing board" description of the seats. It's a real pity that having at last got these through routes (e.g. Cambridge to Brighton Peterborough to Horsham) up and running that they have to be run by these uncomfortable units especially as performance wise (speed, info display etc) they appear to be excellent ..Many Northerners complained about receiving Thameslink's cast-offs for their services but I'd be glad to have the 319's back any day (not that that would happen now). Also I'd like to know why they only have the phone charging sockets in first class, whereas the similarly designed 707's and 717's have them at every seat.
The ironing boards we all know and love😉
Ironing board seats I’d be hard pressed to say they were comfortable😂
Remember that these trains were procured and specified by the Department For Transport and not the operating company. The seats are like they are due only to cost and could have been more comfortable with a slightly greater cost. If anyone tries to state that is to meet fire regulations that is simply not true as Irish Rail managed to get a more comfortable seat passed to the same regs a few months later. To build these trains without power outlets is frankly extremely stupid and again were offered by Siemens but declined by DfT on cost grounds.
I agree. Even other operators in the UK have more comfortable seats built to the same regulations. The lack of a power outlet is almost unforgivable though.
this is cool, New York and Chicago needs to get a fleet of these trainsets.
So long as the equip them with different seats, they'd be great.
Nice! These run on my area, on the MML along with EMR, and I wish those seats were comfier! Bring back the 319s XD
Would you mind if I used parts of this video on my audio series, for background sfx?
I don’t get the hate. I’ve been in those seats twice, London-Cambridge and back, and they were hard and not too comfortable, but not as horrible as people say. Of course it was my first long distance train ride in the UK so I was getting out to get a quick peek at the stations, but it was a semifast and London-Stevenage is a good 20 minutes non-stop.
The reason for the hate is that those of us who regularly travel between Cambridge and London are used to having comfortable seats, tray tables and power sockets on the "old" Great Northern trains, so the shiny new Thameslink trains were hugely disappointing in comparison.
You sat in that for over 5 minutes. Respect.
😂
go on the electro star instead it has everything you need seats, table, carpet, refreshments, reading lights, toilet and most of all good leg place
Already have 😁 th-cam.com/video/DazuJ-bzRVM/w-d-xo.html
kay
You’ll get used to the seating if you ride those services a lot (like I do)! I’m fine with nearly all features of the 700s
Lovely video Dylan good jobs, Croydon The Willy Walkers homeland.
Thanks 😁
And the seat moquette is very nice
If you think these seats are uncomfortable then you could be travelling all the way down to Penzance on GWR on seats that aren't much better.
This is just a description of my local railroad lol
I have a bad back and nowadays I often make long journeys by car simply because modern train seats are so miserable. Bring back comfy seats like on the old InterCity 125's and I'd definitely take trains instead.
The old intercity 125 seating was the best imo.
Tbh Lad,that's my 1st look at that type of unit & it looks bloody awful,well done you for managing an hour on it 🤔 nice to see the cross of St George flying up on Southwark cathedral
The Church of England is the only national institution which, since the Treaty of Union in 1707, has flown the flag of England over the soil of England. A timely reminder that we were a nation once, and could one day become a nation again.