Avanti West Coast rebrand

[Chriso]

Have only 221101 and 221106 currently being refurbed or have any others been released?

 

[XCTurbostar]

I believe 221113 is now at ilford for upgrades.

 

[Chriso]

Superb. Thanks very much

 

[JakeMurphy]

390040 and 390132 now Avanti ended. 221108 and 221113 have undergone upgrades and are back in service

 

[py_megapixel]

390040 and 390132 now Avanti ended. 221108 and 221113 have undergone upgrades and are back in service

There can't be that many left now unbranded.

Any chance of another updated fleet list @TT-ONR-NRN?

 

[Trackman]

Have only 221101 and 221106 currently being refurbed or have any others been released?

221115 refurbed has left Ilford today at 10:05

 

[JakeMurphy]

221102 went in the other direction

 

[Huntergreed]

Took a refurbished 221 yesterday, albeit on Avanti’s shortest route between 2 stations.

I was quite impressed and thought it felt a lot cleaner, brighter and more modern, I’m definitely a fan compared to what we had before, although having only been on for 3 minutes it is possible I’ve not been able to form a proper judgement yet.

 

[route101]

Took a refurbished 221 yesterday, albeit on Avanti’s shortest route between 2 stations.

I was quite impressed and thought it felt a lot cleaner, brighter and more modern, I’m definitely a fan compared to what we had before, although having only been on for 3 minutes it is possible I’ve not been able to form a proper judgement yet.

Haymarket?

 

[Huntergreed]

Haymarket?

Aye.

Certainly not long enough to form a proper judgement, but I definitely noticed it felt a lot more modern, clean and fit for purpose.

 

[Killingworth]

390 013 was still unbranded clean white when seen at Nuneation on Friday, 25th.

 

[JakeMurphy]

390124, 390151 Avanti ended as of today

 

[Terry Williams]

Avanti WC are showing seating plans for pendos in conjuction with Covid.
These seating plans indicate power points at most window seats.
Anyone care to advise how accurate this is please or does it only relate to refurbed sets?

MTIA

 

[I13]

Might not strictly fall under rebranding but a handful of Voyagers now seem to have text-to-speech on board announcements. Like the old Voyager announcements they differ from those on the Pendolinos with talk of "principal stations" etc.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Might not strictly fall under rebranding but a handful of Voyagers now seem to have text-to-speech on board announcements. Like the old Voyager announcements they differ from those on the Pendolinos with talk of "principal stations" etc.

I believe the voice for the English announcements is the same as the Azuma. The voices sound very similar to each other. I believe the new voices were introduced with the bi-lingual signage and audio announcements on the trains to North Wales. I wonder if this will mean that the Pendolinos will receive that voice but without the Welsh capability. Will be better than the current extremely chirpy radio presenters.

 

[py_megapixel]

I believe the voice for the English announcements is the same as the Azuma. The voices sound very similar to each other.

Does it actually say "Hello..... and welcome aboard this Avanti Voyager service to....... London Euston" - or does it have a custom script?

I can't help but feel the current Pendo voices are very cheesy, and they don't even sound particularly realistic now that "Avanti West Coast" has been bodged in/.

 

[Voyager lad]

Does it actually say "Hello..... and welcome aboard this Avanti Voyager service to....... London Euston" - or does it have a custom script?

I can't help but feel the current Pendo voices are very cheesy, and they don't even sound particularly realistic now that "Avanti West Coast" has been bodged in/.

From memory, the Voyagers are now:

‘Hello, and welcome onboard this Avanti West Coast service to *destination*. We will call at the following principal stations, *stations*’

It is the same voice in English as used on LNER Azumas, and all the stations were already recorded by Virgin when they made it for the East Coast (before LNER), hence they sound slightly closer to the Azuma voice than phrases like ‘Avanti West Coast’.

As for the Welsh announcement, it’s a direct translation of the English but isn’t 100% accurate as it includes some grammatical errors etc. But it’s great on the whole!

 

[LeylandLen]

Are the 'voices' computer generated ?? ; they can do a lot nowadays , more than I were a wee lad . The ones I have heard are female on Avanti although not used them since Feb due to virus.

 

[Skie]

I can't help but feel the current Pendo voices are very cheesy, and they don't even sound particularly realistic now that "Avanti West Coast" has been bodged in/.

They were much worse when they trialed them! Few times before leaving the first station, then a few times on approach, then when you stopped, then as the doors closed, then a minute after departure, repeat the cycle for the next station and the next and the next. 6am is not the time you want to be bombarded with a cheery duo of automated announcement piffle!

 

[Scotrail314209]

They were much worse when they trialed them! Few times before leaving the first station, then a few times on approach, then when you stopped, then as the doors closed, then a minute after departure, repeat the cycle for the next station and the next and the next. 6am is not the time you want to be bombarded with a cheery duo of automated announcement piffle!

Try hearing them chirp in your ear on the 4:28 service off of Glasgow. Not the nicest to hear at that time.

 

[greatvoyager]

Took a refurbished 221 yesterday, albeit on Avanti’s shortest route between 2 stations.

I was quite impressed and thought it felt a lot cleaner, brighter and more modern, I’m definitely a fan compared to what we had before, although having only been on for 3 minutes it is possible I’ve not been able to form a proper judgement yet.

Has the seating changed, or has it just been covered in new fabric?

 

[py_megapixel]

Has the seating changed, or has it just been covered in new fabric?

Just new fabric, if the photos and the anecdotes of various members of this forum are to be believed.
The pendolinos will however be recieving new seats.

 

[Howardh]

Just new fabric, if the photos and the anecdotes of various members of this forum are to be believed.
The pendolinos will however be recieving new seats.

Yes! To be honest there wasn't much wrong with the ones in standard, but in first they looked old, tired and dull.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes! To be honest there wasn't much wrong with the ones in standard, but in first they looked old, tired and dull.

I believe the plan is for a thinner seat back so as to give more legroom without changing the layout.

 

[Howardh]

I believe the plan is for a thinner seat back so as to give more legroom without changing the layout.

Standard or first (or both?) thanks

 

[Trackman]

Standard or first (or both?) thanks

Standard is being changed, First is just being re-covered.

 

[Howardh]

Standard is being changed, First is just being re-covered.

hmmph, still stuck with those arm-rests by the windows then.

 

[Chiltern006]

does anyone know the spec for the pendo refurbishment e.g. what seats they'll use etc. I hope its not fainsa sophias and something more like the stuff on the 745/755 FLIRTs

 

[Skie]

I hope the refurb includes tables include wireless charging, especially if it's the new Apple magnetic ones. Would stop phones sliding around!

If Avanti are trying to shake the jaunty Virgin image and go a bit premium, then having an interior better than a modern bus would be the right start. (Most buses these days have decent seats and USB sockets everywhere)

 

[py_megapixel]

I hope the refurb includes tables include wireless charging, especially if it's the new Apple magnetic ones. Would stop phones sliding around!

I don't think going for anything Apple-specific would be wise, considering that it makes the feature unusable for most passengers!

There's no denying that iPhones are rather expensive for what they are unfortunately...