DDA compliant 165/166 FGW

[JonathanH]

I noticed tonight that carriage 58613 in 166213 has been fitted with new door buttons. The other two carriages retain the door buttons as built.

I still haven't noticed 166221 on the North Downs Line. Is it now in general circulation?

 

[TEW]

It was out a couple of days last week on North Downs services.

 

[jimm]

I noticed tonight that carriage 58613 in 166213 has been fitted with new door buttons. The other two carriages retain the door buttons as built.

I still haven't noticed 166221 on the North Downs Line. Is it now in general circulation?

Definitely in general use - rode it on Monday on the Cotswold Line and saw it at Oxford later in the week as well.

 

[tsr]

The toilet itself, within the cubicle looks like it is crammed right into the corner. I can't imagine that would be very easy to use. But is the photo a little deceptive about proportions?

 

[FenMan]

It was out a couple of days last week on North Downs services.

I used it on Thursday afternoon for the short hop from Blackwater to North Camp. The unit definitely has new door buttons and looked very smart.

 

[Kite159]

Noticed it standing on P14 at Reading on Friday, looks very smart in the metal.

I think it was on an all-stations to Paddington service (this was around 16:20). I would have rode it if I wasn't on a 180 hunt.

 

[Deepgreen]

FGW seem unable to get their first class labeling right - so many 165/6s are still running around with their declassified first sections carrying yellow stripes, while some others have had them taped over. Surely it is only a five minute job to apply the tape - but no; many months after they were declassified they still present a confused picture. Now even 166221 has a yellow stripe over the first class windows (good) but has no other first identification (bad!). How difficult can this be??

Incidentally, I have started a new thread for the refurbished Turbos as I had not noticed this one - apologies; and I expect it will be merged with this correct one. Anyway, 166221 operated the 1741 Redhill to Gatwick yesterday.
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Looks like she's out and about now.

Bit of a tight squeeze down past the new toilet

Doesn't look any worse than the squeeze past the toilet on the 377 fleet, but I may be misjudging from the photo.

 

[TEW]

I thought it was quite clear where First Class was on 166221. One end has a yellow stripe and a whopping great 1 on the side. The declassified end is plain.

 

[Deepgreen]

I thought it was quite clear where First Class was on 166221. One end has a yellow stripe and a whopping great 1 on the side. The declassified end is plain.

If the '1' has now been applied, then fine, but in the photos I've seen it was absent, with only the yellow stripe, which is what a lot of the unrefurbished units still have where their first has been declassified for months.

 

[jimm]

If the '1' has now been applied, then fine, but in the photos I've seen it was absent, with only the yellow stripe, which is what a lot of the unrefurbished units still have where their first has been declassified for months.

Which photos? There is one I can recall seeing from July, when it got back from Wolverton, with the 1 missing.

This one https://www.flickr.com/photos/86734924@N03/14802675838/in/pool-911246@N22 linked back up the thread in mid-August, long before 166221 worked a passenger service, has the socking great 1 in place on the train.

 

[387star]

On 166221 has the declassified First Class been reverted to standard style seating?

 

[Deepgreen]

Which photos? There is one I can recall seeing from July, when it got back from Wolverton, with the 1 missing.

This one https://www.flickr.com/photos/86734924@N03/14802675838/in/pool-911246@N22 linked back up the thread in mid-August, long before 166221 worked a passenger service, has the socking great 1 in place on the train.

Interesting - that's certainly a 'socking' '1'! However, I was referring to this photo, which shows the other side without the '1'. The numerals must be applied at Reading rather than Wolverton, for some reason.

https://flic.kr/p/o54fGY

Nevertheless, FGW simply haven't bothered to sort out the un-refurbished units' labelling/cantrail stripes on the declassified sections.

 

[TEW]

On 166221 has the declassified First Class been reverted to standard style seating?

No. It still retains the First Class seats, so a good place to aim to sit if you fancy a more comfortable journey.

 

[jimm]

Interesting - that's certainly a 'socking' '1'! However, I was referring to this photo, which shows the other side without the '1'. The numerals must be applied at Reading rather than Wolverton, for some reason.

https://flic.kr/p/o54fGY

Nevertheless, FGW simply haven't bothered to sort out the un-refurbished units' labelling/cantrail stripes on the declassified sections.

Which was the photograph taken in July I was referring to. As opposed to the one I linked to from the following month, when the numbers had been stuck on - maybe the vinyls weren't ready before the train left Wolverton? You stated as fact that there was "no other first identification" which there is, and antimacassars on all the seats saying First Class on them.

Yes, there are still some sets with the yellow stripes above declassified compartments but a lot of passengers - ie not people posting here - haven't got a clue what it means anyway and somehow or other manage to make their way into the compartment and sit down.

 

[387star]

Great RARE video here of two repainted units 166201/221 working together

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr9pChiLAHg

 

[Bletchleyite]

Doesn't look any worse than the squeeze past the toilet on the 377 fleet, but I may be misjudging from the photo.

I've been on it now (on the train, not on the bog ). The pan is so tightly into the corner that anyone vaguely tall would have difficulty using it. Very poor design.

FWIW, it's a second bog added to the unit, the "inaccessible" one has remained as well.

Neil

 

[fgwrich]

I did use 201 on Saturday Night / Late Sunday morning as well, noticed 201 was sounding rather rough and the bi folding bog doors catching people out with a rather over active sensor!

 

[TEW]

I've been on it now (on the train, not on the bog ). The pan is so tightly into the corner that anyone vaguely tall would have difficulty using it. Very poor design.

FWIW, it's a second bog added to the unit, the "inaccessible" one has remained as well.

Neil

166s always had two toilets, one in each Driving coach. It's the 165s which only have one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

166s always had two toilets, one in each Driving coach. It's the 165s which only have one.

Ah, I see. Never noticed!

Neil

 

[cactustwirly]

A lot of the 165's have the new light clusters, but no refurbishment.

 

[fromthemurkyde]

So it's very likely the exact same end of the carriage shown will end up on southeastern's networker fleet?

 

[gage75]

I'm a little bit confuzzled are the refurbed 165's being renumbered or staying as is??

 

[Bletchleyite]

So it's very likely the exact same end of the carriage shown will end up on southeastern's networker fleet?

I do hope not, or not if I might travel on them and have any requirement for seated use of the facilities, anyway!

FWIW, this kind of approach is something that I think is going to come back and bite designers of disabled-accessibility in the next 30-40 years or so. People are getting taller, and older people tend to get back problems and find it difficult to bend over. Yet "accessibility" seems to mean only "wheelchair accessibility"[1], which means putting things lower down. These things will be impossible for a tall person with a back problem to use.

With regard to trains that means not designing such stupidly cramped facilities as this one (especially as it's not as if the cubicle itself is short of space). But it also probably means two open buttons at different heights (or disregarding the wheelchair in the case of the open button, as until platform heights are brought to be equal to train door heights a wheelchair user cannot exit a train without staff assistance anyway), and things like cash machines needing to consider having keypads and screens at two levels, or two machines always being provided, one at standing-average-adult height and the other at wheelchair height.

[1] Low floor buses are another example. Older people often used to use the door handrail and centre pole to help them to board a bus - but they can't now because it has been removed in favour of wheelchair access. While this is understandable for single-door buses (better that one person finds it more difficult to board than that another cannot board at all) it is surprising that TfL buses, which board wheelchairs via the rear doors, have not reinstated it for that reason, or considered a narrower front door.

Neil

 

[455driver]

I'm a little bit confuzzled are the refurbed 165's being renumbered or staying as is??

Why would they renumber them?

 

[cactustwirly]

I'm a little bit confuzzled are the refurbed 165's being renumbered or staying as is??

None have been refurbed yet, only two 166s. Why would you renumber them anyway.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Is it likely to be seen anywhere around the Southampton/Portsmouth area in the next few months?

 

[455driver]

Is it likely to be seen anywhere around the Southampton/Portsmouth area in the next few months?

What an FGW 165 or 166?
Not likely!

 

[gage75]

the OP has put it as the a 165/6 so am assuming it would mean they're being renumbered as in 165601 and so on, or is it a case of meaning 16x where x= 5 or 6

 

[swt_passenger]

the OP has put it as the a 165/6 so am assuming it would mean they're being renumbered as in 165601 and so on, or is it a case of meaning 16x where x= 5 or 6

I think he means the latter, I think, just that similar mods will apply to both classes.

The first modified unit (as in the pics in the early pages of this thread) is still 166221.

 

[387star]

I think he means the latter, I think, just that similar mods will apply to both classes.

The first modified unit (as in the pics in the early pages of this thread) is still 166221.

Amended

I heard talk of plugs for computers and phones being included at some point along with wifi