This is what Thameslink passengers will be riding in from sometime in 2016 as the first of the new trains arrive.
A mock-up of one which is essentially real, except that it has no wheels was put on display today for a few hours to have a look. And a set of wheels put on display next to it.
New Bogies
Shiny new train
Discover the sign says, so I did.
Joints between carriages
First class passengers get plug sockets for their laptops
All the buttons, or gauges, or something
Inside the drivers cab!
Not the usual view a driver will see when driving the train
First class seating area
SOS emergency by the wheelchair area
Fully walk through trains
Toilets
Embark here if you have two, or four wheels
Glossy white train
Entry — notice the double upright rails to hold on to
Close buttons
Floating seating
Lots of handholds on the seats for standing passengers
You can never have too many warning signs
Small ball joint to support the floating seats
Turn right
Digital displays with digital adverts
Looks nice, but strange that it has the coupling always exposed – I was under the impression they were of fixed length and would never be operated in multiple.
The couplings are there more as a method of recovering the train should it break down, or for shunting operations in depots etc.
Check out the stacked speakers at the end of the windshield in the driver’s cab!
They need a coupling on each end ready for when they break down and need rescuing! Also, that does not look like much legroom; did you try the seats for comfort Ian?
“Joints between carriages”
They’re “gangway connections” (or what the toy-trainset brigade call “corridor connections”).
Looks like it has all the problems of modern trains. Cramped, uncomfortable, far too few seats, you have to disturb someone (or be disturbed) when accessing / exiting seats, etc.
Worst of all, there’s nothing to lean against when you have to stand; as usual, they’ve thoughtfully designed the seats’ grab handles so that they jab you in the back.
What about drop down small tables in standard class airline seating?
Can’t cost that much to fit
Do the floating seats have pneumatic suspension? That’s going to feel quite different to being solidly attached to the floor, no?
It looks similar to the longitudal seating on the Metropolitan line’s S8 rolling stock and that feels no different to seats attached to the floor
The “buttons, or gauges, or something” are safety system isolation switches. 🙂
“Platform exits are located to your right” – what a mouthful! Why not just the word “Exit”, with an arrow?