Does anyone have any information regarding which services the HST set
with the volo coach will be forming? I am going to be travelling on FGW
quite a few times next week and would like to try it out. 

Cheers.

wrote in message
news:1122374786.731596.123920@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Does anyone have any information regarding which services the HST set
> with the volo coach will be forming?


The what coach? Explain please......

therunawayminetrain@lycos.co.uk wrote:

> Does anyone have any information regarding which services the HST set
> with the volo coach will be forming? I am going to be travelling on FGW
> quite a few times next week and would like to try it out.
>
> Cheers.


The coach is being converted at cost to the promoting company and FGW
are providing the facility for trying it out. It was in set PM04, but
has been taken out for remedial work by the "Volo" engineers. I doubt
it will be out for next week.

jon.porter1@lycosmax.co.uk wrote:

>
> The coach is being converted at cost to the promoting company and FGW
> are providing the facility for trying it out. It was in set PM04, but
> has been taken out for remedial work by the "Volo" engineers. I doubt
> it will be out for next week.


It didn't stand up well to the 'paying public' then?

I'm still struggling with the concept myself - I can see it having a purpose 
for empty, long distance travel - but I think it's potentially just a pain 
in the bum for the commuter bands of travel.

Simon Ough wrote:

>  wrote in message
> news:1122374786.731596.123920@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > Does anyone have any information regarding which services the HST set
> > with the volo coach will be forming?
>
> The what coach? Explain please......


http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/atyourservice/volotv.php

I wonder if the interior is really going to be re-done like that, with
what look like Desiro seats with folding armrests...

And the exterior livery reminds me of some of the recent SNCF efforts
(particularly the "Corail Téoz" coaches) with a mixture of bright
colours and photos. I prefer the groovy metallic purple of the FGW
prototype refurbishment personally, but that seems to have gone a bit
quiet!

> I'm still struggling with the concept myself - I can see it having a purpose
> for empty, long distance travel - but I think it's potentially just a pain
> in the bum for the commuter bands of travel.


In what way will it affect the commuters?

Joe wrote:

>> I'm still struggling with the concept myself - I can see it having a
>> purpose for empty, long distance travel - but I think it's
>> potentially just a pain in the bum for the commuter bands of travel.
>
> In what way will it affect the commuters?


It'll be a carraige where you either do want, or definitely don't want to 
sit - but when it's commuter period you don't always get the choice.

It also potentially may cost free seats if for whatever reason it makes them 
unavailable.

Also, if the train is full of commuters (which it is) it means the people 
who actually WOULD want this service may not be able to get a seat in that 
carriage.

And no, the solution is _not_ to discourage the commuters :-)

> It'll be a carraige where you either do want, or definitely don't want to
> sit - but when it's commuter period you don't always get the choice.


It isn't like the service on Central Trains, you do not have to listen
to what's coming out of it!


> It also potentially may cost free seats if for whatever reason it makes them
> unavailable.
> Also, if the train is full of commuters (which it is) it means the people
> who actually WOULD want this service may not be able to get a seat in that
> carriage.


True, but I believed that this was just a trial and would be rolled out
much further in the future.

dwb wrote:

> jon.porter1@lycosmax.co.uk wrote:
> >
> > The coach is being converted at cost to the promoting company and FGW
> > are providing the facility for trying it out. It was in set PM04, but
> > has been taken out for remedial work by the "Volo" engineers. I doubt
> > it will be out for next week.
>
> It didn't stand up well to the 'paying public' then?
>
>

It wasn't let loose on he "paying public". Whilst in traffic it
provided seats but nothing else. The conversion was done as a project
funded by the manufacturers and not FGW. I have no idea what Volo are
doing with the coach. The HST is an electrically "noisy" train so any
new systems being introduced will take some "bedding in" to make sure
they work correctly.

Rupert Candy wrote:

>  I prefer the groovy metallic purple of the FGW
> prototype refurbishment personally, but that seems to have gone a bit
> quiet!


I was under the impression that it was a First Group prototype 
refurbishment for the Greater Western franchise bid rather than being 
directly related to the current fGW franchise.

Regards,
Ewan

-- 
<><|"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room."
....|   -- President Merkin Muffley
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I thought the HST were OK with regard to electro magentic interference.
Obviously not then.... doh! I know that the Desiros are very bad for EM
interference.