On Sep 13, 12:34�pm, Andy Roden 
wrote:
> > >Tony Polson wrote:
>
> > >> Apart from the lighting, FGW refurbished HSTs are a pleasure to travel
> > >> in. �Plenty of legroom, comfortable, supportive seats and a high
> > >> proportion of seats with good views. �I am no fan of First Great
> > >> Western, but their HST refurbs set a high standard.
>
> <<snip!>>
>
> > The value of tables is much reduced when trains are full. �And that's
> > mostly how they are on FGW - full. �
>
> > In the days when (travelling alone) I could expect to share a table
> > with a maximum of one other person, I used to prefer a seat at a
> > table, but in a full train I would much rather have an airline seat,
> > especially if it offers as much legroom as First's refurbished HSTs.
>
> > As for "high density" and "low density", these appear to have become
> > emotive terms. �Dealing with the facts, even the "high density" sets
> > have plenty of legroom. �They do not feel remotely cramped.
>
> > I repeat, I am not a fan of First Great Western. �Nor of their logo.
> > But their refurbished HSTs are, in Standard, probably the best HSTs I
> > have travelled on. �My only complaint was the lighting.
>
> Bloody hell! I don't often agree with the good Mr Polson,but by jove,
> I think he's right about FGW's refurbed HSTs! I travel on them a lot
> and find even standard class fairly comfortable. It's not a perfect
> solution, but given how many people used to stand between London and
> Exeter, and how fewer seem to now, I think they got it about as right
> as the circumstances allowed.
>
> And I'm not a fan of First Group full-stop, or of FGW in particular,
> but credit where credit's due and all that...
>
> Andy Roden

Moving back to the IEP, DfT appear to have taken account of load
factors and journey length by stipulating three interior layouts -
Intercity (for ECML), Inter Urban (GWML) and Commuter (GWML, WCML and
Kings Lynn).