SWT refurbished 455s

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:23 am

Well, I saw one today (only from the outside), and I can safely say "yuck". That livery works where blue is the main colour, but where they use red (and blue doors) it just doesn't do it for me. Admittedly I'm of the opinion that nothing should be painted red at all because it's a disgusting colour (well, it looks ok as an "accent colour" - eg on the doors, but a big expanse of redness is just wrong).

Has anyone been on one? the seats look like they're exactly the same as fitted to 450s, and therefore I would expect them to be amazingly uncomfortable.

I also noticed that the evening standard whinged about them, because they don't have enough seats, apparantly. But what would expect from the evening standard?

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:21 pm

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:35 pm

With all that red, looks like the punters cant find a way to get in!

SlinkyWizard · Post by **SlinkyWizard** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:32 pm

Full set of shots up now from the launch, so you can all decide for yourself

http://www.ukrailpics.co.uk/railpics/20 ... index.html

Quick taster for those too lazy to look

Regards,

James Mayl
(http://www.ukrailpics.com)

n863dwt · Post by **n863dwt** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:41 pm

i think they look better than they do in the swt/stagecoach livery... but i think the refurb stopped short of a truely top upgrade... ie.. the top light eg the southern 455's...and why no LED destination boards and why not full tops numbers not just the southern region code..

barrymcguire9999 · Post by **barrymcguire9999** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:24 pm

http://www.ukrailpics.co.uk/railpics/20 ... index.html

Earlier shots of 455711, showing also the interior of the ex 508 trailer.............

chriscooper · Post by **chriscooper** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:54 pm

I think they look better than the Southern ones, especially as they have kept the old style headlights rarther than going for the new style ones with high level marker, which IMHO are purely a fashion thing, and keeping the gangways makes it much easier for people to spread along the train. Livery isn't bad either, although I can't say I'm a fan of red, no white and no silver (or steel blue) makes a nice change to most modern liveries. I do like the way they have the 3 liveries for the 3 different train types, Red for Inner Suburban, Blue for Outer Suburban and White for Express.

Elojikal · Post by **Elojikal** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:45 pm

What matters is the interior furnishings, and by the looks of it SWT do better than Southern because they understand that the the job of the 455's is to be people carriers. If you can't add seating capacity then add lots of grab rails for the unfortunate souls who do have to end up standing - better than having to tentatively cling onto the tops of one of the primary school chairs that BR furnished the 455's with.

dct8wolf · Post by **dct8wolf** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:18 am

i and my father both personally they look better inside and out refurbished have you ever been on an unrefurbished one

its horrible

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:30 am

I've been on the unrefurbed ones - they are getting a little tired inside, and I haven't been inside one of these (or a southern refurbed one either). So all I was saying was that I don't really like the livery! I agree with the thing about the 3 liveries for the 3 purposes, But I reckon you could do it with just 2 liveries - Blue for the suburban and white for the main line services. I'm sure that given a set of crayons I couldn't do much better - apart from the fact that it wouldn't be red! Externally, 450s look very smart in their blue, so I'd give these the same paint job.

I can't comment on the inside until I've had a ride on one.