By Ian Walmsley
Pan Up
Last month I made a few recommendations on avoiding repeating the mistakes of the Intercity Express Programme on the stock for HS2. A train operator asked me ‘well, which seats do you like?’ – a fair question not easily answered as it is no longer possible to make seats like the old comfortable ones under current legislation. While I would change the regulations given the chance, that would only be completed in time for HS5 or 6, so forget that.
The IC70: Chiltern Railways’ loco-hauled Mk 3 sets retain their original seats. Philip Sherratt
Also, I have to admit that my involvement is the kiss of death to a seat design, since making it comfortable costs more and operators, having to dance to the Department for Transport’s tune, only buy the cheapest. It is also conceivable that a short, fat old bloke is not the target market.
