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.
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.
In lockdown the only survey I can do is through Facebook, full of enthusiasts, often of advancing years and dress size. Despite the skew in the data the seat that came up again and again is the ‘Inter-City 70’ seat, as used originally in Mk 3s and HSTs. Since this used a plastic shell, spring base and a sensible height back the safety industry would rate this the same as an electric chair.
AFFORDABLE HAPPINESS
There is no doubt the IC70 was a success of its time, and it is de…
