On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 09:21:50 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

But on the lines I've used, the 3+2 seating is a disaster, as people
really *hate* sitting three abreast, particularly when they are used to
2+2. Asking to sit in the middle seat, which usually has about six
inches of width showing, is taken as a personal insult.

This is true, though it partly depends on the body width of the train
concerned - and on Merseyside my experience was that people *do* sit
on the third seat in the height of the peak, albeit reluctantly. Of
course, Merseysiders won't have the option any more because the
refurbished 50x units are fitted with 2+2 facing seating with almost
InterCity-level spacing and comfort...

Mind you, the upper deck 2+2 of the German DD sets, especially the
slightly smaller Eastern-style ones, is as bad. The space up there is
only really suited to 2+1. Shoulder room is especially cramped (you
thought UK tilt-profile units were bad...)

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
To e-mail use neil at the above domain