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Charles Ellson · December 18th 04, 03:15 AM posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway

In article
"Tom Anderson" writes:

On 16 Dec 2004, James wrote:

Yes, Southern has started refurbing the 455s. I was on one the other day
from Mitcham Jct to Ewell E. Very nice job. High-backed seats, but sadly
still 3+2.

Are new trains 2+2, then? Surely 3+2 is the best arrangement for trains on
inner suburban services; they seat 25% more people than 2+2s. AIUI, in
2+2, the width gained from liquidating the fifth seat goes into making the
four survivors wider, not providing more room the aisle, so it's not as if
you get more standing passengers in return.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance - i live in tubeland, and before that,
Hackney, manor of the 315.

Unless the 315 has a different seating layout from a 313 you should have
noticed what is wrong with 3+2 seating on inner-suburban services when
more than a few people are standing. Unlike older stock there is no room
to stand between transverse seats leaving only the doorway area and the
central gangway available; where stops are frequent, a great deal of time
is wasted by passengers just getting to and from the doors. With 2+2
seating there is more gangway room allowing easier movement to/from seats
and providing less encouragement to stand in doorways. The layout would
be further improved if the seats immediately adjacent to the doors were
replaced with longitudinal seats to increase the standing room.
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