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No ‘ironing board seats’ for Greater Anglia’s new trains

Greater Anglia is promising more comfortable seats for passengers, following feedback on its new Bombardier and Stadler trains.

“We’re very aware of the problems that there have been in other parts of the country with seats on new trains, and this is why we really listened to customers’ feedback and really wanted to avoid any mis-shaped seats or too hard a seat,” said GA Brand Manager Jason Brandon.

GA has recruited Andrew Schoenemann, of Schoenemann Design, who has over 30 years’ experience designing trains and who previously worked with GA on the refurbishment of its Mk 3 fleet.

Schoenemann said: “We were presented with a range of seats to look at and we were able to find the best seat to fit the environment for our new trains and for the passengers.”
GA has chosen FISA LEAN seats for the Class 745/755 Stadler fleets, with adjustments to the shape of the base cushions, lumbar support and head rests.

For the Bombardier Class 720 Aventras, Kiel seats have been chosen. These feature “a unique ‘S’ shape to the seat back for better comfort, and which creates more leg room for the person sitting behind.”

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  • AndrewJG8918 - 02/05/2018 01:00

    The seats on the Class 379's are very comfortable despite they are being replaced by the Class 720's and Class 745's. If Greater Anglia were to keep some of the older EMU trains or the Class 379's to be used on branch lines in Essex and peak hour services to/from London Liverpool Street.

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    • Janet - 10/05/2018 08:35

      Try Ashbourne seating : proper S curve for the spine...and leg room behind! Must have known something back in the 80s!

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  • H-S-T Productions - 13/06/2018 13:59

    Finally; a TOC that listens to the various complaints! Good on you Abellio for hearing out the ongoing crisis of seating on our modern trains; too bad I don't live eastwards! :p

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