Unit 111

[davidp]

Got a bit of a surprise last night (26th June) when travelling home on Unit 111 to see that the seats between the doors are now all longitudinal inward-facing and only the seats at each end of the unit remain forward-facing. The seating capacity remains the same (i.e. there are 8 inward-facing seats on each side instead of 2 inwards followed by a bay of 4 seats followed by 2 more inwards).

I would have expected the change to give the impression of more space in the middle of car to encourage more people to move further inside but the (re)positioning of the handrails seem to make it look as if there's less space that previously.

Does anyone know if this is the start of a programme or is this just a one-off test?

David

[crusty54]

Seen a post elsewhere that states that 114 has the same conversion.

Big shame as everyone including me goes for these seats first.

[patstonuk]

Jun 28, 2015 7:02:46 GMT crusty54 said:

Seen a post elsewhere that states that 114 has the same conversion.

Big shame as everyone including me goes for these seats first.

Entirely irrelevant to the purpose of the DLR, but as an occasional user of the system I've often thought what a marvellous way it is for the interested visitor to London to enjoy a grandstand view of Canary Wharf,as well as a bird's eye view of areas of East London, fascinating in their own right. The conversion to more longitudinal seating will be a loss.

[Deleted]

Was something like this not trialed back in the early 00s before refurbishment / new stock was ordered.

I am almost 100% sure this has been trialed

[davidp]

Jun 28, 2015 8:29:35 GMT patstonuk said:

Jun 28, 2015 7:02:46 GMT crusty54 said:

Seen a post elsewhere that states that 114 has the same conversion.

Big shame as everyone including me goes for these seats first.

Entirely irrelevant to the purpose of the DLR, but as an occasional user of the system I've often thought what a marvellous way it is for the interested visitor to London to enjoy a grandstand view of Canary Wharf,as well as a bird's eye view of areas of East London, fascinating in their own right. The conversion to more longitudinal seating will be a loss.

At least it's not all longitudinal seating, the 8 "tourist" seats at the ends of each car are still forward facing.

[crusty54]

Think this can only be done to some units as others have equipment under the seats.

[Hassaan]

Jun 28, 2015 9:20:57 GMT @dannyeastlondon said:

Was something like this not trialed back in the early 00s before refurbishment / new stock was ordered.

I am almost 100% sure this has been trialed

I do remember seeing such a photo, but can't seem to find it now.

[rincew1nd]

Jun 28, 2015 7:02:46 GMT crusty54 said:

Big shame as everyone including me goes for these seats first.

Not everyone! I always go for the ones at the very front (I'm sure everyone sat here is pretending they're driving), or the very back in the 'observation car'.

[Chris M]

I normally go for whichever transverse seats are closest to the doors I want to get off at (second from the front at Bank, last in the second car at South Quay, very front at Tower Gateway, Shadwell, Mudchute and Westferry, first in the third car at Woolwich, last in the first car at Gallions Reach, middle of the train at Cyprus).

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2015 13:11:22 GMT davidp said:

Got a bit of a surprise last night (26th June) when travelling home on Unit 111 to see that the seats between the doors are now all longitudinal inward-facing and only the seats at each end of the unit remain forward-facing. The seating capacity remains the same (i.e. there are 8 inward-facing seats on each side instead of 2 inwards followed by a bay of 4 seats followed by 2 more inwards).

I would have expected the change to give the impression of more space in the middle of car to encourage more people to move further inside but the (re)positioning of the handrails seem to make it look as if there's less space that previously.

Does anyone know if this is the start of a programme or is this just a one-off test?

David

Would this change have been undertaken to increase standing passengers capacity, and (logically) total capacity of the unit? Except if the "seated" passengers lie in their seats with their feet in the middle of the coach...

[brigham]

Would knifeboard seats have been better?

[davidp]

Jun 29, 2015 7:12:04 GMT @sdx said:

Jun 27, 2015 13:11:22 GMT davidp said:

Got a bit of a surprise last night (26th June) when travelling home on Unit 111 to see that the seats between the doors are now all longitudinal inward-facing and only the seats at each end of the unit remain forward-facing. The seating capacity remains the same (i.e. there are 8 inward-facing seats on each side instead of 2 inwards followed by a bay of 4 seats followed by 2 more inwards).

I would have expected the change to give the impression of more space in the middle of car to encourage more people to move further inside but the (re)positioning of the handrails seem to make it look as if there's less space that previously.

Does anyone know if this is the start of a programme or is this just a one-off test?

David

Would this change have been undertaken to increase standing passengers capacity, and (logically) total capacity of the unit? Except if the "seated" passengers lie in their seats with their feet in the middle of the coach...

Yes, I was presuming that must be the idea and you're right about some seated passengers.

I was wondering whether at some point when even more was built on the Isle of Dogs and the Royal Docks that the DLR have to say, look, sorry but we desperately need to increase the capacity of each unit and the only way to do that is to take out [most of] the seats and replace them with inward facing perch type seats and much more standing room.

[Deleted]

114 is also out there somewhere and a third is under mod. All B.07/09s are to be done apparently.

[Deleted]

Jul 1, 2015 13:37:17 GMT davidp said:

Jun 29, 2015 7:12:04 GMT @sdx said:

Would this change have been undertaken to increase standing passengers capacity, and (logically) total capacity of the unit? Except if the "seated" passengers lie in their seats with their feet in the middle of the coach...

Yes, I was presuming that must be the idea and you're right about some seated passengers.

(...)

To be correct, I should have mentionned I have seen this attitude quite often in Paris, less often in London...

[Dstock7080]

"New seating increases capacity
Four of our 55 B2007 vehicles on the DLR have now been converted to a longitudinal seating configuration and the plan is to achieve a two and a half day turn around per vehicle, meaning rapid progress in the next few months.

We're doing this because standing space is not used efficiently on the existing B2007 trains. The current configuration is of a mixture of longitudinal and transverse seating and standing customers do not move down between the seats, preferring to congregate in the doorways.

The longitudinal seating project is part of the London Rail Capacity and Growth Programme, as outlined in the LU&LR 2015/2016 Plan. It is improving how standing space in the vehicles is used by creating a more open environment which encourages customers to move away from the crowded vestibules. The existing transverse seats are being rotated to provide longitudinal seating, whilst maintaining the overall number of seats. Some draught screens are also be removed to open up more areas of the train for standing.

Rory O'Neill, Director of DLR, said :'The project will deliver reduced crowding levels and will make a positive impact on journey times by ensuring dwell times aren’t adversely affected as the demand increases on DLR. Customer satisfaction will increase with journeys being more comfortable as available space is utilised better without losing seating capacity and more customers are carried on each service during peak hours and major events.'"

[Chris M]

I'm on unit 111 now and the standees are all still in the doorways not between the longitudinal seats. Have to see how it is in rush hour though.