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Virgin Trains pendolino service 9 June 2004
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virgin trains pendolino service
morning
traveller "...
 Windows are
much, much smaller [than the older carriages], so the whole carriage
is darker, almost atmospheric and theatrical... Most noticeable to me,
sitting at a table by a window, is how low the windows are. They are
wide, but not high, it feels as if the sky is pressing down upon me.
It is like I might imagine the [cockpit of the] Space Shuttle. There
is a distinct feeling of separation, enforced and necessary, from the
outside elements. Like travelling under water, or where the outside…
is hostile. Many seats, particularly the airline-style seats have no
windows and are very dark. The lighting is all yellow and soft. There
is no... white light... Pulling into Wigan North Western, the station,
though the 'portal' window seems drab [and incongruous]. It's as if
the Space Shuttle landed at Kirkwall airport on Orkney: two universes,
separate.
... Low lighting, much like offices: lighting great for PCs and terrible
for reading. Yellow and without strong contrast.
A couple walk past asking to each other: "how do you tell if they
are reserved?" The reservation electronic panel is above the window,
but people are still used to the tickets... on the chairs. [notebook:
April 2004 11am]
...There
are tickets in the seats [today]... indicating that either the reservation
system is not working, or they realise the poor contrast LCD display
is missed. It is so difficult to read in the low light as you pass,
cannot glance at it. Those with poor eyesight may find it impossible.
Only the tables have plugs in them for laptops or mobile phones, but
Voyager [carriages] have one for each seat position...
The background rumble (quite a subsonic tone), as well as roar of air-conditioning
gives me a headache. I long to open the window and feel fresh air on
my face. My eyes hurt from reading in the low lighting.
The vestibule outside the toilet smells of sewerage. Next door, the
other vestibule smells of air fresheners.
This journey has been very quiet, restful, because of the insular nature
of the design. The stopping at stations has become less invasive, fewer
people have got on and off. The carriages seem quieter (apart from the
air conditioning)... the dividers seem to act as baffles to other parts
of the carriage. [notebook: 2 June 2004 10am]
how will you make this journey?
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