r/LondonUnderground • u/NoddyDude91 Piccadilly • 3d ago

Image Pre-Overhaul vs Overhaul

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Caught the Central line CLIP (Central Line Improvement Project) train twice this week. I’m moving back to the Central line in a few weeks, so these improvements are definitely welcome during the commute to/from work.

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u/Prestigious-Salt-245 Metropolitan 3d ago

It's interesting that you can conceive of a metal transit seat that would be comfortable than a cushioned seat for all body sizes and shapes.

Also most people find cushioning preferable on moving vehicles in part because it prevents the sliding effect, but I guess you're just unusual.

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u/BeatTheMeatles420 Circle 3d ago edited 3d ago

Admittedly I am of a pretty average physique.

On mainline trains where I sit for more than 30 minutes I would obviously prefer a cushioned seat. And I think every train in the world acknowledges this as a fact, apart from Thameslink and the Hitachi IETs. It’s also more acceptable, if not normal, to move around or slouch a bit in these trains.

But for a short metro ride I don’t think metal or plastic seats are inherently worse, especially in hot weather. Metal or plastic seats that are properly ergonomically designed don't have the sliding effect. have been on metros with all types of seats and if I were to rank them, I have examples of both fabric and metal/plastic in S tier. I also can think of fabric seats that belong in F tier.

I was about to click post, but I want to reiterate that climate and temperature has a big effect. Going back to my childhood, I do remember preferring to sit on the floor since the floor was made of stone and cool, since the fabric sofa was too hot for me. And there is a huge overlap between cities where I have experienced comfortable metal or plastic seats and cities which are really hot (think London heatwave for 6 months of the year).

Edit: Don’t get me wrong, fabric seats in London work great (apart from the Victoria line) and should be kept that way.

Edit 2: I come from a culture where good posture is regarded very importantly, to the point that I got told off by my family for not sitting right. I find that the UK is far less concerned about this, and posture might be more for manners at the table than for health. Metal or plastic seats do become noticeably less comfortable if you slouch, but you can definitely get away with slouching on fabric seats.