GWR claims IET better than HST

Great Western Railway says the new Intercity Express Train (IET) fleet, formed of Class 800 and ‘802’ bi-mode units, is driving higher customer satisfaction levels than the High Speed Trains they are replacing.

Passengers rate interior cleanliness of the IETs at 94% (compared with 78% for the HSTs); train exterior 94% (against 75% on the HSTs); 64% WiFi availability (46% for HSTs); and upkeep and repair 95% (78% for the HSTs).

Passengers also rate information provision higher (87% against 76%), as well as interior temperature (89% versus 79%) and ride quality (86% compared with 79% on the older trains).

GWR says the new fleets have increased overall train satisfaction ratings by 6% and journey satisfaction by 3%, compared with the 40-year-old HSTs.