The Highland Chieftain

[cjp]

I've read so many (Good) comments about the Highland Chieftain that I've caved in and want to sample it for myself! Like ScottMathew I'm doing it from beginning to end and returning the next morning, never been to Inverness before!

Contemplating where to stay the night, and I settled with Premier Inn (Millburn Rd) at £65 for an Advance booking, not bad value for what is a reasonable hotel, as I'm somewhat stuck up when it comes to accomodation, just can't bring myself to stay in a Hostel roomshare with others!

Booking in advance the Craigmonie cost me £65 and has a decent spa and swimming pool.
15 minutes walk from the station up a steepish hill to the Crown area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzveQT0IIl8 or hop in taxi or be like me and pedal your bicycle

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Ah, I am doing it on the last Saturday of this month (KX to INV) and returning the next day on the Sunday 09:40 Chieftain back. I was looking at pictures of when the Chieftain used to belong to the GNER franchise - and she was absolutely beautiful
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That's not to say that I don't like the livery of EC HSTs, because I do. But the GNER dark blue with the red stripe was gorgeous in my opinion, I think GNER's HSTs were the most stunning (although I think most people would say Virgin).

I Agree, the origional GNER Livery was the best, dark blue with red stripe. It started to look not so good when the next TOC repainted the red stripe with a white one. Then the whole livery started to change, I am not sure if there is any of the orig blue livery around at all on EC now?

 

[Urban Gateline]

Booking in advance the Craigmonie cost me £65 and has a decent spa and swimming pool.
15 minutes walk from the station up a steepish hill to the Crown area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzveQT0IIl8 or hop in taxi or be like me and pedal your bicycle

Looks like a lovely Hotel! I've already booked unfortunately though, the walk wouldn't put me off, as I was at first contemplating walking to the Travelodge, which is about 2 miles away from the station, until I found out it costs more than the Premier inn for the night I wanted! Also because I'll arrive relatively late and leave early'ish the next day I wouldn't be able to make use of a Pool as it'll probably be closed during the time I'm actually staying at the Hotel!

 

[shinkansen1966]

shinkansen1966 ; enjoyed your video, and the scenery at 2:56 was just amazing. How come you got a replacement bus from Perth?

On the way back, I decide to take a different route: Inverness - Perth - Glasgow - West Coast Main Line - London Euston.

Between Perth and Falkirk, there were engineering works and I took a replacement bus between the two.

 

[142094]

Did this a few weeks ago with the EMT hybrid HST set. 1st in carriage L, heating had failed the night before. No room elsewhere, so Inverness to King's Cross on an unheated carriage.

The complimentary food and whisky did make up for it, and kept me somewhat warm.

 

[4SRKT]

Come back south on the Sleeper. Overall no more expensive (probably cheaper in fact) than hotel + day train, loads of fun, loco-hauled, only one day off work needed. Oh, andd only 40 minutes in Inverness as well.....

 

[jeemac]

I'm from Inverness and several times a year need to make the trip to London with work - a real perk of what I do! I sometimes use the Chieftain, sometimes the sleeper, just depends on what I need to do in the South - and would agree with all the comments above about how nice the journey is
Craigmonie is a really good call for a hotel in Inverness too - maybe not the easiest to find from the station but only 15 minute walk.

 

[amcluesent]

Is the 12:00 dept. from KGX on Saturdays the Chieftain, even with the degraded FC service?

 

[ScottMathew]

4SRKT, I was going to take the Sleeper back into England practically as soon as I got off the Chieftain, but the train doesn't operate (according to National Rail's website) on Saturdays. So I just reserved myself a seat on the 09:40 Chieftain back down south. I am an avid fan of HSTs so would rather take the Chieftain than the Sleeper, anyway.

jeemac, I'm booked into the Royal Highland Hotel for the Saturday night, only for the convenience of it being right next to Inverness station.

By the way, does anyone know where the drivers change? I would imagine Newcastle?

 

[CallySleeper]

^^^ AFAIA it is Newcastle.

Is the 12:00 dept. from KGX on Saturdays the Chieftain, even with the degraded FC service?

Yes it is.

 

[jeemac]

4SRKT, I was going to take the Sleeper back into England practically as soon as I got off the Chieftain, but the train doesn't operate (according to National Rail's website) on Saturdays. So I just reserved myself a seat on the 09:40 Chieftain back down south. I am an avid fan of HSTs so would rather take the Chieftain than the Sleeper, anyway.

jeemac, I'm booked into the Royal Highland Hotel for the Saturday night, only for the convenience of it being right next to Inverness station.

By the way, does anyone know where the drivers change? I would imagine Newcastle?

ScottMathew, The 'Royal Highland' is the original Station hotel, built by the Highland Railway. If you cross the street and look back at it from outside the Blacks' store you can still see the original Highland Railway coat of arms carved the stonework. It's a bit faded-glory these days, but in the foyer, you can certainly imagine being there in the glory days of Victorian travel

 

[387star]

hopefully be the ex EMT set

 

[4SRKT]

Ah, I am doing it on the last Saturday of this month (KX to INV) and returning the next day on the Sunday 09:40 Chieftain back. I was looking at pictures of when the Chieftain used to belong to the GNER franchise - and she was absolutely beautiful
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That's not to say that I don't like the livery of EC HSTs, because I do. But the GNER dark blue with the red stripe was gorgeous in my opinion, I think GNER's HSTs were the most stunning (although I think most people would say Virgin).

The concensus on here over the years seems to be Inter City swallow livery was the best ever.

 

[JB1601]

Is the full breakfast available on the Chieftan from Inverness? I seem to remember there was an East Coast route where it wasn't possible because of facilities...or was that Aberdeen?

 

[ainsworth74]

Is the full breakfast available on the Chieftan from Inverness? I seem to remember there was an East Coast route where it wasn't possible because of facilities...or was that Aberdeen?

It's available on all routes but there have been reliability issues with the fridges used to store the food overnight and when that happens they can't serve the food as it's considered unsafe due to it not being stored at the correct temperature.

 

[David Goddard]

The last time I did the Chieftain (and the first from Inverness), I stayed with a fellow forum member at the Premier Inn you refer to and I can't knock it - was pleasant

Not a bad walk from the station either, although sadly, there is a high wall along most of the line between the railway and road so you can't see much in that sense (though there are gaps in it)

We stayed at Millburn Road when we went to Inverness on the All Line Rover last year. we booked it because the website says: "Inverness Train Station 0.25 mile". "That's good, only a few minutes walk" we thought.

Our plans were dented when we saw the hotel from the train a good few minutes before reaching the terminus. With no idea what buses were about we started to walk, and it took us twenty minutes to reach the hotel. Thankfully it was a pleasant summers evening, but we could not get over the fact that we had been mislead. With an early start to catch the Chieftain, we managed to get a bus back to the station the next morning. There are actually quite a few buses along Millburn Road as the hospital is a little way beyond the Premier Inn.

 

[merlodlliw]

Interesting thread, I went to Inverness about 20 years ago on a,see Scotland on a bank holiday weekend,alas by car, but visited the station.
Interesting you mention distances of the Premier Inn from the station, some are a bit,well overstated.
Right opposite Wrexham General Premier Inns are currently building a massive four story 83 bedroom £6M Inn, it will be a two minute walk max, be interesting to read what they say about distance,

Bob

 

[Goatboy]

The Premier Inn isn't far really - you can see the station approach from it pretty much.

 

[38Cto15E]

Well, I did the Chieftain on Monday.
I paid £67.90 for my First class single ticket with Railcard, Kings Cross to Inverness.
We departed on time and hot drinks were served immediately, cold drinks and food were served by the Potters Bar area.
I had the Pie and mash, the food was hot, the pie was not soggy as microved pies are, a small portion of mash but no gravy so the meal was a little dry.
Non stop to York although slowed through Doncaster, I do prefer the East Coast to the West Coast because of the stock and the ride seems better also.
Passengers boarding at York were offered the hot food and there was no more during the next 8 hours of the journey, ' A feast for your eyes' I think not.
A passenger boarding at Perth was not impressed to have afternoon tea served at 1940 hrs.
The journey did not arrive into Inverness until a couple of minutes before 10pm as there was a PHBT in the Alnmouth area which stopped the job for 90 minutes.
I should get a refund under the Delay and Repay system which East Coast operate.
The Royal highland was my hotel for the night so two minutes after alighting the Chieftain I was checking in, I paid £56 through Booking.com, this does not include breakfast, but if you 'Like' the hotel on Facebook you could get a free breakfast, it is a Buffet and very good, otherwise it is £9.95.

In conclusion I hope East Coast stay for as long as possible, they have still not managed to sort the food situation out but their tickets are usually excellent value especially if you like to partake in a drop of the strong stuff. (5 minatures and 2 small cans of Stella)
I returned on VT from Glasgow to Euston, again First Class but it is a very bumpy ride and with the narrow windows it must seem like looking at the passing countryside through a Burkha compared to the good forward view you get through the mark 4 windows.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Well, I did the Chieftain on Monday.
I paid £67.90 for my First class single ticket with Railcard, Kings Cross to Inverness.
We departed on time and hot drinks were served immediately, cold drinks and food were served by the Potters Bar area.
I had the Pie and mash, the food was hot, the pie was not soggy as microved pies are, a small portion of mash but no gravy so the meal was a little dry.
Non stop to York although slowed through Doncaster, I do prefer the East Coast to the West Coast because of the stock and the ride seems better also.
Passengers boarding at York were offered the hot food and there was no more during the next 8 hours of the journey, ' A feast for your eyes' I think not.
A passenger boarding at Perth was not impressed to have afternoon tea served at 1940 hrs.
The journey did not arrive into Inverness until a couple of minutes before 10pm as there was a PHBT in the Alnmouth area which stopped the job for 90 minutes.
I should get a refund under the Delay and Repay system which East Coast operate.
The Royal highland was my hotel for the night so two minutes after alighting the Chieftain I was checking in, I paid £56 through Booking.com, this does not include breakfast, but if you 'Like' the hotel on Facebook you could get a free breakfast, it is a Buffet and very good, otherwise it is £9.95.

In conclusion I hope East Coast stay for as long as possible, they have still not managed to sort the food situation out but their tickets are usually excellent value especially if you like to partake in a drop of the strong stuff. (5 minatures and 2 small cans of Stella)
I returned on VT from Glasgow to Euston, again First Class but it is a very bumpy ride and with the narrow windows it must seem like looking at the passing countryside through a Burkha compared to the good forward view you get through the mark 4 windows.

I Enjoyed reading your report here, agree with your views about EC trains being better. I think your are correct too in saying that EC do need to continue to improve their 1st class product, although it does seem to vary on the day I think.

 

[Butts]

Well, I did the Chieftain on Monday.
I paid £67.90 for my First class single ticket with Railcard, Kings Cross to Inverness.
We departed on time and hot drinks were served immediately, cold drinks and food were served by the Potters Bar area.
I had the Pie and mash, the food was hot, the pie was not soggy as microved pies are, a small portion of mash but no gravy so the meal was a little dry.
Non stop to York although slowed through Doncaster, I do prefer the East Coast to the West Coast because of the stock and the ride seems better also.
Passengers boarding at York were offered the hot food and there was no more during the next 8 hours of the journey, ' A feast for your eyes' I think not.
A passenger boarding at Perth was not impressed to have afternoon tea served at 1940 hrs.
The journey did not arrive into Inverness until a couple of minutes before 10pm as there was a PHBT in the Alnmouth area which stopped the job for 90 minutes.
I should get a refund under the Delay and Repay system which East Coast operate.
The Royal highland was my hotel for the night so two minutes after alighting the Chieftain I was checking in, I paid £56 through Booking.com, this does not include breakfast, but if you 'Like' the hotel on Facebook you could get a free breakfast, it is a Buffet and very good, otherwise it is £9.95.

In conclusion I hope East Coast stay for as long as possible, they have still not managed to sort the food situation out but their tickets are usually excellent value especially if you like to partake in a drop of the strong stuff. (5 minatures and 2 small cans of Stella)
I returned on VT from Glasgow to Euston, again First Class but it is a very bumpy ride and with the narrow windows it must seem like looking at the passing countryside through a Burkha compared to the good forward view you get through the mark 4 windows.

Ah well a "delay repay" freebie can't be bad.

I'm suprised you negated to mention the thrill that overcame you as The Chieftain pulled into Falkirk Grahamston. Did you fail to notice the splendid "Royal Mail" Sorting Office on your left - an architectural wonder

 

[SkinnyDave]

Ah well a "delay repay" freebie can't be bad.

I'm suprised you negated to mention the thrill that overcame you as The Chieftain pulled into Falkirk Grahamston. Did you fail to notice the splendid "Royal Mail" Sorting Office on your left - an architectural wonder

Or the best pub in the world Behind The Wall on the right!!

 

[route:oxford]

Ah well a "delay repay" freebie can't be bad.

I'm suprised you negated to mention the thrill that overcame you as The Chieftain pulled into Falkirk Grahamston. Did you fail to notice the splendid "Royal Mail" Sorting Office on your left - an architectural wonder

Passengers are usually too busy running from rear coaches to find the first bit of platform to notice the sorting office.

With £lots being spent on Gleneagles station to bring it up to standard for a one-off event, it's a shame that no action is being take to lengthen Falkirk station to accommodate the Highland Chieftan or sleeper.

Lifts might be handy too.

 

[Butts]

Passengers are usually too busy running from rear coaches to find the first bit of platform to notice the sorting office.

With £lots being spent on Gleneagles station to bring it up to standard for a one-off event, it's a shame that no action is being take to lengthen Falkirk station to accommodate the Highland Chieftan or sleeper.

Lifts might be handy too.

Not likely to happen for the three HST's that stop their each day - 2 HC's and Southbound Sleeper