What's the most comfortable train for long journeys?

[jspillman]

The longest uk journey I have been in was east coast trains mk4 coaches with 91,dvt (first class from Peterborough to Edinburgh )

 

[trivran]

In standard class at least I'd have to say Chiltern's silver trains.

 

[Ash Bridge]

For me it has to be the HST, & sadly something we don't have anymore Mk2 1st Class compartment stock (earlier version or later with aircon, either will do)

 

[route:oxford]

The Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[jspillman]

Does that go from Fort William to Euston ?

 

[route:oxford]

Does that go from Fort William to Euston ?

The Caledonian Sleeper is the overall brand of the overnight services that operate between Euston & Scotland.

Take a look at Wiki for the full details:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_Sleeper

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I don't anticipate this being popular, but I love FGW's HSTs in Standard.

Does that go from Fort William to Euston ?

Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William on the Highland Sleeper and Edinburgh and Glasgow on the Lowland.

 

[satisnek]

My own thoughts are that passenger comfort (certainly with regard to Third/Second/Standard class accommodation) reached a broad peak with BR Mark 1 and 2 (both have their strengths and weaknesses) and it's been downhill ever since. I don't find any of today's trains comfortable for long distances - seats are too hard, too upright and sometimes with inadequate legroom.

I would have said that it was the price to pay for progress and the increasing popularity of rail travel if it wasn't for one thing: Class 373. A few years back I had to go to France for work-related reasons and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. Although the construction is typically 'modern' - uninviting face-to-back seating bearing no relation to the window spacing - I found the seats soft, nicely raked back, good thigh support, good head support, adequate legroom... Although I was only going to Lille I could have happily stayed on all the way.

Now yes, these are specialist trains which go a hell of a lot faster and cover much more ground than our domestic fleet, but when looked at in terms of passenger journey time then they're really no different to Pendolino, Voyager, HST, even Desiro. There's something seriously wrong with UK train seat design these days.

 

[Lrd]

It has to be the Class 444 for me, not sure why, just feel comfortable on them.

 

[jspillman]

Nice I like the 444s

 

[starrymarkb]

DB IC or ICE

 

[SeanG]

I don't mind the refurbished 175s.
Good atmosphere, bright, large windows, always nice and cool inside

 

[Suraggu]

Czech Railways 2nd Class Eurofima compartment stock.

 

[tsr]

I do agree that the Caledonian Sleeper trains are quite comfortable - at least in the lounge cars and compartments - if not (from my personal perspective only) that easy to actually sleep on.

I also quite like the XC HSTs in Standard, though I haven't been in First in one of those. I'm not a massive fan of enormous leather seats (no exact reason but just my preference) so a lot of trains with those don't really tick my boxes.

Maybe a tad bizarrely, I really like the seats in AGA 360s, and would be perfectly happy with a slightly larger version with armrests and that level of padding/pitch in a similar environment for a long journey.

I have to say that I find the arrangement and fittings of 175 seats to be shockingly uncomfortable. As for the 373s mentioned, I've always felt Standard Class is a bit claustrophobic in the airline seating areas.

 

[oddiesjack]

Amtrak superliner : reclining seats, leg rests, enormous amounts of room both sideways and forwards...

 

[Liam]

Seated sleeper.

 

[jspillman]

which one?

 

[Lrd]

which one?

Night Riviera for me.

The MkII cars on the Caledonian with the rough fabric seats are horrible to attempt to sleep on or even sit on for 8 hours.

 

[Trainfan344]

What do people think of the LM 350's for long distance travel?

 

[Techniquest]

Night Riviera for me.

The MkII cars on the Caledonian with the rough fabric seats are horrible to attempt to sleep on or even sit on for 8 hours.

Agreed and agreed. I really best not get discussing the Cally Insomny here, I could be here for a while...

Most comfortable train for a long journey? I'm quite happy with FGW's HSTs even in Standard Class. Away from the Western, I'm happy with the 390 seats although I prefer First Class on those. Heading east, the MK3s on the GEML do a good job.

Definitely going against the grain here though, the 170s have good seating for a long journey in my mind. Well, if you consider New Street to Hereford as a long journey, which in my neck of the woods it is.

Abroad, the Irish Rail 22000 Class seats are pretty decent for the long journeys they do. I was perfectly satisified with them for a Heuston to Westport run at least, and the class do other long runs like Heuston to Galway (which I was also satisfied with), to Tralee and Cork. I preferred the 2700 Class for noise, as well as the 29000 Class for noise, but that's a bit off-topic...

Elsewhere in Europe, the Netherlands to be more exact, the ICMm EMUs are pretty comfortable and they do some rather long journeys. The VIRMs over there aren't too bad either. The coaches on the Liege to Luxembourg route are rather comfy too, and for modern double deck stock in Belgium I was happy with the seats I had for the Bruxxelles Midi to Chaerloi journey I made in 2013, said stock is also used for much longer journeys IIRC.

 

[route:oxford]

Amtrak superliner : reclining seats, leg rests, enormous amounts of room both sideways and forwards...

I rode one of those between Seattle & Vancouver a couple of years back.

Very comfortable (and amazingly clean lavatories).

 

[Kristofferson]

What do people think of the LM 350's for long distance travel?

I used to do KGL-BHM twice a week in First - it was always a comfortable, relaxing journey. Can't beat £16 for value either.

I always did the return leg on a Pendo though - after a day in Brum, you just want to get home

 

[Bevan Price]

The most comfortable UK stock I have travelled only is SR and GWR loco-hauled stock, and the SR 4-COR (and relatives) emu stock. Well-upholstered, usually plenty of legroom.

LNER Gresley & Thompson hauled main-line stock had good space, but seats tended to be a bit harder.

UK multiple units - the Trans Pennine Class 124 units, and the similar Class 123 dmus, plus the Class 309 emus. Since then, it has been a steady decline in legroom & comfort. Classes 185 & 350 are amongst the best of current trains, but both would benefit from more (and softer) seat padding.

 

[ACBest]

Eurostar is pretty comfortable - although well overdue a refurbishment.

EMT's 222's are nice too - although that comfort comes at a price, namely the entire seat back covering both seats (hope that makes sense), which I find feels rather claustrophobic unless you're sat at a table, in which case you don't notice it so much.

On the subject of 222's, what is the material used on the seating out of interest? It's not normal moquette... Have always wondered since I first travelled on one.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

No joke-Virgin Super Voyagers, but only when seated in coach D (or first ).

 

[Hornet]

Mark IID

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Most comfortable long journey I've ever had was Barnsley to St. Pancras in first class on a 170/1...
These days probably a 159.

 

[londiscape]

In descending order of comfort - Standard Class only:

1: EMT HST
2: EC MK3/MK4
3: SWT 159
4: Chiltern 168
5: FGW HST (only for the ease of using a laptop on airline seat-back tables)
6: EMT 222
7: AGA MK3
8: VT 390 (preferably in the single seat opposite the guard's office in Coach C)

Haven't done a Chiltern Silver or ATW Premier yet, although hope to do so. Also haven't done SWT 444s on a long distance, so can't really comment on those.

What do people think of the LM 350's for long distance travel?

Awful. I don't personally like them at all for long-distance. The 350/1s are better with 2+2 seating, armrests and seat-back tables, but 350/2s are right out for anything over 30-45mins - horrible 3+2 seating and there isn't even anywhere to put your coffee, unless you creatively use the top of the radiator grilles

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Awful. I don't personally like them at all for long-distance. The 350/1s are better with 2+2 seating, armrests and seat-back tables, but 350/2s are right out for anything over 30-45mins - horrible 3+2 seating and there isn't even anywhere to put your coffee, unless you creatively use the top of the radiator grilles

How many seats would 350/2s or 450s loose by being converted to 2+2 seating (by removal only of the "extra" seats in the 3+2 rows)?

 

[londiscape]

How many seats would 350/2s or 450s loose by being converted to 2+2 seating (by removal only of the "extra" seats in the 3+2 rows)?

About 40 I estimate, out of 276 (in total for a single 4 car 350/2). Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvyL2II7Jw

They're OK just about as far as Northampton (1hr ish), I just don't think they should be going any further for a single journey, especially not as far as Crewe (2hr 30 ish).