Transpennine Express to Blackpool North

[bengolding]

I'm travelling from Manchester to Blackpool North with Transpennine Express sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Not having used Transpennine Express before, what is the First Class service like on this route? Do they also offer an at-seat service in First or should I buy my refreshments before boarding?

 

[yorkie]

FC is worth it because you get 185s on this route, they have 2+1 seating configuration, nice seats, window views, it's nicer than Pongolino first class. It depends what you want though, if you want peace and quiet its not so good as standard class pax walk through it to get to the toilet. As for food, there is usually a trolley with a limited range of items to purchase, and if the trolley does turn up and enters FC (a big if) then you will be offered a coffee and a small snack. I advise purchasing food before getting on as there are no guarantees you will see a trolley and they may have a very limited range of products on sale. Assume no trolley and if there is one it's a bonus.

 

[bengolding]

Thanks for that.

I have actually been on TPE once - a few years ago from Sheffield to Manchester. On that occasion, my First Class seat was in a 2+2 configuration - the only difference from Standard via the partition was a headrest and table lamp. Are new trains now scheduled to operate all services on the Manchester-Blackpool-Manchester route then?

I did also notice on the TPE website about complimentary tea/coffee/water and a biscuit. I'll go prepared anyhow, if the trolley doesn't materialise during the 90 min journey!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Yep, all TPE services between Manchester, Preston and Blackpool/Barrow/Windermere/Carlisle/Edinburgh/Glasgow are formed of Class 185 trains.

Elsewhere, 99% of all other TPE services are 185's as well, apart from the Manchester to Hull services, which are exclusively formed of Class 170's, bar the odd one.

First Class: I think the service is limited snack wise, between Manchester and Preston/beyond, with only biscuits being available, apart from on Scotland services.

The full range of complimentaries varies, but it more commonly features biscuits, crisps, cake slices, and also apricot croissants.

I personally really like the 185's, with my more frequent route being Manchester to Cleethorpes.

I'm very surprised at Yorkie's comment about the trolley rarely appearing in First Class (when there's one supposed to be on the service), because they usually load them onto the First Class area anyway, and stay there until they have time/space to go along Standard.

 

[MCR247]

I'm very surprised at Yorkie's comment about the trolley rarely appearing in First Class (when there's one supposed to be on the service), because they usually load them onto the First Class area anyway, and stay there until they have time/space to go along Standard.

On my (limited) fTPE experiences, they store the trolley, in the area near the door beside 1st class

 

[yorkie]

Maybe that's why I don't see them then!!

 

[Broken Viking]

On the subject of the Blackpool North (As my thread to the same is more about BOJs and bikes) what are the odds of catching a Pacer to or from there nowadays?
I'm sure I saw a few there around this time last year, but things could have changed since then. :?

OK, I know that everyone else hates the things...But personally I like 'em a fair old bit. Slower than a 185 though they may be, I'd still enjoy a journey by Pacer more!

I wonder why don't we have any of them down here in the near London area? It would make a nice change to have a few Pacers doing the rounds down here, and they're a lot more reliable than 458's too! :razz:

 

[yorkie]

If you want a pacer, go to Blackpool South.

 

[dunks]

On the subject of the Blackpool North (As my thread to the same is more about BOJs and bikes) what are the odds of catching a Pacer to or from there nowadays?
I'm sure I saw a few there around this time last year, but things could have changed since then. :?

OK, I know that everyone else hates the things...But personally I like 'em a fair old bit. Slower than a 185 though they may be, I'd still enjoy a journey by Pacer more!

I wonder why don't we have any of them down here in the near London area? It would make a nice change to have a few Pacers doing the rounds down here, and they're a lot more reliable than 458's too! :razz:

You can still experience one of the longest cross country journeys in the country by 144 or 142 Pacer on Leeds - Morecambe services, this includes the experience of having a good old bounce on bullhead track from Settle Junction to Carnforth East Junction! And also the sound of the wheel flanges squealing like buggery in the sharp curve platforms at Carnforth station! lol

 

[ffcphone]

As already mentioned your service will be served by a 185 or perhaps a double 185 with the train dividing at Preston.

A trolley service is normally available although the mains plug point to keep the hot water hot is located just inside the first class section and thus the trolley, when it's not doing its rounds, can normally be found "sheltering" in first class.

Additionally, depending on the loading of the train, if it's not possible to get down the central aisle, the trolley will normally remain in first class.

The trolley serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, teas, coffees, pop, crisps, freshly made sandwiches, alcohol and other snacks. Look at me - I should apply to rail gourmet for a job!

 

[John @ home]

The trolley serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, teas, coffees, pop, crisps, freshly made sandwiches, alcohol and other snacks.

The complimentary offering to passengers in First Class IME is a "breakfast box" until about 10am and later a choice of tea, coffee or water with a small cake or biscuit.

John

 

[ffcphone]

The complimentary offering to passengers in First Class IME is a "breakfast box" until about 10am and later a choice of tea, coffee or water with a small cake or biscuit.

John

Well worth the 50% premium then!

Mind you, TPE conductors do seem more keen than most to ensure First Class is used by FC ticketholders only. Although the one occasion I travelled FC was the same day of the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester and the train was full of Rangers fans making their way to the game and a few tried their hand at the First Class section, somewhat successfully I might add, much to my annoyance. (Nothing against RFC incidentally, just that I'd paid for my ticket and they hadn't as evidence by the conductor who tried, unsuccessfully, to move them or make them upgrade.)

 

[metrocammel]

On the subject of the Blackpool North (As my thread to the same is more about BOJs and bikes) what are the odds of catching a Pacer to or from there nowadays?
I'm sure I saw a few there around this time last year, but things could have changed since then. :?

If you go to Man Vic, they sometimes throw a 142 out on the non-180 services to Blackpool North. I did the last train from Man Vic- Blackpool (23:2x) as far as Bolton two Fridays ago, and that was a single, rather wedged, ex-Mersey 142.

 

[Ben]

Well worth the 50% premium then!

Mind you, TPE conductors do seem more keen than most to ensure First Class is used by FC ticketholders only. Although the one occasion I travelled FC was the same day of the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester and the train was full of Rangers fans making their way to the game and a few tried their hand at the First Class section, somewhat successfully I might add, much to my annoyance. (Nothing against RFC incidentally, just that I'd paid for my ticket and they hadn't as evidence by the conductor who tried, unsuccessfully, to move them or make them upgrade.)

To be fair... Rangers fans did later smash up Manchester City Centre... Not the sort of group a conductor should have to tackle on their own.

 

[ffcphone]

To be fair... Rangers fans did later smash up Manchester City Centre... Not the sort of group a conductor should have to tackle on their own.

You will appreciate those involved in the violence witnessed represented only a very very small proportion of the total Rangers fans visiting Manchester that day.

Anyways, going off topic now so will put the Rangers fans bit to one side now.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The complimentary offering to passengers in First Class IME is a "breakfast box" until about 10am and later a choice of tea, coffee or water with a small cake or biscuit.

John

When was the last time you saw one of these offered in FC?

 

[martyn29]

what trains go to Grange over sands? Is it 185s?

 

[yorkie]

185s operate all TPE services except Hull to Manchester Airport.

 

[Jordy]

what trains go to Grange over sands? Is it 185s?

If its TPE it will be a 185, if its Northern it could be anything from a 142 to a 156.

 

[mikelowry]

Ive heard that class 170's will be replaceing the 185's on the cleethorpes-manchester airport route when the line reopens next month.

 

[yorkie]

Ive heard that class 170's will be replaceing the 185's on the cleethorpes-manchester airport route when the line reopens next month.

What is your source? where will the 170s come from?

 

[Solent&Wessex]

From December there are a number of diagram alterations:

There will be 2 x class 170 diagrams doing Manchester Airport - Cleethorpes services throughout, Monday to Thursday. They will be running as single 2 car units on separate diagrams all day.

On Friday the South Route will be 185's throughout.

On Fridays, there will be a 170 doing a York - Manchester Airport service in the afternoon, can't remember which one - 1558 I think.

On Saturdays, there will be 1 diagram for a 4 car 170 on the South Route between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes. The pair will stay together and run as 4 cars all day.

On Sundays, the 170s will continue to do Manchester Airport - Sheffield Shuttles, and Manchester Picc - York Shuttles as now.

These alterations are gained, I believe, by tightening up the diagrams and avoiding having units sitting at Hull all day as now. One of the 4 car workings on the Hull route will become 2 cars only. Remember that at the moment that there is a 170 marooned at Cleethorpes for crew training and there is a 185 all day diagram on the Hull route, so only 1 more 170 has to be found to give 2 units available a day on the South Route.

I have got the exact timings somewhere in the internal timetable briefing dicument, but not to hand at the minute I'm afraid.

 

[voyagerdude220]

What is your source? where will the 170s come from?

I remember RAIL magazine very briefly stating around April/May that the TPE Cleethorpes services were going over to 170's at somepoint after the engineering period, but it gave me the impression that it was going to be 100% 170's, which confused me.

I personally really like 185's and remember getting very annoyed at a TPE 170 between Hull and Manchester, despite being the sole occupant of FC and bailed at Leeds for a 185, which I greatly preferred.

 

[D841]

Yep, all TPE services between Manchester, Preston and Blackpool/Barrow/Windermere/Carlisle/Edinburgh/Glasgow are formed of Class 185 trains.

Elsewhere, 99% of all other TPE services are 185's as well, apart from the Manchester to Hull services, which are exclusively formed of Class 170's, bar the odd one.

First Class: I think the service is limited snack wise, between Manchester and Preston/beyond, with only biscuits being available, apart from on Scotland services.

.

I went to Barrow on a TPE service from Manchester a couple of weeks ago. The trolley left the train at Preston. In my experience of TPE the only stretch where you can depend on seeing a trolley is that between Manchester and Leeds. Anywhere else is pot luck. (Note that I don't use South Transpennine so can't comment on the situation on that route).

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I went to Barrow on a TPE service from Manchester a couple of weeks ago. The trolley left the train at Preston. In my experience of TPE the only stretch where you can depend on seeing a trolley is that between Manchester and Leeds. Anywhere else is pot luck. (Note that I don't use South Transpennine so can't comment on the situation on that route).

I've had a trolley Leeds - Liverpool, but as you say, that may have just been pot luck

 

[oldsystem]

Do any classes in the 185s have plug points? Got a knackered laptop battery and ive gone and booked a near 3 hour journey. Never thought about it til a GC 180 turned up on Saturday instead of the HST.

 

[Pumbaa]

Umm - I think so at tables in Standard, all seats in First.

 

[MCR247]

Yeah they do in standard

 

[oldsystem]

Thanks, thats a relief.

 

[142094]

There is also one used for the trolley, which is marked "Not for Public Use", but if the trolley isn't there would they really be that bothered?