TT-ONR-NRN critiques... (note: contains large images)

[FQ]

I can't agree about lattes being worse than other coffee. From my parents I fully agree with Cactus on this one (except on coffee being the best drink ): instant is rubbish and Tim Hortons is too, particularly when you compare it to the proper stuff. Tim Hortons is excellent for other things though (donuts for breakfast )

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

South Western Railway - Suburban First Class

Last Travelled: December 2017

Where: Clapham Junction to Staines

Stock: Class 450 Desiro
Class 458/5 Juniper


In today’s report we regretfully move away from the wonderful world of the almost free-flowing food and drink and we reluctantly enter the world of the commuter. South Western Railway welcomes me with open arms (or open doors ) and invites me into it’s world of Desiros and Junipers. Today we will be looking out the value for money of travelling first class on South Western Railway’s commuter routes. Unfortunately guys on this one - we’re going hungry!

So...let’s picture the scene. We are at Clapham Junction, a busy commuter hub for South Western Railway, Southern and London Overground. In my hand is a ticket from Guildford to Staines via Clapham Junction (you can read my review of SWR’s Class 444 First Class from Guildford to Clapham Junction in a review soon to come!) as I await the coming of our train to Windsor, which turns out to be a pair of Junipers much to my delight. I’m bored of desiros. Okay. There are only twenty four first class seats on a single Juniper, but fortunately the section I found at the middle was empty. Here is 458 first class:

View attachment 41818

Any eagle eyed, hardcore spotters may perhaps recognise the seats. Well - these are actually IC Grammar seats, the same type as used in standard class on:

Great Western Railway HSTs
Abellio ScotRail (refurbished) 158s
Arriva Trains Wales 67 + Mk 3s
Arriva Trains Wales 158s
East Midlands Trains 158s

Apart from one difference which is that they boast a very thin head cushion as well. These seats DO NOT recline. Window curtains are provided and the leg room is outstanding. First class is at the very front and end of each train, so as you are not supposed to use 458/5 gangways (though I certainly have before...) you won’t usually get passengers walking up and down past you. However, nothing gives you any secluded privacy - first class is not separated from standard in anyway other than a label.

However, what I want to know is - these seats are 2x2. So is standard. Is it worth upgrading? The answer is it really depends on what you want. For the extra money you will get armrests, tables and window curtains (not forgetting the thin cushion). Due to the very low number of seats per train I’m definitely not sure upgrading will guarantee a seat this time...

The ride was very smooth. I always notice this with Junipers actually. No trolley refreshment service on South Western Railway 455/456 or 458 operated services unfortunately, so no coffee for me today I eventually got into Staines station reasonably relaxed.

I returned to Staines later that day and boarded a double 450 for my return to Clapham Junction. I’m sadly very familiar with 450s.

First class is in the centre of these four coach Desiro trains. A noticeable difference from the Juniper is that first class is separated from standard with a door, leaving a compartment of 24 seats, same as on 458s.

View attachment 41819

On 450s they use the same seats as used in standard on original 375 and 377 trains. Also, these trains were used on Alphaline Wessex services. These do recline, unlike the Grammar seats used on 458s, although the Junipers have better legroom. Plug sockets are available for complementary use.

Standard class on 450s consists of unpopular 3x2 seating and first class is 2x2. However, most people consider 444s standard seating to be just as good as first on a 450, so if you are planning on travelling on a route which 444s also serve, it might be an idea to travel on one of those instead and save the money.

I received no food as I was on a suburban route. However, if you travel on a weekday service equipped with a catering trolley on a train leaving or arriving Waterloo before 0900 you should receive a complementary drink and snack

So - is first class worth it on SWR Suburban routes? I would say no, sorry SWR. For one thing, your train may end up having no first class anyway. All 455, 456 and 707 trains as well as a limited number of ex-460 Junipers are standard class only. In addition, all SWR Suburban first class is 2x2 seating. So is almost all trains on the route (455/456/458/707) 450s don’t work the suburban routes much any more.

However, tomorrow you can expect a review of SWR Mainline first class. That, dear readers, is something else

Latez,
Z


Coming up soon:

SWR Class 159/444 First Class
GWR Class 165/166 First Class
SN Class 171/377 First Class

The IC seats you posted above maybe similar but are defintley not the same as the ones in ATW 158's or their mark 3 coaches as you can see below.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well VTEC have come up in the world since I last used them! They only offered rip off Azera coffee, when I traveled with them 2 years ago.
As far as on train coffees go, GWR offer the best IMO, followed by GA.

You like Tim Horton's!! Went to one in America over the summer, and it was literally the worst drink I have ever drank in my entire life. I mean they didn't even use real milk!
But you do like instant coffee, which is disgusting.
Don't get me wrong I love coffee, it's the best drink on the planet, but it has to be done right. Do yourself a favour and buy a Cafetiere and real coffee, it's so much better!

I do agree that EMT have woeful catering. But the MML is a much more interesting route than the ECML, especially between Harpenden & Luton (& north of Bedford)

Mr Cactus, if you go to a Tim Hortons in America of course it will be disgusting!

I can't agree about lattes being worse than other coffee. From my parents I fully agree with Cactus on this one (except on coffee being the best drink ): instant is rubbish and Tim Hortons is too, particularly when you compare it to the proper stuff. Tim Hortons is excellent for other things though (donuts for breakfast )

Ahh well. You like IC70 seats and he likes Grammar seats, that puts in to perspective just how different our opinions are, IMO they are both crap. Mallards for me

I don’t dislike lattes I definitely like the ones you can get in Costa and even McDonalds do a nice one!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

East Midlands Trains First Class: Class 222 Meridian Weekend service:

All photos in this specific review are my own.

Yo, how we doing? TT here (cba typing out the whole of my regrettably long username) for another write up. If you’re ever-so-slightly intrigued about what you can get out of East Midlands Trains’ on a weekend for a cheap price, do read on. Maybe I can tell you!

Soooo. For reasons I won’t bother going into, I was stuck in London (London, England not London, Ontario) at 11am when I wasn’t needed until 4pm. So I thought I’d get myself some material for my critiques thread. East Midlands Trains instantly sprang to mind.

I soon arrived at St Pancras International’s EMT platforms armed with a first class return to Bedford. Meet my favourite British DMU, the Class 222 Meridian. I do love them - even the Standard class seats are nice! However, my destination was first class, so I had to step through the rather unique partition:



into first class.

Here it is.

Two seater tables are available.



As are four seaters:



Free Wi-Fi is available as well as a very welcome sight to my dead iPhone:



So yeah, this is my favourite DMU for sure. (My favourite EMU is the Class 390, favourite loco is the 91) I especially love the chunky leather armrests, much better than the awkward shaped plastic ones on Pendolinos I gatta admit.
The seats recline pretty well. Oh - the leather feels real too, though unlike on VTEC I doubt it’s real. Oh well, if it feels comfortable that’s what matters eh? I’m no vegan and these seats are certainly nice to sit in.

The Meridian rumbled out, flexing it’s superior Voyager engines which I love the sound of. I popped down to the rather cute little cafe and asked an attractive yet rather depressing woman with an amusing East Midlands style accent for two coffees. She said nothing, but spooned coffee powder into two takeout cups, put two sugars in each one and handed me the two cups of sugared powder. She gave me the four milk cartons I’d asked for (two for each one) and two chocolate biscuits. She simply said “gahta galla, mate.” which I pretended to understand and took the cups off of her.

I was dumbfounded. Call me pushy if you want, but I had at least hoped for my coffee to be in a liquid state of matter? And hot. Not just powder and sugar? She put two Harrogate’s in a bag and passed them over. “Er...thanks...” I said, in shock. Surely she didn’t expect me to pour the Harrogate Water into my cups of powder? No fear am I doing that, that’s rank.

I carried the load back to my table, thinking what a jank service this was. I took the load out and passed one of the cups of sugared powder (plus two of the milk cartons) to my almost eighteen year old brother Aaron who I had forced to go me (what, you didn’t think I ordered two coffees both for me did you?) who looked at me as if I’d gone mad.

“Er... dude? This is powder, you doughhead!” So I explained to him what had just happened and he sighed and took the cups back to the cafe. He came back and scowled at me.

“Dude, her water hasn’t heated yet! She told you to go to the galley at the front of the train and fill it up there!” Ah. That’s what she meant by “gahta galla mate,”.

Well, she should speak more clearly next time... I blushed in embarrassment and after my brother got back from filling the coffees up from the TM in the galley, the train already began arriving into Luton Airport Parkway, where I said we would bail.

I dragged my poor brother (who moaned that he’d much rather go to watch Spurs vs Newport than sit on boring trains) onto a Thameslink train to Luton, where we got on another Meridian to whisk us to Bedford. This time the TM took drinks orders, I had a tea. My brother went without. It was delivered with more chocolate biscuits. And Harrogate Spring Water again.



At Bedford I we changed onto an ex-Pioneer triple two. After a long wait there I was in a hot drink mood (again) and went to get myself another tea. I had been put off the coffee thanks to my embarrassing mishap earlier - I’ll just leave the coffee making to Tim Hortons Costa (Don’t wanna get slated by TH haters) perhaps? My tea was delivered with three packets of chocolate biscuits.

“Erm. I’m sorry but I can’t eat three packets of chocolate biscuits, although thanks all the same!” I said. Mainly because I have a birdlike appetite, also because I am not risking getting spots! No chance. Anyway, I’d already had two! I smiled at him and went away.

The lovely train manager came round and asked people if they wanted any snacks. My brother and I politely declined, although when I saw the Pretzels being offered I had second thoughts and asked for a packet of pretzels. She gave me two packets and Tyrrells Popcorn in a bag. Wow. Very kind of her, but seriously man - just because I’m skinny doesn’t mean I’m blimming starving you know! I ate one packet of pretzels and saved the rest for later.

After transferring to a Thameslink train we spent HOURS waiting at Luton Airport Parkway for our final Meridian (where we were served another tea each and more biscuits which went into my backpack).

We arrived into St Pancras about three hours after setting off. My brother was less than happy...

Anyway. My opinions are:

EMT offered a lot for a tiny journey but if I was travelling on an advance to Nottingham or Sheffield I would want more than just a drink and biscuit. (Popcorn and pretzels are supposed to be weekday fare only) However, the seats are ace. I don’t like the EMT First Class seats on the HSTs as they are IMO too short and there’s nowhere to rest my head.


Anyway... next critiques should be of:

- Virgin Trains East Coast - 225 Weekend Fare and King’s Cross Lounge


- Virgin Trains East Coast - Weekday Breakfast/Rest of Day

(this will hopefully be with you Thursday or Friday)


- TGV Atlantique - First Class
(this is not confirmed yet)

Anyway hope you all enjoyed this review and until next time...

Recline your seats,
Double-double your free coffee,
And chillax.

Rock on.
Z. Lates.

 

[Failed Unit]

I am in shock you got anything at all between London and Stevenage. My experience is they are slow serving stuff out of kx so you might see a trolley in coach J/K by digswell. Going south first class have packed up and gone by Huntingdon. Maybe VTEC have improved.

 

[cactustwirly]

How come it took 3 hours? The mighty Leicester(not biased at all about my Uni city)- St Pancras only takes an hour or there abouts (a distance of 100 miles) and as far as I'm aware Bedford to London takes 40 minutes.

If you can't understand someone from the East Midlands, got help you if you speak to a Scouse!

I'm not going to comment on the traction, but the XX:15 from St Pancras gives a superior traveling experience

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I am in shock you got anything at all between London and Stevenage. My experience is they are slow serving stuff out of kx so you might see a trolley in coach J/K by digswell. Going south first class have packed up and gone by Huntingdon. Maybe VTEC have improved.

Ah well, I got lucky then, clearly.

How come it took 3 hours? The mighty Leicester(not biased at all about my Uni city)- St Pancras only takes an hour or there abouts (a distance of 100 miles) and as far as I'm aware Bedford to London takes 40 minutes.

If you can't understand someone from the East Midlands, got help you if you speak to a Scouse!

I'm not going to comment on the traction, but the XX:15 from St Pancras gives a superior traveling experience

I absolutely knew you were going to say that.

You know something? When the train got in to St Pancras an HST was sat there, I got on to have a look. How uncomfortable the first class seats are! Far too short.

Yeah it takes forty minutes but I did:

London to Luton Airport Parkway.
Luton Airport Parkway to Luton.
Luton to Bedford.
Bedford to Luton.
Luton to Luton Airport Parkway.
Luton Airport Parkway to London.

The more winning units I can get the better

 

[cactustwirly]

Ah well, I got lucky then, clearly.



I absolutely knew you were going to say that.

You know something? When the train got in to St Pancras an HST was sat there, I got on to have a look. How uncomfortable the first class seats are! Far too short.

Yeah it takes forty minutes but I did:

London to Luton Airport Parkway.
Luton Airport Parkway to Luton.
Luton to Bedford.
Bedford to Luton.
Luton to Luton Airport Parkway.
Luton Airport Parkway to London.

The more winning units I can get the better

But the standard class HST seats are more comfortable than the standard Meridian seats!
I agree that the HST first is uncomfortable, but better than the seats in Voyagers, Pendolinos etc.
First class is irrelevant because EMT don't offer a first class fare for Leicester to Nottingham, or first advances from Leicester to the Thames Valley.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

But the standard class HST seats are more comfortable than the standard Meridian seats!
I agree that the HST first is uncomfortable, but better than the seats in Voyagers, Pendolinos etc.
First class is irrelevant because EMT don't offer a first class fare for Leicester to Nottingham, or first advances from Leicester to the Thames Valley.

Ahem

 

[fowler9]

Ha ha. Hilarious but informative read. Disgusted at your taste in milky coffee though.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ha ha. Hilarious read. Disgusted at your taste in milky coffee though.

Thank you, everyone is sadly
Well I’m disgusted by English maple syrup, I didn't want to say that because it sounds so cliché but oh well

Ah well, you true English borns can keep your lattes. I’m happy with my Canadian style Double-doubles

 

[Bletchleyite]

That Meridian interior is in a terrible state (that was my observation when I last travelled Meridian 1st too). The "welcome to 1st" banner being held on with gaffer tape says everything.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The IC seats you posted above maybe similar but are defintley not the same as the ones in ATW 158's or their mark 3 coaches as you can see below.

There are two versions of the Grammer IC3000. ATW has the version with the smaller headrest (less comfortable but less claustrophobic), while the GWR HST and that First Class pictured uses the version with the larger headrest (more comfortable but more claustrophobic). The base and back are the same in both cases. Personally I'm happy with either of them.

(There is also a wider 2+1 1st specific version which PKP use in their FLIRTs but I don't think there are any UK applications of this one)

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

There are two versions of the Grammer IC3000. ATW has the version with the smaller headrest (less comfortable but less claustrophobic), while the GWR HST and that First Class pictured uses the version with the larger headrest (more comfortable but more claustrophobic). The base and back are the same in both cases. Personally I'm happy with either of them.

(There is also a wider 2+1 1st specific version which PKP use in their FLIRTs but I don't think there are any UK applications of this one)

But........ if there are two versions, they aren't the ones in his pictures, if I said markIII and mark VI coaches and called them "the same" would you agree?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ok well I see they’re different now! Can’t we leave it there?

 

[fowler9]

Thank you, everyone is sadly
Well I’m disgusted by English maple syrup, I didn't want to say that because it sounds so cliché but oh well

Ah well, you true English borns can keep your lattes. I’m happy with my Canadian style Double-doubles

Ha ha. Who cares, as long as you like it. I generally go for a flat white. Popular in New Zealand for some reason.

 

[cactustwirly]

Ahem
View attachment 42585

Didn't see that before, I couldn't find it on BR fares.
No way that is I'm paying that though! It's only £7 for me in standard.

 

[backontrack]

Lattes are great. It's that icky 'pumpkin-spice' stuff that I've had enough of.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Lattes are great. It's that icky 'pumpkin-spice' stuff that I've had enough of.

Well fortunately that shouldn’t be appearing in Costas until about September I gotta say I do like the gingerbread lattes there. And the normal whites.

I prefer the cold drinks like the mango and passionfruit/blueberry and raspberry fruit coolers. Not the frostinos though.

Anyway, moving on, next review should be out tonight. Hope you will enjoy.

 

[backontrack]

I prefer the cold drinks like the mango and passionfruit/blueberry and raspberry fruit coolers. Not the frostinos though.

@fishquinn we have a situation...

Also, nice reviews! Looking forward to your next one TT...

 

[fowler9]

Well fortunately that shouldn’t be appearing in Costas until about September I gotta say I do like the gingerbread lattes there. And the normal whites.

I prefer the cold drinks like the mango and passionfruit/blueberry and raspberry fruit coolers. Not the frostinos though.

Anyway, moving on, next review should be out tonight. Hope you will enjoy.

Will be looking forward to the next trip report. Going back to coffee, best one I ever had was in Torino. My exes cousin worked in a cafe on the Piazza Della Repubblica there and they (Amongst others) provided coffee for all the market workers there. He let me behind the counter to make my own Espresso. It was amazing. Really woke me up after too much local red wine from the night before. Some of the local produce available in the market was incredible (Including the wine, ha ha). Met some amazing people there. My exes auntie is from Warrington but is married to a guy who worked for Fiat. His father was high up in FS when he was alive. Her uncle Mario collects old railway clocks from all over the world. From one side of their apartment your could see the whole of the centre of Torino, from the other you could see the Alps. It is amazing.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

@fishquinn we have a situation...

Also, nice reviews! Looking forward to your next one TT...

Er, I don’t know what you mean but thanks

Will be looking forward to the next trip report. Going back to coffee, best one I ever had was in Torino. My exes cousin worked in a cafe on the Piazza Della Repubblica there and they (Amongst others) provided coffee for all the market workers there. He let me behind the counter to make my own Espresso. It was amazing. Really woke me up after too much local red wine from the night before. Some of the local produce available in the market was incredible (Including the wine, ha ha). Met some amazing people there. My exes auntie is from Warrington but is married to a guy who worked for Fiat. His father was high up in FS when he was alive. Her uncle Mario collects old railway clocks from all over the world. From one side of their apartment your could see the whole of the centre of Torino, from the other you could see the Alps. It is amazing.

Very nice. I haven’t been to Italy yet but I will be going to Venice soon - very different to Turin though haha!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Virgin Trains East Coast - First Class - Intercity 225 Weekend Service

Hey. I wasn’t going to post this as it is very similar to Friday’s review but I was told by a very helpful other member to upload it.

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen - I return to the East Coast Main Line, first class ticket in hand, exploring the differences between HST and 91 interiors. Also - I wanted to see if the RailBar person would be nicer this time too haha!

So, once again we’re heading back to Stevenage. Most certainly not a favourite station of mine but you can return there for £13.50/£18/£27 depending on your age, plus be back within fifty minutes. That suits me.

Prior to boarding a lovely Intercity 225 train (hauled by my favourite British locomotive a 91) there is enough time to use the First Class Lounge at King’s Cross. I pick up the usual Coca-Cola (Pepsi can get lost!) and get aboard the 13:35 Virgin Trains East Coast service to Leeds. You’ll find out about the lounge later.

Now, I won’t lie - my spirits were rather low... I was travelling solo for this one. That depressed me, I don’t like being a loner. It’s just not me! But I was cheered up as usual by the sound of the IC225 on Platform 0 humming away, the Virgin logo and inviting interiors.

Here is the interior of first class on a Virgin Trains Electric Mallard train.



It differs from the HST first class, I have good eyesight and am pretty observant so I managed to notice a fair few differences between the two.

OK. So while the lovely 2x1 leather Mallard seating remains, gone are those old fashioned wooden panels that sit halfway through the carriage, giving the carriage a more open and modern feel. Also, with the HSTs, the one seater seats are on left side of the aisle with the two seaters on the right, (facing away from London) remaining like this throughout the carriage. Well, on the 225s it switches halfway. The four seater tables are on the left until the middle when they go to the right.

Anyway. Enough of the boring seat talk, sorry about that. Just showing you that first class has a different layout on the 225s. Sorry haha. First class passengers can enjoy three carriages on 225s compared to two point five on the HSTs as well as a slightly smaller but much more modern looking FoodBar!!!

The train set off on time. I do like the humming sound made by the Intercity 225 services, I also find the single tone announcement chime quite authentic too (sorry, that sounds real stupid) reminds me of my first 91 journey with DIR East Coast. (Blue livery, white stripe).

The trolley gave me a hot chocolate. Of course, a double-double will always be my favourite hot drink, but I was significantly put off of VTECs coffees thanks to the hoser FoodBar assistant on the previous HST journey...

No food trolley coming round just before Peterborough. Oh really? Well, sorry - I skipped breakfast that day and it was quarter to one now; I was having lunch whether they wanted me to or not! So over to the FoodBar I went, ready to turn on the charm (works all the time )

“How can I help you, sir?” asked a very pleasant mouse-haired lady behind the desk.

“Sorry, could I get a wrap please?” I asked quietly, flashing my ticket. She nodded and told me to head to the other end of the kitchen, which I did. She went through the kitchen with the trolley and asked me if I wanted Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwiches or a Mexican Chicken and Mixed Pepper Wrap.

Toughie. I like both, but went for the latter. She smiled and put it into a bag. “Crisps or popcorn?” I went for the latter again. She put the two items in the bag and asked if I wanted any snacks with that as they’d got too many (two trolleys of food, two trolleys of drinks on a train only going to Newark)

Why not, I thought. I have a very healthy diet most days, why not enjoy myself today? I accepted her offer willingly and she filled the bag with a banoffee cake slice, coconut flapjack and shortbread. Thanking her I returned to my seat.

Not a bad offering for a twenty five minute journey on a Saturday, eh?

I enjoyed the spicy Chicken Wrap (it was like a cold Fajita) and Popcorn. The coconut flapjack was also very nice. The Banoffee cake and shortbread stayed in the bag for later!!!

My returning 225 showed up shortly after I alighted from Stevenage. On this the trolley came around, and despite not being very hungry I decided a couple of snacks might come in handy for later in what was planned to be a long day. So I chose the Chicken Wrap again, this came with Coca-Cola, Banoffee cake and a banana. I ate the banana there, as I like fruit very much, then rather guiltily devoured the second wrap without realising...

Oh dear. How greedy of me. Thank god for my ultra speedy metabolism...

Anyway... the train journey was smooth back to London, if a little noisy thanks to the four crew members having a nice gossip at the four seater table behind me... I alighted and headed back to the lounge.

This is the lounge.



Compared to Euston’s I consider it rather underwhelming. Corkers Crisps and Biscuits are on offer, besides Coke, Diet that and Hot Drinks. Charged for alcohol is purchased from a small fridge.

The coffee isn’t great. And the machine only fills it halfway. Yeah, I certainly wouldn’t pay the supplement that EC used to charge for access, but if you can get in for free than it is a preferable alternative to waiting on the concourse, eh? Anyway...

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading as always.

Coming up: I plan to try out VTEC Weekday Breakfast (Bubble and Squeak I think I’ll go with), returning with the Rest of The Day menu on Thursday or Friday as I’ve said loads of times now. This will be out the day it is done.

After that I swear I’ll leave you all alone as far as Virgin Trains East Coast are concerned! If I get lucky we may see some Hull Trains first class action, fingers crossed and all that jazz.

My first foreign critique for the thread is planned for a few months away (April) and I plan to review TGV’s First Class product. Ryanair are offering me £14 returns to South France, and SNCF aren’t too expensive right now... I’m torn to be honest, £14 is a good deal for sure but is it worth the horrors of flying Ryanair? Let me know your opinions

Anyway until the next time.

Recline.
DoubleDouble your coffee.
And chill.

TT-ONR-NRN out. Peace.

 

[anti-pacer]

It's better than the VTEC lounges in Wakefield, Leeds and Newcastle.

 

[fowler9]

Virgin Trains East Coast - First Class - Intercity 225 Weekend Service

Hey. I wasn’t going to post this as it is very similar to Friday’s review but I was told by a very helpful other member to upload it.

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen - I return to the East Coast Main Line, first class ticket in hand, exploring the differences between HST and 91 interiors. Also - I wanted to see if the RailBar person would be nicer this time too haha!

So, once again we’re heading back to Stevenage. Most certainly not a favourite station of mine but you can return there for £13.50/£18/£27 depending on your age, plus be back within fifty minutes. That suits me.

Prior to boarding a lovely Intercity 225 train (hauled by my favourite British locomotive a 91) there is enough time to use the First Class Lounge at King’s Cross. I pick up the usual Coca-Cola (Pepsi can get lost!) and get aboard the 13:35 Virgin Trains East Coast service to Leeds. You’ll find out about the lounge later.

Now, I won’t lie - my spirits were rather low... I was travelling solo for this one. That depressed me, I don’t like being a loner. It’s just not me! But I was cheered up as usual by the sound of the IC225 on Platform 0 humming away, the Virgin logo and inviting interiors.

Here is the interior of first class on a Virgin Trains Electric Mallard train.

View attachment 42623

It differs from the HST first class, I have good eyesight and am pretty observant so I managed to notice a fair few differences between the two.

OK. So while the lovely 2x1 leather Mallard seating remains, gone are those old fashioned wooden panels that sit halfway through the carriage, giving the carriage a more open and modern feel. Also, with the HSTs, the one seater seats are on left side of the aisle with the two seaters on the right, (facing away from London) remaining like this throughout the carriage. Well, on the 225s it switches halfway. The four seater tables are on the left until the middle when they go to the right.

Anyway. Enough of the boring seat talk, sorry about that. Just showing you that first class has a different layout on the 225s. Sorry haha. First class passengers can enjoy three carriages on 225s compared to two point five on the HSTs as well as a slightly smaller but much more modern looking FoodBar!!!

The train set off on time. I do like the humming sound made by the Intercity 225 services, I also find the single tone announcement chime quite authentic too (sorry, that sounds real stupid) reminds me of my first 91 journey with DIR East Coast. (Blue livery, white stripe).

The trolley gave me a hot chocolate. Of course, a double-double will always be my favourite hot drink, but I was significantly put off of VTECs coffees thanks to the hoser FoodBar assistant on the previous HST journey...

No food trolley coming round just before Peterborough. Oh really? Well, sorry - I skipped breakfast that day and it was quarter to one now; I was having lunch whether they wanted me to or not! So over to the FoodBar I went, ready to turn on the charm (works all the time )

“How can I help you, sir?” asked a very pleasant mouse-haired lady behind the desk.

“Sorry, could I get a wrap please?” I asked quietly, flashing my ticket. She nodded and told me to head to the other end of the kitchen, which I did. She went through the kitchen with the trolley and asked me if I wanted Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwiches or a Mexican Chicken and Mixed Pepper Wrap.

Toughie. I like both, but went for the latter. She smiled and put it into a bag. “Crisps or popcorn?” I went for the latter again. She put the two items in the bag and asked if I wanted any snacks with that as they’d got too many (two trolleys of food, two trolleys of drinks on a train only going to Newark)

Why not, I thought. I have a very healthy diet most days, why not enjoy myself today? I accepted her offer willingly and she filled the bag with a banoffee cake slice, coconut flapjack and shortbread. Thanking her I returned to my seat.

Not a bad offering for a twenty five minute journey on a Saturday, eh?

I enjoyed the spicy Chicken Wrap (it was like a cold Fajita) and Popcorn. The coconut flapjack was also very nice. The Banoffee cake and shortbread stayed in the bag for later!!!

My returning 225 showed up shortly after I alighted from Stevenage. On this the trolley came around, and despite not being very hungry I decided a couple of snacks might come in handy for later in what was planned to be a long day. So I chose the Chicken Wrap again, this came with Coca-Cola, Banoffee cake and a banana. I ate the banana there, as I like fruit very much, then rather guiltily devoured the second wrap without realising...

Oh dear. How greedy of me. Thank god for my ultra speedy metabolism...

Anyway... the train journey was smooth back to London, if a little noisy thanks to the four crew members having a nice gossip at the four seater table behind me... I alighted and headed back to the lounge.

This is the lounge.

View attachment 42625

Compared to Euston’s I consider it rather underwhelming. Corkers Crisps and Biscuits are on offer, besides Coke, Diet that and Hot Drinks. Charged for alcohol is purchased from a small fridge.

The coffee isn’t great. And the machine only fills it halfway. Yeah, I certainly wouldn’t pay the supplement that EC used to charge for access, but if you can get in for free than it is a preferable alternative to waiting on the concourse, eh? Anyway...

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading as always.

Coming up: I plan to try out VTEC Weekday Breakfast (Bubble and Squeak I think I’ll go with), returning with the Rest of The Day menu on Thursday or Friday as I’ve said loads of times now. This will be out the day it is done.

After that I swear I’ll leave you all alone as far as Virgin Trains East Coast are concerned! If I get lucky we may see some Hull Trains first class action, fingers crossed and all that jazz.

My first foreign critique for the thread is planned for a few months away (April) and I plan to review TGV’s First Class product. Ryanair are offering me £14 returns to South France, and SNCF aren’t too expensive right now... I’m torn to be honest, £14 is a good deal for sure but is it worth the horrors of flying Ryanair? Let me know your opinions

Anyway until the next time.

Recline.
DoubleDouble your coffee.
And chill.

TT-ONR-NRN out. Peace.

Good read chief. I'll look forward to hearing about the Bubble and Squeak. Love it but not had it for years.

Ryanair are fine in my opinion. Not a massive fan of the blue and yellow interior but they get me where I want to go cheaply in some circumstances.

Venice is nice, hope you enjoy it. Turin is beautiful and very underated compared to the cities most people focus on, Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice. Turin was were the Italian royal family used to live. Lots of sheltered walkways under beautiful buildings for the king's and Queens to shelter from the sun in summer and snow in winter.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It's better than the VTEC lounges in Wakefield, Leeds and Newcastle.

Ah. Not been to those

Good read chief. I'll look forward to hearing about the Bubble and Squeak. Love it but not had it for years.

Thanks.
Ah, well I’ll take a photo for you

Ryanair are fine in my opinion. Not a massive fan of the blue and yellow interior but they get me where I want to go cheaply in some circumstances.

I’ve flown with then before and it was horrible. You can’t recline your seat, there’s no seatback pocket, fake leather effect seating, adverts on the back of the seats, automated safety voice which you can’t understand and a touchdown that felt like an emergency landing. Was a bad quality flight for sure.

Venice is nice, hope you enjoy it. Turin is beautiful and very underated compared to the cities most people focus on, Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice. Turin was were the Italian royal family used to live. Lots of sheltered walkways under beautiful buildings for the king's and Queens to shelter from the sun in summer and snow in winter.

Thank you. Turin does sound very nice

 

[fowler9]

I’ve flown with then before and it was horrible. You can’t recline your seat, there’s no seatback pocket, fake leather effect seating, adverts on the back of the seats, automated safety voice which you can’t understand and a touchdown that felt like an emergency landing. Was a bad quality flight for sure.

I do agree, the are my least favourite airline but I will use them if I can find nothing else cheaper. In Liverpool there aren't many routes the duplicate with other airlines. I have sometimes flown from Manchester with other airlines if it was cheaper. As you mentioned though my two worst landings were on Ryanair. Felt like we had been shot down. Ha ha. To be fair the weather was bad.

 

[Segedunum]

When Ryanair work like they're meant to- it works fine. Manchester to Frankfurt and return last weekend was an absolute pleasure with a very friendly Italian crew both ways- only grumble was the fact that the plane at Frankfurt dumps you on the Apron about 15 minutes from Terminal 2. £9.99 each way.

That said, i've had one naff flight with them- Manchester to Cologne where it was 65L leaving due to a fault with the PA systems, followed by an horrendous approach to Cologne/Bonn where we seemed to swing like a pendulum before aborting landing and going around again, bouncing down the runway and being 90L in the end.

 

[fowler9]

When Ryanair work like they're meant to- it works fine. Manchester to Frankfurt and return last weekend was an absolute pleasure with a very friendly Italian crew both ways- only grumble was the fact that the plane at Frankfurt dumps you on the Apron about 15 minutes from Terminal 2. £9.99 each way.

That said, i've had one naff flight with them- Manchester to Cologne where it was 65L leaving due to a fault with the PA systems, followed by an horrendous approach to Cologne/Bonn where we seemed to swing like a pendulum before aborting landing and going around again, bouncing down the runway and being 90L in the end.

Ha ha, nightmare. Worst landing was Ryanair in to Rome when the plane crabbed in, as the wheels hit the ground the plane skidded as the pilot kicked the rudder and I smacked my head on the side of the cabin. Worst ever delay was with Ryanair, 6 hours at Wroclaw when a plane went tech. Fortunately Wroclaw airport is really nice with cheap beer, a smoking area and free fast wi-fi plus a great view of the apron with a decent amount of activity.

Apologies for drifting off topic there TT. A few more Ryanair stories for you though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do agree, the are my least favourite airline but I will use them if I can find nothing else cheaper. In Liverpool there aren't many routes the duplicate with other airlines. I have sometimes flown from Manchester with other airlines if it was cheaper. As you mentioned though my two worst landings were on Ryanair. Felt like we had been shot down. Ha ha. To be fair the weather was bad.

Pilots are instructed to bang the aircraft down fairly hard in the event of wet weather, it reduces the likelihood of aquaplaning and skidding. That combined with the 737 being a cruder and noisier aircraft than the A320 series probably explains all.

FWIW I agree FR are pretty rubbish in terms of the "soft product" but I have never had an actual problem with them in any form.