First-timer's Take: What it's really like on the LNER Azuma

[Millsy_2102]

Hello everyone on the RailUK forums,
I've just uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel, where I review my first ever trip on an LNER Azuma train. My family and I traveled from London King's Cross to York, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the experience with you all.
In the video, I cover everything from the smooth journey and interesting train sightings (including a Grand Central Class 180 and a Hull Trains Class 802) to an in-depth look at the on-board facilities. I found the seats to be nicely padded and comfortable for a long-distance trip, and I was particularly impressed with the toilet, especially the powerful sink with a built-in hand dryer [02:56]. I also check out the on-board Wi-Fi and the live journey information available via QR codes.
Overall, I was very impressed with the train and found the journey to be "very comfortable and not bumpy at all." [09:32] The only minor issues I noticed were how busy the train was and that the window blinds don't cover the entire window.
You can watch the full review here:

. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Azuma trains and any of your own travel experiences with them!

 

[Class15]

I’m not a fan of the Azumas or any of the ‘80x’ classes. I find the seats very uncomfortable and the lighting far too bright.

 

[ainsworth74]

I do think the 80x family get a lot of unjustified criticism, indeed my main criticism is that they're a bit boring really (but 'normal' passengers don't usually want exciting/interesting anyway ), on the whole they do the job. They could do it better for sure (see basically any long distance interior fitted to say an ICE in Germany, a TGV in France, or some of SBB in Switzerlands intercity sets) but they're not torture chambers like some reactions seems to suggest!

That being said I do think we have very different definitions of "not bumpy at all"! The one thing that I do think they are terrible for is ride quality. I've had some bouncy rides on Mk4s and Mk3s (particularly Mk3s actually) but 80xs seem to love any excuse at all to shake or bounce around on track. Going over some of the point work on the ECML can be really quite violent and uncomfortable. On other types you notice the point work but it's nowhere near as bad. And to be clear that's when you're staying main line so not diverging!

Also that they went into service with charging sockets that are so electrically dirty they cause some phone screens to glitch and that lose power through neutral sections is pretty rubbish from a passenger point of view (and unlike the Mk4s that kept their power sockets going through a neutral section and never glitched phone screens).

 

[Haywain]

(and unlike the Mk4s that kept their power sockets going through a neutral section and never glitched phone screens).

Except that they frequently didn't work at all.

 

[Millsy_2102]

Except that they frequently didn't work at all.

When I came back, my plug socket was completely jammed.

 

[ainsworth74]

Except that they frequently didn't work at all.

Hmm not in my experience and when they didn't 9 times out of 10 if you told a member of train crew they'd fetch the guard to reset them and they'd be fine again after that. I would say I've personally had and seen friends have issues with phones being almost unusable due to the quality of electricity being produced by the sockets far more than I ever had issues with no power on a Mk4.

 

[AlterEgo]

The 800s have aged badly. They have appalling ride quality and the seats are dreadful with many seats in standard class now totally worn through so they horizontal bar is what you're actually sitting on. They are conspicuously poor trains compared to what is available abroad.

They work fine at carrying what they need to carry I suppose but so does a sewer. A front rank intercity express can and should be so much more.

 

[superalbs]

Worst trains I've ever used.

Horrible seats (which are now very often broken), stark and bleak ambience, nasty bright lights, cheap interior design, and truly appalling ride quality.

There is other stuff that I can't remember because I'm in another country and trying not to think about those rancid karts.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Am I the only one who really doesn't mind them apart from the seats which could be replaced? I really quite like the Avanti ones.

 

[Horizon22]

I do think the 80x family get a lot of unjustified criticism, indeed my main criticism is that they're a bit boring really (but 'normal' passengers don't usually want exciting/interesting anyway ), on the whole they do the job.

I would agree, especially on the "normal" passengers. Same is true of 700s, which many friends of mine think are great, even if they suffer from some of the issues.

One major and unavoidable issue is however the sudden and dramatic deteroriation of the seating though with the infamous "metal bar" being felt on many seats and comfort compared to other IC stock being rather low. This is quite poor for a train that has been in service less than a decade and should be rectified.

 

[ainsworth74]

Am I the only one who really doesn't mind them apart from the seats which could be replaced? I really quite like the Avanti ones.

Yeah that's me. As I say I think they're boring with dreadful ride quality but that's about it. They're rubbish in comparison to what can be done see examples in places like Switzerland, France or Germany for instance that's what a front rank long distance train should be like. But they're not offensively bad in my opinion. They get the job done. I think the same job could be done better but they do get it done.

One major and unavoidable issue is however the sudden and dramatic deteroriation of the seating though with the infamous "metal bar" being felt on many seats and comfort compared to other IC stock being rather low. This is quite poor for a train that has been in service less than a decade and should be rectified.

I really haven't noticed this issue (which is not me saying it doesn't exist as lots of people mention it!) so I wonder if I'm just getting lucky. Or maybe my backside is too generously padded

 

[Horizon22]

I really haven't noticed this issue (which is not me saying it doesn't exist as lots of people mention it!) so I wonder if I'm just getting lucky. Or maybe my backside is too generously padded

I had previously got lucky too until taking a 800 last year where it was noticable and very uncomfortable. I swapped seats after Reading.

 

[ainsworth74]

I had previously got lucky too until taking a 800 last year where it was noticable and very uncomfortable. I swapped seats after Reading.

I guess at some point then my luck will run out!

 

[vuzzeho]

I really like the LNER Azumas (unpopular opinion, I know). The seats weren't uncomfortable to me, the ride quality was fine, and the ambiance was nice internally. Also, LNER's staff is lovely. My main criticism would be the weird plug socket thing mentioned earlier - it always makes my phone screen get weird. All in all, they're nice trains.

 

[greyman42]

Horrible seats (which are now very often broken), stark and bleak ambience, nasty bright lights, cheap interior design, and truly appalling ride quality.

Re the seats and the ambience, I think you are referring to the GWR 800s. The LNER seats, while not very comfortable, tend not to be broken.

 

[35B]

Re the seats and the ambience, I think you are referring to the GWR 800s. The LNER seats, while not very comfortable, tend not to be broken.

I've suffered a few. And as the GWR ones have been running longer, I'm pessimistic.

 

[Segedunum]

The trains themselves are largely fine but the collapsed seats are bad. On a longer journey it's extremely uncomfortable having a metal bar digging into your posterior...

I was talking to someone (non-enthusiast) yesterday and on mention of Lumo her first observation was how much better the seats are.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've suffered a few. And as the GWR ones have been running longer, I'm pessimistic.

It is just age. The GWR 802s aren't as bad now but are getting worse.

 

[takno]

One major and unavoidable issue is however the sudden and dramatic deteroriation of the seating though with the infamous "metal bar" being felt on many seats and comfort compared to other IC stock being rather low. This is quite poor for a train that has been in service less than a decade and should be rectified.

I did get the pleasure of sitting in such a collapsed seat on Transpennine a few weeks ago. Weirdly I found it much more comfortable than the seats were when new, because the collapsed state of the chair stopped my back from needing to be hard up against the terrible back. Still being able to walk when get off a 2 hour train journey shouldn't really be considered a bonus, but we are where we are.

I've not risked standard class on LNER since Covid, just because the idea of 4+ hours of back torture doesn't seem worth contemplating when there is Lumo instead.

 

[Buntobox]

The 800s have aged badly. They have appalling ride quality and the seats are dreadful with many seats in standard class now totally worn through so they horizontal bar is what you're actually sitting on. They are conspicuously poor trains compared to what is available abroad.

They work fine at carrying what they need to carry I suppose but so does a sewer. A front rank intercity express can and should be so much more.

Agreed. Particularly when you're charged so much to travel in them. Indeed the last time my wife and I travelled from Edinburgh to London and Oxford we took the car. Twice the comfort at half the price...773 miles on one tank of diesel, about £70.
Why is it then, that in a world supposedly "progressing" as time goes by, have we gone from the spring and horsehair luxury of the BR Mark 1 to the abject discomfort and stark blandness of the Class 800s. What's next? A return to wooden benches?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd rather a wooden bench than a metal bar. It's shocking that that awful unfit for purpose seat was fitted to so many units.

 

[Hadders]

I've noticed that the seats on teh Azumas have started to suffer from 'metal bar syndrome'. Not quite as bad as the GWR version - yet, but the GWR 800s are older it won't be long before the Azumas become as bad....

 

[railfan99]

I do think the 80x family get a lot of unjustified criticism, indeed my main criticism is that they're a bit boring really (but 'normal' passengers don't usually want exciting/interesting anyway ), on the whole they do the job. They could do it better for sure (see basically any long distance interior fitted to say an ICE in Germany, a TGV in France, or some of SBB in Switzerlands intercity sets) but they're not torture chambers like some reactions seems to suggest!

ICEs are #1 for ride and comfortable interiors: wonderful seats in 1st (I am always on a first class Global Eurailpass) and a good dining/buffet section.

I agree that Azumas receive criticism that seems over the top. They're not as good as ICEs but quite acceptable.

 

[35B]

ICEs are #1 for ride and comfortable interiors: wonderful seats in 1st (I am always on a first class Global Eurailpass) and a good dining/buffet section.

I agree that Azumas receive criticism that seems over the top. They're not as good as ICEs but quite acceptable.

They are a significant regression on what they replaced, in terms of ride and of seat comfort. These do not offset the advantages of a spacious feeling interior or improved legroom in the airline seats. At the vastly excessive price paid by British taxpayers and LNER/GWR passengers for their imposition, the hostility is richly deserved.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They are a significant regression on what they replaced, in terms of ride and of seat comfort. These do not offset the advantages of a spacious feeling interior or improved legroom in the airline seats.

They absolutely do. There's about 3" more legroom in the non priority Standard airline seats than either the Mk4 or HST.

 

[35B]

They absolutely do. There's about 3" more legroom in the non priority Standard airline seats than either the Mk4 or HST.

I'm 6'6". I still choose an Mk4 over an Azuma for comfort because, if I'm unfortunate enough to have to take an airline seat, my legs recover much better than my back.