7 Day UK 1st Class bash

[cambsy]

Im planning a 7 day 1st Class All Line Rover from Sunday 29th January to Sat 4th February, doing 5 nights in Caledonian sleeper berths and one night on TPE, have planned this much so far :

Sunday 29th January

09.47 Tiverton Parkway-Plymouth
12.00 Plymouth-Manchester- Piccadilly
17.15 Manchester Piccadilly-Euston
20.57 Euston-Stirling

Monday 30th January

05.26 Stirling-Kings Cross
12.00 Kings Cross-Inverness
20.44 Inverness-Euston

Tuesday 31st January

10.00 Kings Cross-Newcastle
14.00 Newcastle-Kings Cross
18.00 Kings Cross-Newcastle
21.55 Newcastle-Manchester Piccadilly

Wednesday 1st February

00.53 Manchester Piccadilly-York
02.52 York-Manchester Airport
05.30 Manchester Airport-Darlington
08.28 Darlington-Kings Cross
12.00 Kings Cross-Inverness
20.44 Inverness-Euston

Thursday 2nd February

10.00 Kings Cross-Montrose
16.38 Montrose Inverness
20.44 Inverness-Euston

Friday3rd February

10.30 Kings Cross-Edinburgh
16.33 Edinburgh-Inverness
20.44 Inverness-Euston

Saturday 4th February

09.47 Kings Cross-Edinburgh
16.30 Edinburgh-Kings Cross

The plan is flexible and will book berth from Kingussie so have back up plan if Highland Chieftain is too late to make sleeper at Inverness, I am wanting a good HST bash as soon they will be going, and want sample lots of cooked Breakfast and other menu options, what do people think and any good advice? Also how realistic is my York turnaround and what is TPE like overnight 1st class? Thanks

 

[anti-pacer]

Not my cup of tea personally as your routes are repeated a lot. However, you'll have done the VTEC menu by the end of it.

My 7 day First Class ALR took me all over the country, from the South East to the west of Cornwall, North and South Wales, up to Mallaig, and East Anglia (not in that order). I did 2 sleepers, London to St Erth (for St Ives), and Fort Wiliam to London. However, I'm not an enthusiast so I wasn't bothered about what traction was pulling my train.

My aim was to do a whistlestop tour of the UK in comfort. My only gripe is that very few TOC's have First Class even close to VTEC. I did however get a ride and three course meal on the WAG train which made the week.

Whilst I wouldn't want to do your itinerary, you will however get lots of food and drink on your travels, subject to decent hosts of course.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[Failed Unit]

If you are looking for HST tractions, would it be worth putting some MML runs in as well? Say on Tuesday morning, have an earlier start and do a St Pancrass - Nottingham service, then head to York via Derby for some XC action.

 

[anti-pacer]

If you are looking for HST tractions, would it be worth putting some MML runs in as well? Say on Tuesday morning, have an earlier start and do a St Pancrass - Nottingham service, then head to York via Derby for some XC action.

Bearing in mind you can't use your ALR until 10am weekdays out of STP.

 

[cambsy]

Good point, but cannot leave St Pancras or King Cross etc till after 10am, so cannot fit in anything earlier.

 

[Failed Unit]

Maybe a change of plan on Sunday then,

Take the

1325 Plymouth - Birmingham for some HST action.

Then head back to the South direct from Birmingham, or take don't go as far as Manchester and turn back at Stoke on Trent

Or (haven't looked this up in terms of time) - Stay on the HST to Derby and see if you can get a MML HST from either Derby or Leicester.

The 1649 Sheffield - London services is a HST.

It may no connect however.

 

[cambsy]

Because on 20.57 sleeper from Euston, the 13.25 HST is too late to go further than Derby, did consider doing 06.00 Leeds-Plymouth, 12.25 Plymouth-Edinburgh, but the catering is not as good as VTEC and it is a better run on VTEC.

 

[mildertduck]

Are you aware of the ECML diversions via Lincolnshire on 4 Feb?

 

[anti-pacer]

If you want a different breakfast, on the Wednesday why not try this...

0550 Manchester Airport-0702 Sheffield
0729 Sheffield-0823 Leicester **EMT BREAKFAST**
0901 Leicester-1013 St Pancras **HST**

...then revert to your original plan. This will also give you plenty of time to use the First Class lounge at King's Cross.
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EDIT: I'm assuming you'd have time for a breakfast before Leicester.
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Know about the Cambridge diversions, am going to do Kings Cross-Edinburgh return on the Saturday 4th February so can do them, nice idea doing MML on the Wednesday but not really my cup of tea and be using Euston lounge to have shower etc in the mornings when arrive by sleeper.

But on the Wednesday morning you won't be arriving in London by sleeper, according to your schedule. Apparently EMT do the best breakfast of all TOC's.

 

[cambsy]

Know about the Cambridge diversions, am going to do Kings Cross-Edinburgh return on the Saturday 4th February so can do them, nice idea doing MML on the Wednesday but not really my cup of tea and be using Euston lounge to have shower etc in the mornings when arrive by sleeper.