Advice on TPE Nova reservations - seating - 1st class please

[WesternLancer]

Any advice or opionions appreicated. I very rarely travel on Trans Pennine Express services so hoping people familiar with them can give me answers or thoughts that might be of help.

I'm planning a trip outbound on a Friday, rtn on a Sunday - Manchester to/ from Oxenholme

Following questions:

1) the whole Nova 1 / Nova 2 thing is confusing. Real Time Trains seems to imply both operate the route - is that correct? (impacts on seat reservations as some seats in one type have a window & table but in other type with same seat number it looks like it can be a blank wall....)

2) Is there any way of knowing if you get a nova1 or a nova 2 ahead of the day of travel (when it's then shown on RTT of course as per the allocated unit)? - eg is it random or do the 2 types operate to set diagrams and thus would for example todays types operate the same times services next week etc

3) Which carriage on TPE in standard class is seating that is unreservable? (if they have it) - I'll be using a Standard Class off peak return ticket

4) Thoughts on if First class on TPE worth it? - It looks like a good offer to me
and if so

4a) On a Friday is the only way to upgrade in practice (apart from paying a full excess fare to the guard) via Seatfrog

4b) On a Sunday looks like Weekend First is available - but I can't find out how much they would charge from Oxenholme to Manchester for W/E 1st - does anyone know

4c) Do they serve the hot meal service in 1st class on a journey of that length? - about 1 hour 10 mins travel time.

any other opinions welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[alistairlees]

4b is £15

 

[WesternLancer]

4b is £15

cheers - that's v helpful. I'd be happy with that (space permitting)

 

[dodecahedron67]

Yes both Nova 1 (802) and Nova 2 (397) operate the Manchester - Scotland services

Until May it is 8x 397 and 2x 802, from May it goes to 9x 397 and 1x 802.

Currently the 802 circuits Mon - Sat are 1M81/1S46/1M89/1S83 and 1M83/1S56/1M91/1S88*. Sundays they are 1M85/1S66/1M93/1S88 and 1S46/1M89/1S83. *1S88 only operates SX
I don't know which of these two is staying booked 802 after the TT change.

From Manchester Airport these are 1004, 1204, 1804, 2004 Northbound on a Friday. Southbound on a Sunday they are 1213, 1612 and 2015 (terminates at Preston) from Oxenholme.
Every other service is 397 operated

Standard unreserved is Coach D. I believe this should be staying unreserved for the Summer period but occasionally half of Coach D gets reserved

First Class on the West Coast is pretty decent imo. Especially for weekend upgrade prices.

I believe on a Friday it would only be possible to upgrade by Seatfrog or excessing to an Anytime Day 1st (£59.90)

Hot food would almost definitely be served on a 1h journey. I suspect even just doing Manchester - Preston you'd probably get food if you had a good host.

One thing to note is these trains get VERY busy in nice weather, especially at weekends. They tend to be busy anyway, but school holidays or a weekend with nice weather gets the entirety of Manchester heading to the Lake District

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes both Nova 1 (802) and Nova 2 (397) operate the Manchester - Scotland services

Until May it is 8x 397 and 2x 802, from May it goes to 9x 397 and 1x 802.

Currently the 802 circuits are 1M81/1S46/1M89/1S83 and 1M83/1S56/1M91/1S88. I don't know which of these two is staying booked 802 after the TT change.

From Manchester Airport these are 1004, 1204, 1804, 2004 Northbound and 0812, 1011, 1612, 1812 from Oxenholme Southbound. Every other service is 397 operated

Standard unreserved is Coach D. I believe this should be staying unreserved for the Summer period but occasionally half of Coach D gets reserved

First Class on the West Coast is pretty decent imo. Especially for weekend upgrade prices.

I believe on a Friday it would only be possible to upgrade by Seatfrog or excessing to an Anytime Day 1st (£59.90)

Hot food would almost definitely be served on a 1h journey. I suspect even just doing Manchester - Preston you'd probably get food if you had a good host.

One thing to note is these trains get VERY busy in nice weather, especially at weekends. They tend to be busy anyway, but school holidays or a weekend with nice weather gets the entirety of Manchester heading to the Lake District

Big thanks for that - it's very helpful. Much appreciated

I've used the TPE website to reserve seats out and back on trains of my 1st choice (even tho I won't buy the actual tickets until I'm at the station on the day)

I've also got the option of the Northern 195 units on the route too as I'd rather not be crammed in a packed train, but obv have to write off the 1st class aspect!

I could also commence my northbound journey back at the airport I suppose in order to board first and select seats of choice at the start of the journey - tho it's not ideal to do that timing wise for me.

 

[30907]

I travelled this morning from Lancaster on the 08xx Liverpool-Glasgow. Occupancy was low single figures, breakfast was decent offered after each stop (except Motherwell!), the host checking my destination. I hadn't finished breakfast by Oxenholme but certainly had by Penrith so 1h10 is more than enough .

 

[WesternLancer]

I travelled this morning from Lancaster on the 08xx Liverpool-Glasgow. Occupancy was low single figures, breakfast was decent offered after each stop (except Motherwell!), the host checking my destination. I hadn't finished breakfast by Oxenholme but certainly had by Penrith so 1h10 is more than enough .

Thanks. Helpful info

 

[Zooty]

Yes both Nova 1 (802) and Nova 2 (397) operate the Manchester - Scotland services

Until May it is 8x 397 and 2x 802, from May it goes to 9x 397 and 1x 802.

Currently the 802 circuits Mon - Sat are 1M81/1S46/1M89/1S83 and 1M83/1S56/1M91/1S88*. Sundays they are 1M85/1S66/1M93/1S88 and 1S46/1M89/1S83. *1S88 only operates SX
I don't know which of these two is staying booked 802 after the TT change.

From Manchester Airport these are 1004, 1204, 1804, 2004 Northbound on a Friday. Southbound on a Sunday they are 1213, 1612 and 2015 (terminates at Preston) from Oxenholme.
Every other service is 397 operated

Not forgetting the evening 1C85/1M94 circuit which is a 185.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes both Nova 1 (802) and Nova 2 (397) operate the Manchester - Scotland services

Until May it is 8x 397 and 2x 802, from May it goes to 9x 397 and 1x 802.

Currently the 802 circuits Mon - Sat are 1M81/1S46/1M89/1S83 and 1M83/1S56/1M91/1S88*. Sundays they are 1M85/1S66/1M93/1S88 and 1S46/1M89/1S83. *1S88 only operates SX
I don't know which of these two is staying booked 802 after the TT change.

From Manchester Airport these are 1004, 1204, 1804, 2004 Northbound on a Friday. Southbound on a Sunday they are 1213, 1612 and 2015 (terminates at Preston) from Oxenholme.
Every other service is 397 operated

Standard unreserved is Coach D. I believe this should be staying unreserved for the Summer period but occasionally half of Coach D gets reserved

First Class on the West Coast is pretty decent imo. Especially for weekend upgrade prices.

I believe on a Friday it would only be possible to upgrade by Seatfrog or excessing to an Anytime Day 1st (£59.90)

Hot food would almost definitely be served on a 1h journey. I suspect even just doing Manchester - Preston you'd probably get food if you had a good host.

One thing to note is these trains get VERY busy in nice weather, especially at weekends. They tend to be busy anyway, but school holidays or a weekend with nice weather gets the entirety of Manchester heading to the Lake District

Thanks to all for advice on this

On the northbound leg for various reasons I ended up on a Northern 195 which was uncrowded and I got the seats of my choice when boarding.

Returned on the southbound trip on Sunday selecting an 802 operated service and paid Weekend First upgrade to the Train Manager - £15 as advised by @alistairlees

Service wasn't crowded but reasonably loaded in 1st - although no problem getting a table seat.

I regarded this as good value - the on board staff were friendly and the host service good.

It's a decent menu and tasted good. Not all the food items were available sadly (but most were), but an alternative offer of a Regional Breakfast was made even though it was after the serving time (c5 hours after!) as one was in stock. I didn't actually take up this offer though I now think I should have done - I just chose another item. Tea Cakes off breakfast menu was also offered.

I certainly regard the experience as much better than GWR or EMR or XC 1st class offer by way of comparison. Especially this being available on a Sunday

Based on my +ve experience I think with hindsight I probably should have bid on seat frog up to a reasonable sum to pay for the upgrade on the Friday. So I'll know that for next time.

Thanks to all for the info above - it was really helpful and appreciated.

 

[snail]

even just doing Manchester - Preston you'd probably get food if you had a good host.

Or nothing except a drink and nibbles with a bad host. Last time I did that journey northbound they didn't serve food until after Preston (no crew change).