Facilities on-board different TOCs

[Steve14]

I am going to be travelling around over the next few weeks and it is essential as part of my role to keep on top of my job whilst travelling although I will be travelling evening times after 5pm but I wish to know the following from users using XC, WCML and ECML routes:

GWML - Next week: heading off to Newport (i know the train will have an on-board buffet car and power sockets as GWML is my mainline!)
WCML - W/C 26th: Will be travelling to Wolverhampton on the Sunday night, although I cannot remember; does Virgin offer power sockets on their pendos? Then on the 26th pm i will be travelling onto Liverpool (guessing this is going to be an LM service which I am dreading) and then return on the 27th
GWML/XC - W/C 9th Nov: heading back onto the GWML to Gloucester, no issues there. 9th Nov evening I will be going to Leeds, any chance of shedding light as to whether XC HSTs serve Gloucs or would I have to change at Cheltenham to get a direct service which is most likely to be a Plymouth - Dundee? If so, do they have power sockets and wifi on board and a buffet car like GWR HST as the journey is pretty long?
ECML - 10th Nov evening i will be returning back, ideally would again like to catch a HST, do they have power sockets and wifi too?

Looking forward to returning to Liverpool LS after 15 years and Leeds, never been to Wolves, Newport & Gloucs, will try to take some snaps of my different TOCs and their trains

 

[Ash Bridge]

I am going to be travelling around over the next few weeks and it is essential as part of my role to keep on top of my job whilst travelling although I will be travelling evening times after 5pm but I wish to know the following from users using XC, WCML and ECML routes:

GWML - Next week: heading off to Newport (i know the train will have an on-board buffet car and power sockets as GWML is my mainline!)
WCML - W/C 26th: Will be travelling to Wolverhampton on the Sunday night, although I cannot remember; does Virgin offer power sockets on their pendos? Then on the 26th pm i will be travelling onto Liverpool (guessing this is going to be an LM service which I am dreading) and then return on the 27th
GWML/XC - W/C 9th Nov: heading back onto the GWML to Gloucester, no issues there. 9th Nov evening I will be going to Leeds, any chance of shedding light as to whether XC HSTs serve Gloucs or would I have to change at Cheltenham to get a direct service which is most likely to be a Plymouth - Dundee? If so, do they have power sockets and wifi on board and a buffet car like GWR HST as the journey is pretty long?
ECML - 10th Nov evening i will be returning back, ideally would again like to catch a HST, do they have power sockets and wifi too?

Looking forward to returning to Liverpool LS after 15 years and Leeds, never been to Wolves, Newport & Gloucs, will try to take some snaps of my different TOCs and their trains

Iam sure someone will be along to give fuller details soon, but re: Virgin Pendolino/Voyager I think most seats have access to a power socket, and likewise on XC Voyagers/HSTs WiFi is available also, catering on XC on both types of train is an at seat service in both classes, don't know so much about EC services these days so I'll leave that for someone else.

 

[PHILIPE]

XC HSTs don't serve Gloucester.

 

[TheEdge]

XC HSTs don't serve Gloucester.

They do occasionally. I've caught them from there in the past. But if the OP specifically wants to catch one it would be a change at Cheltenham for a "big" train.

 

[jopsuk]

I think on VTWC in Standard the Pendolinos only have power at tables? 1st has it at every seat
VTEC have sockets (1 for every 2 seats) throughout standard and 1st.
Both VT have wifi, free in 1st, expensive in standard

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

On Birmingham-Liverpool, you can get any of 350/1, /2 or /3 units, all 4-car.
350/2 are high-density 2+3 commuter units (no tables), the others are regional 2+2 with some tables (with, I think, power points).
No catering on LM, or wifi.

You can always use Virgin over the route changing at Crewe or Stafford.

 

[sd0733]

On Birmingham-Liverpool, you can get any of 350/1, /2 or /3 units, all 4-car.
350/2 are high-density 2+3 commuter units (no tables), the others are regional 2+2 with some tables (with, I think, power points).
No catering on LM, or wifi.

You can always use Virgin over the route changing at Crewe or Stafford.

No power points in standard on the 350/1s however the 350/3s do have them fitted at all tables.

 

[najaB]

As noted above, Pendolinos have two sockets per table - except in the shop coach (normally C if memory serves) where there are no sockets. Voyagers have one power socket per two seats.

 

[Kite159]

As noted above, Pendolinos have two sockets per table - except in the shop coach (normally C if memory serves) where there are no sockets. Voyagers have one power socket per two seats.

Pendos have sockets in coach C, it is the shop coach on an east coast 91+mk4s which don't have sockets (coach H?)

 

[ainsworth74]

Pendos have sockets in coach C, it is the shop coach on an east coast 91+mk4s which don't have sockets (coach H?)

Yes H on Mk4 sets and in J on HSTs.

 

[najaB]

Pendos have sockets in coach C, it is the shop coach on an east coast 91+mk4s which don't have sockets (coach H?)

D'oh. Indeed they do - can't tell my East from my West!

 

[DarloRich]

WCML - W/C 26th: Will be travelling to Wolverhampton on the Sunday night, although I cannot remember; does Virgin offer power sockets on their pendos? Then on the 26th pm i will be travelling onto Liverpool (guessing this is going to be an LM service which I am dreading) and then return on the 27th

Virgin = 2 x sockets at each table seat only. All seats in first have sockets. There is wifi in cattle class, it isn't free.

Why dreading LM? Perfectly decent train for intra regional journeys. There are no plugs or wifi

GWML/XC - W/C 9th Nov: heading back onto the GWML to Gloucester, no issues there. 9th Nov evening I will be going to Leeds, any chance of shedding light as to whether XC HSTs serve Gloucs or would I have to change at Cheltenham to get a direct service which is most likely to be a Plymouth - Dundee? If so, do they have power sockets and wifi on board and a buffet car like GWR HST as the journey is pretty long?

Plugs in standard at each pair of seats and tables. No buffet but there is a trolley. You have my pity if that journey is by Voyager. the 1325/1425/1525/1825 of Plymouth are slated for HST operation on a Sunday. No idea if they stop at Gloucester but i doubt it.

there is wifi - it isnt free or good.

ECML - 10th Nov evening i will be returning back, ideally would again like to catch a HST, do they have power sockets and wifi too?

Sockets on all EC train ( except the EMT rake) except the buffet coach on a MKiv and the quiet coach on an HST

There is wifi but it isnt free

 

[Tetchytyke]

Why dreading LM? Perfectly decent train for intra regional journeys. There are no plugs

There is on the 350/3s, but only at table seats.

 

[DarloRich]

There is on the 350/3s, but only at table seats.

do the 350/3 turn up in Birmingham now? I didn't know that.

 

[atillathehunn]

Yes they turn up regularly. The 07.03 from Hartford to Birmingham is a regular 350/3 working for a start. They then turn up throughout the day.

 

[Steve14]

Cheers for the input folks!!!

 

[sd0733]

The only 350/3 diagram on Brum-Liverpool is officially

05:40 Crewe to Liverpool
06:30 Liverpool to Birmingham
08:36 Birmingham to Liverpool
10:34 Liverpool to Birmingham
12:36 Birmingham to Liverpool
14:34 Liverpool to Birmingham
16:36 Birmingham to Liverpool
18:34 Liverpool to Birmingham
20:36 Birmingham to Liverpool
22:34 Liverpool to Crewe

Although others do turn up on other diagrams and vice versa but that is a booked diagram for one.

 

[PHILIPE]

They do occasionally. I've caught them from there in the past. But if the OP specifically wants to catch one it would be a change at Cheltenham for a "big" train.

The OP is talking about the present time not the days when XC HST called there. There are a couple of XC Voyagers call there in the evening and 170s on Cardiff to Nottinghams throughout the day.

 

[TheEdge]

The OP is talking about the present time not the days when XC HST called there. There are a couple of XC Voyagers call there in the evening and 170s on Cardiff to Nottinghams throughout the day.

Yes, this was fairly recent, year or so ago.

 

[PHILIPE]

Yes, this was fairly recent, year or so ago.

The only XC (apart from 170s) that have called there in recent years have been the Voyagers in the evening, more for route retention than anything else. Can you provide details of the services although Engineering work at weekends could have seen some. I won't persue it any further myself.

 

[deltic]

Virgin Trains east coast have 15mins free wifi in Standard if you just need to download emails.

 

[221129]

Yes, this was fairly recent, year or so ago.

Only when on diversion via the Severn Tunnel.

 

[TEW]

One XC HST booked to Gloucester a week, outside the Summer only. 1V64, 1306 Edinburgh-Plymouth is an HST on Fridays Only, and runs via Gloucester. Other than that it would be weekend diversions via Severn Tunnel.

 

[BurtonM]

I think the presence of wifi is the more pressing matter, OP may well be able to claim it as a business expense.
Probably goes without saying but aisle seats in Standard on any train aren't going to have easy access to a socket.

 

[TEW]

In airline seats on GWR HSTs the sockets is located between the two seats, so can be easily accessed from either the aisle or window seat.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

If they actually work, had several which don't, good job I carry a 16,000mah battery pack with me.

 

[northwichcat]

Why dreading LM? Perfectly decent train for intra regional journeys.

A 350/2 is perfectly decent for a Liverpool to Birmingham service? And that's from the person who was saying 150s aren't good enough for Bedford to Bletchley in another thread.

It is worth noting that on most Birmingham-Liverpool services you can get an Advance First Class ticket for less than a walk on standard class ticket, so if you want to be sure you get a table and plug socket it might be worth getting one of them.

 

[47271]

In general I wouldn't rely on train wifi for business, it's too flakey. I have a 3G dongle for my work laptop, that way I can watch the quality of the signal and connect when the going's good.

Otherwise I save stuff to the machine and keep it offline, or at least don't depend on it being online. I refer to what I have on screen and send and receive most emails using a Blackberry.