HST or Azuma to Edinburgh?

[Mitchell Hurd]

Hello there. This year's looking unlikely for my first trip to Scotland (hopefully spring 2020 if not this year) but not impossible.

(For a weekday when XC's 17:03 from New Street is also an HST) I'm quite torn whether to go from Oxford (14:13 service) via Birmingham New Street where I'll likely make the XC HST 16:03 to Edinburgh compared to catching the 14:39 Manchester service, arriving at around 21:10. The HST has been the train of my childhood (first train trip possibly was an HST in around 1995/1996). I'm 26 now. I've never been on an HST north of Preston and York.

The IET's (known as Azumas on LNER routes) I'm slowly preferring more than an HST. LNER have a virtual tour of one on their website. Plus, I believe I've read that LNER provide a way better service than XC.

(If anyone could give me a bit of advice, assuming you were me) So, what advice would you give me for when I make my first trip to Scotland (Edinburgh) - 14:13 from Oxford (which starts from Reading and is not busy) then the HST from Birmingham New Street at 16:03 or get the 14:13 to York then swap to an 800 on the 17:55ish Aberdeen service?

If you think I should go via York, then I'll probably go on say a Tuesday and return on the Sunday. From Edinburgh, it'd be the scheduled HST at 09:08 via Birmingham New Street then the 14:33 from there to Oxford.

I'm autistic too.

There's no right or wrong answer .

 

[Esker-pades]

The introduction of IETs on LNER routes is looking unlikely this year. I certainly wouldn't plan a trip anytime soon for an IET. It is rumoured that the first services that will become IET operated are the ones currently operated by the on-hire EMT HST set (the LNER services to Hull plus a return to Leeds during the day). Therefore, I advise going with the HST from Birmingham New Street as getting an IET is very unlikely.

 

[The_Train]

The way I see it is that the HSTs are going to disappear before the IETs so my advice would be to enjoy the HSTs at every opportunity while you can

 

[ainsworth74]

There are currently no IETs in service with LNER and will probably not be until May/June at the earliest. Even when they do current expectations are they will appear on Leeds services before they appear on the Anglo-Scot route to Edinburgh and beyond.

If your trip is in 2020 then its much more likely that IETs will feature heavily for LNER but if you're intending to do it in the next six months then I'd be surprised if any train to Aberdeen was an IET rather than HST.

Which means that if I was in your position I'd change for an HST at Birmingham.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Right, thanks . I remember talking to a member of staff at Birmingham New Street on the 24/08/18 by the 12:17 Plymouth train (when an HST during the Derby works) and being advised to take the 16:03.

Birmingham New Street is also the first biggest station I saw nearly 25 years ago too. I'd change at Derby which is quieter but there's a 2tph service most of the time to and from Oxford and Birmingham New Street.

There is of course the direct 15:13 from Oxford but there's something not entirely right about the Voyagers that I'm not keen spending just over 6 hours in one (less seats and not that good seating layout I think). Yes I've appreciated them properly since July 2014 but still. If only that 15:13 was diagrammed for an HST, which it sadly isn't, then I'd happily risk it (I've spent just over 5 hours in a Voyager on anyway - 17:25 from Plymouth to Preston in March 2005 when with Mum. Surprisingly good trip that was )!

Also as this originates from Southampton Central at around 13:45, I bet people won't decide to go via London with Southern (from Southampton Central) / SWR and LNER.

 

[Failed Unit]

I am planning a trip up to Inverness in December 2019. I am expecting that to be a HST from what I understand. Wonder what they will do in 2020. Start begging for an extension to the compatibility laws. Ironically this trip was to try out the IEP

 

[cactustwirly]

Hmm there's a lot of hysteria regarding IET introduction, I'm fairly confident that it'll happen soon, once the signal issues are sorted.

I'd definately get the XC HST though, it's much more comfortable than an IET!

You live near Oxford right? Try a GWR IET, the LNER ones are identical, except the interior is red instead of grey/green (ok the also have a buffet counter, and slightly more first class)

 

[route101]

Could going via London an option , you would get HST from Kings Cross all the way up ! Whsts preventing you from going this year?

 

[xotGD]

By next year you'll be able to get a Class 68 on a TPE service between Leeds and Northallerton to add some interest to the journey.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Could going via London an option , you would get HST from Kings Cross all the way up ! Whsts preventing you from going this year?

I need more time to save money, plus I want to do 2 other trips - 1 to Leeds and 1 to St. Austell. Where I live you can go from Oxford or Didcot Parkway depending where you're going to. Also, 2020 is a new decade.

Thanks for saying about Kings Cross though. But Oxford was the first station I boarded a train (99.9% sure was an HST) and Birmingham New Street is the biggest station I first came across. All of which was in 1995/1996.

 

[route101]

I need more time to save money, plus I want to do 2 other trips - 1 to Leeds and 1 to St. Austell. Where I live you can go from Oxford or Didcot Parkway depending where you're going to. Also, 2020 is a new decade.

Thanks for saying about Kings Cross though. But Oxford was the first station I boarded a train (99.9% sure was an HST) and Birmingham New Street is the biggest station I first came across. All of which was in 1995/1996.

Yeah , you could go from Oxford still to London then from Kings x. Im looking at doing a few rail trips too , trying to find time for it

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Hello again. To cut a long story short, I won't need to spend a lot on my Edinburgh trip next year if I go and that I won't need to buy an Advance Single.

I'd be going on a day where the 16:03 and 17:03 from Birmingham New Street are booked for an HST (I'd go for the 16:03 and have the 17:03 as a back up if the 16:03 is a Voyager and the 17:03 is an HST - I'd rather arrive at Edinburgh around 22:15 on an HST than on a packed Voyager around 21:30).

I know both could be Voyagers but this is assuming that the HST runs and that I catch the 14:13 from Oxford to Birmingham New Street either on time or arrive at New Street with enough time to spare.

I'll be doing CrossCountry - me and XC services and HST's go back as far as like 25 years basically.

Seat reservation and formation wise, I know that the correct formation for northbound XC HST's is coach G at the front and coach A at the rear.

I'll be doing Standard Class.

Now, do I reserve a seat virtually opposite the luggage racks at the end of coaches C, D, E and F facing towards coach B which would be on the sea view side (north of Newcastle)? Or do I reserve a seat in one of the table seats in Coach G which on the online seating plan has 4 luggage symbols?

Or do I just go for any window table seat in C, D, E, F or G and just be happy I'm on an HST on my first trip to Scotland (Edinburgh though) rather than fuss over seat types if that makes sense?

If I'm not sat on the sea view side then I'll try and get a photo of the sea where appropriate.


I know XC can't guarantee direction of travel which if I'm fine with. But it's a confusing for me sort of that coach G is meant to be the front coach on Scotland-bound XC HST's.

I'm likely to have a small or medium suitcase with me. The luggage racks will be of great use but also to groups of more than one.

If anyone has safely fitted a suitcase in the overhead racks on the XC HST's then by all means tell me.

Hope this all helps.

I know autistic people like myself hope for too much but there are some things I'm like 'Yeah, fine no problem or happily 'wha' with.

 

[gaillark]

Hello there. This year's looking unlikely for my first trip to Scotland (hopefully spring 2020 if not this year) but not impossible.

(For a weekday when XC's 17:03 from New Street is also an HST) I'm quite torn whether to go from Oxford (14:13 service) via Birmingham New Street where I'll likely make the XC HST 16:03 to Edinburgh compared to catching the 14:39 Manchester service, arriving at around 21:10. The HST has been the train of my childhood (first train trip possibly was an HST in around 1995/1996). I'm 26 now. I've never been on an HST north of Preston and York.

The IET's (known as Azumas on LNER routes) I'm slowly preferring more than an HST. LNER have a virtual tour of one on their website. Plus, I believe I've read that LNER provide a way better service than XC.

(If anyone could give me a bit of advice, assuming you were me) So, what advice would you give me for when I make my first trip to Scotland (Edinburgh) - 14:13 from Oxford (which starts from Reading and is not busy) then the HST from Birmingham New Street at 16:03 or get the 14:13 to York then swap to an 800 on the 17:55ish Aberdeen service?

If you think I should go via York, then I'll probably go on say a Tuesday and return on the Sunday. From Edinburgh, it'd be the scheduled HST at 09:08 via Birmingham New Street then the 14:33 from there to Oxford.

I'm autistic too.

There's no right or wrong answer .

Nothing wrong being Autistic. You have great focus on attention to detail.
I,d go on the HST whilst they are still around. 1st class on a hst feels first class with curtains and quality carpets. The new LNER iet trains don't have the interior ambience although they are better than the GWR ones.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Nothing wrong being Autistic. You have great focus on attention to detail.
I,d go on the HST whilst they are still around. 1st class on a hst feels first class with curtains and quality carpets. The new LNER iet trains don't have the interior ambience although they are better than the GWR ones.

I like the 'attention to detail' - reminds me of watching Lads (and Bad Lads) Army!

Basically, I was just asking for tips in which to book - any window (preferable to an aisle) table seat on the HST's to keep things plain and simple or do I go for the seat virtually opposite the luggage rack, that's not only more useful for larger groups but if backwards I get to see the sea view or if not at least it's forward facing.

 

[221129]

The 1703 is only a HST on a Thursday and only until September.

Book any window seat as there is no way of knowing which way round the set will be.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

The 1703 is only a HST on a Thursday and only until September.

Book any window seat as there is no way of knowing which way round the set will be.

Right, thanks. Even I know that but XC on JourneyCheck basically state (for northbound HST's) that the correct formation is First Class at the rear and the front for reverse.

I'll see how big my suitcase is though.

Thanks for the advice either way !

 

[cactustwirly]

Right, thanks. Even I know that but XC on JourneyCheck basically state (for northbound HST's) that the correct formation is First Class at the rear and the front for reverse.

I'll see how big my suitcase is though.

Thanks for the advice either way !

The HSTs can be either way round (same for EMT)

 

[221129]

Right, thanks. Even I know that but XC on JourneyCheck basically state (for northbound HST's) that the correct formation is First Class at the rear and the front for reverse.

I'll see how big my suitcase is though.

Thanks for the advice either way !

Yes, but they are constantly turning. Out of the 4 sets in traffic I would say at least 2 of them are the 'wrong' way round.

 

[Esker-pades]

Yes, but they are constantly turning. Out of the 4 sets in traffic I would say at least 2 of them are the 'wrong' way round.

What counts as the 'right' way round for XC?

 

[DarloRich]

HST while you can. Lots of time to ride on an Azuma thing

 

[221129]

What counts as the 'right' way round for XC?

TGS leading North bound and Trailing south bound.