Kettering to St Pancras

[ian_uk1975]

Thinking of buying a house closer to Kettering than Northampton, where I currently commute from. Comparing the commute into London, I prefer the Meridian trains to the Desiro units operated by LM from Northampton... the Meridiens feel more like an aircraft cabin than a train and have roomier seats and a padded armrest... on the woefully inadequate LM green-seated coaches, you don't even get an arm rest and the seats themselves are too narrow meaning you get very familiar with the person sitting next to you. Aldo, St Pancras is a much nicer place to be than Euston. However, how busy are the peak-time services between Kettering and St Pancras? Are seats always available, or is it a fight to get a seat in the morning? Interested in any other general comments on the service. Oh, and quite how EMT justify charging so much more for season tickets for a similar distance than LM, I don't know... perhaps it's a reflection of increased running costs of diesel trains vs electric?

 

[andythebrave]

Thinking of buying a house closer to Kettering than Northampton, where I currently commute from. Comparing the commute into London, I prefer the Meridian trains to the Desiro units operated by LM from Northampton... the Meridiens feel more like an aircraft cabin than a train and have roomier seats and a padded armrest... on the woefully inadequate LM green-seated coaches, you don't even get an arm rest and the seats themselves are too narrow meaning you get very familiar with the person sitting next to you. Aldo, St Pancras is a much nicer place to be than Euston. However, how busy are the peak-time services between Kettering and St Pancras? Are seats always available, or is it a fight to get a seat in the morning? Interested in any other general comments on the service. Oh, and quite how EMT justify charging so much more for season tickets for a similar distance than LM, I don't know... perhaps it's a reflection of increased running costs of diesel trains vs electric?

When I used to travel daily from Bedford (less frequently in the last 3 years) I'd use services that had departed Kettering at (today's times) 0608 or 0809. Only on a handful of occasions had I to stand on the latter but that was due to 'after you' syndrome when boarding so no issue with seats from Kettering. Don't know about the other Kettering departures though. The later of those two is an HST which is infinitely better than a 222; more room and a lot quieter especially in the last carriage which regularly carried fewer than 20 passengers. I would rate the 350/1 as being more comfortable than the 222 too but the 350/2 is to be avoided in the peaks!
For some reason the northbound late afternoon services from St Pancras were always considerably busier than the morning southbound and it was always wise to be early, especially when the on platform queuing system was in place.

 

[AndyW33]

Unwise to do something as significant and expensive as buying a house based on what the train service and equipment used is now. The line is due to be electrified with work starting 2015/2016 and as the Meridians and HSTs are diesel they won't be around when the project is completed! We don't know what they will be replaced with as the DfT hasn't decided yet, of it they have they're keeping very quiet about it.

 

[A0]

Unwise to do something as significant and expensive as buying a house based on what the train service and equipment used is now. The line is due to be electrified with work starting 2015/2016 and as the Meridians and HSTs are diesel they won't be around when the project is completed! We don't know what they will be replaced with as the DfT hasn't decided yet, of it they have they're keeping very quiet about it.

This is a very valid concern - I can forsee both Kettering and Wellingborough losing out where quality of stock is concerned as a result of the MML electrification.

The best they'll end up with is an equivalent to Desiros with 2+2 seating. But I wouldn't be surprised if they end up with 3+2 seated units with some form of extension to some Bedford services.

The only way they'll get decent stock is if the services are for Leicester and beyond, but there seems to be a trend to stop fewer services from Leicester and beyond, instead focusing on driving more services to / from Corby.

 

[222001]

This is a very valid concern - I can forsee both Kettering and Wellingborough losing out where quality of stock is concerned as a result of the MML electrification.

The best they'll end up with is an equivalent to Desiros with 2+2 seating. But I wouldn't be surprised if they end up with 3+2 seated units with some form of extension to some Bedford services.

The only way they'll get decent stock is if the services are for Leicester and beyond, but there seems to be a trend to stop fewer services from Leicester and beyond, instead focusing on driving more services to / from Corby.

The current suggestion is Class 387s (110mph electrostars), on a half hourly Corby service...

 

[gordonthemoron]

The current suggestion is Class 387s (110mph electrostars), on a half hourly Corby service...

they should extend them to Melton

 

[HowardGWR]

Aldo, St Pancras is a much nicer place to be than Euston.

What is that, an italian restaurant?

 

[Kite159]

they should extend them to Melton

Agreed

Then that annoying section of uncovered track on my coverage map can be changed colour.