London trip

[Yew]

Hey all,

Im thinking of going on a trip to london over easter, from either Lincoln or mansfield woodhouse (Uni or home ^^) and Im wondering how cheap i can get tickets, and if I can get on any intresting units. (HST's 225's stuff fun like that) would a sleeper be possible? i would like to sleep on a train one day.

Thanks, Yew
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extra; If i can getfirst class for the basic standard class price, im all for that, however if its going to be a lot of money extra ill give it a miss (those mk3's) look quite comfy anyway in standard.

 

[First class]

Single tickets from Lincoln-London start from as little as £10.50.

A day ticket valid for Zones 1+2 (mainly central London) costs £6.60.

Sleeper trains only run between London and Scotland/Cornwall so you won't really be able to go on one for this journey, although you could possibly see one at Euston (21:15).

Lincoln-London could potentially be done on by HST, Cl90, 222, 156, 153, 144, 180 etc... depends where you want to change and how much you want to pay!

 

[Yew]

06:17
Mansfield Woodhouse

06:58
Nottingham
Train EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS 00h 41
07:28
Nottingham

09:19
London St Pancras Intl
Train EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS 01h 51


thats from trainline, however its offering me a super off peak, that i imagine wouldnt be valid for this journey

 

[SS4]

If it comes up in the journey planner it's valid! Does seem strange how it can get into London at 9am and be valid

But buy off EMT's site rather than TheTrainLine because the latter charge a booking fee

 

[Yew]

Single tickets from Lincoln-London start from as little as £10.50.

A day ticket valid for Zones 1+2 (mainly central London) costs £6.60.

Sleeper trains only run between London and Scotland/Cornwall so you won't really be able to go on one for this journey, although you could possibly see one at Euston (21:15).

Lincoln-London could potentially be done on by HST, Cl90, 222, 156, 153, 144, 180 etc... depends where you want to change and how much you want to pay!

would that sleeper go down the ECML? as Its not impossible that i could get there.

I take it the shorter range trains (142, 150,)would mainly be for transfers? and that 10.50 ticket is a load of Bull, you cant actually get the train back, as it leaves before your out train arrives!

 

[dzug2]

06:17
Mansfield Woodhouse

06:58
Nottingham
Train EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS 00h 41
07:28
Nottingham

09:19
London St Pancras Intl
Train EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS 01h 51


thats from trainline, however its offering me a super off peak, that i imagine wouldnt be valid for this journey

If it's a weekend or bank holiday then yes it's valid

Don't forget the trainline charges fees that can be avoided by booking elsewhere.

 

[scotsman]

would that sleeper go down the ECML? as Its not impossible that i could get there.

No, the only calls in England (Carlisle, Crewe, Watford Junction) are crew changes or are to set down (southbound only) or to pick up (northbound only) only.

 

[Yew]

No, the only calls in England (Carlisle, Crewe, Watford Junction) are crew changes or are to set down (southbound only) or to pick up (northbound only) only.

Damn, I think ill have to make a three capitals trip, cardiff london, edinburgh, could be a good trip
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If it's a weekend or bank holiday then yes it's valid

Don't forget the trainline charges fees that can be avoided by booking elsewhere.

Yeah, i know of TTL's booking fee, and i set a theoretical date of tomorrow, thats why it came up. 30 somthing quid isnt bad . and im not sure if that was with railcards or not ^^

now to find a friend to drag along to the capital
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Just wondering, but what can I expect from first on this trip? i can get it for a few quid more, and i gether you get free coffee and snacks. but how do these things work, and what about any meals (i know its a short journey)

EDIT: Its looking to be a weekend service, so i imagine there could be some changes

 

[scotsman]

Just wondering, but what can I expect from first on this trip? i can get it for a few quid more, and i gether you get free coffee and snacks. but how do these things work, and what about any meals (i know its a short journey)

EDIT: Its looking to be a weekend service, so i imagine there could be some changes

You're travelling with EMT which basically means free Tea/Coffee on weekdays and nothing at all other times

 

[John @ home]

what can I expect from first on this trip?

If a trip to london over easter, from either Lincoln or mansfield woodhouse then the more limited weekend service will apply from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Details depend on which train company you use and when you travel. On East Coast, expect biscuits, tea, coffee or water at weekends. The weekday offering is described in their Onboard section. There will be more substantial food and drink included in the First Class ticket price from 22 May.

East Midlands Trains' First Class offering is described here. They claim to have upgraded the weekday service recently. I haven't tried it yet. At weekends, I remember having to show my First Class ticket at the buffet car to get my complimentary cup of coffee.

 

[Yew]

thanks. I was looking and different parts of their website said different things, however i beleive its free tea and coffee as thats what ive seen most, however OJ and newspapers are weekdays only. I take it you show your ticket to the buffet car to get the tea and coffe free? and will there be a buffet car for if we decide to eat? (sorry, but these long distace trains are a lot different from a sprinter or pacer ^^

 

[scotsman]

thanks. I was looking and different parts of their website said different things, however i beleive its free tea and coffee as thats what ive seen most, however OJ and newspapers are weekdays only. I take it you show your ticket to the buffet car to get the tea and coffe free? and will there be a buffet car for if we decide to eat? (sorry, but these long distace trains are a lot different from a sprinter or pacer ^^

It might be at seat service in First, but there will be a trolley going through the rest of the train

 

[Yew]

Ive ordered my tickets today, me and a friend, however on one leg it says seats 18and 19A (or somthing, one aisle, one window ) im assuming thats next to eachother right?

However we have 22 and 26 on the way back, those are both windows. would that be on a tabled seat, or are we other sides of the train. so im wondering are these reservations like firm? or is it just a way measuring the amoutn of seats they have? if we needed could we sit in the dining car with a free cup of coffe the whole journey if there is no way of sitting together in the normal carriage

 

[scotsman]

Ive ordered my tickets today, me and a friend, however on one leg it says seats 18and 19A (or somthing, one aisle, one window ) im assuming thats next to eachother right?

However we have 22 and 26 on the way back, those are both windows. would that be on a tabled seat, or are we other sides of the train. so im wondering are these reservations like firm? or is it just a way measuring the amoutn of seats they have? if we needed could we sit in the dining car with a free cup of coffe the whole journey if there is no way of sitting together in the normal carriage

Possibly, could just be the reservations system though. For the return journey, it sounds as though you are sitting opposite each other. There is no such thing as 'the dining car' on EMT - it's just a 1st Class coach with a kitchen/shop (depending on the train) - you will be thrown out/PF'd if you sit there.

Also, you are not obliged to sit in your reserved seats so feel free to sit anywhere that's unreserved (Quiet coach is usually a good bet)

 

[ainsworth74]

However we have 22 and 26 on the way back, those are both windows. would that be on a tabled seat, or are we other sides of the train. so im wondering are these reservations like firm? or is it just a way measuring the amoutn of seats they have? if we needed could we sit in the dining car with a free cup of coffe the whole journey if there is no way of sitting together in the normal carriage

Depends on what train you're on (HST or 222). On the HST 22 and 26 are at a table in one coach in the rest of the train they are separate air line seats. On 222s 22 and 26 are at tables but they aren't window seats. (Assuming you're travelling standard if you're in first I will have to look again).

The reservation is 'firm' in that you are booked into that seat, you do not have to seat there however. If you're travelling on advance tickets then technically you do have to sit in your assigned seat but I've never seen a guard enforce that rule.

Also on EMT there is no such thing a dining car where you could sit for a whole journey, there is a buffet where you can buy things but that is it, there isn't a dedicated seating area for buffet customers.

 

[Yew]

Its first, as it cost barely anything more between us. how quiet are quiet coaches Btw? are they like silent, or just a way of keeping away from large groups of people who can be very loud at times?

 

[scotsman]

Its first, as it cost barely anything more between us. how quiet are quiet coaches Btw? are they like silent, or just a way of keeping away from large groups of people who can be very loud at times?

Never travelled EMT, in general they range from silent on daytime services to completely ignored on late weekend services. Since your travelling on cheap 1st class tickets, it suggests that there's plenty of seats anyway - 1st class is rarely full!

 

[bb21]

You won't get anything in First Class with EMT at weekends apart from a cup of tea/coffee. The trolley attendant sees to it and records whatever FC customers ordered. You'll be lucky if they come around twice in a trip as they have to serve Standard Class too. If you board at Sheffield, you might be lucky that they would come around again after Leicester for a second cuppa, however I have not been served more than once between Leicester and London for a good few months.

 

[Yew]

Hello Mates, I did my trip uesterday, so here is my Report

Train there.

From nottingham to london The outbound journey was a HST, first class had luxorious seats more confortable than my sofa, well sprung, with leather headrests and the ability to recline. The mark three coaches where superbly smooth, and very quiet, with only a slight occasional squeek from the couplings to the adjacent carriages.

Tea and coffee where offered complimentary, however there was no buffet availave (that i could see anyway, maybe i didnt look hard enough) Prices on board where very reasonalbe, with most items being less expensive than buying on the platform vending machines.

The HST reached a Top speed of 114mph according to my iphone, however i imagine this would have been 110-112, with errors from my iphone GPS. Even during acceleration the train was smooth, quite and confortable. However some of the leather on the seat frames was scuffed and dirty. I imagine there is a regular cleaning schedule (litter picks every service, hoovering once a week, then maybe doing leather and stuff once a month? a stitch in time saves nine)

The train arrived outside STP about 5 mins early, however we had to wait for another train to leave before we had platform space.

LONDON

We didnt really have a plan of what to do, covent garden, hart drock cafe, nandos, soho, china town, waterloo and embankment, ST jameses park, then the pub until our train came. However i see why people like london now.

The return Journey was in a class 222 meridian first class accomodation. Whereas the HST felt more like a luxury train, The meridian felt much more like buisness class. The seats where much harder, but all leather, overall slighly less confortable, however I imagine some people prefer the increased priviacy from the higher backs, and the train did feel newer, as it is, but the main gripe I had was a rattle on the overhead luggage racks, the main disadvantage of being a DMU, The ride was as comfortable as the MK 3, however felt firmer, both in suspension and seating, but in some situations this was bigger, as i felt that sometimes 3's seemed to be just a bit..... well, the 222 would go over a bump, and that was the end of it, hoever the 3 was smoother, but kind of dragged it out a bit longer.)



Ill talk about tube trains if people want?

 

[paul@skegby.org.]

I did a very similar trip yesterday.
Went from Chesterfield, normally would go from Mansfield via Nottingham, but yesterday was a lazy day and car to Chesterfield, the car parks better.

Got 222 both ways, 1st class generally is very good, don’t think you can bet the HST though, my opinion.

I got the 06:37 out, in first class all the table were laid with cups, glasses & sugar bowls, I have to say that they vibrated and rattled a bit, just after Derby they were all collected up and stowed away, why they were out in the first place I don’t know.

I got offered drinks twice both ways.

Complimentary Wi-Fi, going down was find but on the return I had no end of problems staying connected so gave up.

 

[MCR247]

From nottingham to london The outbound journey was a HST, first class had luxorious seats more confortable than my sofa, well sprung, with leather headrests and the ability to recline. The mark three coaches where superbly smooth, and very quiet, with only a slight occasional squeek from the couplings to the adjacent carriages.

Jeez, I was on the 1828 Nottingham - London and the ride quality was absolutely shocking. My soup that I ordered spilt, I had to hold onto the free orange juice they give you in first class

 

[Yew]

Jeez, I was on the 1828 Nottingham - London and the ride quality was absolutely shocking. My soup that I ordered spilt, I had to hold onto the free orange juice they give you in first class

How odd, I didnt even spill my coffee ( i had the lid off) maybe it was just a bad unit? dampers gone or somthing? Or maybe its just my familiarity with pacers (im starting to find the bouncing soothing now :/)

 

[ainsworth74]

How odd, I didnt even spill my coffee ( i had the lid off) maybe it was just a bad unit? dampers gone or somthing?

Not sure it is, the two times I've used HSTs in first class (both on EC sets) there has been a heck of a lot more movement both laterally and vertically than I find you get on most units (excluding Pacers ) and Mk4 stock. This last Wednesday eating a Full English whilst heading southbound from Darlington was quite an interesting dining experience what with the movement of the train!

 

[Yew]

I did a very similar trip yesterday.
Went from Chesterfield, normally would go from Mansfield via Nottingham, but yesterday was a lazy day and car to Chesterfield, the car parks better.

Got 222 both ways, 1st class generally is very good, don’t think you can bet the HST though, my opinion.

I got the 06:37 out, in first class all the table were laid with cups, glasses & sugar bowls, I have to say that they vibrated and rattled a bit, just after Derby they were all collected up and stowed away, why they were out in the first place I don’t know.

I got offered drinks twice both ways.

Complimentary Wi-Fi, going down was find but on the return I had no end of problems staying connected so gave up.

Skegby, thats not far away from me, im a woodhouse lad

I think EMT have got it just right there, the 222's dosome shorter journeys with more stops (where buisness people will be) and better acceleration to make better time in the long run. sometimes i did feel the 222 FC was like a boardroom (apart from that damn rattling, is there a way of reporting stuff so it gets fixed#?)


then 125's for long intercity journeys, more comfortable and luxorious.
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Not sure it is, the two times I've used HSTs in first class (both on EC sets) there has been a heck of a lot more movement both laterally and vertically than I find you get on most units (excluding Pacers ) and Mk4 stock. This last Wednesday eating a Full English whilst heading southbound from Darlington was quite an interesting dining experience what with the movement of the train!

I think its because its very sprung, the ride is softer, however proba bly bounces around a bit more? however the stiffer suspension on the 222's give a harder ride but once you go over somthing its done, rather than some aftershocks?

 

[paul@skegby.org.]

Both 222 I travelled on had the cloth seat covering, guess these have yet to be refurbished.