Some questions...

[mrcheek]

OK, so my 2 week 1st class ALR is getting ever closer!!!!
Ive decided most of the places I want to go, but would appreciate some information to help me make the final decisions.

So, can anyone tell me what units are used on the following routes, and do they have first class sections:
ATW Newport to Shrewsbury
ATW Shrewsbury to Pwlhelli
ATW Shrewsbury to Swansea
ATW Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog
FCC London to King's Lynn (also, does this go from Kings Cross or St Pancras now?)
Carlisle to Barrow (Cumbria Coast)
Carlisle to Newcastle
Carlisle to Leeds (vis Settle)
London Victoria to Littlehampton
Portsmouth to London (is this Victoria or Waterloo?)
Sunderland to Newcastle
ScotRail Edinburgh to Aberdeen
c2c Fenchurch to Southend

Thanks!!!

 

[90019]

ScotRail Edinburgh to Aberdeen

2x 170 with first class

 

[Darandio]

Carlisle to Newcastle
Sunderland to Newcastle

Could be 142's or 156's, just depends. This obviously means no first class.

 

[LilLoaf]

Newport - Shrewsburry is 158 or 175 (no 1st class)
Shrewsburry - Pwhelli is a 158 (no 1st class)
ATW Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog is a 150/153 (no 1st class)
FCC London to King's Lynn (also, does this go from Kings Cross or St Pancras now?) - is a 365 (with 1st class) dont think it goes to St Pancras
Carlisle to Barrow (Cumbria Coast) - 156/153/142 (no services diagramed but 142 could turn up no 1st class wither)
Carlisle to Newcastle - 156/142 (no 1st class)
Carlisle to Leeds (vis Settle) - 158 (no 1st class)
London Victoria to Littlehampton - 377 (1st class available)
Portsmouth to London (is this Victoria or Waterloo?) 377 to Victoria, 444 - 450 to Waterloo (1st class available)
Sunderland to Newcastle - 156/142 (no 1st class)
ScotRail Edinburgh to Aberdeen- 158/170 (1st class available)
c2c Fenchurch to Southend - 357 (no sure on 1st class)



Hope this helps.

I'm also doing a ALR aswell next week, seems to be the right time to do them, there are a few people doing them at the minute.

Enjoy your trip !!

 

[mrcheek]

thanks guys! Hope you have a good trip too LilLoaf!
ok, so one additional question that arises. On the Northern 156s, whats the seating formation? is it 3+2 or 2+2?

and I seem to recall someone before saying that c2c does not have first class. can anyone confirm this?

 

[Darandio]

Northern 156's = 2+2

 

[CCF23]

c2c doesn't have first class on any of its 357 units only a quiet zone. Chris

 

[Jordy]

Portsmouth to London (is this Victoria or Waterloo?) 377 to Victoria, 444 - 450 to Waterloo (1st class available)

Its worth noting that Waterloo is quicker, and the first class is much better. On the 377s the FC seating is the same as SC, i'd opt for South West Trains to Waterloo (444 hopefully if you choose the right service, 450 if not) personally.

 

[90019]

ScotRail Edinburgh to Aberdeen- 158/170 (1st class available)

Unlikely to be a 158 on Edinburgh-Aberdeen, but if it is a 170-158 then go on the 170 as the FC is a bit better

 

[LilLoaf]

I'm doing Waterloo to Portsmouth via Helesmere (thats probably nowhere near the right spelling but i'm not really sure whats its called) Will that be a 444 or a 450. Do the 450's have a buffet thing in them?

Also whats used for the Portsmouth to Brighton 1529 service?
Oh and how many carriages are generally on the 1719 Brighton - London Victoria.

On my ALR trip i'm planning to go to the following.
Newcastle (several times as its my local station)
Sheffield
Leicester
Birmingham
Derby
Cardiff
Darlington
Middlesbourgh
Bristol
London (Kings X, Paddington, Waterloo, Victoria, St Pancras, London Bridge)
Portsmouth
Brighton
Cheltenham
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Mount Florida
Newton
Partick
East Croydon (maybe)
Alnmouth
Morpeth
Dartford (maybe)


MrCheek where are you planning on going? Just out of interest.

 

[me123]

Unlikely to be a 158 on Edinburgh-Aberdeen, but if it is a 170-158 then go on the 170 as the FC is a bit better

I've never seen a 6 carriage (2x3) 170 on an Aberdeen run, although things may have changed in the recent timetable. I'm sure it has happened.

As has already been said, 158s and 170s together happen on the Aberdeen runs (there's at least a few booked a day to/from Queen Street) so go on the 170. There's a FC section at the front and rear of each turbostar, so if it's busy check both sides out. Also, be aware that on some services catering is only available in one portion of the train, so if you're going FC check this out to make sure you get all of what's available to you!

Another thing; the King's Lynn trains definitely go to Kings Cross! Except a couple a day booked to go to Liverpool Street, operated by NXEA. FCC trains carry First Class accommodation.

I've also heard good things about WSMR, and Virgin FC. Might be worthshile trying to squeeze them in if you want to!

 

[Jordy]

I'm doing Waterloo to Portsmouth via Helesmere (thats probably nowhere near the right spelling but i'm not really sure whats its called) Will that be a 444 or a 450. Do the 450's have a buffet thing in them?

That *should* be a 444 I think, 450s don't have buffets, 444s do.

 

[LilLoaf]

Well i hope it is a 444, i've been wanting to go on one for ages and they look really nice. Hope i'm not disapointed. If a 450 does turn up i'll just wait for the next service, they are pretty frequent Waterloo - Portsmouth (i think).

I forgot to check does the SWT go into Portsmouth Harbour or just as far as South Sea?

Does the Southern train from Portsmouth to Brighton go from Harbour or South Sea or both ?

 

[andylloyd]

Hi Mr.Cheek,
the Kings Lynn 365's run to/from London Kings Cross. They do indeed have first class compartments at the front/rear of the train.
Average journey time from Kings cross to Lynn is 1hr 40 mins However dependant on traffic etc you may be slightly early into Lynn....
Hope this helps you?
Andy

 

[90019]

I've never seen a 6 carriage (2x3) 170 on an Aberdeen run, although things may have changed in the recent timetable. I'm sure it has happened.

Fair enough, I was under the impression it was double 170s on Edinburgh-Aberdeen but I didn't think 158s did that one. Learn something new everyday

 

[mrcheek]

Thanks for all the info guys!
Ill post my full itinerary closer to the day I start.
One other route I thought of:
What units operate TPE from Manchester to Cleethorpes? and what other services go to Cleethorpes? I asume its Northern, but what units, and where do they go?

 

[Skarpur]

Thanks for all the info guys!
Ill post my full itinerary closer to the day I start.
One other route I thought of:
What units operate TPE from Manchester to Cleethorpes? and what other services go to Cleethorpes? I asume its Northern, but what units, and where do they go?

TPE Manchester to Cleethorpes is operated by 185s. Northern is the other operater that mainly serves Cleethorpes with services to Barton on Humber and there's also one train a day ran by EMT. Can't say what units I'm afraid, the EMT will be a 153/156 I guess, but have no idea what Northern send that way.

 

[LilLoaf]

Northern send 153's for the Barton branch.

TPE send 185's on the Manchester - Cleethropes service and 1st class is available.

 

[MCR247]

Bare in mind that most London-Porstmouth via Haslemere are 450s on Saturdays. The ones after 0900 inc the 0900 have trolley on the fast ones. Fast trains are every half hour (xx00 & xx30) with a slow service at xx45 which gets overtaken at Haslemere by the xx00. The xx45 service terminates at Porstmouth & Southsea. The services via Basingstoke are normally 444s on Saturdays.

HTH