All fares quoted are using a Seniors Railcard.
I live in Leicester and went on the 1800hrs HST to St Pancras on Monday evening, this train stops once at Mkt Harboro and arrived in St Pancras at 1914.
The single First class fare was £17.50 and I was able to use the lounge at Leics.
A walk up the back road to Euston and stopped for a quick pint in the Cock Tavern, this must be the worst pub in London, but it does have character.
A visit to the Virgin trains lounge at Euston but I was not very impressed.
90018 had brought the Highland Sleeper stock in, I think it was 048 that took us to Edinburgh. I had a couple of beers in the Lounge car before later having the Haggis, Cheesebord and a bottle of Red to help me sleep. The train ran more or less on time throughout and I paid £132 First class. I found the ride on the sleeper very good, plus the bonus of the Lounge Car is the sound of the old brake blocks in action.
For brekkie I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.
Arriving at Fort William on time, the Jacobite was waiting on the adjacent platform but I caught the 1030 coach to Inverness along Loch Ness which looked very beautiful in the autumn sunshine. (£11.60)
I had 2 hours to wait in Inverness so I ensconssed myself in the Royal Highland Hotel, a lovely Afternoon Tea for £7.50 inc coffee pot.
On the 1427 train to Aberdeen, 2x 2 sets of Class 158, I actually sat down in First Class at first not realising it was First, nothing on the windows etc which is probably because half the time they are running round as standard class. The fare was a miserly £5.60
As we passed Keith I remembered the time I went down the Dufftown branch with a Class 47 on the Royal Highlander tour.
I nightstopped at the Premier Inn City centre (£49) which is in walking distance from Aberdeen railway station.
Next morning the alarm went off at 0630 and I had a First Advance on the 0752 to Kings Cross. (£56.90), this was amazing value considering the huge amount of food and beverages given on the journey.
My seat was 57 in M coach great for me on the left hand side, but the ride on the ECML does seem rough in places.
The HST lost almost a minute at most stations north of the Forth possibly because the stations are staffed by Scotrail and they do not move the passengers to the correct part of the platform, also the passengers are not commuters and often have suitcases so it does slow the job down a bit.
Fortunately we clawed things back and arrived at Kings Cross on time.
A quick edit, as we thundered down Stoke Bank we passed the Mallard sign showing its 126mph record speed, I quickly looked at the speedview on my mobile,..... 126 mph.
I had a leisurely stroll across to St Pancras and caught the 1526 Meridian to Leicester, 62 mins. (£18.50)
All in all a good trip at reasonable fares but I could have done with a non travelling day in Scotland just to relax the body, i am not young anymore.
I live in Leicester and went on the 1800hrs HST to St Pancras on Monday evening, this train stops once at Mkt Harboro and arrived in St Pancras at 1914.
The single First class fare was £17.50 and I was able to use the lounge at Leics.
A walk up the back road to Euston and stopped for a quick pint in the Cock Tavern, this must be the worst pub in London, but it does have character.
A visit to the Virgin trains lounge at Euston but I was not very impressed.
90018 had brought the Highland Sleeper stock in, I think it was 048 that took us to Edinburgh. I had a couple of beers in the Lounge car before later having the Haggis, Cheesebord and a bottle of Red to help me sleep. The train ran more or less on time throughout and I paid £132 First class. I found the ride on the sleeper very good, plus the bonus of the Lounge Car is the sound of the old brake blocks in action.
For brekkie I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.
Arriving at Fort William on time, the Jacobite was waiting on the adjacent platform but I caught the 1030 coach to Inverness along Loch Ness which looked very beautiful in the autumn sunshine. (£11.60)
I had 2 hours to wait in Inverness so I ensconssed myself in the Royal Highland Hotel, a lovely Afternoon Tea for £7.50 inc coffee pot.
On the 1427 train to Aberdeen, 2x 2 sets of Class 158, I actually sat down in First Class at first not realising it was First, nothing on the windows etc which is probably because half the time they are running round as standard class. The fare was a miserly £5.60
As we passed Keith I remembered the time I went down the Dufftown branch with a Class 47 on the Royal Highlander tour.
I nightstopped at the Premier Inn City centre (£49) which is in walking distance from Aberdeen railway station.
Next morning the alarm went off at 0630 and I had a First Advance on the 0752 to Kings Cross. (£56.90), this was amazing value considering the huge amount of food and beverages given on the journey.
My seat was 57 in M coach great for me on the left hand side, but the ride on the ECML does seem rough in places.
The HST lost almost a minute at most stations north of the Forth
possibly because the stations are staffed by Scotrail and they do not move the passengers to the correct part of the platform, also the passengers are not commuters and often have suitcases so it does slow the job down a bit.Fortunately we clawed things back and arrived at Kings Cross on time.
A quick edit, as we thundered down Stoke Bank we passed the Mallard sign showing its 126mph record speed, I quickly looked at the speedview on my mobile,..... 126 mph.
I had a leisurely stroll across to St Pancras and caught the 1526 Meridian to Leicester, 62 mins. (£18.50)
All in all a good trip at reasonable fares but I could have done with a non travelling day in Scotland just to relax the body, i am not young anymore.
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