TPE First Class to Newcastle

[Vespa]

So I'm planning a trip to Newcastle to see the Tyne and Wear metro system for the first time.
I'm considering fare options and cheapest I could find is £52 advance return, now I usually like travelling First Class the ticket, not yet priced up First Class, as far as I can see the seats are not that much different from standard apart from a headrest and 2+4 seating arrangement.

What about food offerings or First Class lounges ?

If there is none I'm not sure I can justify an upgrade if all you're getting is a slightly better seat.

If there is none

 

[superalbs]

The seating arrangement is 2+1, thankfully!

As for refreshment service, they definitely did in 2019, but I don't know what they are doing right now.

 

[J-P_L]

At the minute all catering is suspended on TPE services including first class and hasn’t yet been announced when it will be returning, so it would be just a bigger seat and a bit more space with the 2+1 seating (and generally a quiet carriage).

No first class lounge access on TPE services except at Huddersfield (Not sure if it is open with the pandemic).

If you are travelling on a weekend or a bank holiday there is the option of getting a cheap standard advance and paying the Weekend Upgrade on the train to first which is £10 or £15 each way depending on where you are travelling from (LIV/NLW/LEG/MCV/HUD/DEW/LDS to Newcastle is £15, York (and stations in between) to Newcastle is £10.

 

[Vespa]

I've gone ahead and booked tickets to Newcastle, hotels booked 3 nights, I was allocated seats but since I put my preferences in, they changed it, unfortunately I can't see any seat plan for TPE carriages to see what's it like, I wonder if there is a kinky otherwise I might take my chances and If I see a better vacant seat I may grab it.

I remember Virgin trains having an online seat selector so you can see what the seat configuration is like, it was very useful as I would know exactly what I'm getting.

I've never been to Newcastle or ridden the Metro line before, it's one of 4 cities with underground ststions in Britain, the other 3 are London, Liverpool and Glasgow, done all 3, Newcastle is final tick in my box.

Hope it goes well, any tips for Newcastle ?

 

[_toommm_]

I've gone ahead and booked tickets to Newcastle, hotels booked 3 nights, I was allocated seats but since I put my preferences in, they changed it, unfortunately I can't see any seat plan for TPE carriages to see what's it like, I wonder if there is a kinky otherwise I might take my chances and If I see a better vacant seat I may grab it.

I remember Virgin trains having an online seat selector so you can see what the seat configuration is like, it was very useful as I would know exactly what I'm getting.

I've never been to Newcastle or ridden the Metro line before, it's one of 4 cities with underground ststions in Britain, the other 3 are London, Liverpool and Glasgow, done all 3, Newcastle is final tick in my box.

Hope it goes well, any tips for Newcastle ?

You’ll be on a Nova 1 to Newcastle; the seating plan is below:

Train Seating Plans | Download Plans | TransPennine Express

Take a look at our seating plans for all our trains. Download seating plans today.

www.tpexpress.co.uk

 

[Techniquest]

My best tip for Newcastle is on the Metro. No doubt you already know this anyway, but the Metro cars are similar to the DLR with views out the front available. My recommendation heading to South Hylton would be to try and get those seats at the back of the train on the outward run, ready to enjoy the forward direction back to Newcastle.

Another tip is that the platform change at Hebburn is via a footbridge, but with the long ramps it takes a fair bit of time to do. So I'd not plan for too tight a connection there.

Tynemouth and Whitley Bay are nice stations, worth a visit if only to see how vastly different it is now compared to how it would have been in BR operation.

Somewhere around the Longbenton area, the Blyth and Tyne freight line runs alongside the Metro. Same story around Jarrow.

Heworth needs a mention. I don't know know if they're still as bad, but the public lavatories outside the station certainly used to be notorious for the strong stench. Only ever recommended to use them in a desperate situation, and that was just for fluids release. Anything else you'd need to be beyond desperate... Of course, this was a handful of years ago, so it could all be better by now, however I am doubtful.

Heaton depot can be at least partially viewed from Chillingham Road on the Metro. I do believe there is a better vantage point very close to the same station, although I confess it's been too many years since I went there to remember this for sure.

I'm of course assuming it's still there, but going back to Hebburn briefly, there is also a small Asda a few-ish minutes walk away. Could be ideal for some short-notice snacks/fluids purchasing, that kind of thing. Mind you if it's open currently, there is a small Sainsburys on Newcastle Central too.

Overall, I liked the Metro on my visits and I will have to make a trip to sample it again before the new trains arrive. I seem to remember I have a few years to go yet for that. It's a good value network, and I suspect you'll enjoy it.

In terms of tips for Newcastle itself, I've got to be honest I've hardly spent time in the city, so I can't really help you there. The few times I have been there, that weren't rail-based days, featured pubs and beers. So I don't recall too much of that Other times involved stepping off the overnight Megabus and straight to the Metro to race over to Sunderland in time for the Grand Central HST back to London. Ahh the days when I could afford to turn up on a last minute trip to London, get a short notice Megabus fare to cover me for hundreds of miles and then still afford an on the day GC Only fare all the way from Sunderland to London. One feels a fair bit of nostalgia coming on this evening...

I will say this much though, have an amazing time!

 

[Mike99]

Sainsbury on Newcastle Central was open on the last Bank Holiday Monday

 

[swt_passenger]

I think one of the relatively unsung features of the Metro is the Byker Viaduct, it’s not exactly Alton Towers but it’s quite unusual in the way it curves in 3 dimensions.

Newcastle is a fairly compact city centre, a walk between Haymarket and Central will cover much of it.

 

[Vespa]

Thanks for your tips its certainly helpful, I'll try to do a trip report when I get back.

Thanks all

 

[Segedunum]

Just to advise that the very front seat on Metro trains is currently off-limits to give the driver space to get in and out of the cab while remaining at least somewhat distanced from other passengers. However it is *only* the front seat and so a decent view is still available.

Further to above, Heworth toilets are closed. Other than Whitley Bay (?) there are no toilets on the system so your best bet is Central Station. There's also a McDonald's opposite South Shields Station.

Ilford Road is not a station to change platforms at due to the lack of footbridge. An all-zones Daysaver is also valid on Northern from Sunderland if you wish to have a change.

In terms of the stock, the unrefurbished sets currently aren't in operation, so no 4001/2/40/83.

Finally be mindful of engineering works, this coming weekend there is no service Wallsend-Tynemouth and I believe the final weekend this month there's no service Wallsend-Shiremoor.

 

[Vespa]

Cheers I'll keep an eye out, I'm there on the 9th through to 12th.

 

[47403]

At Pelaw theres a short walk down the hill, turn left and theres a takeaway Jazz n Jays, which is very reasonable and has plenty to chose from, theres a Gregg's too, Aldi and a Lidl, also a cash point at the post office. Gateshead has a multitude of shops, massive Tesvos only 2mins walk, plus Burger King and Subway. Also public toilets near a Costa. Keep an eye on Realtime trains too if your going towards Sunderland, most of the Tyne-Drax workings go down the Durham coast. Also the Tyne Dock - Lynemouth biomass trains go through Pelaw towards Newcastle Central. You've probably been by now but hopefully any another reading this may find these helpful.

 

[Vespa]

Cheers I'll keep an eye out for that next time I go back, I covered a lot ground over the long weekend, Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Whitely Bay station market day, Segundunum Metro station also known as Wallsend, the Newcastle underground stations, the city wall and of course the actual Castle itself, Gateshead is going through a redevelopment which is looking good.

I plan to visit the Stephenson centre next time I go back and Beamish.

Newcastle is a lot nicer than I expected, I expected to be grim and the accent indecipherable, it seems the city has been smartened up recently and the accent is mellowed a lot from from "Auf Weidersehen Pet"

 

[47403]

Newcastle still has a great reputation for being a party City at weekends, well pre covid it did. The Geordie accent is a thing of beauty, a joy to listen to, however when 2 of us natives are together, good luck trying to keep up and understand us but I'm the same in Glasgow. If you've never been to Beamish, make a right day of it. I love it there, the tickets in are for a year. The old trams and buses, will appeal to many on here, as will the small train journey. Dont leave without getting stuff from old fashioned sweet shop and the bakers. The fish n chips in pit village are to die for too, slightly pricey and the queues can take a while but trust me they're well worth it.