So, my son and I are going to watch Liverpool v Swansea on 31st October. Normally this would involve a quick dash up the WCML. However, as it's half-term week we thought we'd go the long way. Why not?
So, it's the sleeper to Inverness on the 30th. A trip back down the HML (this time in daylight) to Glasgow. And then a dash down the northern WCML to Wigan before a gentle stroll across to Liverpool.
Unfortunately the return journey is direct but will be no less fun for it.
Will do a little Trip Report if all goes to plan.
Lee
And here it is...
My first trip report. Sorry, no pics. May be next time.
My son and I are both firm fans of the Sleepers and take any opportunity to use them. So, with a half-term (he’s only 8) mid-week game at Anfield we hatch a plan. We decide that Inverness will be our destination followed by a trip down the HML and WCML to Liverpool before returning home the following day.
Approval is sought from mum and tickets are purchased. Living in Stevenage and a boarding time of 20.30 I am not surprised that my son suggests the 19.07 to King’s Cross. He’ll always go with an EC service even if it puts us in London 45mins early. We purchase 1st Class singles and for the first time in many a trip are offered a drink and snack on this short journey. I understand why it’s not normally offered but given it was done on this trip (albeit cold drinks only) it does make my wonder why it isn’t at other times.
Anyhow, we arrive on time at King’s Cross and walk up to Euston where we arrive at 19.45. A request to see the Sleeper arrive means a walk to platform 15 with 20 minutes spent watching the coming and goings before a 90 brings the stock in. It’s not quite 20.30 so it’s a quick trip to WH Smith for a magazine or two before boarding our ‘hotel’ for the night.
We’re in coach N so it’s a short walk before we are greeted by our host and shown to our room. They never get any bigger but we quickly put the bags away and head back on to the platform for the walk back to the lounge car. We take our seats and are immediately offered the chance to make a purchase. The staff on sleepers are first rate and a credit to their employers. A cup of coffee and hot chocolate soon arrive with the promised treat of a Kit Kat (just don’t tell mum!!). Departure is bang on time and soon we are at Watford Junction to collect some more passengers. Once up to speed we return to our room and settle in for the night.
I’m not sure how the new franchise is going to work out but for me Wi-Fi and plugs is a must. And why not offer a cooked breakfast for £15? Surely plenty of takers. I doubt the berths will change much in size given the limitations and I find them more than adequate for a good night’s sleep. We both sleep for the full journey, rarely waking up before morning. For what it’s worth, I’m writing this article in Nigeria (work trip) and my Business Class ticket cost over £4000. I mention this because for that money you get a ‘flatbed’ and a bit of food. Infinitely better than economy but nothing like what the sleeper can offer. I wonder if anybody has considered using similar seats/beds on a train. I’m not suggesting get rid of rooms but a carriage with 50+ 'flatbed' seats would offer more revenue opportunities than horrible MkII coaches. If people pay silly money for airline tickets why charge £19 for a single to Fort William; madness!! How about ‘flatbed seats’ £50 single, berth in a double room £75 and berth in a single room £150. Breakfast £7.50/£15 continental/cooked. We paid £95 each.
Arrival is on-time at Inverness which is bathed in autumn sunshine. A Latte, bacon roll (2 freshly cooked rashers) and large croissant are purchased for £4.50 at the small café on the station; not bad, price and taste. We’re on the 09.41 to Edinburgh so no time to waste and we board the 170. There’s plenty of space and a good mix between airline and table seats. I do like these units but travelling through the Highlands makes the experience far more appealing. The clouds roll in by the time we get to Blair Athol and it’s raining when we have to get off at Perth for the connection to Glasgow Queen Street. The connection works perfectly and before long we arrive at our ‘mid-way’ point.
We grab a KFC in case the 1st Class offering on Virgin is not up to standard. A wise decision as it turned out. My son is very impressed with Glasgow Central (quite rightly) and for some reason calls those brown and cream 314’s ‘special trains’. Go figure?? We board the 14.40 to Euston and leave on time but after only 10 minutes we run slowly for a few miles behind what turns out to be a freight train. This time is not recovered before Wigan and gets worse as we miss our paths through the busy Carlisle and Preston stations.
The food on Virgin is sometime ok and sometimes rubbish and it’s this inconsistency that I find frustrating. Both of us would not have eaten the selections offered and if it wasn’t for the earlier KFC would have gone hungry. Yes, tea, coffee and cold drinks with a few snack options but why oh why can I not choose to have something more substantial if I choose to pay for it? Given that the food is included in the price of the ticket and we didn’t have any the money is effectively wasted. It can’t be that hard. British Airways even managed to cook me a fresh minute steak sandwich on the way here so the vast (by comparison) size of a train should allow for plenty of options.
We are 15 minutes late at Wigan but of course, our Northern service to Liverpool is behind us so we still make the connection. Those who had Advance tickets with a Preston connection (where the Northern service had stopped before Wigan) were advised to stay on. Wise of the Guard to inform everyone but who put us behind the freight train near Glasgow? The Northern service was a busy 158 (I think??) and while busy was pleasant enough. We finally arrived only 10 down at Liverpool. Not bad for something like 800 miles.
The next morning, still in shock at our exit from the League Cup, we board the 10.48 to Euston. We had breakfast in the hotel so the 11 o’clock bacon roll is declined. We both could have done with something nearer 12.30ish. Again, why can’t I choose what I want when I want it? We arrive on time at Euston after an uneventful journey south and walk down to King’s Cross for the 13.35 home to Stevenage. After a brief stop in the First Class lounge (surely the best lounge view in the UK) we’re served a nice hot drink with a packet of biscuits on the short journey. GPS confirms we reach 125mph for a few seconds before slowing for our stop at Stevenage.
An excellent few days and time well spent with my son before my trip to Nigeria. Costs were £191.40 London to Inverness. £16.35 Inverness to Glasgow (std) BARGAIN OF THE CENTURY. £78.75 Glasgow to Liverpool (1st). £66.00 Liverpool to Stevenage (1st).
So, it's the sleeper to Inverness on the 30th. A trip back down the HML (this time in daylight) to Glasgow. And then a dash down the northern WCML to Wigan before a gentle stroll across to Liverpool.
Unfortunately the return journey is direct but will be no less fun for it.
Will do a little Trip Report if all goes to plan.
Lee
And here it is...
My first trip report. Sorry, no pics. May be next time.
My son and I are both firm fans of the Sleepers and take any opportunity to use them. So, with a half-term (he’s only 8) mid-week game at Anfield we hatch a plan. We decide that Inverness will be our destination followed by a trip down the HML and WCML to Liverpool before returning home the following day.
Approval is sought from mum and tickets are purchased. Living in Stevenage and a boarding time of 20.30 I am not surprised that my son suggests the 19.07 to King’s Cross. He’ll always go with an EC service even if it puts us in London 45mins early. We purchase 1st Class singles and for the first time in many a trip are offered a drink and snack on this short journey. I understand why it’s not normally offered but given it was done on this trip (albeit cold drinks only) it does make my wonder why it isn’t at other times.
Anyhow, we arrive on time at King’s Cross and walk up to Euston where we arrive at 19.45. A request to see the Sleeper arrive means a walk to platform 15 with 20 minutes spent watching the coming and goings before a 90 brings the stock in. It’s not quite 20.30 so it’s a quick trip to WH Smith for a magazine or two before boarding our ‘hotel’ for the night.
We’re in coach N so it’s a short walk before we are greeted by our host and shown to our room. They never get any bigger but we quickly put the bags away and head back on to the platform for the walk back to the lounge car. We take our seats and are immediately offered the chance to make a purchase. The staff on sleepers are first rate and a credit to their employers. A cup of coffee and hot chocolate soon arrive with the promised treat of a Kit Kat (just don’t tell mum!!). Departure is bang on time and soon we are at Watford Junction to collect some more passengers. Once up to speed we return to our room and settle in for the night.
I’m not sure how the new franchise is going to work out but for me Wi-Fi and plugs is a must. And why not offer a cooked breakfast for £15? Surely plenty of takers. I doubt the berths will change much in size given the limitations and I find them more than adequate for a good night’s sleep. We both sleep for the full journey, rarely waking up before morning. For what it’s worth, I’m writing this article in Nigeria (work trip) and my Business Class ticket cost over £4000. I mention this because for that money you get a ‘flatbed’ and a bit of food. Infinitely better than economy but nothing like what the sleeper can offer. I wonder if anybody has considered using similar seats/beds on a train. I’m not suggesting get rid of rooms but a carriage with 50+ 'flatbed' seats would offer more revenue opportunities than horrible MkII coaches. If people pay silly money for airline tickets why charge £19 for a single to Fort William; madness!! How about ‘flatbed seats’ £50 single, berth in a double room £75 and berth in a single room £150. Breakfast £7.50/£15 continental/cooked. We paid £95 each.
Arrival is on-time at Inverness which is bathed in autumn sunshine. A Latte, bacon roll (2 freshly cooked rashers) and large croissant are purchased for £4.50 at the small café on the station; not bad, price and taste. We’re on the 09.41 to Edinburgh so no time to waste and we board the 170. There’s plenty of space and a good mix between airline and table seats. I do like these units but travelling through the Highlands makes the experience far more appealing. The clouds roll in by the time we get to Blair Athol and it’s raining when we have to get off at Perth for the connection to Glasgow Queen Street. The connection works perfectly and before long we arrive at our ‘mid-way’ point.
We grab a KFC in case the 1st Class offering on Virgin is not up to standard. A wise decision as it turned out. My son is very impressed with Glasgow Central (quite rightly) and for some reason calls those brown and cream 314’s ‘special trains’. Go figure?? We board the 14.40 to Euston and leave on time but after only 10 minutes we run slowly for a few miles behind what turns out to be a freight train. This time is not recovered before Wigan and gets worse as we miss our paths through the busy Carlisle and Preston stations.
The food on Virgin is sometime ok and sometimes rubbish and it’s this inconsistency that I find frustrating. Both of us would not have eaten the selections offered and if it wasn’t for the earlier KFC would have gone hungry. Yes, tea, coffee and cold drinks with a few snack options but why oh why can I not choose to have something more substantial if I choose to pay for it? Given that the food is included in the price of the ticket and we didn’t have any the money is effectively wasted. It can’t be that hard. British Airways even managed to cook me a fresh minute steak sandwich on the way here so the vast (by comparison) size of a train should allow for plenty of options.
We are 15 minutes late at Wigan but of course, our Northern service to Liverpool is behind us so we still make the connection. Those who had Advance tickets with a Preston connection (where the Northern service had stopped before Wigan) were advised to stay on. Wise of the Guard to inform everyone but who put us behind the freight train near Glasgow? The Northern service was a busy 158 (I think??) and while busy was pleasant enough. We finally arrived only 10 down at Liverpool. Not bad for something like 800 miles.
The next morning, still in shock at our exit from the League Cup, we board the 10.48 to Euston. We had breakfast in the hotel so the 11 o’clock bacon roll is declined. We both could have done with something nearer 12.30ish. Again, why can’t I choose what I want when I want it? We arrive on time at Euston after an uneventful journey south and walk down to King’s Cross for the 13.35 home to Stevenage. After a brief stop in the First Class lounge (surely the best lounge view in the UK) we’re served a nice hot drink with a packet of biscuits on the short journey. GPS confirms we reach 125mph for a few seconds before slowing for our stop at Stevenage.
An excellent few days and time well spent with my son before my trip to Nigeria. Costs were £191.40 London to Inverness. £16.35 Inverness to Glasgow (std) BARGAIN OF THE CENTURY. £78.75 Glasgow to Liverpool (1st). £66.00 Liverpool to Stevenage (1st).
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