The AFFORDABLE LUXURY First Class Dining Train From England to Wales!
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
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I've been wanting to bring you this video for AGES - Transport for Wales have been running their Mk4 "Premier Sets" on the Manchester to South Wales route since the end of 2022, and I finally got a chance to give it a go on a stunning late Summers afternoon. Join me as we take a look at the incredible dining experience on board this train in first class as we cross England to Wales through the scenic Welsh Marches!
Journey details:
Date of travel - September 2023
Operator - Transport for Wales
Origin - Manchester Piccadilly
Destination - Cardiff Central
Class of travel - First
Price - £37.20/€43.45/$47.02 (advance first single including Railcard discount of 1/3 - reduced to £18.60/€21.72/$23.51 through delay repay 30)
Duration - 3 hours, 45 minutes
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Music from EpidemicSound and is used under license.
A massive thanks to the following for their contributions to this video:
@Paul_Lucas for the Arriva Trains Wales Mk3 set footage
@SuperalbsTravels for the ex-Grand Central Mk4 interior shots
Both have fantastic channels, so check them out (if for some crazy reason you haven't already)!
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: / midland__london
Instagram: / midlandlondon
Support the channel here: kofi.com/midlandlondon
#class67 #mk4 #transportforwales #diningtrain #manchester #cardiff #tripreport #vlog
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:42 Manchester Piccadilly
02:37 Transport for Wales
03:15 Transport for Wales Premier Sets
04:38 How I Booked My Tickets - Trainpal Sponsorship
05:48 Boarding the Train/First Class
05:59 Our Route
06:34 Departure from Manchester
06:49 Longsight Depot
07:18 Stockport
07:45 A Trouble-Free Wilmslow!
08:13 Manchester to Crewe Line & 110mph
08:38 Know Your Seat
10:21 Crewe
11:23 Onboard Dining Information
12:09 Shrewsbury
12:41 The Welsh Marches Line
13:10 Standard Class + Grand Central Refurbishment
13:48 Short Platforms?!?
14:18 Food!
14:45 Hereford and Entering Wales
15:34 Toilets
16:24 Cwmbran and Entry to The South Wales Mainline
16:44 Newport
17:01 My Thoughts and Conclusions
17:44 Cardiff Central
17:57 Arrival and Thank You!
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How do you find out what train you will get?
Nice
Excellent video. TFW is not my favourite memory of Wales. Travelling from Bangor to Chester on a Sunday afternoon was one of the worst train experiences ever. I'm Canadian and travel quite a bit in Europe preferably by train. The TFW train above was a two coach train. I was literally pushed aside by people rushing to get on the train. Of course, they knew that seating was limited. I didn't. Stood the whole way to Chester pushed against a door. Couldn't wait to get off. At one point the door behind me opened and I was face to face with a TFW staffer. I asked why this train was so packed. "we're short of trains mate" was the reply.
That's UK railways for you. The reason why the staff member said "we're short on trains", they probably meant that there's rail strikes going on.
@@TheosTrainsWalesOfficiali mean tfw is literally short of trains. the welsh government nationalised the franchise after arriva had left in such a state, with the age and state of the rolling stock being a particular issue. they are going through an upgrade program atm, but obviously there are still some major issues
@@harry.i6and also this is made worse as AFAIK they had massive priblems with some of their new trains that arriva boight pre nationalisation...
basically tfw inherited a trainwreck (pun partially intended), regardless of strikes
@@Lily-cd4fx Yup, the class 175s had to be pulled from service due to fires and constant breakdowns and the class 197s are absolutely awful, with the toilets often not working and them being loud and poor riding in general. I still find it hard to accept that a brand new DMU with modern engines can manage to be louder than the 30+ year old 158s
This service on TFW Manchester to Cardiff Central with the Class 67 Loco hauled Carriages in First Class really is amazing, In my estimation it is the Best Service on the UK Rails, the seats in 1st Class are Luxury leather comfortable seats & although there is free Tea & Coffee with snacks the Lunch menu is Very Good value & for £22 you can have a 3 course meal in which is just the best food ever the service has a travelling chef & all food is fresh & cooked for you on order, it makes the journey shorter & Highly Recommended to anyone, definitely TFW at its best.
I've done this three times now and totally agree with you about the first class, although I didn't buy a meal myself. The seating and the attentiveness of the staff is perfect. As you found, these services always seem to end up late. A couple of weeks ago we were perfectly on time until Cwmbran and then just crawled all the way to Cardiff arriving 35 minutes late and costing me a missed connection - again! There we no announcements or apologies either.
Great video and well presented. Think I'll add the Welsh Marches to my bucket list of rail journeys I want to complete. Thank you.
20 years ago I was a frequent York-KX GNER 1st Class commuter. Full Yorkshire Grill on the 7am down and silver service 3 course dinner on the 5pm return. All cooked by chef in the galley kitchen. As a GNER Gold Card holder you also got a free half bottle of red and 2for1 G&Ts. #goodolddays
Excellent video, nice train ride and awesome presentation! Good work! Thumbs Up
All the best from Romania
Andrew
"COMPLEMENTS" the mood.
Superb video, well done, took this route last summer on our journey from Stoke on Trent to Tenby, we had 2 carriage train absolutely rammed, just glad we had seats.
This train needs to be on direct SailRail services from Manchester Victoria to Holyhead timed to meet ferry arrivals and check in times at Holyhead for the ferry to/from Dublin
I couldn't agree more!
Did this journey years ago and was very impressed with the food. Best on train catering I’ve had in the UK
I do like the 67 Mk4s. Good trains and comfortable.
nice one
Great video I use them regularly visiting Swansea :)
I remember this trip. I joined you to Crewe didn't I. Great Video Pal!
Will have to try great video. I doing the GWR Pullman Dining on Thursday PAD to PLY evening service. Great way to return to the SW.
Let us know what you think of GWR's Pullman Dining service. The 18-seater Restaurant Car (available to Standard ticket holders if seats are available) is usually found at the London end of ten-carriage IET's.
I gotta say though, for 35 year old stock, they have done well. I think they've got a fair few years left in them. Hopefully TFW will get the TPE Nova 3 sets once their lease with FirstGroup expires later this year...
Great stuff
Excellent video very informative will be using this set next month from Llandudno junction to Cardiff now really looking forward to it
Hopefully they don't switch up trains on you. I've heard of last minute replacements with 2 car 197s on the Holyhead>Cardiff route
The 67+MK4 sets are the best trains in TfW's fleet, right up there with Avanti in terms of on board product. I got to ride them twice when I visited the UK in February, even the standard class was quite decent. Though I didn't sample the meal service as I was just doing the short run between Crewe and Shrewsbury. But very smooth riding and quiet as well, no DMU engine noise, though TfW's 158s aren't too bad, certainly better than the awful 197s.
Manchester, County palatine of Lancaster.🌹🐝
15:23 haha I’ve been up sugar loaf several times, as I often visit Brynmawr
I plan to come in about 15 years to see more of the UK
After years travelling on the train from crewe (Manchester train ).i now go crewe to chester and the tfw train to Swansea train via Wrexham. Train is empty after Wrexham x
Well done very educational and well presented ……. it’s a shame other train operators can’t provide this service
GWR can - and does! Its Pullman Dining services between Lundain/London Paddington and Swansea/Abertawe convey a Restaurant Car which is open to Standard ticket holders subject to the availability of seats. In my (admittedly limited) experience I've never had a problem getting a four-course meal with wine on these Hitachi IET's.
@@KempSimon That sounds better than Avanti's first class dining offering which is quite underwhelming IMHO.
the tfw sets also run to Swansea 2 times per day Monday to Saturday and on Sunday a lot more to Swansea
I went on one of TFWs non-refurbished sets from Manchester to Shrewsbury last Saturday, and I must say it was a big step up from the over-crowded 2 car 197 I got on the way in which I had to stand up the whole time with lots of other people standing too! It was one of their previous LNER sets (Black coaches instead of red and white) and had a great time on it! I look very much forward to going back to Manchester as I live in a rural area. I made a video on trains at Manchester on my channel as well as showing the Mk4 set I got at the end.
the black coaches are the refubished grand central ones
How do you know what train you will get before it arrives at the station
@@HarryRowlesss Real time trains. It tells you what platform the train leaves at hours before it actually does and what unit it will be!
@@Usenowgamer would you have known you will get a mk4 carriage train before booking?
@@HarryRowlesss Yes. It says that it was a locomotive.
Couldn't agree with you more about the lack of capacity on TfW, recent trips have been 2 car instead of 4 car and whilst 158s are just about suitable for longer trips 150s clearly aren't.
THE 150's
Kevin,
In my opinion the 150's are far worse than the Pacers, which once they got a bad name in the press meant that they were damaged goods. Something not helped by poorly informed politicians, (both local and national)....and by some local rail campaign groups.
Much of the problems with the Pacers was down to poor track and not the units themselves. Obviously they were built with single axles to save money, and wwould have benefitted with bogie at a later stage in their operation........especially when the problems of running on 'jointed-track' was recognised.
The low cost using bus bodies from Leyland was a BR cost-saving measure......and also the knock for knock arrangement with Government that Leyland got put in place when they bid for the contract and the reason the A66 was widened through the Lake District.
As Lord Stokes said, "...They promised me a road...."
One of the problems was that when they were fefurbished the TOC's decided to fit the high-back (plastic cassette frame), seating to them rather than retaining the lower Bus Type seating. This made them claustraphobic in every possible way, and was one of the reasons the Guard (they call them Conductors nowadays), never bothered to check tickets during busy peak hour travel.
A morning Pacer from Sheffield to Leeds was a nighmare and it was always easier for the Guard / Conductor to just stay put at the back and operate the doors rather than attempt to walk through a crowded train.
I travelled on Pacers on many occasions over the years, but one particular one that stands out involved on a Pacer, (Class 142, so two coaches), from Wakefield Westgate to Leeds...newly refubished internally with the Bus Type seats retained. Rattling down the bank from Ardsley Tunnel at 70 MPH plus was as smooth as silk, with no lateral movement on the CWR.
Even on a journey from Bridlington down to Hull many years ago on a Pacer Class 143, (so three coaches), the journey was not too bad on sixty-foot jointed track.
Let's face it, the 150's were a compromise rushed through at Derby, and presenteed as the first trains with 'magic doors'. They might have worked had they been more imaginatively fitted out internally, but the seating is and has been a disaster. The lack of internal partitions meant that all the heat was lost from inside the train when the doors were opened. This was especially so in winter, when the double doors allowed a wind to blow through the entire coach at each stop.
When the TOC's and everybody else involved with our railways decided that acres of space were needed for the disabled and for bikes we were all well and truly off to the races. Most 150's now have the look internally of an abandoned barn.
As far as practicable if I see a 150 on a train, I wait for another one......
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
@@jameshennighan8193 I've not ridden on a 150, but have ridden on 158s and they pretty much do the DMU game perfectly. vestibules to cut down on noise, accessible seating and bike storage is in the space between the two cars. The 197 was a massive downgrade.
@@jameshennighan8193 Thanks for your comprehensive thoughts. We had similar problems with the 458s in the south with the doors letting the elements in, but probably a fraction warmer and the tracks probably got a bit more care due to the intensity of service. My recent experience of the Northern 150s is far better than the TfW ones.
@@mrvwbug4423 - 158s are a world apart from 150s.
Ah nice video. Whats your thoughts on the GWR Pullman's experience. Its amazing. Would love to try TFW dining experience one day👍
All TFW in-service mkIV sets are now 5 car plus the loco & DVT
I plan to do cardiff to holyhead on it
Don't forget to use discounts.
1:14 I hate using Manchester Piccadilly as it’s eternally busy - and it’s a nightmare when coming up from the Metrolink platforms, going to the other end for tickets and information - the first leg of SailRail journeys to Chester starts from Platform 13, another nightmare - Manchester Victoria is much nearer to me and has a much more relaxed atmosphere, even at peak times, so I get Northern from Victoria to Chester and Avanti from Chester to Holyhead on SailRail
i like this set it would be nice if tfw change the class 67 and dvt with new class 68s that would be nice set
Ludlow the one town that sits on both counties of Hereford and Shropshire Hereford is part of the three counties with Gloucester and Shropshire
It should connect to reading icl
Not only tried this train recently but it was the first trip report I made (out of 2 so far). I was a bit delayed too because the manchester loco set due to leave before us left Cardiff super late. From my menu I had a lamb stew and chocolate tart (and a stuffed mushroom for starter). Was there not free orange juice, how come you were just on the water? Water is always free, orange juice seldom so 😂
i really do want to eat that tuna steak
Mk4 (and even Mk3) stock with a loco is just such a better, higher quality product than even the newer EMUs, DMUs and intercity units like the Class 800. The Chiltern loco-hauled product is excellent too. Quality has reduced for passengers as we've moved from loco-hauled services to all these plasticky, cheap multiple units.
I tried the first class service a couple of weeks ago, I was booked on the 1430hrs MAN-CDF but the set had failed earlier, and I had the pleasure of a class 150 set all the way. On my return trip on the 0849 CDF-Man it was the Premium set. The lady worked very hard but it was approaching Shrewsbury(1035) before I got my full brekkie.. 8 or 9 items for about £10.50, with plenty of toast. I will try the journey again soon, I slept at Sleerperz at CDF which is very good value for money, although all around the station there are hotels plus a Wetherspoons.
As an American I wish we had Wetherspoons in the US haha. When I visited the UK in February that was literally the first place our friends took us in Shrewsbury.
They're also better than the Class 197's which TFW also use. These are so comfortable and overall feel better.
To be fair, even TfWs 30+ year old 158s are better than 197s
Discounts are indeed important, after all, they can save money.
Thanks - I love the idea of the hot meals and will definately put this trip on my list for 2024. Why did you seem to be almost the only passenger on this train? If so, it may not last much longer. I found the review a bit long with undue attention to things like coathooks which I find a bit trivial - the danger of a long film is that I switch off half way through! Thanks anyway though.
I remember taking the original premier class in the days of Arriva from Holyhead to Cardiff and it was always such a treat and great to see that the standard of food has stayed so high. Was the food cost in addition to the ticket fare or was it included for first class passengers? It used to be included in the fare, although it wouldn't be surprising that it's now in addition. Still, for £22 for a three course meal on a train, you can't beat that kind of value. Was any food or drink included in the cost of your fare? e.g. the water or any small snacks
I don’t know why train companies find it so hard to do full/fresh food service in First Class, airlines manage to do it at 34,000ft
The interior of the 225 coaches is far superior to anything else currently running on the UK network
How can you identify this journey on the timetable? Plus why can't the newer stock have the same comfortable seats as older Mark 3/4 carriages?
Over 30 mins late means more for you fare!
I worry that those electronic locks will malfunction leaving me with a panic attack in the loo!
Proper cutlery and food. Tuna steak !You wouldn't get this on Avanti or lner. Good vid
Could you do Bedford to Brighton on a 700?
That will be very terrible because the 700 trains have iron board seats just like the 377/6s, /7s, and 387s
So do you get anything free in first class apart from water?
what camera do you use?
MK4's top speed is 140mph
🤣 Not in Wales it's not !! But I get your point IMHO they should have been left on the ECML instead of the current noisy wobbly Hitachi DM/EM U's
It does seem a bit of a shame that you had to pay extra for first class and then pay for the food rather than getting it included. Although I suppose with the state of our railways any free food would just be a cup of tea and biscuits, Greater Anglia style. LNER include the food on first class though…
TfW first class upgrade is only like 15 quid over a standard class ticket, so you're getting a superb first class seat and a meal if you want for less than half what you'd pay for first class on Avanti.
That food looked a bit limp
How do you choose what train your going to be on? Not just a 2 carriage train?
Judge by the platform, time and display screen, and remember to use the discount.
How do you.find what train you get
I can barely afford it 😢
4:00 the fact that these sets were shortened by TfW for the North Wales line (and across the Irish Sea via Holyhead) is totally insane - surely they could have extended this service to Leeds or Hull via Manchester Victoria, given that the National Express 880 coach service from Leeds to Dublin via Manchester, Liverpool and Holyhead was withdrawn some years ago and the fact that both Irish Ferries and Stena cannot keep up with the demand across the Irish Sea, with their building ever larger ferries, as more people search for viable alternatives to flying and air travel - with the shelving of plans to build a high speed rail tunnel under the Irish Sea between Holyhead - Dublin and with the Irish governments plans to implement an EU directive banning shorthaul flights across the Irish Sea between the U.K. and Ireland post-Brexit, this will have to be reconsidered, especially with the failure of HS2 and the Irish governments increased investment in Irish railways post Covid
I think that had more to do with fitting in tiny Welsh stations. Could you imagine a 9 car set trying to stop in say Conwy, where even 158s can only board via one door.
@@mrvwbug4423 a direct train from Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria would not generally stop at Conwy, especially if operating as a SailRail Connect Service to Holyhead, which in any case should be starting from Leeds via Manchester Victoria to Holyhead - it’s absolutely disgraceful that there are not as many direct services as there should be from Manchester to Holyhead with any U.K. train operator, not just TfW or Avanti, if we are truly serious about providing a viable alternative to flying and air travel between Ireland and the U.K. - and that is not even considering first class nor express services - maybe if the Irish government implements the EU directive to ban all shorthaul flights between Ireland and the U.K. post Brexit and post Covid, this will concentrate minds a bit more on this problem
How did you get it for £37.20?!
Book ahead and use a discount Railcard?
portuguese alfa pendular is better
Can food be obtained without using the QR code as I'm not a smart phone owner. Why is it becoming the norm now, I much prefer human interaction.
Yes, you then need to walk up to the bar yourself and order there.
Yup, just walk up to the cafe car and order
THE MARK 3's
Withdrawing these was a knee jerk reaction to the DDA ...which far too many in the TOC's and elsewhere regard as the main reason for anything they do these days.
One coach could have been adapted fairly easily........so reducing the cost of such work as may have been required.
Obviously, none of the fools considered this as the obvious option that it was.......and thought only of the cost and the madness of 'converting' (adapting) a full train.
So withdrawing the Mark 3's as a whole...
Idiocy in spades doesn't even come close to describing this.
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
Mk3's are claimed to not meet modern crashworthiness requirements (lack of end crumple zones) hence withdrawal from mainline traffic.
@@barrieshepherd7694
Barrie,
Many thanks for your reply.
I have always thought these 'claims' were reather ludicrous, since there is no real evidence of any accidents involving them where end-zone collapse has been a critical matter.
It is remarkable that the Mk1's used in the 'staged...and arguably considerably flawed, accident with the Peak and the Nuclear Flask, really did stand up to that collision.
The nonsense spoken by Bacon when she was at the H&SE about the strength of the Mk 1's, has always tilted the discussion on coaching stock, such that facts have been pushed to one side in many instances.
The damage done to the railways when H&SE had stewardship of safety following privatisation has only ever partly been told.
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
There is no point having a timetable if the trains don't run to time, this country gave the world railways,it should have the best railways, half an hour late is disgusting, in Japan, if a train is just 3 seconds late there is an enquiry, and staff are severely reprimanded.
Well that's the reality of post-privitization UK rail. overly congested networks, packed trains, constant labour disputes and in the case of TfW the unpredictable weather of Wales itself. I was delayed for over an hour in Macynlleth due to flooding on the lines back in February and had to take a bus the rest of the way to Aberyswyth, then the train back ran on time with no issue a few hours later.
Hmmm not sure I would want my railways run with threat of evisceration to staff who may slip up and cause a few second delays. Maybe tone down your expectations but I do think we need to improve our railways situation.
It's my experience that delays are rarely caused on the train operating staff - it is often signalling or station congestion that hold up trains and that really stuffs up the congested train pathing.
I really don't know how TfW can justify the operation of these mark 4 trains.
1). 6 vehicles.
2). 2.5 unproductive vehicles (class 67 locomotive, DVT, and buffet/kitchen area).
3). 3.5 productive vehicles, out of 6.
4). 1 x full (48 seats) First Class vehicle. (Spectacularly generous for a regional service. Consider that a 9 coach GWR IET only has just over 1 coach, or 70 First Class seats, but operates on Inter-City services serving London).
5). 2.5 coaches (out of a total of 6), Standard Class seating.
6). About the equivalent capacity of a 2 coach class 158, or 175 DMU.
7). Either TfW, the Welsh Assembly, (or both), must have money to burn.
looks pretty basic for first class..
What app do you use for train speed ?
That's what I want to know as well :)
Also keen to know which app you use!