CrossCountry HST Review - Derby to Birmingham New Street (15/08/23)

In this video, we journey aboard one of the brilliant CrossCountry HSTs from Derby to Birmingham New Street.
Date of travel: Tuesday 18th August 2023.
Class of travel: Standard Class.
Rolling stock: InterCity 125 or High Speed Train (2+7 HST Set).
Train identity: 1V50.
Train type: Express Passenger.
Loco numbers: 43239 + 43303 (set XC03)
Operator: CrossCountry (XC).
Ticket type: Off-Peak Return.
Ticket cost: £14.25, including 1/3 discount with a 16-25 Railcard (ticket includes extension to Kings Norton [KNN]).
Starting station: Derby [DBY].
Ending station: Birmingham New Street [BHM].
Additional information:
First Class information:
www.crosscount...
Onboard Catering:
www.crosscount...
Withdrawal:
The final CrossCountry HST services will be on Monday 18th September 2023.
Here is the diagram:
1V50 - Edinburgh (06:06) - Plymouth (14:48)
1E73 - Plymouth (16:27) - Leeds (23:34)
Charter information:
Tour promoter: Branch Line Society (BLS).
Operator: CrossCountry.
Rolling stock: High Speed Train (HST).
Date: Tuesday 26th September 2023.
Tour names: "The Pines Express"/"The Bournemouth Belle"
Timings:
"Pines Express":
1Z43 - Leeds (06:35) - Swanage (12:42)
1Z44 - Swanage (16:18) - Leeds (23:39)
"Bournemouth Belle":
1Z25 - Swanage (13:10) - Bournemouth (14:40)
1Z36 - Bournemouth (14:52) - Swanage (15:45)
Tour overview: www.railadvent...
The charter is fully booked. However, here are some links to more information:
Information from BLS: branchline.uk/...
Information from Modern Railways: www.modernrail...
Information from RailAdvent: www.railadvent...
All information derived from Realtime Trains.
Realtime Trains: www.realtimetr....
OpenTrainTimes: www.opentraint....
All information correct at time of recording.
#review
#crosscountry
#class43
#intercity125
#highspeedtrain
#hst

[@maimadha]

Great video.

[@arthurvasey]

Let’s hope that the Sardine Express can do as good a job - I have experienced a few delays on HSTs, mainly around the midlands! Will they call at different stations? Miss a few and get there quicker? Have us switch directions mid-journey? Only time will tell!
I’m going to Middlesbrough around Christmas time from Taunton - be putting a Voyager through its paces!

[@Pulsarnix]

Enjoy your trip. Here's to hoping 🍻