DELAYED AND HUNGRY! CrossCountry "First Class" Review!
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- This week, we travel between Birmingham and Leeds with CrossCountry in First Class aboard an HST!
Date of Travel: August 2022
Class of Travel: First Class
Rolling Stock: Intercity 125
Operator: CrossCountry
Service type: Express Passenger
Train Number: 1E63
Origin: Birmingham New Street, United Kingdom
Destination: Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Cost of Ticket: £58.20 ($68.10, €68.20)
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One of the most rude experiences I’ve had with onboard staff was on Crosscountry in First Class. While travelling to the airport with some pretty heavy luggage, I needed a bit of time to place the luggage in the racks at the end of the train. The onboard staff were the rudest I’ve encountered; snarky, unhelpful and argumentative - telling me I’m storing the luggage “wrong” and badgering me to “hurry up”. The epitome of it was when one of them came to my seat later in an attempt to fleece me off, trying to claim I was carrying “more luggage than allowed”. When I countered by proving my rights from the crosscountry website, she adopted a defensive tone and just left. To pay full price on first class tickets and receive such treatment, I’ll just stick to TPE next time (whom I chose on the return journey and were absolutely wonderful).
Jeez, TPE is better tho
XC refreshments staff are mainly rude
@@SouthernRex you’re right, TPE definitely much better. I don’t know whether it’s just that I’ve always been lucky with them or not, but whenever I’ve travelled on TPE with luggage they’ve always been very accommodating despite the fact that the Nova 1s have absolutely no luggage racks in First. Crew have even often offered to help store the luggage under the seats etc (which of course I never expect them to do, I’m carrying it so my job to store it) but some of the most upbeat and happy staff members I’ve met were on TPE, so XC definitely ought to learn a thing or two.
@@vduridalternatives lmao you can say that again - don’t know what reason they have for being like that, considering the “refreshments” are abysmal at best. 😂😂
@@shehryar_ yes TPE were very helpful when i went from york to Manchester not to mention LNER from kings cross to york
As someone who works for another operator in the ticket office i can honestly say i can count on my fingers the number of times per month XC arrive on time, and as the network gets rapidly busier with the leisure traveller things arent going to improve, btw thanks for highlighting the ticket office, something that will be no more if the government have their way, excellent as always Dylan keep up the good work
Poor punctuality is not always XC's fault (although I'm not saying they are _never_ to blame! But when you look at how many major stations a XC train goes through and how many train services it crosses over, it's easy to see how a delay _anywhere_ on the network has a high chance of impacting a XC train as it travels maybe 500 miles and interfaces with a dozen other TOCs along the way.
@@stevieinselby I used XC trains for 6 months every weekend and barring one major issue where a train was cancelled and another broke down they were always on time. I'm not sure what's changed.
Can you explain how an incompetent lorry driver is the fault of XC?
Always find it disappointing that whilst so many train companies charge a major amount more for a first class seat, the offering is just about a slightly better seat. A cup of tea and biscuit doesn’t cut it and you would expect bit more if you flew business class
Well yeah business class on planes cost thousands😑
This lack of 'extras' for a first class seat is a modern dumbing-down of the service that used to be provided. Up until roughly a decade ago a first class seat for example in a Midland Main Line HST would have seen a first class ticket include a full choice of hot meals, unlimited alcohol, a newspaper, and unlimited tea and coffee, all readily available, coupled with frequent ticket inspections to prevent what has now become an epidemic of people without first class tickets 'chancing it'. Ironically it is for this last reason that I no longer travel first class as there seems no point whatsoever to pay the extra for the previously generally accepted peace and quiet when the accommodation is filled with noisy, undesirable, low lives who swear, play their ghetto blasters loudly, and generally ruin the ambience....
@@BibtheBoulder Even 5 years ago I'd say it was still OK..ish. I used to go first whenever I could on Virgin as long as I could get it at a good price. You got a decent meal, the atmosphere as you state it and regular ticket checks. Drinks, etc. I just checked Avanti's menu and while you will get a decent meal if you're on an early train, any other time is more along the lines of a snack and at weekends you have to go the shop and get it yourself. Even on First TPE (class 185 I think) there was bottomless drinks and plenty of snacks when I did it about 6 years ago. Haven't done first on the train for a while as hear it is simply no longer worth it but I suspect the decline in on-train ticket checks will soon render first class carriages impossible to "police" and therefore obsolete within 5 years. Even in mainland Europe I think first class is well nearing extinction. Almost no difference on the German DB trains I went on (you even still pay for your food, cabin is very marginally better), and while the Danish DSB ICE 3 train is a nice old thing, the first class cabin is again only very slightly better than standard. You get no food service, just coffee and snacks after you've crossed the border! Honestly, these days if I do go first the most compelling reason is a more roomy seat. I'm not a big person but I just appreciate the space.
The one exception to it all is standard premier (not even business) on the eurostar is wonderfully plush and you get a free light breakfast, tea and coffee. I imagine business premier is very nice indeed, but then this service is more like a competitor to the plane than a commuter so the market is there.
Tbh it’s more about how bad standard is than how good first class is. At least you don’t have to worry about being able to fit on the train for first class
@@BibtheBoulder Sounds like a veiled attempt at racism
For some reason CrossCountry feel the need to charge ridiculously high fares compared to most other operators.
yeah😐
Because they have the monopoly on a lot of routes - remember the government promise that privatisation would open up competition and drive down prices?
Yes try the south coast to Birmingham route, they have no competition with very few coach service s
The thing with Crosscountry is if you want to travel from the East Coast and South Coast to Birmingham you have to travel with them
It didn't work, which is why _if__ you Brits and Scots can get yourselves together politically, you all need to elect a progressive government that will nationalize the railways again and also provide a ton of subsidy money so that ticket prices are low enough for all to be able to travel.
Sheffield in Derbyshire, not likely. As a bloke from Sheffield I know where it is, thanks for ensuring the wider audience realises that.
I used to catch a Sunday diagram of this service from Plymouth, sometimes Penzance to Darlington, service to Newcastle or Edinburgh. It was never on time.
I miss the HSTs, the seats were comfortable. I had a couple of journeys 80x this summer (2022) on GWR, was like sitting on garden bench.
I agree with another subscriber: CrossCountry trains are frequently late and overcrowded. The journey from Cam & Dursley to Edinburgh was a nightmare with the all too often running out of water (so not hot drinks available) and running out of food by Birmingham. I always took a goody bag and a long book to read!
Hi Dylan! Thanks for enduring the delay for us so we could see the journey. The seats did look comfy! Definitely a bit expensive for what you received, though. I would think a meal or at minimum a substantial snack would be provided. I have been disappointed more than once here in the US with Business/First class reduction in meal service. I've started carrying my own back up meal to avoid that hangry feeling!
Tbf there catering offers are rubbish and they're normally late but when your on them they're good and if you have a good tm or host you can normally get more
Travelled today from Totnes to Taunton first class on XCountry. Took just over an hour. No refreshments at all and no first class host. The trolley person was doubling up and was just starting to serve first class when I got off.
LNER shows how to do it!
Ah the difference between a private and a national operator.
@@davidty2006 I hadnt realised Virgin no longer runs the ECML. Must be because the reasons were still red
LNER shows how to do it? Sorry, but if you lived on the northern half of the LNER route you may have a different opinion!
@@petermartin3069 that may be true, but the route north of Edinburgh has always been a bit naff, since Ive known it, which is since NXEC
@@PianoKwanMan HI James. Hit the nail on the head! How many of those praising LNER are commenting on their experience between Kings Cross & Leeds/York, never using the northern half of the route on, for example, midweek winter evenings?
323's definitely have that F1 sound to them - mainly thanks to the GTO Inverters driving the AC motors
They certainly have a distinctive noise but, as a resident of Silverstone village, I can’t agree about the F1 sound!
Sounds like Someone short shifting a V10 car through the gears straight out of Silverstone's pitlane. XD
i love 323 i will be sad to see them go one day.
Great Job as always Dylan!!! Thank you so much. Keep up the great work.!!!
£58.20 is definitely a slap in the face considering the relatively short journey but thanks for showing us the wonderful locomotive engine.
It is rather expensive as I managed to once get a Chiltern Railways ticket from Birmingham to London for 4 people for £52.50 whereas for only 1 person they are charging a whole £5.70 more for a much shorter journey :/
Nice looking train. It's a shame the amenities weren't up to first class standards. That "snack" looked like a standard class airline's fare. At least you got a nice, quiet car. The platform was absolutely mobbed with people heading for the standard class cars which were already crowded.
If I had the choice I would still prefer to travel by hst than an azuma
You could get that exact same tea and biscuit from the trolley in standard class! A Royal pisstake to put it kindly!
My daughter had the misfortune to travel with them and after a hard 12 hour day working on the wards she had to stand for the full journey she took because they cancelled the previous train and then her train was packed, when I sent them an email complaining about it their excuse was lamentable, this company needs disbanded and run by a professional outfit
Its good you are now highlighting the abyssmal state of rail travel in Britain particularly post-pandemic. CC have often been criticised for lack of capacity on their trains, and catering is a joke these days.
Totally agree with you - if as it seems the UK is incapable of running trains without continental partners, then I suggest we partner with the Swiss.....as they certainly know how to run a railway!
@@robertp.wainman4094 Or just have XC refurbish some of the former LNER HSTs awaiting scrap. they only need one or 2. They already have the same seating as the XC ones, so just a new paint job, seat covers, doors, and toilets.
@@yeeye3395 Yeah but this is the railway industry, they’ll always find some red tape to prevent that from happening
Some trains I have been on had no catering of late due to staff issues with is seen across many TOCS at present. They do offer sandwiches/ crisps/ cake and other options but is due to availability. Enjoy the HST while you can as I believe they are here for 1 more year before they are retired.
This video was enjoyable to watch. Made my day on my mail route more enjoyable.
I was a regular user of cross country trains between where I lived (Cheltenham), where I worked (Bristol and Birmingham) and where my parents lived (between York and Leeds). There was an improvement when Virgin took over from BR, but I felt significant cost cutting when Virgin lost the franchise to another company.
I always preferred the HSTs to the Voyagers even when they were brand new, and agree with you about how the HSTs appear to squeak more, however in the way that an A320neo appears to rattle and squeak more than the older A320ceos, I think it is more a case of the reduced engine noise failing to mask out the other noises. After all, most (all?) Voyager carriages have an engine with its associated noise and vibration below, whereas with the HST, the admittedly louder engines are isolated at either end.
I must say that I am impressed with the latest refurbishments with automatic doors etc and hope that we have them around for a few more years.
voyagers are terrible when you get on the carriage it smells liek rat piss apeays
Fortunately LNER first class is a really good service & great quality with frequent food & drink service from Aberdeen to London Kings Cross
I like the curtains versus shades that cover the whole window which serves two sets of seats .
We have travelled on the East and West Coast lines
in first class
and we got a free meal and tea or coffee
as park of the service
so a measly biscuit and drink
is certainly below par
on the service / catering front.
I hope you got your train to Huddersfield.
When my mother lived in Huddersfield
we found that going to Manchester
meant less changes when she was visiting
my sister in Southampton.
Thank you for your realistic appraisal ! The HSTs are still fine, though the onboard service, particularly in 1st Class is diabolical.
I have NEVER known a Cross Country HST to be on time, in the history of ever. Also, who the heck thinks Sheffield is in Derbyshire?! Harrumph!
It's the opposite for the ones that go to Darlington 💀 I swear it's cause trains up in the north just sus
Always good to see a video of a HST
Have you ever tried one of EMR's regional trains. Their regional trains are class 156s, 158s and 170s
If you do try one may I suggest the Leicester-Lincoln route, because Lincoln's my hometown
Hi Dylan, you may have not realised but where you stood looking down onto the Grand Central concourse, is exactly the spot Tom Cruise waved to onlookers when taking a break from making a film, about two years ago.
Thanks Dylan, your videos brighten my otherwise gloom Fridays.
Cross Country trans have always had expensive fares, if using thought ticketing or even advance tickets, the only way ive found of cutting cost of travel on cross country,when used them, is splitting with Cheap Day Returns, between the Principal stations, The HST’s will always be one of my favourite trains, can remember riding them soon after introduction on Western Region, when original yellow Flying Banana colour, was maybe 7-8 etc, im off on a Pathfinder Tours Railtour from Cardiff to Pwllheli, with Premier Dining, an expensive day out but great day out, done it before, throughly recommend them.
Enjoyed as much as always Dylan, especially when arriving in Leeds and home at Elland Road!! Such iconic transport, shame the catering facilities were dismal for a first class offering, look after yourself, until next time, ATB Dave
I have never had a good experience with Cross Country trains. I'm surprised they've not lost their franchise.
Recently got to sample first class on a 220 with Cross-country and have to say I was pretty impressed.
You should have travelled in the morning, I was quite surprised to get a bacon butty in XC First Class and I think on an HST set too! I do like their interior decor of First Class on the HST sets, the white and claret looks very smart and clean. Now… Birmingham second city… depending on which stats you look at it could also be either Leeds or Manchester - it’s a touchy subject and one often avoided to keep the peace!!
Not ideal that the tain was late and the level of extra service offered (for first class) was poor - and the ticket was too expensive IMO - but hey, at least you found a HST! CrossCountry are one of the last operators to still be running HSTs.
I really liked the HSTs when they were in use on the Midland Mainline, sadly they're all gone now, and their replacements (Class 222 "Meridian") really aren't up to scratch. In fact, I'd say that any Class 22x train is woefully inadequate for modern day services.
Try travelling to the north west on a transport Wales service from Cardiff often just 2 cars and sometimes a class 150/153 appears just a awful service avoid it if you can
Compared to the first class experience I had on LNER the other day, this is abysmal for a first class product that's around 2 hours journey time. Cross Country needs to improve that for sure
Crosscountry don't care, they're rubbish. Look at the Voyagers they've had nothing really done to them since 2007 other than a new bit of plastic at the front.
@@devon896 And since I live in Bristol they’re my only choice, at least you guys have alternate options
@@AdistuffRBX You've got GWR too unless you mean between Bristol & Birmingham.
@@devon896 GWR, Overpriced services for rich people travelling from the Cotswolds to London, that’s there only passengers who can enjoy and afford their services, between Cornwall and Bristol they have an “express service” It only stops at a few stops down to Plymouth then stops at nearly every single stop in Cornwall to either Penzance or Newquay, out of order stopping at a hamlet like “St Germans” never even heard of the place, doesn’t even have a beach or any sites at all, who’s getting on there?
@@AdistuffRBX I've used GWR before it's not overpriced at all. I've bought a first class return ticket for £90 before. I don't understand the snobbery to GWR they are usually very good.
Dylan's hair looks as old as the trains age
'Haytch'? ST
Am old enough to remember the introduction of the HST in 76 - between Donny and London for Uni (I'll leave anyone to guess which was the Uni end :-) ). And to a timetable that had journey times somewhat shorter than they are today. Anyway, crosscountry always feels like a BR style underfunded intercity service that isn't good but tbh not terrible. And New St is a really nice station. Again lightyears improved on the early 80s version in the meandering bull ring complex.
Certainly looks great in the classic livery!
you should check out the 323s since they are going to be replaced fairly soon
Funny to see the throwback of a Southeastern or Southern slam-door train at 17:30 in the dreaded Connex livery.
I once drove a HST on train sim world 2020 at 155 mph down the GWML!
I'm glad you tell it as it is. I find some of the rail UA-camrs much too complimentary toward rail companies who offer a poor service, such as Avanti. I had to travel around the North of England recently on Cross Country and Avanti and did not have one uneventful journey with 80% being delayed by 10 mins or more. Yet when I express this one UA-camr basically said I was at best exaggerating.
Enjoyed the report and the special liveried locomotive. Slight geekery in that your route map showed you passing through Lichfield, rather than the usual route of Tamworth. Was the service diverted on that occasion?
Oh yes, XC are commonly slow with Delay Repay. My claims typically take up to 2 months to come through.
Same, and they are one of the few operators who say you only get a refund after a 30min delay instead of a 15min delay, I mean even Northern has 15 minutes instead of 30mins
nice to see the crooked spire (Chesterfield) this was our hometown until a year ago when we moved to Dumfries
Price-wise AXC always seem more expensive per-mile (std + 1st) than other Intercity operators but the combination of demand (high) and availability (low) means despite the price standard is frequently heaving, meaning that if you can afford it, 1st is the place to go. I do agree that the refreshment offering was poor for a 2 hour journey - maybe it is better in the day time? If so, there should be an off-peak 1st fare that reflects that.
Yes, the 'Cross Country Axis' from North / North East to South West is very heavily loaded (NCL-YRK-LDS-SHF-BHM-BRS), and unlike with the London-bound main lines (really ECML vs MML, and ECML itself), there is no viable competition.
Definitely a route which deserves full 9-car sets, but I guess it is not electrified
1E63 is an offpeak service. most of XC services are offpeak after 9:30am. catering is likely to be poor after 7pm as they don't tend to stock up catering from Birmingham after 7pm (as their catering are in Birmingham closes at 7pm), so basically whatever's onboard is offered to 1st, and sometimes there is usually nothing on board.
catering in general with all operators is quite poor post-covid, most railway staff say this is down to the government pulling the strings as they run the railway so government have been tried to cut costs anyway possible.
Nice vid - Generally takes about a month for delay-repay to come through from Cross Country so hopefully yours will turn up soon! Cross Country way too expensive now in 1st Class for the offering provided, going to go via London next time I go to visit the family rather than via Bristol to avoid Cross Country!
I travel between Cornwall and Leeds a few times each year for work and I used to get the XC direct. But they keep using half trains so I can't remember a XC service where there weren't people standing from end to end. Now I go GWR + LNER and look for cheap 1st class upgrades. CrossCountry stink (literally in the case of the Voyagers) - hardly a surprise, given it's Arriva running the show.
@@alanrossington1351 I go from York to Exeter every year and always go through London
@@heidirabenau511 we used to based in York - I could go platform 11 and wave to my kids via the roc railcam
That was a great review, thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for the tour of New Street Station! I have to agree with you, this was not very good value for what you paid.
3:02 Heaven in my ears!
Brings back memories going up and down the cross city line
the standard class seats are similar to those found on the mk4 carriages that lner and transport for wales use
Great video as always Dylan 👌
Hello Dylan. The Crosscountry HST Is Super Quiet With Its Mark 3 Coaches
Hey Dylan took a ice train from Berlin to Nuremberg the other week. Was a quality trip.
Ok XC HST story time. So, after 2 very long years of waiting and failed attempts to get on the LNER/EMR hst finales, I FINALLY get to the UK to ride on an intercity 125! I get to York station, see the train, and what a lovely surprise, it has the IC executive livery!------We miss the train 😐We LITERALLY miss the train! And this is also after a cancelled 225 service from Kings X to York the previous day! And LNER screwing us over to pay for first class, when there were plenty of standard class seats! Long story short, I was able to catch this train at Birmingham later that day for it's return service to Edinburgh. Great to be back on the train that sparked my love for them at age 6!
Nice one
Do you think you could review the Birmingham International to Pwllheli route or Liverpool line street to Norwich Service
12:58 I can't believe you touched that bog seat. I always use my foot.
Delayed and Hungry: the Fast and Furious sequel nobody wanted.
A month on! I’m on it after a week - GWR generally takes 10 days. As trains find it hard to arrive on time tempted to go first cos I know will get a delay reduction refund
You should review the 170s on the Nottingham-worksop. They have declassified first class.
Dylan, you have to remember these trains are over 40 years old.and where built for an infill before other trains replaced them
Britain builds two types of interim measure trains. One is the HST, the other is the Pacer
But you're still paying 2022 prices...
40 years is not an interim lol
THEY R ALMOST AS OLD AS MY PARENTS-
Great trip. Around that distance and time trip in First Class, I think you deserve pastries.
Couldn’t agree more about the catering and fares on Cross Country, catering is very poor and first class fares are an arm and a leg.
Also very few stop at Chesterfield these days as well.
Or Winchester!
3:00 sounds like a Dutch VIRM or Swiss BLS Nina train that is in a hurry or practicing it's good bye song... :D
When travelling home from York to Berwick in the evening always try to use the 1832 XC HST. Gave up using Virgin, then LNER some years ago due to poor service. LNER service from King's Cross may be ok but north of York in the evening is abysmal/non existent. Too many crews think 'finish at Newcastle means pack up at York' spending the rest of the journey doing nothing!
With the delay repay, I was delayed 2hrs on cross country and it took them 2 months to give it back.
Great vid thanks for sharing less about the footy more about your loyal & breathtaking travel buddy. My wife is not as enthusiastic as me with my love of Trains but she’s all aboard with the travels and I keep smiling in her interests. And when she funds some of the trips i must keep happy wife to have the happy life. Last trip she surprised me on was the Valley Rattler in Gympie. Take a googs when you get a moment. The highlight isn’t the actual train it’s the fire caddy that rides behind and has a list a mile long with people wanting to
Ride it. Lol. Also check out the coffee pot in Quorn SA you will be impressed. First class on the tilt train in QLD I will admit is a little more
WOWSERS than this one but it’s the loco you are on that brought me here she is a BEAUT! so far my Hornby 125 is as close as I get to what you experienced.
Can you please make a video about Amtrak Vermonter? Nice video
I had a not so great service last year in august with crosscountry - on time when i got on at brockenhurst, absolutely fine. The rails were loose I think due to the really bad heat so it got delayed by two hours. Obviously no fault of theirs, just happens but it took nearly 5 hours to get to bham n street. The refunds were also all over the place and only got some money back. Boiling on the train too, conductor was pleasant enough. Still ran all the way to manchester piccadilly which sort of shocked me though
Dylan, I thought your first video was the new Caledonian sleeper seated coach review
Very nice, shambolic service from XC as appears to be the norm, from price to catering.
I have a story about XC, I was at Southampton central and I missed my connection to Weymouth. So I went to platform 4 to get an XC 220/221 to Bournemouth but not on an XC valid ticket. So I took the chance and I made it, after explaining my situation to the guard. I got to Bournemouth and caught up with my missed train
Great video!! It’s nice that some HSTs are still running! Just wondering how come your sister comes with you on the train journeys?
Fiancée not sister
Ah I see thanks!
I grew up with the InterCity executive livery, and this is why for a lot of folks my age who care about trains, the HST is our favourite! It looks fast even when it isn't moving!
I know there are people who missed the Deltics on the ECML but the HSTs were a vast improvement. The fact that even today, over 45 years after introduction, HSTs are still plying important routes up and down the country says something to their reliability and versatility (yes, I know they are no longer the standard bearer they used to be but I think they are still fantastic trains!) Obv the delay was not good however.
That Plymouth - Leeds service would have likely have been originally an Edinburgh to Plymouth Service
thank you
Platform changes and short terminations of trains are a fact of life downunder as well as in the UK. Customer advice of these is somewhat sketchy or non-existent also. Unfortunately some rail operators are better at desk-driving rather than looking after the customer. You wouldn't want to be in Sydney at present as industrial action has made commuting anywhere there a nightmare (partially a political issue, partially a wage level issue, partly a safety issue). I enjoyed Cross Country first class from Edinburgh to York on a Class 220 four years ago this month and the service was excellent. What a difference a pandemic has caused to all parts of our lives! Enjoy the remainder of your summer.
I work at a station XC call at and the number of times I have had customers I am helping onto First Class say, I only bought First Class cus of how busy these trains are is astonishing. XC are getting people into First Class cus of how busy their services are and they are only "busy" because they run in general very short 4/5 car Voyagers half the time where I am. So to me they really need to improve their service in general, not just in First Class. But glad you agree it wasn't really worth it.
Hiya Dylan
You should ask for more Beveridge & Snacks they always oblige for me anyway
Please do a review of the 323s ?
Enjoyed it Great video
They were certainly whisper quiet and smooth in their heyday. Bogies getting old. Power cars would be a better description, as they are not really locomotives. At least it looked a bit more civilised in First.
Great video, what camera do you use?
Excellent sound quality , what microphone do you use 😅
May I ask which train speed apps you use on your mobile phone?. Many thanks.
I love when train stations like Birmingham New Street are located smack dab in the middle of town with plenty of shops and pedestrian traffic. That convenience is a rare exception in anti-passenger rail USA.
Tbh, it’s a rare exception in many British cities, some are fairly central but quite a few were kept out by landowners. The worst I’ve visited is, Chester, which as I recall requires a further bus journey to get from the station into the city. Derby, on this route, is a few minutes brisk walk to get into the town.
@@johnd6487 Amtrak stops at Maricopa, Arizona (pop: 50,000) but not Phoenix (pop: 1.658 million) which is 35 miles (56 km) away but does not even offer a bus connection.
Had the train been on time I would think £58 is not an unreasonable price for first class, considering a walk up, off-peak standard fare from BHM to LDS is £70. I do think first is highly over-priced and over-rated, particularly on short journeys of less than an hour or so. I would only consider it if I could get a good advance deal on one of the longer route operators, who offered a sit down meal and lounge use in with the price.
Considering its £170ish for walkfares on 1st. £58 with a railcard is reasonable all things considered.
this is a very impressive station especially for a regional city. its more like a capital city major station by Australian standards
was there a buffet car on this train?
No. Just a trolley service.
I always use paper tickets and never have to panic about my phone being charged, nor waste electricity to do so! They slip into my shirt pocket very easily!
Unless you were diverted the map is incorrect. Trains run via Tamworth and not Lichfield.
The last few weekends, all XC trains to/from birmingham were diverting via lichfield but this is unlikely the case as on the boards there was trains to nottingham, which during the diversions were terminating at Coleshills parkway.
pre-covid google maps used to show the trains going via lichfield if they were nonstop from derby to birmingham.
If the delay wasn’t cross country’s fault, then why would you get delay payment from THEM? Shouldn’t that come from the person that hit the bridge? Or does Cross Country get payment from them and then disburse the passengers?
Having taken the bournemouth to Manchester route many times, and in first class a few times, I'm disappointed that its catering is still as bad, if not worse
thanks enjoyed
Still using Diesel-electric HST trains in 2022? It is time to modernise the UK. Or shall it become a laggard?
Not very impressive. The trouble with Cross Country is that they suffer from lack of competition. To get from Aberdeen to Penzance is not easy and Cross Country provide exactly that service. The poor refreshment offered in first class is pathetic as is the exorbitant price - after the railcard.But if you want to go any other way it might cost you less but you have to make 2 changes.
I sat in the standard qiuet coach - it empty and the plug sockets worked……
Anything has to be better than Manchester Piccadilly, that I hate with a passion, especially platforms 13 & 14 - I’ve very rarely got a nearer platform to depart to Chester on either Northern Rail or TfW services - and this is even more important when connecting from Manchester Metrolink Trams - frankly, I try to go from Manchester Victoria to Chester as far as possible, as the connections are so much easier, plus if travelling onto Holyhead on SailRail for the ferries to Dublin, one has a bit more comfort when changing trains, in terms of longer transfer time at Chester
You should review the 323's as they are on the final furlong of their very productive career.....
Hi Dylan! Honest review but try the run from Man Piccadilly to Southampton. Seats comfy and a tad better than Standard. On board catering abysmal - Orange drink, biscuits, crisps and a couple of the most revolting sandwiches ever (ate only one) on a 4 hour journey and all for a discounted £156! Came back standard for less than half with decent choice of butties and wine for just over £10 although these were not top quality. Next time will travel standard and buy my food at M&S at Piccadilly. One learns by experience! I do feel however that as so many First Class passengers travel free on their firm their expectation is low compared with we who pay. For the extra I paid (about £80) I expect the better seat (say £30) and the other £50 for top class catering - say a high quality main with a choice of starter or sweet with beer or wine. Perhaps Cross country need to see what is offered by the competition (West Coast Manchester - Euston) and considerably up their game?
That floor looks like Premier Inn
Wild hair day that day Dylan!
I used Cross-country from Bodmin to Alnmouth and back, first class. Never, ever again. Late, slow, sloppy service, indifferent staff. Reassuringly expensive, though.
What's the standard class ticket price for this train?