Hi All,
Have bought a first class (8 days in 1 month) interail ticket to tour the uk and it starts on the 23rd of March 2019.
I see the current GWR HST diagrams come to a close at around this time but I was hoping to try and catch the last few in first class as I am told that these are the best seats on any train in the uk.
having a look at earlier posts (Thanks for the diagrams) I was planning something to meet with a friend in Plymouth on the 23rd and return on the 24th with HST haulage. I will be based in Sandhurst whilst in the UK.
As the post 22nd diagrams aren't published yet it hard to know what will remain HST and weekends are not really the best time to experience 1st class on GWR due to the reduced on board service, e.g. the obvious and wonderful to experience Pullman service doesn't run on sat/sun. However based on current diagrams and assuming your route needs to start at Sandhurst.
Sat 23rd, 8:31am Sandhurst > Reading > Paddington. This will put you on a turbo to Reading then a IET to Paddington.
Sat 23rd, 10:03am Paddington > Plymouth. Currently the first HST service to Plymouth having come up from Plymouth.
Sun 24th, 16:10 Plymouth > Paddington. Currently a HST that comes from the depot to form the service and goes to London via Bristol so you'd get to see a different route to the outbound.
Sun 24th 20:33, Paddington > Reading > Sandhurst. Will be IET to reading then turbo to Sandhurst.
or
Sun 24th, 16:10, Plymouth > Reading (arrive 19:36)
Sun 24th 20:18, Reading > Sandhurst (quite a long wait TBH)
In terms of Scotland and HST travel getting one of the services to Aberdeen from Kings Cross will guarantee a HST however the departure times from Kings Cross mean you'll be travelling in Scotland after dark.
ScotRail do not operate all that many services with 1st class so you'll need think carefully about which services you go for to I assume maximise travel mileage per day, this may for example mean you need to work on basis that experiencing the scotrail HST's is impractical.
If your ticket is valid on scotrail sleepers than using one to return to London would be economic use of the ticket allowing you to explore scotland in the day time then return without needing to use up another day for the return. A normal offpeak ticket Euston to Sandhurst would be more economical than using a further day on your pass, unless you plan to explore from London further that day.