TPE Report

[Butts]

Travelled from Falkirk Grahamston to Haymarket then onto Manchester Airport on Trans Pennine Express 1st Class fare just over £20 with Railcard.

I have never been on TPE before it was a Saturday but they had attended service in 1st Class (inbetween the girl doing trolley run)

Had three coffees and three various snacks (crisps biscuits etc).

2nd was rammed so wise decision

Quite comfy but wouldn't say up to East Coast or Virgin standard.

Standby for the killer line.....(train that is !!!)

I flew from Manchester to Jersey for TWELVE POUNDS on BMI Baby which took 50 mins.

Flew back with BA to Edinburgh via Gatwick (£51) - despite coming from a "Duty Free" area - Jersey- didn't have to go through customs at Gatwick -is this normal - wish I'd loaded up with more than 200 tabs

 

[Crossover]

Quite comfy but wouldn't say up to East Coast or Virgin standard.

It's the old adage that realistically, while ever TPE run the Anglo-Scottish routes with 185's they aren't going to live up to EC or Virgin standard as they are designed for a different purpose.

That said, I can think of a far worse ways to travel on that line :P and you were probably better off being in FC

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That said, I can think of a far worse ways to travel on that line :P and you were probably better off being in FC

We always book first class on TPE with seat reservations when travelling any long distance services from Manchester Airport, such as Durham and Edinburgh. The commuter traffic in Standard Class is very heavy in the Greater Manchester area.

 

[Robinson]

When TPE took over Manchester-Scotland services it became far better to change at Preston doing my regular home trip from boarding school. Virgin are FAR superior to TPE and (although some may disagree) I always found it easier to get a seat with them.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When TPE took over Manchester-Scotland services it became far better to change at Preston doing my regular home trip from boarding school. Virgin are FAR superior to TPE and (although some may disagree) I always found it easier to get a seat with them.

Comparing TOC performance, if you order seat reservations at the time of booking your tickets in advance, at least First TPE actually put the seat reservation labels on in advance, whereas Arriva Trains Wales seem to run a "now you see them - now you don't" policy in respect of bothering to put seat reservation labels on seats on their services, irregardless of the fact that you have arranged this facility in advance.

 

[185]

Comparing TOC performance, if you order seat reservations at the time of booking your tickets in advance, at least First TPE actually put the seat reservation labels on in advance, whereas Arriva Trains Wales seem to run a "now you see them - now you don't" policy in respect of bothering to put seat reservation labels on seats on their services, irregardless of the fact that you have arranged this facility in advance.

That's because TPE forced traincrew to put them on. So unimportant things like assisting disabled customers or ringing in connections for passengers who've missed their last train and need a taxi, now come second to this as it's printed on the guards docket as 'DISPLAY SEAT RESERVATIONS' - ie. a requirement; I was always happy to put them out for the benefit of my passengers before TPE made it a compulsory requirement.

 

[Butts]

Talking of reservations I did notice on my trip that most of 2nd class seemed to be festooned with tickets so god help a "walk up" in that section.

In the 1st Class only a few reservations were present.

It amused me that some people utilised the single seats thay were allocated when a "table for four" was going begging.(in the first class)

The set up of the carriage is quite good as you go through the door on exit to a vestibule that contains the toilet - plus a few "tip up" 2nd class seats.

The tickets were checked on departure from Edinburgh and Carlisle and not again !!! -

 

[ainsworth74]

The set up of the carriage is quite good as you go through the door on exit to a vestibule that contains the toilet - plus a few "tip up" 2nd class seats.

It's good that little bit because unless the train is crush loaded not many people seem to realise it's there. Often I'll board and it will be full in standard class but upon making my way to that part of the train there will no-one there. There is even a little lift up and out table in the middle of each set of three seats.

 

[Butts]

It's good that little bit because unless the train is crush loaded not many people seem to realise it's there. Often I'll board and it will be full in standard class but upon making my way to that part of the train there will no-one there. There is even a little lift up and out table in the middle of each set of three seats.

Thats true a similar set up occurs on some Scotrail Services.

Instead of the tip-up seats you have the disabled bit , the bike rack, and a few odd seats - often empty

The only drawback of the toilet positioning (for 1st Class Passengers) is that people from 2nd class keep opening and shutting the carriage doors to access the toilet