-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Famous people on trains
- Thread starter backontrack
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Deepgreen
Established Member
Including LU - Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson, Enoch Powell, Sarah Miles, Denis Healey, the cast of 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue', when they re-opened Mornington Crescent station after its five year long modernisation, for which I was the business 'client', Simon Hughes MP, Nicholas Owen (newsreader, with whom I had a long chat about southern electrics on a journey from Redhill to London Bridge!), among others.
thenorthern
Established Member
- Joined
- 27 May 2013
- Messages
- 4,114
Checked the policy for broadcasting staff on trains, standard class must be used except when its written into their contract that they are allowed to travel in first. Its normally though what the production manager deems appropriate for the person's status.
Many stars who smoke however refuse to travel by train as they can't smoke en-route. Some of the most expensive productions however will fly their talent around the country by helicopter but this is very rare.
Many stars who smoke however refuse to travel by train as they can't smoke en-route. Some of the most expensive productions however will fly their talent around the country by helicopter but this is very rare.
trainophile
Established Member
They could use their fag money to upgrade themselves to 1st if they so desired!
It wasn't an issue on my sighting, as ATW don't have 1st Class (except Gerald, but that doesn't really count as it's only once a day each way, and only one route).
Skipness
Member
Some years ago I travelled from Kings Cross to Doncaster in the same compartment as the comedy actor Frankie Howerd who proceeded to read a copy of Playboy. Nothing unusual in that you might think, apart from the fact that he was gay, in the days when homosexuality was illegal.
I believe that his use of Playboy was an attempt to hide his sexuality from the general public to avoid blackmail.
I believe that his use of Playboy was an attempt to hide his sexuality from the general public to avoid blackmail.
mm333
Member
Andrew Neil, the then editor of the Sunday Times, in first class on an Intercity from London to Doncaster in 1992ish (he was carrying on to Teeside, I was changing for Grimsby).
Richard Whiteley, travelling into Leeds from his home in Burley-in-Wharfedale in around 2001. I was disappointed that his phone played Ode to Joy and not the Countdown music
Richard Whiteley, travelling into Leeds from his home in Burley-in-Wharfedale in around 2001. I was disappointed that his phone played Ode to Joy and not the Countdown music
ANDYS
Member
My two-penneth worth:-
Bernard Matthews (of turkey fame for those of you old enough) on a BR 125
Susan Boyle in Burger King at Edinburgh
Tom Jones at Chesterfield station as he travelled 2nd class up to his concert here a few years ago
and unknowingly I snapped Neil Morissey outside Stoke station last year:-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/20294406708/in/photolist-wVm94W
Andy S
Bernard Matthews (of turkey fame for those of you old enough) on a BR 125
Susan Boyle in Burger King at Edinburgh
Tom Jones at Chesterfield station as he travelled 2nd class up to his concert here a few years ago
and unknowingly I snapped Neil Morissey outside Stoke station last year:-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/20294406708/in/photolist-wVm94W
Andy S
Greaseball3220
Member
- Joined
- 2 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 72
Weren't Michael Jackson and Uri Gellar pictured going to Exeter from Paddington once? Certainly a bit 
that one!
that one!
Only celeb I've knowingly been in the same train as is Portillo on a diverted TPE service
I also walked past one of the teachers from Educating Yorkshire at Wakefield Westgate station a year or two ago. Can't remember the name but I'm pretty sure it was the English teacher as I thought it ironic he picked up a copy of Metro for the journey. It was a slightly surreal moment of 'recognising' someone you've seen before then realising you've seen them only on TV!
Well, she is off Radio 2 for a few weeks, so maybe she is on an ALR :P
I also walked past one of the teachers from Educating Yorkshire at Wakefield Westgate station a year or two ago. Can't remember the name but I'm pretty sure it was the English teacher as I thought it ironic he picked up a copy of Metro for the journey. It was a slightly surreal moment of 'recognising' someone you've seen before then realising you've seen them only on TV!
Well, she is off Radio 2 for a few weeks, so maybe she is on an ALR :P
Dennis Waterman in Great Western Pullman to Cornwall.
Some bloke from Coronation Street on FGW to Exeter (bloke runs café in the programme apparently).
Statto from Fantasy Football at Euston station.
Craig Johnson ex Liverpool footballer on C2C to Southend.
And really scraping the barrel, West Ham journeyman footballer Bill Green (late 1970s) on train to Fenchurch Street. And he was the only on of these who I spoke to.
Some bloke from Coronation Street on FGW to Exeter (bloke runs café in the programme apparently).
Statto from Fantasy Football at Euston station.
Craig Johnson ex Liverpool footballer on C2C to Southend.
And really scraping the barrel, West Ham journeyman footballer Bill Green (late 1970s) on train to Fenchurch Street. And he was the only on of these who I spoke to.
Bishopstone
Established Member
David Dimbleby from Victoria to Lewes, on a few occasions. He lives near Polegate.
Charles Kennedy on the Fort Bill sleeper.
Some of the Hollyoaks cast, from Runcorn to Euston about 15 years ago. They were a bit of a nuisance.
Our former LibDem MP, transport minister and conspiracy theorist, Norman Baker. He travelled First Class.
Charles Kennedy on the Fort Bill sleeper.
Some of the Hollyoaks cast, from Runcorn to Euston about 15 years ago. They were a bit of a nuisance.
Our former LibDem MP, transport minister and conspiracy theorist, Norman Baker. He travelled First Class.
faltskog36abba
Member
I once saw Cilla black in Marlybone station about five years ago, and bill owen [compo from summer wine] at Wakefield Westgate about twenty years ago.
Intercity 225
Member
- Joined
- 2 Mar 2014
- Messages
- 329
To date I've seen:
Richard Wilson on board a Meridian (travelling First Class)
Impressionist Jon Culshaw on the tube
Jarvis Cocker at Sheffield station (trying to be as inconspicuous as possible!)
And just last month, I was on the same Eurostar as Glenn Hoddle and saw him when we disembarked at St Pancras.
Richard Wilson on board a Meridian (travelling First Class)
Impressionist Jon Culshaw on the tube
Jarvis Cocker at Sheffield station (trying to be as inconspicuous as possible!)
And just last month, I was on the same Eurostar as Glenn Hoddle and saw him when we disembarked at St Pancras.
MichaelWells
Member
- Joined
- 26 Oct 2013
- Messages
- 220
Not Mainline but ive had John Major and Jake Humphrey on my trains at the North Norfolk Railway, one of my friends has had Alastair Cook
43074
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 2,017
I saw Nick Hewer alight from an EMT HST at Leicester a couple of years ago, haven't knowingly seen any celebs since.
As I got off a Manchester - Euston train at Crewe the entire Aldershot Town FC team boarded.
Beat that for famous!
I shared a Virgin first class coach with the Boreham Wood football team on their way to Barrow one Saturday last winter. They got on at Milton Keynes & got off again at Crewe to travel back south after hearing that the game had been called off. The players weren't happy because they'd have to travel by minibus when it was rearranged for midweek.
And I've just remembered that BBC commentator Barry Davies once got of my train at Leeds on his way to commentate on Leeds v West Ham.
Evvy73
Member
Traveled out of Brighton on a packed 319 with Hi-de-hi actress Su Pollard.
On the concourse at Brighton I also saw Australian Actor Ian Smith (probably best known as Harold Bishop from Neighbours - he was in panto in Brighton at the time).
I also bumped into Neil Pearson of Drop The Dead Donkey and Between the Lines fame at Waterloo - the concourse was very busy and it was only a slight bump, prompting a very British "sorry!" from both of us.
Like Bishopstone I also saw former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker at Haywards Heath many times. Like me, he was clearly waiting for a Lewes/Coastway East train.
My Mum also traveled south out of Victoria towards Brighton sat opposite Dame Maggie Smith - only problem was she couldn't remember her name, but was telling anyone she'd met how she had spent an hour talking to a famous actress.
It was only a couple of weeks later when she was watching TV with my Dad that she suddenly started screaming and pointing at the TV, "That's her!! That's the woman I was talking to on the train!!".
On the concourse at Brighton I also saw Australian Actor Ian Smith (probably best known as Harold Bishop from Neighbours - he was in panto in Brighton at the time).
I also bumped into Neil Pearson of Drop The Dead Donkey and Between the Lines fame at Waterloo - the concourse was very busy and it was only a slight bump, prompting a very British "sorry!" from both of us.
Like Bishopstone I also saw former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker at Haywards Heath many times. Like me, he was clearly waiting for a Lewes/Coastway East train.
My Mum also traveled south out of Victoria towards Brighton sat opposite Dame Maggie Smith - only problem was she couldn't remember her name, but was telling anyone she'd met how she had spent an hour talking to a famous actress.
It was only a couple of weeks later when she was watching TV with my Dad that she suddenly started screaming and pointing at the TV, "That's her!! That's the woman I was talking to on the train!!".
tigerroar
On Moderation
Was he sweating?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Why would a football team even consider a train over a coach? The cost difference must be horrific.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
The late Howard Marks in 1st class on Trans-Pennine , Manchester to Leeds.
Devoured the free biscuits , one would think he had the munchies.!.....
Devoured the free biscuits , one would think he had the munchies.!.....
Requeststop
Member
Travelled from Seaford to Brighton with Norman Baker when he was in Government having just been moved to the Home Department. Had a great conversation. Knew all about the rail system too. Told him to give hell to the Tories.
Saw William Hague at New Street delaying a Euston bound service by giving an interview to camera before boarding. All his minders around him. He was Leader of the Opposition at the time.
Jon Pertwee at Paddington, seeing off a "friend" during his Dr Who Days. Very tall guy.
A Bishop of Somewhere around Bradford-Leeds off to a House of Lords debate about something socially concerning! Huge Crucifix and Dog Collar gave the game away.
Not that it counts but flew from Heathrow to Plymouth on Brymon Airways with John Prescott when he was Labour Transport spokesmen pre 1997, travelling down to do an Any Questions in Plymouth. The flight crew asked him to keep the Heathrow link open to the South West. In Government - He didn't.
Saw William Hague at New Street delaying a Euston bound service by giving an interview to camera before boarding. All his minders around him. He was Leader of the Opposition at the time.
Jon Pertwee at Paddington, seeing off a "friend" during his Dr Who Days. Very tall guy.
A Bishop of Somewhere around Bradford-Leeds off to a House of Lords debate about something socially concerning! Huge Crucifix and Dog Collar gave the game away.
Not that it counts but flew from Heathrow to Plymouth on Brymon Airways with John Prescott when he was Labour Transport spokesmen pre 1997, travelling down to do an Any Questions in Plymouth. The flight crew asked him to keep the Heathrow link open to the South West. In Government - He didn't.
HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
I presume this was before October 1992 as Brymon Airways became Brymon Airways Limited and then repainted into BA colours
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Speed, comfort, time, conveninence? A block booking for 30/40 people might offer decent savings
( PS have you ever tried driving to Barrow? It takes ages)
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Well if we're doing other modes, I was once one of 2 passengers on the Taunton park&ride, the other was cricketer and local Marcus Trescothick. Also was once on the same bus (in Camden) as Mr. Motivator!
Last edited:
jp4712
Member
- Joined
- 1 May 2009
- Messages
- 470
I saw Andre Previn once at New Street - he looked desperately unwell, jaundice yellow, and that was my main memory of the encounter.
Much more recently, about ten years ago, I found myself sitting opposite Menzies Campbell in first on Virgin West Coast whilst having a very sensitive phone conversation about large job losses at my company, a privatised utility. I was very careful to give non-committal yes/no/maybe answers on the call as I didn't want him to suss out what was going on and raise it in Parliament!
Much more recently, about ten years ago, I found myself sitting opposite Menzies Campbell in first on Virgin West Coast whilst having a very sensitive phone conversation about large job losses at my company, a privatised utility. I was very careful to give non-committal yes/no/maybe answers on the call as I didn't want him to suss out what was going on and raise it in Parliament!
tigerroar
On Moderation
It would be about £800 for a coach for that single journey but probably less given they'll have regular bookings. Would be fine if the ground was outside the station but it'll incur a coach trip in Barrow then. It's absurd.
Do you mean Prof. Tim O'Brien?
Scotty
Member
The train station isn't far from Barrow's ground - just up the road. Hardly absurd :roll:
- Status