0634 Euston - BHM New Street?

[Kristofferson]

Hi all,

I'm due to travel on this train regularly in future, does anyone know how busy it gets due to the fact it's a 4 car peak-time stopper on a long distance trip?

I've booked a First Advance ticket, so if anyone knows what the seating situation is like in First over the course of the journey, that would be helpful too.

Thanks!

 

[gordonthemoron]

I catch it often between Berkhamsted/Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes and it's fairly empty on that stretch and there's never many people joining it at Milton Keynes. However, I expect it will get busier between Northampton and Birmingham.

 

[dvboy]

LM 350 First Class is basically standard + electric sockets.

 

[Kristofferson]

Thanks, travelled on it this morning and FC never really got busy, think it was full between Cov and Birmingham Intl and that's all.

dvboy: Yeah, I've travelled on it before. Advantages IMO are the quieter compartment, a guaranteed seat (where I board the train anyway) and slightly better seats. Pretty much like the Standard quiet coach on a Pendolino, really.

 

[westcoaster]

Thanks, travelled on it this morning and FC never really got busy, think it was full between Cov and Birmingham Intl and that's all.

dvboy: Yeah, I've travelled on it before. Advantages IMO are the quieter compartment, a guaranteed seat (where I board the train anyway) and slightly better seats. Pretty much like the Standard quiet coach on a Pendolino, really.

Can you still recline the seats in first class on a 350.

 

[Eagle]

LM 350 First Class is basically standard + electric sockets.

And antimacassars, don't forget those! They're the most important part of first class.

Can you still recline the seats in first class on a 350.

Yes. A bit.

 

[dvboy]

I cut my finger trying to get a seat to recline. I gave up, I still don't understand how the mechanism works.

 

[A0wen]

LM 350 First Class is basically standard + electric sockets.

Not quite true - if you get penalised with a 350/2 you're in 3+2 seats in standard, whereas the 350/1s have 2+2 in standard.

 

[Kristofferson]

It's true that the train running this service is a 350/1, so you don't get the advantage of swapping 3+2 for 2+2 you would have on the 350/2s.

No idea on the seat recline. Tried it, gave up.

Interesting aside I noticed this weekend... Standard class in Electrostars has more legroom than LM 1st class!