I just travelled up to Newcastle today on an Azuma which went via Royston, Cambridge and Ely. A scenic if rather lengthy addition to the journey which I didn't mind. The switch over to diesel was very seamless and happened just after we left the ECML. I have to say I was impressed by how muted the Diesel engines were. We arrived at Peterborough some 20 minutes early and immediately the Diesel engines were shutdown.
I was in first class and I'm sure the seats are getting more comfortable with time and use. I really can't abide the window blinds though. My one was already falling apart and looking threadbare. I also had an annoying expense when a chap got on at York, sat behind me and immediately pulled the blind down fully. My rather passive aggressive response of immediately raising it back up, albeit to a half closed position seemed to work for both of us. Annoyingly, he could've sat in the free seat with no window or indeed on the other side of the train out of the sun. Oh how I miss the curtains in the Mk.4s...