We had come back from France in the car and decided to stop off for a few days in Liverpool on the way back to Ireland. While in France I was able to buy a BritRail Mobile (M-Pass) 3 days for England. Very good value and the benefit of the M-Pass was that I didn’t have to worry about delivery and having a paper ticket. Not being able to sleep on day 1 - I headed out from the hotel at 03:10! The purpose of this trip was catching stock, hence the hopping off and on to maximise units.
22-Aug-2018
1H40 03:37 Northern service Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport.
Travelled Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly on 156460 / 52460.
A very sleepy start, but a very quiet service made up of a 156 & a 150. I am not sure the various states of refurbishment these units have gone through, plus it was a bit early to notice much. It certainly wasn't objectionable!
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1P09 04:22 TransPennine Express service from Manchester Airport to Newcastle
Travelled Manchester Piccadilly to Huddersfield on 185114 / 51114
Class 185 are very nice units and are well appointed in TPE’s configuration. It certainly is a marked change from the Cross-Country offering, on what are very similar distances and route types. Given the pricing of a BritRail pass I’m travelling in 1st class throughout. Very friendly TPE staff on board, offering me his advice on Huddersfield. The service does not use the Ordsall Chord and we reverse at Salford Crescent.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Visual
1P11 05:03 TransPennine Express service from Manchester Airport to Newcastle
Travelled Huddersfield to Leeds on 185122 / 51122
Huddersfield is a lovely station and the buffet on platform 4/5 was already open at 05:35, even if not officially according to the opening hours posted. The smell of bacon frying had me smiling, even though I stuck to just a cup of coffee. Over on the opposite platform the station cat Felix was waiting to ignore me – what sort of lunatic is wandering around Huddersfield at this hour of the morning? Another 185 to Leeds, no drama – although it was the guards first BritRail. What small excitements at 6am!
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
1A06 06:40 LNER service from Leeds to London Kings Cross
Travelled Leeds to Doncaster in TF 41118 with power cars 43316 and 43300 (London End)
HST Formation: [EC56] 43316 44098 42244 42243 42242 42363 42241 40720 41118 41170 43300
The Cross Country HST operated service to Plymouth was pulling out as we arrived, so other HST options were the EMT service to London St. Pancras or the LNER to Kings Cross. Picked LNER. Stock arrived into the platform at 06:30 and catering loading could politely be described as chaotic and noisy – but it was achieved on time. It is an insight into the hard lives that the trains doors, fixtures and fittings receive on a daily basis. James Martin is the chosen LNER chef and I had the bacon roll, which was fine, the service was friendly and fast. Definitely my aim to try and maximise HST travel over the next few months.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1A91 06:00 Hull Trains service from Beverley to London Kings Cross
Travelled Doncaster to Grantham on 180110 / 54910
My first experience with Hull Trains and indeed with a Class 180. Both excellent, and there was a good load in First class with very busy and attentive service. Leather seats looking a little tired. I didn’t explore the food options, just had a coffee and orange shortbread.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
1A09 07:15 LNER service from Leeds to London Kings Cross
Travelled Grantham to London Kings Cross in TF 41152 with power cars 43310 and 43320 (London End)
HST Formation: [EC57] 43310 44080 42190 42186 42182 42128 42226 40740 41152 41151 43220
Not a lot to say apart from highlighting the excellent and touching assistance I had from LNER staff and a member of the public when we arrived in London. Due to various allergies I suffer from nosebleeds which can be triggered by allergic reactions, but also by stress. I think I was a little overwhelmed arriving in the Cross on a HST (my first time) and I was overwhelmed! The member of the public was most gracious in giving me a packet of M&S wipes to help clean up my shirt.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
2C14 09:51 Thameslink service from London Kings Cross to Cambridge North
Travelled Kings Cross to Finsbury Park on 700036 / 412036
2K48 09:24 Great Northern service from Welwyn Garden City to Moorgate
Travelled Finsbury Park to Moorgate on 313063 / 62591
1P20 10:30 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Norwich
Travelled London Liverpool Street to Stratford (Naughty!) in FO 11090 with loco 90014
1K47 09:50 Greater Anglia service from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street
Travelled Stratford to London Liverpool Street on 321348 / 78132
1K34 10:55 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria
Travelled London Liverpool Street to Stratford on 321362 / 78146
1Y35 09:35 Greater Anglia service from Ipswich to London Liverpool Street
Travelled Stratford to London Liverpool Street on 360117 / 65567
1B54 11:25 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
Travelled throughout on 317508 / 71587
It is listed in the WTT as a 317 duty, not the normal 379s
1N55 12:27 Cross Country service from Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street
Travelled Stansted to Cambridge on 170102 / 79102
I got this by the skin of my teeth as the Stansted Express took the full hour to get from London. I got a seat but this is another example of a totally unfit for purpose train operating a popular and busy Cross Country train.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1T31 12:47 Great Northern service from Ely to London Kings Cross
Travelled Cambridge to London Kings Cross on 387110 / 421110
Staff Present – No; Ticket Check – No
1S72 14:30 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central
Travelled London Euston to Warrington Bank Quay on 390122 / 69522
Great trip back up the WCML. I was starting to get tired at this stage, so some welcome chat from the woman opposite and the Virgin nibbles suited well. The afternoon food is basic enough, a little chicken sandwich and some crisps. They did two trips with the ‘free’ alcohol between London and Warrington and water was plentiful in the fridge.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned (Ramp at Euston and on train)
1H90 16:20 Arriva Trains Wales service from Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly
Travelled Warrington Bank Quay to Newton-le-Willows on 175114 / 56764
Staff Present – No; Ticket Check – No
9M12 14:03 TransPennine Express service from Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street
Travelled Newton-le-Willows to Liverpool Lime Street on 185121 / 51121
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
Overall
Daily Tally: 20 Trains (incl 2 Tubes in London)
9 Hours 47 minutes moving out of 13 hours 28 minutes elapsed
22-Aug-2018
1H40 03:37 Northern service Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport.
Travelled Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly on 156460 / 52460.
A very sleepy start, but a very quiet service made up of a 156 & a 150. I am not sure the various states of refurbishment these units have gone through, plus it was a bit early to notice much. It certainly wasn't objectionable!
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1P09 04:22 TransPennine Express service from Manchester Airport to Newcastle
Travelled Manchester Piccadilly to Huddersfield on 185114 / 51114
Class 185 are very nice units and are well appointed in TPE’s configuration. It certainly is a marked change from the Cross-Country offering, on what are very similar distances and route types. Given the pricing of a BritRail pass I’m travelling in 1st class throughout. Very friendly TPE staff on board, offering me his advice on Huddersfield. The service does not use the Ordsall Chord and we reverse at Salford Crescent.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Visual
1P11 05:03 TransPennine Express service from Manchester Airport to Newcastle
Travelled Huddersfield to Leeds on 185122 / 51122
Huddersfield is a lovely station and the buffet on platform 4/5 was already open at 05:35, even if not officially according to the opening hours posted. The smell of bacon frying had me smiling, even though I stuck to just a cup of coffee. Over on the opposite platform the station cat Felix was waiting to ignore me – what sort of lunatic is wandering around Huddersfield at this hour of the morning? Another 185 to Leeds, no drama – although it was the guards first BritRail. What small excitements at 6am!
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
1A06 06:40 LNER service from Leeds to London Kings Cross
Travelled Leeds to Doncaster in TF 41118 with power cars 43316 and 43300 (London End)
HST Formation: [EC56] 43316 44098 42244 42243 42242 42363 42241 40720 41118 41170 43300
The Cross Country HST operated service to Plymouth was pulling out as we arrived, so other HST options were the EMT service to London St. Pancras or the LNER to Kings Cross. Picked LNER. Stock arrived into the platform at 06:30 and catering loading could politely be described as chaotic and noisy – but it was achieved on time. It is an insight into the hard lives that the trains doors, fixtures and fittings receive on a daily basis. James Martin is the chosen LNER chef and I had the bacon roll, which was fine, the service was friendly and fast. Definitely my aim to try and maximise HST travel over the next few months.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1A91 06:00 Hull Trains service from Beverley to London Kings Cross
Travelled Doncaster to Grantham on 180110 / 54910
My first experience with Hull Trains and indeed with a Class 180. Both excellent, and there was a good load in First class with very busy and attentive service. Leather seats looking a little tired. I didn’t explore the food options, just had a coffee and orange shortbread.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
1A09 07:15 LNER service from Leeds to London Kings Cross
Travelled Grantham to London Kings Cross in TF 41152 with power cars 43310 and 43320 (London End)
HST Formation: [EC57] 43310 44080 42190 42186 42182 42128 42226 40740 41152 41151 43220
Not a lot to say apart from highlighting the excellent and touching assistance I had from LNER staff and a member of the public when we arrived in London. Due to various allergies I suffer from nosebleeds which can be triggered by allergic reactions, but also by stress. I think I was a little overwhelmed arriving in the Cross on a HST (my first time) and I was overwhelmed! The member of the public was most gracious in giving me a packet of M&S wipes to help clean up my shirt.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned
2C14 09:51 Thameslink service from London Kings Cross to Cambridge North
Travelled Kings Cross to Finsbury Park on 700036 / 412036
2K48 09:24 Great Northern service from Welwyn Garden City to Moorgate
Travelled Finsbury Park to Moorgate on 313063 / 62591
1P20 10:30 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Norwich
Travelled London Liverpool Street to Stratford (Naughty!) in FO 11090 with loco 90014
1K47 09:50 Greater Anglia service from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street
Travelled Stratford to London Liverpool Street on 321348 / 78132
1K34 10:55 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria
Travelled London Liverpool Street to Stratford on 321362 / 78146
1Y35 09:35 Greater Anglia service from Ipswich to London Liverpool Street
Travelled Stratford to London Liverpool Street on 360117 / 65567
1B54 11:25 Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
Travelled throughout on 317508 / 71587
It is listed in the WTT as a 317 duty, not the normal 379s
1N55 12:27 Cross Country service from Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street
Travelled Stansted to Cambridge on 170102 / 79102
I got this by the skin of my teeth as the Stansted Express took the full hour to get from London. I got a seat but this is another example of a totally unfit for purpose train operating a popular and busy Cross Country train.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
1T31 12:47 Great Northern service from Ely to London Kings Cross
Travelled Cambridge to London Kings Cross on 387110 / 421110
Staff Present – No; Ticket Check – No
1S72 14:30 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central
Travelled London Euston to Warrington Bank Quay on 390122 / 69522
Great trip back up the WCML. I was starting to get tired at this stage, so some welcome chat from the woman opposite and the Virgin nibbles suited well. The afternoon food is basic enough, a little chicken sandwich and some crisps. They did two trips with the ‘free’ alcohol between London and Warrington and water was plentiful in the fridge.
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – Scanned (Ramp at Euston and on train)
1H90 16:20 Arriva Trains Wales service from Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly
Travelled Warrington Bank Quay to Newton-le-Willows on 175114 / 56764
Staff Present – No; Ticket Check – No
9M12 14:03 TransPennine Express service from Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street
Travelled Newton-le-Willows to Liverpool Lime Street on 185121 / 51121
Staff Present – Yes; Ticket Check – No
Overall
Daily Tally: 20 Trains (incl 2 Tubes in London)
9 Hours 47 minutes moving out of 13 hours 28 minutes elapsed
