The finest way to travel was still the old style compartment and side corridor. You had complete control over your environment- heating, ventilation etc. if you were travelling late at night the seats were long enough to stretch out on and have a kip. The lights could be dimmed or switched off. If you had the compartment to yourself you could shut the door, pull down the blinds and have the journey in complete peace and quiet. Bliss !
Yes that was the best way to travel and the seats were really comfortable too which included the backs and arm rests unlike todays rock hard seats. They call this modern? i prefer the old than the modern
Here in Switzerland and Germany, there are still a few services that offer compartments. For example old ICE 1s to 3, german intercities or BLS Regio expresses. I agree, travelling in compartments is really different... except if they are crowded
dont know if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me during the covid times then you can stream all the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. Have been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few months xD
*Yea Right - Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !* With respect to Lionel Bart. They've changed our local palais into a bowling alley and Fings ain't wot they used t'be There's teds wiv drainpipe trousers and debs in coffee houses And fings ain't wot they used t'be There used to be trams Not very quick got you from place to place But now there's just jams, half a mile thick Stay in the human race, I'm walking They've stuck parking meters outside our door to greet us No, Fings ain't wot they used t'be Monkeys flying around the moon We'll be up there wiv 'em soon Fings ain't wot they used t'be Once our beer was froffy, but now its froffy coffee No fings ain't wot they used t'be It used t'be fun Dad and old Mum paddling down Southend But now it ain't done Nevermind chum, Paris is where we spend out outings Grandma tries to shock us all Doing knees up rock n' roll Fings ain't wot they used t'be We used to have stars Singers who sung A Dixie Melody They're buying guitars Plinkety plunk, backing themselves with three chords only Once we danced from twelve to three I've got news for Elvis P Fings ain't wot they used t'be Did the lot we us t' Fings ain't wot they used to be
Thanks for the shot of the bike bay, always nice to know what facilities are available for those of us traveling with a bike. Good summary at the end, concise, informative and entertaining. Cheers Tim.
Thanks, Dylan! Another beautiful video in which you explain the route well, you take the time to explain it well and to show us beautiful landscapes. Your trip reports are very pleasant. Thanks to you, we are discovering lots of new regions that we didn't know before and it's fantastic what you do! Thanks to you. Thanks to you, I improve my English too !!! (!!!) 😉
I think I speak for many of of your subscribers when I say your trip reports liven up an otherwise rather dull Friday morning. I'm sure the attendant wouldn't have minded if you'd switched to a four top to charge your electronics if they'd been in dire need. And finally, on a personal note, I'm so glad you filmed the left side of the entrance to Paddington. I always ride the Heathrow Express in First Class (yeah, I know, daft as all get get out) because it's the back of the council flats in Paddington that tell me I'm back in London. It's been 11 years, but I would've still gotten a lot homesick seeing them again. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing, i have travelled from Paddington to Exeter St Davids a few times and back again, i go for a few days holiday. I have also used the branch line from Exeter to Paignton, via Dawlish people wave as train passes by. I think i might try first class as i saw a few offers last time i booked, its good to know they offer drinks. Such a lovely journey by train, i am getting itchy feet but cannot go anywhere at moment with pandemic but hopefully come summer things will change.
GWR have certainly improved their first-class offering since I last travelled with them. Back then you got tea and biscuits served two or three times during the journey if you were lucky! You did get an HST, however, so it wasn't all bad.
I found the 800 series of trains that GWR Now lease / own to be Very uncomfortable I wrote letter to GWR customer complaints & never received a reply The older HST sets were Very Comfortable in first class not like the horrible cheep & nasty seats in the Hitachi trains GWR haven’t listened to Customers who pay lots of money to travel first class there’s no more traveling chefs & not many Pullman services running since Covid I feel GWR are just maxing out there profit for the company & too blazes with customers be it in first class or standard . GWR had something Good once that No other train company had which was good service & Comfortable trains but now they see passengers as Cash cows the staff are excellent but the management takes a lot to be Desired probably failed train managers or failed chefs
The activation system has been a constant problem since the IET came in, sometimes work most of the time don't. Add in the confusion when they have incorrect coach lettering too. 1st Class in a HST at least gave you a big comfy seat. Heck you can't even get a hot bacon roll on the IETs now. So much for having better facilities..
Thank you for the lovely video, Dylan. I am very disappointed with the first class seats on GWR. The old HST leather seats just felt so much better and luxurious. These Hitachi trains are very impressive once they get going though. I’m very proud of our station here at Penzance.
Well all GWR had to do was fit the same seats to these trains! Hitachi had nothing to do with the interior of the trains so we have nobody but ourselves to blame!
@@B-A-L I hadn't thought about the seats being GWR's choice. They made a bad decision.... or do they just want us all to go to one dumb-down class in the future?
Great video...won't be traveling the GWR Cornish Riviera this year due to Covid-19, so your video really made my heart sick for Penzance and the station. The sleeper lounge in Penzance is a brilliant service with friendly staff support. Cheerio for now.
I'm bored with flying and driving to .... from Austria to the UK.... Then! Thanks to you ..... Train Travel.... Portugal, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, North Germany,Sweden and (by ship).... Norway!.... Thanks Dude. 😉
That's because after Exeter, the line isn't really built for high speed trains. It's too winding, and it's not possible for high speed trains in any part of Cornwall, or the section between Exeter and Newton Abbot which includes the bit the main line is separated from a beach by a wall. Also the reason why this section (past Exeter) hasn't been electrified with overhead cables, as they'd get destroyed every winter. The seas in winter off Devon and Cornwall are the most ferocious in the whole of the UK. Have you seen pics of massive waves crash over the wall onto the line, or of sea spray enveloping trains. It's mad. It's the reason why the new Azumas terminate at Exeter, and you have to transfer to a slower diesel train for the rest of the journey. The line past Exeter is too dangerous to put overhead cables on.
12:26 Dawlish! there is actually a webcam that watches that bit of track and I also live just outside Newton Abbot so get to visit that area regularly. Excellent footage young man, keep it up!
I was on this train in standard class, there is no differents apart from the reclining seats, every thing he has shown you can get in standard class, I would not pay the extra..😊😊😊
Plus you need a railcard, and to travel during off-peak times. And probably book the full 13 weeks in advance to get one of the handful of tickets at this price haha
Great content mate. I’m really glad you did this one. I’ve been on this stock out of Paddington to St Austell standard class and I found the seats really stiff and quite unpleasant. By the time I’d arrived at Tiverton I’d had enough. Yes these new trains are sleek and pointy and shiny but they don’t have the same excitement as the old HST.
Watching these videos makes me miss even just taking a 10-minute trip on a 323 into Birmingham 😆 I'd love to be able to do some proper travelling like this once it's possible, though I'm not sure I could justify going to the continent unfortunately
Very good summary of the trip. I agree with your comparison with LNER; I think they have the edge with service. Also, the East Coast Main Line is faster, with the train regularly hitting 125 for quite long stretches. I did the Inverness-London run in first class just before lockdown. Having seen negative comments about the seats I was dreading the trip, but they were actually fine (it's an 8-hour trip). I think a big difference between the IET and HST is space. I felt the standard class sections of the HST were spacious and airy, whereas I feel I'd really want to be travelling first class in the Class 800 to avoid feeling claustrophobic.
My dad worked in the trimming shop at litchchurh lane Derby .as I since told you my first dining chairs were covered in intercity 125 fabric 😃he would not have been impressed by the seats now
Made similar trip but going to Falmouth , its beautiful country side and the train you were on was faster and much more quiter. I think dirty windows and the no nice lounge is a negative too
GWR's refurbished 1st class on their HSTs was the best I've travelled on. These didn't seem to bad but lacked that bit of elegance the previously mentioned sets had to offer. They could do with cleaning their windows as well (for those who had a window!)
When lockdown is over, I would love to try the GWR Hitachi, and will also like to see how it compares to the older HST's. However for me, one of the biggest disappointments is the fact thta the windows are almost alwys dirty!!
@@Lexzim9098 once a day at the yard where they also get a clean inside. Most Cornish trains and buses are filthy. Roads are dusty as hell as are the lines just as mucky.
Nice to see the station looking tidy use to litter clear between platforms once a month, a 6 hour return trip for 1 1/2 hours work. Always started after the sleeper had left the station,
The speed is merely a perception. The line-speed limits are just the same for this type of train as for any others so it's unlikely to be any faster, although it might accelerate more quickly.
Before I retired, I did the journey from Cornwall to London every other week. I felt first class in the IETs was far less comfortable than the HSTs, and they were less comfortable than the old locomotive hauled Mk 3s. That's progress! Thank you so much.
Greetings from Australia! In 2017, I had the mis-fortune to catch a train from Penzance. My destination was Swindon and there were supposed to be a limited number of stops on the way... NOT including Bristol Temple Meads... Something like: Plymouth, Taunton, Bridgewater, Swindon,.... => Paddington. The train left at a reasonable time, (I was not on a tight schedule so I wasn't too worried about the odd 10 minutes) but the driver came on over the PA and apologised for the 20 minute late departure... (his comment that he would endeavour to make up some of that time would come back to haunt all of us). All was fine, until we left Bridgewater, something like 10 minutes late... (we'd made up ten minutes) As we were about to enter the Bristol Temple Meads railyards, we hit a red light! Twenty minutes later, we started to move, slowly. We pulled into the station and the driver made a mistake (or was directed to) and unlocked the doors. Of course, all those who wanted Bristol Temple Meads had departed earlier to catch a connecting train *Because This One Wasn't Going To Stop There.* But a football match had just finished in town & suddenly it was standing room only! We moved on only to be stopped at the next red light! To shorten this story, the next 3 stops took about 3 hours and I, with my newly broken wrist (courtesy of a boulder that bit me in Pendeen the previous day), was getting very short tempered... I should apologise to anyone offended by my typically Australian use of the vernacular as I attempted to alight at Swindon, by first throwing one bag out the door then dragging the second out behind me. I did learn *_NOT_* to catch trains in England on long weekends if you want to get anywhere at a reasonable time frame.
As always Dylan, an excellent report. (Ive done the N.Abbott section), but Penzance looked, in the rain, like a scene from some apocalypse movie. You cant win them all!
15:55 Travelling on GWR first class this weekend from Oxford to Worcester Shrub Hill (spoiler alert: vlog will be filmed), and in my case, the difference between a standard class advance single and a first class advance single was only £1.65!
The magic of travelling by train has certainly gone. I used to love the chocolate and cream pullmans and the old carriages with 6 seat compartments. Far more comfortable than the present offering.
There crap. The Seats barely align the windows, the toilets stink, Unreliable, the seats are rock hard and just a big downgrade from the traditional Loco Hauled trains. Next time I'm going to the west country. I'm taking one of the castle sets instead as it was a big mistake taking one of these
I now prefer to drive from west wales to London rather than travel on these. No fresh hot food.. if I want to drink from a flask I’d bring one . For many it’s a step backwards
Glad GWR seem to have fixed the toilet problem. I used the new trains a few times in 2019 between Truro and Reading when I couldn't get affordable flights and consistently found most of the toilets were broken in some way or other.
As you said, there wasn't much "polish" to the trip, but it was comfortable enough. While it would be disappointing to have nonfunctioning outlets, everything else seemed to be in good order. Perhaps the maintenance people were unaware of the power outage?
I always enjoy a rainy day train ride. Despite the outlets not working it seemed like a decent ride for the price and I never mind paying a little bit more for comfort. We were lucky enough to take a train trip to Santa Barbara just before they shut us down again this past week. We had Sleeper Car Service both ways because that's the only way to get privacy on an Amtrak and you don't have to wear your masks in your room. The only bad part of the trip was I had for the very first time a room attendant that was just awful.. Bad attitude, zero service, acted like we were a bother more than anything. Never had that happen before but it was made up by the train attendant we had on the way back who was just wonderful and got much respect and kudos for her service as well as a generous tip. The other downside was we currently downgraded dining service which was like a bad mix up of TV dinners and airline food. At least we had thought ahead to bring some snacks LOL. First time out in 7 months and we loved it but we're back in quarantine again. Hope you are well, looking forward to future videos as always.
Dear Dylan, I’d like to buy your logo because I like it and your trip reports so I subbed then I started to almost like almost all of your videos the thing I said about is when I went on it I found it was very narrow then i knew you was right. The service was cancelled so I went on a southern and your vid was right so I started to say the vid was helpful
Travels around Cornwall remind me of Poirot and the places where he solved perhaps the most serious but also the most interesting murders. Today, GWR offers us truly beautiful trains (IC - HST), although I am surprised that the service in the first class is not a little richer, considering that the trip lasts a little less than 6 hours, but also because of the rich and widely known tradition of GWR. Is it possible that the price of the trip varies so drastically in relation to the train departure period (as I noticed in your two videos from 2019 - £ 39.25 and from March this year £ 58.10) or did I not understand something best there. By the way, I apologize for having to seek help from Google in order to write better in English, because I'm not that good at it. Thank you for the video, for this, but also for all the other reports from the train journey. I’m definitely sure the top three in the rail travel presentation program are on you tube: You, Nonstop Eurotrip and Simply Railway. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart, and with the experience you gain in this activity (or business) I believe that we will get better, more creative and meaningful video programs that are already to be commended!
Yes the price varies depending on how many tickets are sold (there are so many tickets at one price then when they sell, the price goes up) Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed 😁
Nice. I always order standard class between Weston, Bristol and London and I'm quite fine with it. And I don't know if it's the train's problem but GWR's 2+2 standard class configuration feels narrower than the 2+3 second class on Chinese bullet trains.
Very enjoyable and well-filmed review as always Dylan.....shame about the lousy weather! Maybe there aren't enough first class passengers departing from Penzance to make it worth FGW's while, staffing-wise, to open the sleeper lounge during the day.
Thanks! I initially thought that about the lounge but considering there's a train about every 2 hours to Paddington, you'd like to think there was something.
Another great video Dylan. Never realised you were so tall at least 8ft, must have been to the giants causeway. The trains seemed very quiet even in diesel mode. You have a very long thumb BTW. Anyway enough of my madness, take care and keep safe. Regards to your little relative from last week.
First class really down graded with these IETS. Gone from a soft premium leather seat to a plastic one. there no different to standard class. Plus cup sizes are smaller aswell when having a hot drink compared to the cafe on HST. Wish in general there was more food variety. Like bacon rolls , plain cheese sandwich. first class lounge at paddington is great. First class advance tickets makes it worth while.
Agree, crying shame about the seats. But I think that's not their fault. Apparently leather was allowed on the old one but the new trains had to have some fire resistant materials? Don't quote me on that, but that's what I've heard.
@@HMSDaring1 Maybe that's the case, but no reason why one shouldn't have deep seat squabs with some "give". ScotRail has just refurbished the InterCity 125s with comfortable Mk4 style seats, fine for a 4 hour journey (Dylan has reviewed these).
@@iankemp1131 Yeah agree. Its a modernism style that the seats look elegant and svelte but are uncomfortable. All the IET family now have these uncomfortable seats, not sure why with these trains we've taken a step backwards in terms of quality.
Good review and video. As a regular traveller between Swindon and London, it's nice to see other's thoughts. I really don't like the seats on these new trains, the arm rests are too low to be comfortable for someone over 5ft 6'. The old trains, in my opinion were better and more comfortable.
@Dylan's Travel Reports the plug socket wasn't working because they hadn't switched the electrics on for the train. Explaining why the seat reservations weren't on either.
Hey Dylan. I really enjoy your videos. I’ve been to London several times but this past winter I had the chance to take a quick trip around the UK via train and really enjoyed it. Landed at Heathrow in late February and went to Windsor. From there to Cardiff for the night. Then Swansea to Shrewsbury for the night. On to Liverpool and Carlisle for the night, then to Edinburgh for a few days. Back to London for a few days. Even took a side trip to Brussels. I loved every minute. Your vids make me anxious to get back. Just a quick question, I bought all of my tickets (some 1st class and some standard) on the Trainline app. I was happy with the pricing and flexibility. Is that the best site to use or is there something better? Wish our system of trains in the U.S. was as nice as the UK.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed my video and I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your trip! The trainline is good for split ticketing (where it is cheaper to buy two tickets for the same train) and just generally keeping all of your tickets in one place. That said, they do often charge a small booking fee so I tend to shop around and just buy my tickets directly from the operators where possible.
@@darrellleverkuhn2204 & hi from Shrewsbury! I hope you had time to take in some of our historic sites, particularly our station which is a bit dull inside but has the most impressive front
James Burton - Hi. Yes... Shrewsbury was one of the many surprises along the trip that I really knew nothing about until I arrived. I walked for hours in a light rain and really enjoyed the city. Looking forward to returning soon. And yes, I thought the stations was very nice. The idea of Swansea to Shrewsbury came from Geoff Marshall’s RUclips show “All the Stations”. I rode the exact train he and his wife Vicky rode. The whole trip around the UK was amazing.
They start with one unit in Penzance then add another one in Plymouth to increase capacity. There is not the passenger numbers West of Plymouth to need the extra seats & it costs less to just run one
I travelled from Bristol to Paddington first class did not get any drinks or food very disappointed you are right LNER and Avanti are superior for catering first class
@@RD-ht6go It’s longer than London to Birmingham Which has a full meal offering via Avanti. Both are also intercity services and have fully-equipped kitchens so there is no excuse
Thanks for your feedback. While I do try and show myself in my videos a bit I feel adding voice over would take away from a more "raw" travel experience.
Ever thought of a trip or two on some of the Heritage lines Dylan? Off your usual beat but it could be enjoyable :) They all do Specials so to speak, special locos and or theme days.
I've found GWR to be a solid, comfortable journey. I hope to do the sleeper from London to Penzance and then a return like this one back to London in February, should Americans be able to travel in Europe by then. Quick question for you, Dylan - did you stay in Penzance or elsewhere in the Cornwall region? I'm wondering if Plymouth or Exeter are worth the stops. Love the video, Dylan! I love British trains. Thanks so much!
@TheRenaissanceman65 , thank you so much for your info! I'm hoping to visit the Cornwall area next February, dependent on the COVID situation, and was planning maybe 2 days at Penzance and Truro. Wasn't sure if anywhere else in the area was worth a stop. I considered St. Ives -- heard it's touristy, as is Land's End. Plymouth seems a good choice, at least for a small bit of time, on the way back to London. Again, thank you!
Nearly all ride-improvement is due to infinitely improved track-work during the last decade, especially the rationalisation of point-work and the installation of continuous welded rail. It also depends on how many "flats" the wheel/tyre assemblies sustain over a period of time before being ground off.
Hello Dylan, it is 125 MPH east of Exeter St Davids through to London Paddington. For your information, the section of line between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids along the sea wall is restricted to 75 MPH. Best wishes and take care. Kind regards, Peter Skuce. St Albans. Hertfordshire.
@@DylansTravelReports I agree. 110 is the max on the Berks and Hants Line that goes from Cogload Junction east of Taunton via Westbury, Pewsey and Newbury. Joins up with GW Main Line at Reading then it is 125 to London Paddington. The GW Main lime to Bristol and Cardiff is 125 most of the way and can be done on Elrectric from the Overhead wires. Those stop at Newbury on the Berks and Hants
6:35 *Seats Firm but very comfortable seats in my 2019 B200 CDi AMG and at up to 85.6 mpg works out at (281 Miles @ 85.6 mpg @ £6.62 a UK Diesel Gallon at £21.71 (ECO MODE) - Estimated 5 hours 16 Minutes - beat the Train by 2 minutes and cost ? 1st Class Ticket £97.80 - Even if go into Sport or Comfort Mode beats it in cost and time - say no more !*
Nice video as expected Dylan, disappointed to see the lounge not open and non-working powerpoints on such a new train unit. When I lived down in South Devon I would often catch "The Golden Hind" up to London and back sampling the on board full breakfast/dinner, and here the service would be first class, the fittings and ambience service appropriate. Somehow watching your video it seems the first class coach is somewhat "Democratized" and having free snacks and a paper cup of tea/coffee to me is insufficient if you have paid for a first class ticket and why wasn't the unit before being dispatched to Penzance station properly cleaned at the depot? It is a sad state of affairs we are having to travel on these anonymous "Tin Cans" like the awful Pendolino trains from Euston but progress is progress and you did mention the staff were most attentive and did their best, I wonder if the full breakfast and dinner service is still available on these units and how can they measure against the far better roomier HST pullman sets? The unit catches the overhead wires at Newbury almost three quarters into the journey as already mentioned some 4 hours from Penzance. I hope as the units settle into a regular routine, they can be utilized and deliver a service which the HST had faithfully given us for so many years and us regulars do really miss, but thank you for the video Dylan!
Looks like avoiding the end seats is a good strategy in both First and Standard. No windows, and in Standard I remember a particularly idiotic piece of trim perfectly positioned for smashing one's elbow against.
That’s awful that the power outlets weren’t working. Id maybe expect that in standard class but for the blimmen extortionate premium price of first I’d expect no less than working power outlets! Do you know if they will fix them?
Heya Dylan, another cracking video from you! Well done :) Have you ever considered doing reviews on various heritage railways i.e. North Yorkshire Moors dining trains and suchlike? I know it seems a bit far fetched, but I am curious as to whether you've given it any thought?
Some third-party websites like trainsplit do let you select your seat from an interactive diagram, whereas operators' sites usually allocate you a seat in their busiest carriage.
My dad drives the new class 800 iet for gwr, its like a spaceship in the cab!!!
The finest way to travel was still the old style compartment and side corridor. You had complete control over your environment- heating, ventilation etc. if you were travelling late at night the seats were long enough to stretch out on and have a kip. The lights could be dimmed or switched off. If you had the compartment to yourself you could shut the door, pull down the blinds and have the journey in complete peace and quiet. Bliss !
Yes that was the best way to travel and the seats were really comfortable too which included the backs and arm rests unlike todays rock hard seats. They call this modern? i prefer the old than the modern
Here in Switzerland and Germany, there are still a few services that offer compartments. For example old ICE 1s to 3, german intercities or BLS Regio expresses. I agree, travelling in compartments is really different... except if they are crowded
dont know if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me during the covid times then you can stream all the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. Have been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few months xD
@Louie Ryder yup, have been watching on Instaflixxer for years myself :)
*Yea Right - Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !*
With respect to Lionel Bart.
They've changed our local palais into a bowling alley and
Fings ain't wot they used t'be
There's teds wiv drainpipe trousers and debs in coffee houses
And fings ain't wot they used t'be
There used to be trams
Not very quick got you from place to place
But now there's just jams, half a mile thick
Stay in the human race, I'm walking
They've stuck parking meters outside our door to greet us
No, Fings ain't wot they used t'be
Monkeys flying around the moon
We'll be up there wiv 'em soon
Fings ain't wot they used t'be
Once our beer was froffy, but now its froffy coffee
No fings ain't wot they used t'be
It used t'be fun
Dad and old Mum paddling down Southend
But now it ain't done
Nevermind chum,
Paris is where we spend out outings
Grandma tries to shock us all
Doing knees up rock n' roll
Fings ain't wot they used t'be
We used to have stars
Singers who sung A Dixie Melody
They're buying guitars
Plinkety plunk, backing themselves with three chords only
Once we danced from twelve to three
I've got news for Elvis P
Fings ain't wot they used t'be
Did the lot we us t'
Fings ain't wot they used to be
I love the style of your videos, good camera work and quality, clean editing, no rambling, nice sound, clever and witty subtitles. Keep it up!!
Thanks!
Thanks for the shot of the bike bay, always nice to know what facilities are available for those of us traveling with a bike. Good summary at the end, concise, informative and entertaining. Cheers Tim.
Thanks!
Thanks, Dylan! Another beautiful video in which you explain the route well, you take the time to explain it well and to show us beautiful landscapes. Your trip reports are very pleasant. Thanks to you, we are discovering lots of new regions that we didn't know before and it's fantastic what you do! Thanks to you.
Thanks to you, I improve my English too !!! (!!!) 😉
Thanks 😁 Glad you enjoyed it! Your English is way better than my French!
One of these days I will get to the UK and get to ride a few of these trains. Thanks for the videos I love your format.
Glad you like them!
Hi Dylan, we really like your Reports. keep on traveling and stay safe.
Thanks 😁
I think I speak for many of of your subscribers when I say your trip reports liven up an otherwise rather dull Friday morning. I'm sure the attendant wouldn't have minded if you'd switched to a four top to charge your electronics if they'd been in dire need. And finally, on a personal note, I'm so glad you filmed the left side of the entrance to Paddington. I always ride the Heathrow Express in First Class (yeah, I know, daft as all get get out) because it's the back of the council flats in Paddington that tell me I'm back in London. It's been 11 years, but I would've still gotten a lot homesick seeing them again. Cheers.
Thanks! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.
Another relaxing trip over late breakfast here in the US. Thanks Dylan!
You're welcome 😁
Thanks for sharing, i have travelled from Paddington to Exeter St Davids a few times and back again, i go for a few days holiday. I have also used the branch line from Exeter to Paignton, via Dawlish people wave as train passes by. I think i might try first class as i saw a few offers last time i booked, its good to know they offer drinks. Such a lovely journey by train, i am getting itchy feet but cannot go anywhere at moment with pandemic but hopefully come summer things will change.
GWR have certainly improved their first-class offering since I last travelled with them. Back then you got tea and biscuits served two or three times during the journey if you were lucky! You did get an HST, however, so it wasn't all bad.
I found the 800 series of trains that GWR Now lease / own to be Very uncomfortable I wrote letter to GWR customer complaints & never received a reply
The older HST sets were Very Comfortable in first class not like the horrible cheep & nasty seats in the Hitachi trains GWR haven’t listened to Customers who pay lots of money to travel first class there’s no more traveling chefs & not many Pullman services running since Covid I feel GWR are just maxing out there profit for the company & too blazes with customers be it in first class or standard .
GWR had something Good once that No other train company had which was good service & Comfortable trains but now they see passengers as Cash cows the staff are excellent but the management takes a lot to be Desired probably failed train managers or failed chefs
The activation system has been a constant problem since the IET came in, sometimes work most of the time don't. Add in the confusion when they have incorrect coach lettering too. 1st Class in a HST at least gave you a big comfy seat. Heck you can't even get a hot bacon roll on the IETs now. So much for having better facilities..
yeah... at least they are keeping the HST with Mk3 Slding door coaches. (imagine if they were the original slammy doors)
Thank you for the lovely video, Dylan. I am very disappointed with the first class seats on GWR. The old HST leather seats just felt so much better and luxurious. These Hitachi trains are very impressive once they get going though. I’m very proud of our station here at Penzance.
Thanks!
Well all GWR had to do was fit the same seats to these trains! Hitachi had nothing to do with the interior of the trains so we have nobody but ourselves to blame!
@@B-A-L I hadn't thought about the seats being GWR's choice. They made a bad decision.... or do they just want us all to go to one dumb-down class in the future?
Keep up the good work, great content, highlight of my Fridays!
Thanks Suttie!
Great video...won't be traveling the GWR Cornish Riviera this year due to Covid-19, so your video really made my heart sick for Penzance and the station. The sleeper lounge in Penzance is a brilliant service with friendly staff support. Cheerio for now.
Thanks 😁
I'm bored with flying and driving to .... from Austria to the UK.... Then! Thanks to you ..... Train Travel.... Portugal, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, North Germany,Sweden and (by ship).... Norway!.... Thanks Dude. 😉
Can’t believe it’s faster to get a train to Edinburgh than it is to Penzance!
Oliver Gray and Glasgow
That's because after Exeter, the line isn't really built for high speed trains. It's too winding, and it's not possible for high speed trains in any part of Cornwall, or the section between Exeter and Newton Abbot which includes the bit the main line is separated from a beach by a wall. Also the reason why this section (past Exeter) hasn't been electrified with overhead cables, as they'd get destroyed every winter.
The seas in winter off Devon and Cornwall are the most ferocious in the whole of the UK. Have you seen pics of massive waves crash over the wall onto the line, or of sea spray enveloping trains. It's mad. It's the reason why the new Azumas terminate at Exeter, and you have to transfer to a slower diesel train for the rest of the journey. The line past Exeter is too dangerous to put overhead cables on.
Rob Tyman you remember when the line got destroyed at dawlish?
Slower yes. Don't want to wake the sheep up. He He.
By the way I live in Dawlish.😁
Evening Dylan keep up. The good work pall
Again, this videos fantastic!
Thanks!
12:26 Dawlish! there is actually a webcam that watches that bit of track and I also live just outside Newton Abbot so get to visit that area regularly. Excellent footage young man, keep it up!
Thanks!
Hey! We didn't hear the door slamming in the HST! And at Penzance too - where I travelled as a kid. I love the nostalgic sound of going-on-holiday!
I was on this train in standard class, there is no differents apart from the reclining seats, every thing he has shown you can get in standard class, I would not pay the extra..😊😊😊
Plus you need a railcard, and to travel during off-peak times. And probably book the full 13 weeks in advance to get one of the handful of tickets at this price haha
@@TheSmittenman You could also use seatfrog to get a cheap upgrade.
Great content mate.
I’m really glad you did this one. I’ve been on this stock out of Paddington to St Austell standard class and I found the seats really stiff and quite unpleasant. By the time I’d arrived at Tiverton I’d had enough.
Yes these new trains are sleek and pointy and shiny but they don’t have the same excitement as the old HST.
Thanks!
yeah....
Watching these videos makes me miss even just taking a 10-minute trip on a 323 into Birmingham 😆 I'd love to be able to do some proper travelling like this once it's possible, though I'm not sure I could justify going to the continent unfortunately
Another great travel report over a lovely part of the country. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks 😁
Lovely trip. I am glad it was a good value.
Very good summary of the trip. I agree with your comparison with LNER; I think they have the edge with service. Also, the East Coast Main Line is faster, with the train regularly hitting 125 for quite long stretches. I did the Inverness-London run in first class just before lockdown. Having seen negative comments about the seats I was dreading the trip, but they were actually fine (it's an 8-hour trip). I think a big difference between the IET and HST is space. I felt the standard class sections of the HST were spacious and airy, whereas I feel I'd really want to be travelling first class in the Class 800 to avoid feeling claustrophobic.
Thanks! The seats on the IETs are fine imo.
I’ve always wanted to ride that train...
The 4 times ive been on an IET were all in first class and i love the reclining seats and the food service is normally very good
Yay another trip report
My dad worked in the trimming shop at litchchurh lane Derby .as I since told you my first dining chairs were covered in intercity 125 fabric 😃he would not have been impressed by the seats now
Made similar trip but going to Falmouth , its beautiful country side and the train you were on was faster and much more quiter. I think dirty windows and the no nice lounge is a negative too
GWR's refurbished 1st class on their HSTs was the best I've travelled on. These didn't seem to bad but lacked that bit of elegance the previously mentioned sets had to offer. They could do with cleaning their windows as well (for those who had a window!)
Hi Dylan I enjoyed the video!!! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed!
I love the train that you are on
When lockdown is over, I would love to try the GWR Hitachi, and will also like to see how it compares to the older HST's. However for me, one of the biggest disappointments is the fact thta the windows are almost alwys dirty!!
Kinda inevitable when going past the coastline
The windows being dirty are probably because they got hit by the sea waves at Devon!
@@kuroneco-j4n Good point, but how often do they "properly"wash their trains??
@@Lexzim9098 once a day at the yard where they also get a clean inside. Most Cornish trains and buses are filthy. Roads are dusty as hell as are the lines just as mucky.
Greetings from California. Very cool video -- I want to visit Cornwall on my next trip to the UK. I love traveling by rail in UK and Europe.
=
Nice video, I like the design of this train
Thanks!
I love the class 802! They look sleek and modern, even though I don't live in the UK, it still looks amazing! I want to ride this some day.
Nice to see the station looking tidy use to litter clear between platforms once a month, a 6 hour return trip for 1 1/2 hours work. Always started after the sleeper had left the station,
just over 2 years later and I can now gladly tell you that both Penzance and Truro lounges are open for 1st class customers most of the day :)
I know a good friend that has a holiday cabin in Cornwall and I hope to ride GWR once this whole pandemic blows over
So you paid for a first class seat and the outlets weren't working? SMH
The sad thing is that the train looked nice aesthetically and it's quite fast.
peter buckley this is Karen in one comment
@@peterbuckley265 What?. Could you speak a little louder, i didn't hear you.
JJKK
The speed is merely a perception. The line-speed limits are just the same for this type of train as for any others so it's unlikely to be any faster, although it might accelerate more quickly.
Yes, It was asthetically pleasing, but the IET's low build quality.... (good old BR HST is the best{I think})
Before I retired, I did the journey from Cornwall to London every other week. I felt first class in the IETs was far less comfortable than the HSTs, and they were less comfortable than the old locomotive hauled Mk 3s. That's progress!
Thank you so much.
Greetings from Australia!
In 2017, I had the mis-fortune to catch a train from Penzance.
My destination was Swindon and there were supposed to be a limited number of stops on the way... NOT including Bristol Temple Meads... Something like: Plymouth, Taunton, Bridgewater, Swindon,.... => Paddington.
The train left at a reasonable time, (I was not on a tight schedule so I wasn't too worried about the odd 10 minutes) but the driver came on over the PA and apologised for the 20 minute late departure... (his comment that he would endeavour to make up some of that time would come back to haunt all of us).
All was fine, until we left Bridgewater, something like 10 minutes late... (we'd made up ten minutes)
As we were about to enter the Bristol Temple Meads railyards, we hit a red light! Twenty minutes later, we started to move, slowly.
We pulled into the station and the driver made a mistake (or was directed to) and unlocked the doors. Of course, all those who wanted Bristol Temple Meads had departed earlier to catch a connecting train *Because This One Wasn't Going To Stop There.*
But a football match had just finished in town & suddenly it was standing room only!
We moved on only to be stopped at the next red light!
To shorten this story, the next 3 stops took about 3 hours and I, with my newly broken wrist (courtesy of a boulder that bit me in Pendeen the previous day), was getting very short tempered...
I should apologise to anyone offended by my typically Australian use of the vernacular as I attempted to alight at Swindon, by first throwing one bag out the door then dragging the second out behind me.
I did learn *_NOT_* to catch trains in England on long weekends if you want to get anywhere at a reasonable time frame.
He seems like a nice guy.😊
As always Dylan, an excellent report. (Ive done the N.Abbott section), but Penzance looked, in the rain, like a scene from some apocalypse movie. You cant win them all!
Thanks! It always seems to rain in the UK 😅
This one is definitely on my list as well :)
Just make sure to go on a sunny day as it's amazing!
Really good video. Plz keep it up
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for the video.
nice on dillon
15:55 Travelling on GWR first class this weekend from Oxford to Worcester Shrub Hill (spoiler alert: vlog will be filmed), and in my case, the difference between a standard class advance single and a first class advance single was only £1.65!
I find it funny how after every bathroom tour, you always lock onto the toilet for a couple seconds 😂
😅
The magic of travelling by train has certainly gone. I used to love the chocolate and cream pullmans and the old carriages with 6 seat compartments. Far more comfortable than the present offering.
Compartments is certainly something I wish they'd bring back in Britain.
I don't understand the hate that these trains get, they're brilliant
There crap. The Seats barely align the windows, the toilets stink, Unreliable, the seats are rock hard and just a big downgrade from the traditional Loco Hauled trains. Next time I'm going to the west country. I'm taking one of the castle sets instead as it was a big mistake taking one of these
I now prefer to drive from west wales to London rather than travel on these. No fresh hot food.. if I want to drink from a flask I’d bring one . For many it’s a step backwards
I rode this and absolutely loved it
Its Good That You Feel Comfortable On The Seats!
The views of the sea must be beautiful in fair weather, if that ever happens!
Ik right. Last summer, I was luck enough to experience it on a beautiful, sunny evening.
virus wards lol... crazy how things changed in such a short period of time! Nice tripreport btw! :)
Glad GWR seem to have fixed the toilet problem. I used the new trains a few times in 2019 between Truro and Reading when I couldn't get affordable flights and consistently found most of the toilets were broken in some way or other.
I think it's usually just a fault with the automatic door.
Great journey despite the rain ☔️🙂
Sunny, sunny Cornwall 😁
As you said, there wasn't much "polish" to the trip, but it was comfortable enough. While it would be disappointing to have nonfunctioning outlets, everything else seemed to be in good order. Perhaps the maintenance people were unaware of the power outage?
Possibly. It happens from time to time.
I always enjoy a rainy day train ride. Despite the outlets not working it seemed like a decent ride for the price and I never mind paying a little bit more for comfort.
We were lucky enough to take a train trip to Santa Barbara just before they shut us down again this past week. We had Sleeper Car Service both ways because that's the only way to get privacy on an Amtrak and you don't have to wear your masks in your room. The only bad part of the trip was I had for the very first time a room attendant that was just awful.. Bad attitude, zero service, acted like we were a bother more than anything. Never had that happen before but it was made up by the train attendant we had on the way back who was just wonderful and got much respect and kudos for her service as well as a generous tip. The other downside was we currently downgraded dining service which was like a bad mix up of TV dinners and airline food. At least we had thought ahead to bring some snacks LOL. First time out in 7 months and we loved it but we're back in quarantine again. Hope you are well, looking forward to future videos as always.
Hope you're safe and well. I've heard the situatuin in CA isn't too great atm. At least you got to do your trip.
Dear Dylan,
I’d like to buy your logo because I like it and your trip reports so I subbed then I started to almost like almost all of your videos the thing I said about is when I went on it I found it was very narrow then i knew you was right. The service was cancelled so I went on a southern and your vid was right so I started to say the vid was helpful
Travels around Cornwall remind me of Poirot and the places where he solved perhaps the most serious but also the most interesting murders. Today, GWR offers us truly beautiful trains (IC - HST), although I am surprised that the service in the first class is not a little richer, considering that the trip lasts a little less than 6 hours, but also because of the rich and widely known tradition of GWR.
Is it possible that the price of the trip varies so drastically in relation to the train departure period (as I noticed in your two videos from 2019 - £ 39.25 and from March this year £ 58.10) or did I not understand something best there. By the way, I apologize for having to seek help from Google in order to write better in English, because I'm not that good at it. Thank you for the video, for this, but also for all the other reports from the train journey. I’m definitely sure the top three in the rail travel presentation program are on you tube: You, Nonstop Eurotrip and Simply Railway. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart, and with the experience you gain in this activity (or business) I believe that we will get better, more creative and meaningful video programs that are already to be commended!
Yes the price varies depending on how many tickets are sold (there are so many tickets at one price then when they sell, the price goes up) Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed 😁
Nice.
I always order standard class between Weston, Bristol and London and I'm quite fine with it. And I don't know if it's the train's problem but GWR's 2+2 standard class configuration feels narrower than the 2+3 second class on Chinese bullet trains.
@bouke Kalkwijk That explains. Thank you.
1:28 almost walked into a door oops! Hahah great video though I subscribed
Thanks 😅
Very enjoyable and well-filmed review as always Dylan.....shame about the lousy weather! Maybe there aren't enough first class passengers departing from Penzance to make it worth FGW's while, staffing-wise, to open the sleeper lounge during the day.
Thanks! I initially thought that about the lounge but considering there's a train about every 2 hours to Paddington, you'd like to think there was something.
Another great video Dylan. Never realised you were so tall at least 8ft, must have been to the giants causeway. The trains seemed very quiet even in diesel mode. You have a very long thumb BTW. Anyway enough of my madness, take care and keep safe. Regards to your little relative from last week.
Thanks! Yeah I think I maybe paid Giant's Causeway a visit in the past 😂
First class really down graded with these IETS. Gone from a soft premium leather seat to a plastic one. there no different to standard class. Plus cup sizes are smaller aswell when having a hot drink compared to the cafe on HST. Wish in general there was more food variety. Like bacon rolls , plain cheese sandwich. first class lounge at paddington is great. First class advance tickets makes it worth while.
The new trains are rubish!
Agree, crying shame about the seats. But I think that's not their fault. Apparently leather was allowed on the old one but the new trains had to have some fire resistant materials? Don't quote me on that, but that's what I've heard.
@@HMSDaring1 Maybe that's the case, but no reason why one shouldn't have deep seat squabs with some "give". ScotRail has just refurbished the InterCity 125s with comfortable Mk4 style seats, fine for a 4 hour journey (Dylan has reviewed these).
@@iankemp1131 Yeah agree. Its a modernism style that the seats look elegant and svelte but are uncomfortable. All the IET family now have these uncomfortable seats, not sure why with these trains we've taken a step backwards in terms of quality.
Good review and video. As a regular traveller between Swindon and London, it's nice to see other's thoughts. I really don't like the seats on these new trains, the arm rests are too low to be comfortable for someone over 5ft 6'. The old trains, in my opinion were better and more comfortable.
been wanting to ride an IET for ages, finally be getting one to Newton Abbot in a few weeks! hope the windows will be a little bit cleaner at least...
Enjoy your trip 😁
@@DylansTravelReports thank you, can't wait! 😄
@Dylan's Travel Reports the plug socket wasn't working because they hadn't switched the electrics on for the train. Explaining why the seat reservations weren't on either.
Hey Dylan. I really enjoy your videos. I’ve been to London several times but this past winter I had the chance to take a quick trip around the UK via train and really enjoyed it. Landed at Heathrow in late February and went to Windsor. From there to Cardiff for the night. Then Swansea to Shrewsbury for the night. On to Liverpool and Carlisle for the night, then to Edinburgh for a few days. Back to London for a few days. Even took a side trip to Brussels. I loved every minute. Your vids make me anxious to get back. Just a quick question, I bought all of my tickets (some 1st class and some standard) on the Trainline app. I was happy with the pricing and flexibility. Is that the best site to use or is there something better? Wish our system of trains in the U.S. was as nice as the UK.
By the way.... the date you traveled for this video I was on the Eurostar from London to Brussels for a day trip. I remember that rainy day.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed my video and I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your trip! The trainline is good for split ticketing (where it is cheaper to buy two tickets for the same train) and just generally keeping all of your tickets in one place. That said, they do often charge a small booking fee so I tend to shop around and just buy my tickets directly from the operators where possible.
@@darrellleverkuhn2204 & hi from Shrewsbury! I hope you had time to take in some of our historic sites, particularly our station which is a bit dull inside but has the most impressive front
James Burton - Hi. Yes... Shrewsbury was one of the many surprises along the trip that I really knew nothing about until I arrived. I walked for hours in a light rain and really enjoyed the city. Looking forward to returning soon. And yes, I thought the stations was very nice. The idea of Swansea to Shrewsbury came from Geoff Marshall’s RUclips show “All the Stations”. I rode the exact train he and his wife Vicky rode. The whole trip around the UK was amazing.
It is better to use the website of the train operator you are using as train line charges a booking fee
Another great review mate. At 16:53 I can't work out why the two locos are hooked up? thanks.
Thanks! These are multiple units so instead of a loco hauling the train, there are engines under some of the passenger coaches.
They start with one unit in Penzance then add another one in Plymouth to increase capacity. There is not the passenger numbers West of Plymouth to need the extra seats & it costs less to just run one
@@JB-ek4yx Thanks :-)
It's very good review of this train😘😘😘😘
Thanks!
Very nice trains.
I went past there before on holiday, I went on one of the boat rides and saw dolphins.
Nice!
I travelled from Bristol to Paddington first class did not get any drinks or food very disappointed you are right LNER and Avanti are superior for catering first class
I think Bristol to London is too short to have meals.
@@RD-ht6go It’s longer than London to Birmingham Which has a full meal offering via Avanti. Both are also intercity services and have fully-equipped kitchens so there is no excuse
Your killing me DYLAN!!!!!! I need to be on a train!!!!!!! 😱🤦♂️🥺🙏👍
Dylan - we'd love to see and hear you in your videos!
Thanks for your feedback. While I do try and show myself in my videos a bit I feel adding voice over would take away from a more "raw" travel experience.
At 8:00 I noticed that in the gangway door there was a ramp is it something to do with the design of the train or something?
The floor is lowered as this is directly under where the pantagraph is (I think)
Can you do VIA rails Canadian from toronto to vancoover
I will do some day!
A subscriber journey is something I've thought about and certainly something I'd be open to in the future.
@@DylansTravelReports I like that your a big youtuber but you read the peoples suggestions
It’s really expensive. It’s over $1000CAD a person to take it from Toronto to Vancouver.
I’m from Penzance :)
Ever thought of a trip or two on some of the Heritage lines Dylan? Off your usual beat but it could be enjoyable :) They all do Specials so to speak, special locos and or theme days.
I have warmed to that idea a bit over the last few months. I'll maybe look into it.
I've found GWR to be a solid, comfortable journey. I hope to do the sleeper from London to Penzance and then a return like this one back to London in February, should Americans be able to travel in Europe by then.
Quick question for you, Dylan - did you stay in Penzance or elsewhere in the Cornwall region? I'm wondering if Plymouth or Exeter are worth the stops.
Love the video, Dylan! I love British trains. Thanks so much!
Thanks! I arrived in Penzance earlier in the day on the Night Riviera.
@@DylansTravelReports , thanks! I hope to take the Night Riviera to Penzance as well.
@TheRenaissanceman65 , thank you so much for your info! I'm hoping to visit the Cornwall area next February, dependent on the COVID situation, and was planning maybe 2 days at Penzance and Truro. Wasn't sure if anywhere else in the area was worth a stop. I considered St. Ives -- heard it's touristy, as is Land's End. Plymouth seems a good choice, at least for a small bit of time, on the way back to London.
Again, thank you!
Lori Johnston don’t forget Bristol :)
@@Horizon301. , Bristol is worth the trip?
As a Reading-Paddington commuter (till the pandemic), I say the IETs are a better ride than the HSTs and I liked the HSTs already.
Nearly all ride-improvement is due to infinitely improved track-work during the last decade, especially the rationalisation of point-work and the installation of continuous welded rail. It also depends on how many "flats" the wheel/tyre assemblies sustain over a period of time before being ground off.
Nice video ok that train on the 15th of September
Hello Dylan, it is 125 MPH east of Exeter St Davids through to London Paddington.
For your information, the section of line between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids along the sea wall is restricted to 75 MPH.
Best wishes and take care. Kind regards, Peter Skuce. St Albans. Hertfordshire.
I only clocked the train doing 110mph between Exeter and Reading. I think it's only the portion on the GWML that's 125mph?
@@DylansTravelReports I agree. 110 is the max on the Berks and Hants Line that goes from Cogload Junction east of Taunton via Westbury, Pewsey and Newbury. Joins up with GW Main Line at Reading then it is 125 to London Paddington. The GW Main lime to Bristol and Cardiff is 125 most of the way and can be done on Elrectric from the Overhead wires. Those stop at Newbury on the Berks and Hants
Looks nice. Great video. I do like chicken mayo sandwiches
Thanks 😁
Very nice video i like it
Thank you so much 😀
6:35 *Seats Firm but very comfortable seats in my 2019 B200 CDi AMG and at up to 85.6 mpg works out at (281 Miles @ 85.6 mpg @ £6.62 a UK Diesel Gallon at £21.71 (ECO MODE) - Estimated 5 hours 16 Minutes - beat the Train by 2 minutes and cost ? 1st Class Ticket £97.80 - Even if go into Sport or Comfort Mode beats it in cost and time - say no more !*
Agreed on the lounges. I think all modern trains have hard uncomfortable seats. Funny how one carriage of the HST is still slam door
Nice video as expected Dylan, disappointed to see the lounge not open and non-working powerpoints on such a new train unit. When I lived down in South Devon I would often catch "The Golden Hind" up to London and back sampling the on board full breakfast/dinner, and here the service would be first class, the fittings and ambience service appropriate. Somehow watching your video it seems the first class coach is somewhat "Democratized" and having free snacks and a paper cup of tea/coffee to me is insufficient if you have paid for a first class ticket and why wasn't the unit before being dispatched to Penzance station properly cleaned at the depot? It is a sad state of affairs we are having to travel on these anonymous "Tin Cans" like the awful Pendolino trains from Euston but progress is progress and you did mention the staff were most attentive and did their best, I wonder if the full breakfast and dinner service is still available on these units and how can they measure against the far better roomier HST pullman sets? The unit catches the overhead wires at Newbury almost three quarters into the journey as already mentioned some 4 hours from Penzance. I hope as the units settle into a regular routine, they can be utilized and deliver a service which the HST had faithfully given us for so many years and us regulars do really miss, but thank you for the video Dylan!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!
Looks like avoiding the end seats is a good strategy in both First and Standard. No windows, and in Standard I remember a particularly idiotic piece of trim perfectly positioned for smashing one's elbow against.
That’s awful that the power outlets weren’t working. Id maybe expect that in standard class but for the blimmen extortionate premium price of first I’d expect no less than working power outlets! Do you know if they will fix them?
Heya Dylan, another cracking video from you! Well done :)
Have you ever considered doing reviews on various heritage railways i.e. North Yorkshire Moors dining trains and suchlike? I know it seems a bit far fetched, but I am curious as to whether you've given it any thought?
Thanks! I've given it some thought. I'll maybe look into it.
HST good, IET bad, that's it really....I have to say this is after several fabulous 1st class trips on the HST Pullman service...
So nice! But... are you able to choose a seat that doesn't face backward? Or is it luck of the draw?
It's pot luck I'm afraid.
Dylan's Travel Reports 😆👍
you are allowed to change seats tho
GWR reservation system asks you for a preference for the type of seat your want but does not allow you to choose a specific seat.
Some third-party websites like trainsplit do let you select your seat from an interactive diagram, whereas operators' sites usually allocate you a seat in their busiest carriage.
Min 04:43: There are windowless seats! Are they for free, courtesy of GWR, or what is that? How can a train be designed like this?
A lot of operators simply use them as extra baggage storage but not GWR for some reason.
@@DylansTravelReports Ok, that makes sense. But a seat without window - moreover in the first class - does not. ^^