Those standard class seats are ridiculous! I think it was the accountants who made the decision on buying them! First class looked awesome though, looking forward to the next station hotel review! Iconic building that one
Cheers, Steve. I’m sure I read somewhere that accountants at the DFT effectively selected a commuter train seat for the long distance fleet for cost reasons. But then layered on a load of marketing BS about how they are ergonomically designed for comfort. 😵💫
This is a "Travel Size Smackdown" that was very enjoyable to watch Roger! Thanks for sharing this, nice to see the drastic differences that train companies in the UK provide in 2024! - Tyler
Thanks for the first class/second class comparison, Roger. Very interesting and I'm glad you had a good trip! Really looking forward to your review of the Midland. It's a beautiful hotel.
I've only travelled in TPE first class between Leeds and York once in January. It was OK, it was a doubled up 185 but it was 15+ minutes late and we had to sprint to make our connection in York. I am currently in Whsley Bridge, I travelled down from Haymarket on Avanti then changed at Preston and Manchester Piccadilly.
Ha! Me to a few weeks back when I was coming back from Leeds. The 185 was 20 minutes late. Fortunately we came in on the adjacent platform at York - but only with 2 minutes to spare! 😮
Glad you had a good trip with Transpennine, as I said to you, we couldn't fault them going down to Newcastle. That's probably the longest journey I've had in those seats though, so perhaps an hour and a half is long enough!
Brilliant review, Rog! I haven't tried First Class yet on a Nova 2. But I will say the interior of the train is lovely with the lighting being nicely balanced unlike the Azuma. I do have to agree with you on the seats, they are uncomfortable. Why can't they even make comfortable seats anymore? It's a disgrace.
Cheers, Reece. I was surprised by those First seats on the Nova 2. I was expected the usual Class 80X First seat they have on the Azumas and the Nova 1s. 🤔
I tried the new TPE menu and I have to say 2 years ago if you told me I could have a warm meal on TPE in First Class and for it to taste good I wouldn't believe you! But I'm definitely a lot happier with TPE and I actually look forward to travelling with them now (not in standard, those seats are still the pain of my life) but I do think overall they are onto something with this new menu!
Great review Roger..... handy one aswell.... 1st class all the time if I can..... that breakfast looked a bit burnt but as long as you enjoyed it lol.... the coffee is good though.... I've had it. Nice to see you well again..... Richard Turnbull in Newcastle upon Tyne
Thanks Richard. Interesting though the coffee you get in First isn’t the “Filter Cup Coffee” you buy from the trolley in Standard. But a good cup all the same! 😀
I have to agree on the first class product - it's very good, especially for a company that only gave light snacks before! In my video review, I had a lunch time train and had the beef stew. It was gorgeous, but I wish I had tried the sausage roll too :(
Shame the coffee comes in paper cups. Shows a bit of lack of class, I think compared to Avanti, GWR and even TfW. Wouldn't take much to serve in china cups. Nice Vid. Pip Pip
Great video (as are most of your vids) and nice to see the beautiful scenery along that route. Not sure how I would cope with those seats though as I travelled on the CrossCountry Voyagers to/from Birmingham a month ago (would love to see a review of CrossCountry from your channel in the future if you get time) and found the seats quite uncomfortable even though they have more padding (ended up with a slight bum ache at the end of both my 45-50 min journeys which means the padding had hardened up a bit) but those standard class seats really would take the cake if I ever rode them - at least I know what to expect if I ever ride companies like TransPennine Express & LNER for long journeys. Just a perfect example of how the people who design these seats are most likely people who've either never travelled on long train journeys before or just don't care for the comfort of other passengers. I don't travel by rail that often as I mostly drive and partially because of the rail prices although I have started travelling by train a bit more over the last year.
Yes 1st class is preferable & good that your breakfast tasted better than it looked. Also great that the trains on time. The standard seats not great at all. Up in Glasgow this weekend from Alnmouth via Edinburgh, & already have had 2 cancellations! Good video as always. 👍 😊
I travelled from Edinburgh to Newcastle last year. I travelled one way with Transpennine and back with LNER both in standard class. I agree the seats in Standard class on Transpennine are terrible. I felt them uncomfortable to sit in even for short journeys. Surprisingly I find the seats on LNER to be slightly better with a bit more padding on the base and I find them tolerable for a journey of up to two hours. Don’t know if I’d say the same for a full journey from Edinburgh to London.
I can handle the Fainsa Sophia seats for a couple of hours tops. If I go LNER from Edinburgh to London I’ll try and get a good First Class fare, or go Lumo instead. Thanks for watching. 😀
Interesting, one little observation compared to LNER first class, you had wooden cutlery, disposable cups etc, whilst they have real cutlery, real plates and crockery on LNER..
So how did you really feel about those standard class seats?! At least the scenery was beautiful! I'm going to be in London in August with some friends and am going to make a side trip to Malvern; I am really excited about the train ride lol!!!!!!!
Good TPE checks Roger. I thought you might have returned with TPE's East Coast service but perhaps the timings didn't suit. As for the Midland hotel ... it's a good choice being located adjacent to Manchester Exchange closed in 1969. I stayed (end 1980s press trip)at the Midland around the time it was a Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza and stayed again with the family around 1990. Holiday Inn cuts corner with renovation and the cash seemed to have been spent on public areas unlike the rooms which were of course refurbished but then turned into the sort of accommodation you would find in a Holiday Inn ! Since then, according to Wiki, the property has changed hands a couple of times.
Thanks, Alex. The Midland’s just undergone a £14m refurb courtesy of Leonardo Group. It’s very impressive and they’ve brought back the railway motifs. There was a little service glitch which really annoyed me, sadly. All will be revealed soon. 🤔
@@RogEdwardsTV I look forward to viewing the video, Roger. In our case we took Dan Air LGW-MAN (three hour delay) hired a Vauxhall Cavalier from Avis at MAN around Saturday midnight, drove to the Midland and then the reception staff couldn't locate our booking. I suppose as we looked respectable we were allocated a room and told to sort out the situation the next morning. Management was apologetic the following day !
Really impressed with the quality of this video! Great job
Thanks so much! 😀
Those standard class seats are ridiculous! I think it was the accountants who made the decision on buying them! First class looked awesome though, looking forward to the next station hotel review! Iconic building that one
Cheers, Steve. I’m sure I read somewhere that accountants at the DFT effectively selected a commuter train seat for the long distance fleet for cost reasons. But then layered on a load of marketing BS about how they are ergonomically designed for comfort. 😵💫
Anyone else mind the madness of the class 185s from Scotland?
Do they still run 185s to Scotland? I haven’t seen one up here for ages.
@@RogEdwardsTV not now but there were occasional flashes of one every so often
This is a "Travel Size Smackdown" that was very enjoyable to watch Roger! Thanks for sharing this, nice to see the drastic differences that train companies in the UK provide in 2024!
- Tyler
Thanks Tyler! Much appreciated. 🚈
Love This railway hotel series that you´re doing. Greetings from Brazil!
Thanks so much for watching. Where in Brazil are you? 😀
@@RogEdwardsTV , Rio de Janeiro.
@@arthuramado9545 👍
Thanks for the first class/second class comparison, Roger. Very interesting and I'm glad you had a good trip! Really looking forward to your review of the Midland. It's a beautiful hotel.
Thanks so much for watching! 😀
I've only travelled in TPE first class between Leeds and York once in January. It was OK, it was a doubled up 185 but it was 15+ minutes late and we had to sprint to make our connection in York. I am currently in Whsley Bridge, I travelled down from Haymarket on Avanti then changed at Preston and Manchester Piccadilly.
Ha! Me to a few weeks back when I was coming back from Leeds. The 185 was 20 minutes late. Fortunately we came in on the adjacent platform at York - but only with 2 minutes to spare! 😮
Glad you had a good trip with Transpennine, as I said to you, we couldn't fault them going down to Newcastle. That's probably the longest journey I've had in those seats though, so perhaps an hour and a half is long enough!
Thanks Martin. A great trip apart from the backache! 😂
Brilliant review, Rog!
I haven't tried First Class yet on a Nova 2. But I will say the interior of the train is lovely with the lighting being nicely balanced unlike the Azuma.
I do have to agree with you on the seats, they are uncomfortable. Why can't they even make comfortable seats anymore? It's a disgrace.
Cheers, Reece. I was surprised by those First seats on the Nova 2. I was expected the usual Class 80X First seat they have on the Azumas and the Nova 1s. 🤔
I tried the new TPE menu and I have to say 2 years ago if you told me I could have a warm meal on TPE in First Class and for it to taste good I wouldn't believe you! But I'm definitely a lot happier with TPE and I actually look forward to travelling with them now (not in standard, those seats are still the pain of my life) but I do think overall they are onto something with this new menu!
Definitely worth a trip, Daniel! 😀
Great review Roger..... handy one aswell.... 1st class all the time if I can..... that breakfast looked a bit burnt but as long as you enjoyed it lol.... the coffee is good though.... I've had it.
Nice to see you well again..... Richard Turnbull in Newcastle upon Tyne
Thanks Richard. Interesting though the coffee you get in First isn’t the “Filter Cup Coffee” you buy from the trolley in Standard. But a good cup all the same! 😀
I have to agree on the first class product - it's very good, especially for a company that only gave light snacks before! In my video review, I had a lunch time train and had the beef stew. It was gorgeous, but I wish I had tried the sausage roll too :(
I was talking to the Host and he said that the Sausage Roll always runs out first! 😀 Thanks so much for watching - I’ll take a look at your vid.
Shame the coffee comes in paper cups. Shows a bit of lack of class, I think compared to Avanti, GWR and even TfW. Wouldn't take much to serve in china cups. Nice Vid. Pip Pip
Agree it’s a nice touch that makes the experience a bit more special. Thanks for watching! 😀
Great video (as are most of your vids) and nice to see the beautiful scenery along that route. Not sure how I would cope with those seats though as I travelled on the CrossCountry Voyagers to/from Birmingham a month ago (would love to see a review of CrossCountry from your channel in the future if you get time) and found the seats quite uncomfortable even though they have more padding (ended up with a slight bum ache at the end of both my 45-50 min journeys which means the padding had hardened up a bit) but those standard class seats really would take the cake if I ever rode them - at least I know what to expect if I ever ride companies like TransPennine Express & LNER for long journeys.
Just a perfect example of how the people who design these seats are most likely people who've either never travelled on long train journeys before or just don't care for the comfort of other passengers. I don't travel by rail that often as I mostly drive and partially because of the rail prices although I have started travelling by train a bit more over the last year.
Thanks so much for watching. I’m not a massive fan of CrossCountry but I guess a trip would be in order before the Voyagers disappear for good. 🚄
Yes 1st class is preferable & good that your breakfast tasted better than it looked. Also great that the trains on time. The standard seats not great at all. Up in Glasgow this weekend from Alnmouth via Edinburgh, & already have had 2 cancellations! Good video as always. 👍 😊
Thanks Alan. Have a great time in Glasgow!
I travelled from Edinburgh to Newcastle last year. I travelled one way with Transpennine and back with LNER both in standard class. I agree the seats in Standard class on Transpennine are terrible. I felt them uncomfortable to sit in even for short journeys. Surprisingly I find the seats on LNER to be slightly better with a bit more padding on the base and I find them tolerable for a journey of up to two hours. Don’t know if I’d say the same for a full journey from Edinburgh to London.
I can handle the Fainsa Sophia seats for a couple of hours tops. If I go LNER from Edinburgh to London I’ll try and get a good First Class fare, or go Lumo instead. Thanks for watching. 😀
Lumo would have been a better choice than TPE in terms of seating and possibly price.
Interesting, one little observation compared to LNER first class, you had wooden cutlery, disposable cups etc, whilst they have real cutlery, real plates and crockery on LNER..
Yes that’s right. The wooden cutlery wasn’t easy to use TBH. 😂
So how did you really feel about those standard class seats?! At least the scenery was beautiful! I'm going to be in London in August with some friends and am going to make a side trip to Malvern; I am really excited about the train ride lol!!!!!!!
Have a great time, Betsy! 😀
Good TPE checks Roger. I thought you might have returned with TPE's East Coast service but perhaps the timings didn't suit. As for the Midland hotel ... it's a good choice being located adjacent to Manchester Exchange closed in 1969. I stayed (end 1980s press trip)at the Midland around the time it was a Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza and stayed again with the family around 1990. Holiday Inn cuts corner with renovation and the cash seemed to have been spent on public areas unlike the rooms which were of course refurbished but then turned into the sort of accommodation you would find in a Holiday Inn ! Since then, according to Wiki, the property has changed hands a couple of times.
Thanks, Alex. The Midland’s just undergone a £14m refurb courtesy of Leonardo Group. It’s very impressive and they’ve brought back the railway motifs. There was a little service glitch which really annoyed me, sadly. All will be revealed soon. 🤔
@@RogEdwardsTV I look forward to viewing the video, Roger. In our case we took Dan Air LGW-MAN (three hour delay) hired a Vauxhall Cavalier from Avis at MAN around Saturday midnight, drove to the Midland and then the reception staff couldn't locate our booking. I suppose as we looked respectable we were allocated a room and told to sort out the situation the next morning. Management was apologetic the following day !
the presentation is woeful.. of the food that is
☺️Sadly, doesn’t live up to the photos in the menu booklet.
That Manchester hotel looks as if its been built with the same stone as the Caledonian Hotel at the West End of Edinburgh.
There are definite similarities and they both opened in the same year, 1903. Worthy is some research, I think. 🤔
TPE isn't too bad, my worst experiences are always with Avanti.😢
Yes - Avanti have had quite a few issues of late. Thanks for watching. 😀
Usually (in the past) I’ve been able to request a seat on Twitter and they usually give me oje
Thanks - that’s good to know! 😀
where your youtube today rog edwards tv at 12pm
There was a pretty big hint in last week’s video! 😂