And the good build quality of the trains! BR used to get a lot of flack back in the day, but time has proven that they knew what they were doing when it came to engineering and design.
Love the mk4s, it is criminal that some have been scraped when they still could have been used! Way better then the mk3s, ride is smother, and i still prefer the mk4s to the new class 80Xs. Best carriages Britain has ever produced imo.
totally agree with this. EDIT just saw that Grand Central cancelled their proposed usage on their london to blackpool service, so looks like they are all getting scrapped other than a few going to wales. What a shame!
Very short sighted to scrap them. They perhaps would be useful to increase the number of carriages from 4 to 6 for instance on the Inter7city HSTs when demand increases.
@@DiscoNick Fortunately Transport for Wales have obtained the Grand Central coaches for use between Swansea and Manchester so those coaches aren't being scrapped just yet. Still, keeping all the IC225s on LNER instead of buying the 'electric' Azumas would have been the better option I think.
@@Martindyna I doubt the mark 4 coaches which Grand Central had are compatible with the mark 3s used in the Inter7city HSTs. However the Grand Central coaches aren't being scrapped at the moment anyway as TfW have taken them as noted in my other comment.
Loved the start up and sounds of the 91,s beautiful looking locomotives hard to believe they have been around nearly 30 years and still going strong they just seem to glide along at top speed, and built in Britain like the old H.S.Ts which are years older an still giving good service overall?
Congratulations on another excellent review of British Rolling Stock, Dylan. I had two trips on a Class 91/Mark 4 set when I was over there 2 years ago; Peterborough to York after a day trip to the Nene Valley Railway and London Kings Cross to Peterborough a couple of weeks later as part of a round trip to/from Cambridge. Thanks to you, I'm now able to back up my still photos of the 'big trip' from downunder with video coverage to show my friends (I'm still captioning photos from that trip 2 + years later - up to album number 5 of a potential 10-12 albums with 300 photos in each). Now a few comments on the video. First, thanks for the map inclusion. That really helps those viewers who, unlike me, may be unfamiliar with the geographical setting. Next, complements to you on your politeness during your wander, when you encountered other passengers who gave way to you; and for your consideration to the train crew engaged in a, presumably pre-trip, meeting in first class prior to the journey. Next, I really loved your 'typical pommie wit' in describing London's liquid sunshine and the fantastic lead on to your comment about the slightly harder standard class seat while panning across to the GTR train opposite with its 'ironboard' seats. Great to see the liquid sunshine turned into real sunshine during the journey. You were lucky to score 91119 in the Intercity Colour Scheme. Yes, I agree with Simon Kemp in that the roaring sound of this class of loco is that of cooling fans deployed during acceleration to offset the heat generated in the traction motors until such time they have natural ventilation at speed. On the ever so slightly negative side, your wander could have been clipped a little as progression through three successive standard class cars was a little lengthy and you could have included more scenery such as the view from Welwyn North viaduct for instance. Not to worry, all in all you have done well and are getting better week by week. At some stage in the future, it would be nice for you to include a selfie enjoying your coffee and first class free treats either in a station lounge of enroute if you can arrange for a friend to accompany you or get a friendly rail staff member or fellow passenger to facilitate that for you. I'm sure many of your followers would love to see more than a fleeting glimpse of you in a washroom mirror and perhaps some casual conversation to complement your typed in comments. Great work and please keep your journey reviews coming. Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
Honestly I really don’t want these to go I’ve had so many great memories riding these amazing sets between Leeds & London & back. It will be a sad day when these brilliant sets are gone forever. But the one thing I will miss just like anyone else is that amazing start up from the 91’s
Thanks, Dylan! I'm repeating myself, I know, but I always have a great time with you. Very nice video as usual: you show the trains very well. Thank you ! Many !
In the 1980's you got grey and white interior in first class, with white table cloths, uniformed waiting staff and Pullman fine dining! How times change so quickly.
Sunny London! Some people call rain “liquid sunshine,” in which case London was indeed sunny when you departed. I thought the train decor and amenities were very nice and, as you noted, certainly did not appear decades old. Plus the train cars and restrooms were clean. Thanks for sharing another pleasant trip! 🍁
Very enjoyable review. i too like how you leave the informative subtitles up for long enough for us to easily read them and I like your signature wave in the mirror lol. I'm sorry but i can't agree with you about the sound that the Class 91 makes, it sounds to me like a hoover but otherwise impressively quiet, slightly reminiscent of the original Eurostar power cars which made a boring noise imo. I prefer the whine / scream of older dc motored locos like the Class 87 & Class 90. My favorite train noise wise must be the Class 319 (experienced when sitting in the powered carriage haha).
I enjoyed this video again very much Dylan. As a Dutchman, because of the virus still can't go back to the Netherlands, I like your videos because I love to travel by train too. And I have to say, The UK always was my favorite country and still is. Hopefully I get the chance to visit it more in the future.
I’ll be sorry to see these go. Many happy memories of these from BR days, GNER etc until now. Travelling to London for the day in First class was wonderful, good food, friendly staff on East Coast route always whoever currently owned it. The locomotive hauled experience is always better, and we should have had a British designed and built replacement, not the inferior stuff we are now getting.
great video kings cross has a mixture of both historical and modern architecture just like sister station st Pancras next door the intercity 225 trains look really good you can clearly see LNER and previous companies took great care of them i hope to ride one before they go in a few years time
I think this is one of the better trains. It has everything I am looking for like electrical outlet next to the seat, stocked with food items, clean working restrooms, clean windows and information screens I haven't seen before. The station was great with shops and restaurants. The ticket was so reasonable. The cloud formations were beautiful on a rainy day. Very pleasant trip.
Seems like a fast quiet train. I was fixated on the horizon vistas around 12/13 min onwards, where view was unobstructed by bushes. The dreamlike cloud and clear skies was just magnificent and worthy of framing. Kudos to you Dylan for framing these shots with such skill. 🙏👌 Enjoy Xmas Bro.
To get the best views, sit in an offside window seat and travel the full 400 miles of the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh. The view as you cross Durham Viaduct, looking DOWN on the medieval Cathedral and Castle, is fantastic. Further north the train hugs the coast of Northumberland and you get equally good view over the North Sea to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne!
I will miss these trains. I have travelled on them so many times between London and Durham over the years. I love the gentle whining sound they make as they race across the flat countryside, and the way they bounce up and down on the tracks when at speed... you can see them bouncing in your long shot through the train interior. The windows let in plenty of natural light, offering a good view of the passing countryside and the electricity pylons flashing past.
I am sad to see these being phased out, particularly as they never reached their full potential of 225kph (140mph) due to decades of under investment in our railway infrastructure. How long will it be before the replacement Class 800 series will be able to travel at that speed on our mainlines?
@@lamborghinihexagons5502 For a brief 60 miles - average speeds are much lower as that is the Northeast corridor and the rest of the journey is a snail's pace.
They did reach 140mph several times in the early 90's in passenger service before limiters. The HST's reached 140mph too and more often 130-135mph before limiters. Of course not every journey but many a driver in the days of the engineering led railway exceeded the 125mph mark. I did London-York in an HST in 1989 in 1hr40 minutes start to stop. The braking was hard on a couple of occasions and the speed fantastic. But these days are long gone. The fastest days for UK railways were 1976-1992 (HS1 regional 140mph trains accepted and Eurostar which make no UK stops).
As an American,I'm jealous and amazed at the ease of train travel and the frequency of departures. UK residents and Europeans regard train travel as normal. My understanding is that train spotting is not unusual,so for you to inspect your outbound motive power,nobody would think twice about your filming it. In previous postings as well as this,you mention a railcard that provides certain railfare discounts,how does that work and how does one obtain a card? Oddly, on this journey,I saw no evidence of train crew,almost as if the passengers were expected to know certain procedures--did bring a smile with the escalator scene,knowing UK'ers drive on the 'wrong' side of the road ,even the escalators have the users on the left side going up! :)
The railcards can be ordered online and there's loads of different options depending on how many are travelling, age etc. Alternatively, if you are from out with the UK, you are eligible for the BritRail Pass which offers unlimited rail travel for x number of days.
Thanks for this video, Dylan. It's a bit strange for me seeing the ECML - I moved to Australia about 15 years ago, but have plenty of memories of travelling the ECML to Newcastle on the 125s. I will never forget the Valenta startups. I never got to travel on the 225, which was something I was always keen to do. Hopefully I can get back for a holiday before they are all gone...
Thanks for the video Dylan. I enjoyed it. I have travelled a lot for many years on LNER between Leeds and London and York and London before the pandemic. I like the IC 225s and I like the service that LNER provide. I think that these older trains are more comfortable than the Azumas but I'm sure I'll get used to the new kids on the block.
I regularly travel between Sheffield and London and almost always travel via Doncaster using LNER. The fares are normally cheaper, the trains are nicer and the service much better in my opinion. Not to mention that Kings cross is a much nicer station to travel to/from than St Pancras.
@@s125ish Most HSTs are on the Nottingham rather than the Sheffield route. That said though I actually find the Azumas more comfortable anyway, though I know I'm probably in the minority on that one.
14:11 I think these trains are great! I've had the privilege of riding these a couple of times from London to York, experiencing standard class on one journey and first on another. Good, steady ride quality, great seats and indeed a pleasant atmosphere! And I very much endorse the complimentary food service they usually have in first class. (That said, I haven't had their hot food options - my travels all were during summer vacations). I tend to think these trains set an excellent example in terms of on-board comfort and service. Seeing as their Azuma successors already seem to fall short when it comes to the seat and ride comfort one may expect on long-distance journeys, indeed I regret seeing the IC225's being displaced to lower-tier services. I'd rather have seen them around until a worthy successor was introduced, and I'm glad I've experienced them when they were still on the principal services!
I like this train. I love the red color and design of the seats. You must travel first class on this train. I miss travelling. 2020....what a year. Good video.
Yes, the Class 91 sets are great. 😍 10:09 I see you don’t have a gimbal in this shot. Do you only use it for certain aspects of filming? Are you in lockdown now so unable to travel at the moment?
I only used the gimbal for my older Hero 7; there aren't many gimbals compatible with the hero8/9 and tbh, the stabilization on them is next level so they don't really need a gimbal. I live in an area of the UK not currently in lockdown but we are surrounded by areas that are so I can't really leave my council area.
A great video - I enjoy your rail trip reports. I really like the 225s - a powerful, iconic train. It is a shame to see them go. As far as the seats go - I like them - they are hard but have a thicker cushion to them. I think too many of the newer trains like the Azuma have a thinner cushion to them but experts say that is meant to be more ergonomic. It is just my preference as I liked the standard class seats on the 125s and 225s. The first class seats are even better of course. LNER always have a good meal service in first class.
I have been wanting to catch that IC liveried 91 since it was repainted but it has so far been remarkably good at eluding me! :-/ That's how I remember first seeing them as a kid, what an impact a brand new Mk4 set made as it arrived at any station - you knew this was special train the moment you saw it! I also fondly recall the GNER era, which brought a totally different but still very elegant look to the sets. I believe a class 91 has already been donated/promised for the NRM collection at York.
Thanks. Tbh, the Platform 9¾ is nothing special, just a way to make money out of tourists. However, it is rumoured that there is also a 9¾ sign ¾ of the way down platform 9 although I've never laid eyes on it so it may or may not be true.
😂 nice n sunny! Enjoyed this video. This train is beautiful and clean inside. They should sell this to the US when they get phased out. We need nice trains so so bad.
I've never travelled on an Intercity 225 yet, but I did a walk through of one while it was at Edinburgh back in early March, and I thought that they were high quality trains. Seeing 91119 is your videos reminded me of seeing 91111 (the Remembrance livery) up in Edinburgh on a service. While it'll be a sad day when all the 225 sets have been withdrawn, I won't be complaining as much as most as I don't mind travelling on the Azuma sets
Just like the HST fleet they have stood the test of time. Really must get out & catch one as it's the only original BR Class / Set I haven't travelled on.
I think the seats are excellent - a comfortable seat cushion and also being very supportive. Perfectly comfortable for 4+ hours journeys to Edinburgh and beyond I think - but it's a matter of opinion. Great vid!
Excellent video Dylan. I think this was the railway that was testing out the APT [Correct me if im wrong] (Advance Passenger Train) which unfortunately failed. But at least we got the HSTs Intercity 125.
From late 2011 untill 2019 i took one of these from newark nth gate to edinburgh waverly twice a year and have to say they are very good for there age the seats as mentioned are not bad but i found on my trip you needed to wiggle yourself abit as they can feel a bit hard after 3 hours.never got chance to ride the azuma which were being brought in nor did i get on the 125 so for me these trains were excellent.
I think that these are my favourite trains. I'm sad to see most of them go but a few weeks ago I went on them after realising that they were still operating them on some routes.
The train looks fine for this type of service; speeds are good at 125 and there does not seem to be much vibration. The price at 13.85 is about $ 21.50 CDN dollars. I just travelled from Montreal to Ottawa( a 2 hour ride) on a senior fare for $ 50.00 CDN.regular adult fare is higher so your ticket was a bagain. The MK.4 coaches are similar to VIA Canada 's LRC coaches which have held up very well also. Thanks for the shot of the electric enging, and I too prefer this livery. That electric whine is really loud on this engine are they all like this ? Cheers, Dylan !
Many people think that rail tickets in England are expensive, but if you can book your seat in advance, travel at quiet times and use a discount railcard there are real bargains to be had. Some Train Operating Companies give generous Small Group discounts, whereby four people can travel (In First Class or in Standard) for the price of three. The track on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh is well-maintained and the Mark 4 carriages have air bag suspension. It's a shame that the complimentary offer of hot food and alcoholic drinks in First Class has been suspended for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic!
My trip on one of these trains in 2019 , which took me to Edinburgh from Peterborough, would be the last such on a class 91 as I read somewhere that they are on the verge of being retired if they haven't already
We English are justly famous for our politeness and it goes back a long way. When William of Wykeham founded Oxford University's New College in 1379 the language of the Royal Court was French and the language of the Catholic Church was Latin. William decided that the motto of New College should be in English - "Manners Maketh Man". Next time you're in Oxford, check it out!
Thank you for another excellent video ! I agree with all that you say, especially your remarks about the Mark IV stock. As you rightly say, at 30 years old they are still excellent. I use the Kings Cross to Leeds route a lot, and frankly the new IETs are very inferior for the passenger. First Class in a Mark IV is much better than in an IET, and the only advantage I can see of the IET is its initial acceleration on leaving stations ! I hope the 91s and Mark IV stock remain in use for a long time yet ! Best wishes
The changes to Kings Cross have made a major improvement to its ambience. Although it will always be inferior to the cathedral next door (aka St. Pancras) it is certainly worth a few hours of any railway enthusiasts time to savour the atmosphere. I have spent many a lunch hour up in the food court (can heartily recommend Wasabi for a curry) while watching the world going by down below.
Nice presentation, again, well done. I have been travelling on this line for over 60 years. For second class passengers, there has never been anything as spacious as comfortable as British Railways third class mark 1s, which were either three-a-side side corridor coaches or 2+2 standard opens, all in facing bays with generous windows with low cills to give you a good view out of the train. The best of the first class were the side-corridor mark 2 (not the air conditioned ones with pokey little windows). The best riding vehicles were Mark 1 or Mark 2 with B4 bogies. Mark 1 with commonwealth bogies were juddery. The 225 stock gets wobbly on the curved tracks north of Darlington. I think they are better than the Hitachi, though. The seats are more comfortable and the the clutter on the roofs of the Hitatchi trains looks dreadful.
Hey Dylan! Great report! I should say a passenger train that's 25 year's old and being kept well in maintenance needs has to be well worth the service. But it's true that some trains don't offer food in the train car due to covid rules. Just like Amtrak is in the process of replacing their trains but the level of service is dropping. Stay safe. and by the way, what happen to do the video show on Monday and Friday and now back to just Friday? PM me only.
I have read that these trains will be operated by Grand Union. They will be doing a service from London Euston to Stirling about 6 trains a day. Grand Union wanted to run a service from London Paddington to Cardiff Central but that plan was rejected by ORR but Grand Union will be taking it to court.
These IC225's are a very good train and should keep going for another 10-15 years, it's a shame that some of them have been taken out of service due to the influx of Azuma's
225 Newcastle to London Kings Cross undoubtedly the best rail journey of my life, even compared to Eurostar. Admittedly it was was 1st Class, but the upgrade cost was just a few quid. Got to use Platform 0 too at Kings Cross. 😉🧙🏻
Enjoyable video thanks. I haven't used the Azumas yet, but so far the reports I've read haven't been particularly complimentary. Will be sorry to see the Mk4 carriages go off this line. Are they being retained for use anywhere else on the network? Seems a shame to scrap them, when they still have years of life still left in them.
Thanks! Transport for Wales are getting some Mk4s for their premier dining service and Grand Central were going to be getting some Mk4s for a London to Blackpool service but that has unfortunately been cancelled.
Really enjoy the vids and descriptions. When referencing seat comfort.........how tall is Dylan? Difficult to gauge what seat comfort might be. I'm 6'5". thanx
@@KempSimon We can’t be sure if the premier service meals will be kept. They may be available on all services, only one service or on no services. However it does seem they have bought and tested bar coaches
Dylan... a suggestion... in your future videos could you give voice over instead of onscreen text. That will shoot the quality of your videos to a much higher level. Love the videos you post,..
Liked your sunny London joke at the start of the video Dylan. I agree these Mk4 coaches have lasted well but i doubt their replacement class 800 variants will last as long
Thank you for another cool video! I'm going to be in London and UK end of this month/beginning of next. I downloaded Trainpal through one of your links in another video and am loving it! Would you have any recommendations of cities/towns near London to visit? I am visiting a friend in Brighton, also want to check out some eateries in Cambridge. Should have time for a third day trip...
Great video Dylan. Some of the 91s are staying on the ECML but some of them left which is disappointed. Can you do a Journey on the Greater Anglia class 745 from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street pls.
I regularly travelled Kings Cross to Waverly on these and always thought they were incrdibly comfortable trains. This was back in 2001/02/03 though. Haven't used them since.
It's nice to see older equipment that is well maintained. It speaks well for the workers that do their jobs conscientiously.
And the good build quality of the trains! BR used to get a lot of flack back in the day, but time has proven that they knew what they were doing when it came to engineering and design.
The fella that was in charge of the project for these traction engines, 'Elektra,' is still a consultant on their maintenance.
How could you not love an IC 225? Simply the best!
I agree with you
I used to think they looked ugly (on the outside) but they grew on me recently
I agree but I prefer the IC 125
HST
Never been on it, but looking forward to riding it. Been with Avanti West Coast.
NEVER AGAIN!!!
Just showing the map before your trip has increased my interest. Thanks so much for figuring that out.
Glad you like it 😁
@@DylansTravelReports why no first class?😂😂
@@joethrelfall6370 there is a thing called extra 💰 required ☃️🐒
@@joethrelfall6370 because it costs money u potato
"Hello and good morning from sunny London!" - that went directly to my funny bone, well done Dylan, it made my day!
Sunny🐒😁! Joke of the year.
Well done that thumbnail really made me want to watch this video
Love the mk4s, it is criminal that some have been scraped when they still could have been used! Way better then the mk3s, ride is smother, and i still prefer the mk4s to the new class 80Xs. Best carriages Britain has ever produced imo.
totally agree with this. EDIT just saw that Grand Central cancelled their proposed usage on their london to blackpool service, so looks like they are all getting scrapped other than a few going to wales. What a shame!
Very short sighted to scrap them. They perhaps would be useful to increase the number of carriages from 4 to 6 for instance on the Inter7city HSTs when demand increases.
@@DiscoNick Fortunately Transport for Wales have obtained the Grand Central coaches for use between Swansea and Manchester so those coaches aren't being scrapped just yet. Still, keeping all the IC225s on LNER instead of buying the 'electric' Azumas would have been the better option I think.
@@Martindyna I doubt the mark 4 coaches which Grand Central had are compatible with the mark 3s used in the Inter7city HSTs. However the Grand Central coaches aren't being scrapped at the moment anyway as TfW have taken them as noted in my other comment.
Thanks so much for these I miss my travels and watching you do it is smashing. Thanks again!
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Loved the start up and sounds of the 91,s beautiful looking locomotives hard to believe they have been around nearly 30 years and still going strong they just seem to glide along at top speed, and built in Britain like the old H.S.Ts which are years older an still giving good service overall?
5:27 The gentleman is kind enough to let you pass through 😇😇
Second! Excellent video! You and Simply Railway are my two favorite trip report youtubers!
Thanks 😁
Congratulations on another excellent review of British Rolling Stock, Dylan. I had two trips on a Class 91/Mark 4 set when I was over there 2 years ago; Peterborough to York after a day trip to the Nene Valley Railway and London Kings Cross to Peterborough a couple of weeks later as part of a round trip to/from Cambridge. Thanks to you, I'm now able to back up my still photos of the 'big trip' from downunder with video coverage to show my friends (I'm still captioning photos from that trip 2 + years later - up to album number 5 of a potential 10-12 albums with 300 photos in each). Now a few comments on the video. First, thanks for the map inclusion. That really helps those viewers who, unlike me, may be unfamiliar with the geographical setting. Next, complements to you on your politeness during your wander, when you encountered other passengers who gave way to you; and for your consideration to the train crew engaged in a, presumably pre-trip, meeting in first class prior to the journey. Next, I really loved your 'typical pommie wit' in describing London's liquid sunshine and the fantastic lead on to your comment about the slightly harder standard class seat while panning across to the GTR train opposite with its 'ironboard' seats. Great to see the liquid sunshine turned into real sunshine during the journey. You were lucky to score 91119 in the Intercity Colour Scheme. Yes, I agree with Simon Kemp in that the roaring sound of this class of loco is that of cooling fans deployed during acceleration to offset the heat generated in the traction motors until such time they have natural ventilation at speed. On the ever so slightly negative side, your wander could have been clipped a little as progression through three successive standard class cars was a little lengthy and you could have included more scenery such as the view from Welwyn North viaduct for instance. Not to worry, all in all you have done well and are getting better week by week. At some stage in the future, it would be nice for you to include a selfie enjoying your coffee and first class free treats either in a station lounge of enroute if you can arrange for a friend to accompany you or get a friendly rail staff member or fellow passenger to facilitate that for you. I'm sure many of your followers would love to see more than a fleeting glimpse of you in a washroom mirror and perhaps some casual conversation to complement your typed in comments. Great work and please keep your journey reviews coming. Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
Thanks 😁
Yes, dylan. I took that service every time i went to edimburgh. I share your appreciations. Keep on.
Honestly I really don’t want these to go I’ve had so many great memories riding these amazing sets between Leeds & London & back. It will be a sad day when these brilliant sets are gone forever. But the one thing I will miss just like anyone else is that amazing start up from the 91’s
I agree! I remember that sound from when I was very young.
One thing you can say about the old 225 trains there a lot quieter than the new azumar trains 🚂
LNER Are Keeping 10 Intercity 225 Sets Until 2023
Thanks, Dylan! I'm repeating myself, I know, but I always have a great time with you. Very nice video as usual: you show the trains very well. Thank you ! Many !
Thank you very much 😁
Hi. I am in the US and like these trains a lot. Nicely appointed interiors. Great speed without being reminded of it . Thanks for posting .
In the 1980's you got grey and white interior in first class, with white table cloths, uniformed waiting staff and Pullman fine dining! How times change so quickly.
Sunny London! Some people call rain “liquid sunshine,” in which case London was indeed sunny when you departed. I thought the train decor and amenities were very nice and, as you noted, certainly did not appear decades old. Plus the train cars and restrooms were clean. Thanks for sharing another pleasant trip! 🍁
Its funny how so many Y'tube videos capture London in the rain - when it is actually one of the driest capitals in Europe!
Thanks for showing the map, it's great to be able to see your route.
Glad you like it!
Great video, enjoyed it immensely! You do great work!
Thanks 😁
Very enjoyable review. i too like how you leave the informative subtitles up for long enough for us to easily read them and I like your signature wave in the mirror lol.
I'm sorry but i can't agree with you about the sound that the Class 91 makes, it sounds to me like a hoover but otherwise impressively quiet, slightly reminiscent of the original Eurostar power cars which made a boring noise imo.
I prefer the whine / scream of older dc motored locos like the Class 87 & Class 90. My favorite train noise wise must be the Class 319 (experienced when sitting in the powered carriage haha).
Thanks!
I enjoyed this video again very much Dylan. As a Dutchman, because of the virus still can't go back to the Netherlands, I like your videos because I love to travel by train too. And I have to say, The UK always was my favorite country and still is. Hopefully I get the chance to visit it more in the future.
Thanks 😁
Beautiful trip with my favourite UK train! 😍 Thank you for this report.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
I’ll be sorry to see these go. Many happy memories of these from BR days, GNER etc until now. Travelling to London for the day in First class was wonderful, good food, friendly staff on East Coast route always whoever currently owned it. The locomotive hauled experience is always better, and we should have had a British designed and built replacement, not the inferior stuff we are now getting.
Great video once again!!! I really like these train a great part of railway history. I will miss them!!
Thanks!
Always a delight. It is a highlight of my week. Great wor!
Thanks!
great video kings cross has a mixture of both historical and modern architecture just like sister station st Pancras next door
the intercity 225 trains look really good you can clearly see LNER and previous companies took great care of them i hope to ride one before they go in a few years time
I think this is one of the better trains. It has everything I am looking for like electrical outlet next to the seat, stocked with food items, clean working restrooms, clean windows and information screens I haven't seen before. The station was great with shops and restaurants. The ticket was so reasonable. The cloud formations were beautiful on a rainy day. Very pleasant trip.
Seems like a fast quiet train. I was fixated on the horizon vistas around 12/13 min onwards, where view was unobstructed by bushes. The dreamlike cloud and clear skies was just magnificent and worthy of framing.
Kudos to you Dylan for framing these shots with such skill. 🙏👌
Enjoy Xmas Bro.
To get the best views, sit in an offside window seat and travel the full 400 miles of the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh. The view as you cross Durham Viaduct, looking DOWN on the medieval Cathedral and Castle, is fantastic. Further north the train hugs the coast of Northumberland and you get equally good view over the North Sea to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne!
@@KempSimon nice to know, cheers...hope I can make that trip. I've never been to Scotland 🐒😔
Thanks 😁
I will miss these trains. I have travelled on them so many times between London and Durham over the years. I love the gentle whining sound they make as they race across the flat countryside, and the way they bounce up and down on the tracks when at speed... you can see them bouncing in your long shot through the train interior. The windows let in plenty of natural light, offering a good view of the passing countryside and the electricity pylons flashing past.
I like the noise too although nowhere near as bouncy as the old HSTs.
as usual a very comprehensive video Love the info Keep them coming
Thanks 😁
I am sad to see these being phased out, particularly as they never reached their full potential of 225kph (140mph) due to decades of under investment in our railway infrastructure. How long will it be before the replacement Class 800 series will be able to travel at that speed on our mainlines?
Honestly, I doubt it will be anytime soon unfortunately.
Sad faced American wishing we had any decent railways across our country
nah, your fastest train is faster than ours (excluding eurostar) and avelia liberty will be even faster
@@lamborghinihexagons5502 For a brief 60 miles - average speeds are much lower as that is the Northeast corridor and the rest of the journey is a snail's pace.
They did reach 140mph several times in the early 90's in passenger service before limiters. The HST's reached 140mph too and more often 130-135mph before limiters. Of course not every journey but many a driver in the days of the engineering led railway exceeded the 125mph mark. I did London-York in an HST in 1989 in 1hr40 minutes start to stop. The braking was hard on a couple of occasions and the speed fantastic. But these days are long gone. The fastest days for UK railways were 1976-1992 (HS1 regional 140mph trains accepted and Eurostar which make no UK stops).
Thanks for the tour! Silly, sometimes, from watching the scenery, i cant tell if u r riding facing forward or back. Lol
I was riding backwards but I usually point my camera forwards for better viewing.
Many happy memories of taking the 225s from London KX to Darlington on a weekend to visit my Parents. Fast to York as well. They will be missed.
As an American,I'm jealous and amazed at the ease of train travel and the frequency of departures. UK residents and Europeans regard train travel as normal. My understanding is that train spotting is not unusual,so for you to inspect your outbound motive power,nobody would think twice about your filming it. In previous postings as well as this,you mention a railcard that provides certain railfare discounts,how does that work and how does one obtain a card? Oddly, on this journey,I saw no evidence of train crew,almost as if the passengers were expected to know certain procedures--did bring a smile with the escalator scene,knowing UK'ers drive on the 'wrong' side of the road ,even the escalators have the users on the left side going up! :)
The railcards can be ordered online and there's loads of different options depending on how many are travelling, age etc. Alternatively, if you are from out with the UK, you are eligible for the BritRail Pass which offers unlimited rail travel for x number of days.
Country side scenery is beautiful ❤️
Thanks for this video, Dylan. It's a bit strange for me seeing the ECML - I moved to Australia about 15 years ago, but have plenty of memories of travelling the ECML to Newcastle on the 125s. I will never forget the Valenta startups. I never got to travel on the 225, which was something I was always keen to do. Hopefully I can get back for a holiday before they are all gone...
The IC225s should be around for a couple of years yet thankfully.
Thanks for the video Dylan. I enjoyed it. I have travelled a lot for many years on LNER between Leeds and London and York and London before the pandemic. I like the IC 225s and I like the service that LNER provide. I think that these older trains are more comfortable than the Azumas but I'm sure I'll get used to the new kids on the block.
Thanks, I agree!
I regularly travel between Sheffield and London and almost always travel via Doncaster using LNER. The fares are normally cheaper, the trains are nicer and the service much better in my opinion. Not to mention that Kings cross is a much nicer station to travel to/from than St Pancras.
DC1990 you miss the hsts that way
@@s125ish Most HSTs are on the Nottingham rather than the Sheffield route. That said though I actually find the Azumas more comfortable anyway, though I know I'm probably in the minority on that one.
@@EuroDC1990 I like the azumas too, I even took one from Glasgow to London in july
14:11 I think these trains are great! I've had the privilege of riding these a couple of times from London to York, experiencing standard class on one journey and first on another. Good, steady ride quality, great seats and indeed a pleasant atmosphere! And I very much endorse the complimentary food service they usually have in first class. (That said, I haven't had their hot food options - my travels all were during summer vacations).
I tend to think these trains set an excellent example in terms of on-board comfort and service. Seeing as their Azuma successors already seem to fall short when it comes to the seat and ride comfort one may expect on long-distance journeys, indeed I regret seeing the IC225's being displaced to lower-tier services. I'd rather have seen them around until a worthy successor was introduced, and I'm glad I've experienced them when they were still on the principal services!
I totally agree with what you're saying.
I like this train. I love the red color and design of the seats. You must travel first class on this train. I miss travelling. 2020....what a year. Good video.
Thanks! They are probably the best 1st class seats in the UK along with the Scotrail (ex-GWR) HSTs.
I love the class 91 & 82/Mark 4 trains on LNER. I haven’t been on the Azuma yet but I look forward to being able to compare in due course.
Wow, 30 years old and they look fabulous. Wish our trains here in the USA looked half as good.
Yes, the Class 91 sets are great. 😍
10:09 I see you don’t have a gimbal in this shot. Do you only use it for certain aspects of filming?
Are you in lockdown now so unable to travel at the moment?
I only used the gimbal for my older Hero 7; there aren't many gimbals compatible with the hero8/9 and tbh, the stabilization on them is next level so they don't really need a gimbal. I live in an area of the UK not currently in lockdown but we are surrounded by areas that are so I can't really leave my council area.
@@DylansTravelReports Ah - I see. Makes sense. Thanks!
A great video - I enjoy your rail trip reports. I really like the 225s - a powerful, iconic train. It is a shame to see them go. As far as the seats go - I like them - they are hard but have a thicker cushion to them. I think too many of the newer trains like the Azuma have a thinner cushion to them but experts say that is meant to be more ergonomic. It is just my preference as I liked the standard class seats on the 125s and 225s. The first class seats are even better of course. LNER always have a good meal service in first class.
Thanks 😁
Thank you so much. Even if Covid19 had not happened I would never be able to travel and I love trains. God bless you.
I have been wanting to catch that IC liveried 91 since it was repainted but it has so far been remarkably good at eluding me! :-/ That's how I remember first seeing them as a kid, what an impact a brand new Mk4 set made as it arrived at any station - you knew this was special train the moment you saw it! I also fondly recall the GNER era, which brought a totally different but still very elegant look to the sets. I believe a class 91 has already been donated/promised for the NRM collection at York.
Beautiful train but then again, I am old too!!! Great videos Dylan, Thanks so much!!!
Thanks!
The scenery shot were great. I do wish you wandered closer to the 9 3/4 so I could get a peek at it. Overall very good video. Thanks for posting it.
Thanks. Tbh, the Platform 9¾ is nothing special, just a way to make money out of tourists. However, it is rumoured that there is also a 9¾ sign ¾ of the way down platform 9 although I've never laid eyes on it so it may or may not be true.
😂 nice n sunny! Enjoyed this video. This train is beautiful and clean inside. They should sell this to the US when they get phased out. We need nice trains so so bad.
Thanks! These would be great on the NEC although the coaches are much narrower compared to what you have in the US.
Another well produced info laden vlog .
Thanks D
Glad you enjoyed 😁
I've never travelled on an Intercity 225 yet, but I did a walk through of one while it was at Edinburgh back in early March, and I thought that they were high quality trains. Seeing 91119 is your videos reminded me of seeing 91111 (the Remembrance livery) up in Edinburgh on a service. While it'll be a sad day when all the 225 sets have been withdrawn, I won't be complaining as much as most as I don't mind travelling on the Azuma sets
As much as I love the IC 125/225s, I also don't mind the Azumas but a lot of people hate them.
@@DylansTravelReports the seats on the Azuma's aren't the best, but otherwise the units are pretty good in my opinion
Do it now!
Just like the HST fleet they have stood the test of time. Really must get out & catch one as it's the only original BR Class / Set I haven't travelled on.
I think the seats are excellent - a comfortable seat cushion and also being very supportive. Perfectly comfortable for 4+ hours journeys to Edinburgh and beyond I think - but it's a matter of opinion. Great vid!
Thanks!
Excellent video Dylan. I think this was the railway that was testing out the APT [Correct me if im wrong] (Advance Passenger Train) which unfortunately failed. But at least we got the HSTs Intercity 125.
Thanks 😁
Another great video! The was excellent ! Long live the 225's and 125's !!! :):):)
Thanks 😁
ahh welcome to the maps!! :D love the videosss!
Thanks! 😃
As always very informative, thanks Dylan. Stay safe.😷 it's not getting that much better here in the USA big city's.
Thanks!
From late 2011 untill 2019 i took one of these from newark nth gate to edinburgh waverly twice a year and have to say they are very good for there age the seats as mentioned are not bad but i found on my trip you needed to wiggle yourself abit as they can feel a bit hard after 3 hours.never got chance to ride the azuma which were being brought in nor did i get on the 125 so for me these trains were excellent.
I think that these are my favourite trains. I'm sad to see most of them go but a few weeks ago I went on them after realising that they were still operating them on some routes.
Once again an inspiring, motivating video ! Thumbs up !
and thanks for the nice eyes in the mirror ;) :p
and the noise of locomotive
The train looks fine for this type of service; speeds are good at 125 and there does not seem to be much vibration. The price at 13.85 is about $ 21.50 CDN dollars. I just travelled from Montreal to Ottawa( a 2 hour ride) on a senior fare for $ 50.00 CDN.regular adult fare is higher so your ticket was a bagain. The MK.4 coaches are similar to VIA Canada 's LRC coaches which have held up very well also. Thanks for the shot of the electric enging, and I too prefer this livery. That electric whine is really loud on this engine are they all like this ? Cheers, Dylan !
Many people think that rail tickets in England are expensive, but if you can book your seat in advance, travel at quiet times and use a discount railcard there are real bargains to be had. Some Train Operating Companies give generous Small Group discounts, whereby four people can travel (In First Class or in Standard) for the price of three. The track on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh is well-maintained and the Mark 4 carriages have air bag suspension. It's a shame that the complimentary offer of hot food and alcoholic drinks in First Class has been suspended for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic!
Yes, the Class 91s are all really loud (especially for an electric locomotive.)
My trip on one of these trains in 2019 , which took me to Edinburgh from Peterborough, would be the last such on a class 91 as I read somewhere that they are on the verge of being retired if they haven't already
I like every video you make, bro. Thanks!
Thanks 😁
Excellent video! Thank you very much Dylan ! 😉👍
Glad you liked 😁
Nice to see 119 on the front. We don’t see the 91s up north anymore there all on the London Leeds run now.
They do a few runs to York too
All actions with "sorry" and "thank you". What a wonderful people.
We English are justly famous for our politeness and it goes back a long way. When William of Wykeham founded Oxford University's New College in 1379 the language of the Royal Court was French and the language of the Catholic Church was Latin. William decided that the motto of New College should be in English - "Manners Maketh Man". Next time you're in Oxford, check it out!
@@KempSimon Sir, my salary is about 250 USD per month. So - next time in my case mean - in next life. Thank you for you comment.
Thank you for another excellent video ! I agree with all that you say, especially your remarks about the Mark IV stock. As you rightly say, at 30 years old they are still excellent. I use the Kings Cross to Leeds route a lot, and frankly the new IETs are very inferior for the passenger. First Class in a Mark IV is much better than in an IET, and the only advantage I can see of the IET is its initial acceleration on leaving stations ! I hope the 91s and Mark IV stock remain in use for a long time yet ! Best wishes
Thanks! I hope so too 😁
I remember them from new, they have aged well. Not sure the Hitachi trainsets will last as long.
Already been taken off for axle cracking 😂
Nice to see Joanna Lumley isn't letting the virus keep her home. 2:15
Loved the dots of rain on the window
Great video !!
Thanks!
The changes to Kings Cross have made a major improvement to its ambience. Although it will always be inferior to the cathedral next door (aka St. Pancras) it is certainly worth a few hours of any railway enthusiasts time to savour the atmosphere. I have spent many a lunch hour up in the food court (can heartily recommend Wasabi for a curry) while watching the world going by down below.
Nice presentation, again, well done. I have been travelling on this line for over 60 years. For second class passengers, there has never been anything as spacious as comfortable as British Railways third class mark 1s, which were either three-a-side side corridor coaches or 2+2 standard opens, all in facing bays with generous windows with low cills to give you a good view out of the train. The best of the first class were the side-corridor mark 2 (not the air conditioned ones with pokey little windows). The best riding vehicles were Mark 1 or Mark 2 with B4 bogies. Mark 1 with commonwealth bogies were juddery. The 225 stock gets wobbly on the curved tracks north of Darlington. I think they are better than the Hitachi, though. The seats are more comfortable and the the clutter on the roofs of the Hitatchi trains looks dreadful.
Thanks! Mk1s and 2s sure are amazing!
Hey Dylan! Great report! I should say a passenger train that's 25 year's old and being kept well in maintenance needs has to be well worth the service. But it's true that some trains don't offer food in the train car due to covid rules. Just like Amtrak is in the process of replacing their trains but the level of service is dropping. Stay safe.
and by the way, what happen to do the video show on Monday and Friday and now back to just Friday? PM me only.
Thanks! Temporarily back to Fridays only with much of Europe being in lockdown once more.
I love the 91s. I managed to do 91119s last run from York upto Edinburgh down to London. The east coast will never be the same when these go
I agree.
3 Cheers to all your videos!!...
Thanks 😁
Excellent journey.
I have read that these trains will be operated by Grand Union. They will be doing a service from London Euston to Stirling about 6 trains a day. Grand Union wanted to run a service from London Paddington to Cardiff Central but that plan was rejected by ORR but Grand Union will be taking it to court.
Really like the ic225, it's just s shame that they never got to live up to their full potential of 140mph.
amazing to see those class 91s still running
These IC225's are a very good train and should keep going for another 10-15 years, it's a shame that some of them have been taken out of service due to the influx of Azuma's
225 Newcastle to London Kings Cross undoubtedly the best rail journey of my life, even compared to Eurostar. Admittedly it was was 1st Class, but the upgrade cost was just a few quid. Got to use Platform 0 too at Kings Cross. 😉🧙🏻
That motor start up at the end was amazing.
I believe that the noise comes from a cooling fan which is starting up. The Class 91 is a straight electric locomotive!
Hey I really like your channel and videos :)
Thanks!
@@DylansTravelReports hopefully one day I can get back to Europe and go on some of these great trains :)
I liked the Mark IV coaches. Their interiors have a more classic InterCity/EuroCity feel to them compared with the other trains I took in the UK.
Oh way, you spoke! For the record, you told that other gentleman "thank you" for moving back and aside to let you pass.
Enjoyable video thanks. I haven't used the Azumas yet, but so far the reports I've read haven't been particularly complimentary. Will be sorry to see the Mk4 carriages go off this line. Are they being retained for use anywhere else on the network? Seems a shame to scrap them, when they still have years of life still left in them.
Thanks! Transport for Wales are getting some Mk4s for their premier dining service and Grand Central were going to be getting some Mk4s for a London to Blackpool service but that has unfortunately been cancelled.
Hi Dylan I enjoyed the video!! See you next tv .Friday Happy thanksgiving to you and your family
Thanks! You too!
I really miss trains and travelling.
Very enjoyable, thanks.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Hey Dylan hope you keep showing speeds of all trains u board like u did in this..
Really enjoy the vids and descriptions. When referencing seat comfort.........how tall is Dylan? Difficult to gauge what seat comfort might be. I'm 6'5". thanx
Thanks! I'm about 6'1".
Good point. I'm only 5'3" & have a tendency to assume everything's fine. Unless I have to reach up high.
I love how sunny london=raining
These are coming on the Cardiff-Holyhead line with transport for wales.
The Cardiff to Holyhead line isn't electrified?
@@kieranstravels - With a full meals service of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in both directions of travel!
i think he meant mk4 coaches
@@KempSimon We can’t be sure if the premier service meals will be kept. They may be available on all services, only one service or on no services. However it does seem they have bought and tested bar coaches
Dylan... a suggestion... in your future videos could you give voice over instead of onscreen text. That will shoot the quality of your videos to a much higher level. Love the videos you post,..
Thanks for your feed back. My main reason for doing captions is I feel adding voice over would take away from a more "raw" travel experience.
Liked your sunny London joke at the start of the video Dylan. I agree these Mk4 coaches have lasted well but i doubt their replacement class 800 variants will last as long
Thanks! Honestly, it was raining literally everyday on this trip 😅
Thank you for another cool video! I'm going to be in London and UK end of this month/beginning of next. I downloaded Trainpal through one of your links in another video and am loving it! Would you have any recommendations of cities/towns near London to visit? I am visiting a friend in Brighton, also want to check out some eateries in Cambridge. Should have time for a third day trip...
Go to Rye. I've never been, but it's supposed to be amazing!
@@DylansTravelReports Ok! Rye it is. :) Thank you for the reco Dylan! Fun.
Great video Dylan. Some of the 91s are staying on the ECML but some of them left which is disappointed. Can you do a Journey on the Greater Anglia class 745 from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street pls.
Thanks! I have a FLIRT vid filmed from Norwich to London that I'll be releasing in the coming months.
@@DylansTravelReports oh okay
I regularly travelled Kings Cross to Waverly on these and always thought they were incrdibly comfortable trains. This was back in 2001/02/03 though. Haven't used them since.
Thanks for the map,!