New here? Check out some of our other UK travels, like our first time driving a car in the UK: th-cam.com/video/1f6GH9GIEf0/w-d-xo.html&t First time trying Greggs: th-cam.com/video/iKiJmhW5G84/w-d-xo.html&t
The reason for all the different London main line stations dates back many decades. It is from before nationalisation, when lots of independent companies operated the railways from different areas of the UK, into their own London station.
Mind you UK "high speed trains" aren't even close to the speed or level of service you'll get on European high speed lines (or in Japan). But then again I've been on Amtrak trains....And VIA rail....
That is not the Shanghai Manglev Bullet Train made by the Japanese it more likely be a French TGV or the Locamotive that was supposed to run the HS2 Route before it thankfully got stopped. FYI It's St Pancras International not St Pancras.
Unless it's a Tuesday, in which case you must first get written permission from the Deputy Head, but only if your brother is not attending formal hall, in which case you need to first move your PE kit on to the lower peg, except in those cases where permission-amnesty has been enacted due to PTA-reform, in which case you should, of course use the upper peg. Is that clear ? Then, yes, you may move freely around the carriage
Yup. Having been to Japan not all that long ago and ridden on the shinkansen there - it's in a totally different league. The precision with which it arrives and departs (to a precision of seconds and millimeters) is something you have to experience.
I feel like this is so nice and wholesome! There are plenty of problems with train travel in the UK for sure, but when it works well (which is a lot of the time too) then it’s a really great way to travel. Pleased that you had a good experience with this one. ❤
As someone who works on the railway (you passed my station on your journey) I am so glad you had a positive experience, and hope you'll have many more on your visit here!
Well done for travelling by train. The great thing in the UK (and most of europe) is you can turn up about 5 minutes before the train departs with no bother. It's more like a bus than an aeroplane. You can also get flexible tickets which mean you can turn up and go on any train with no reservation.
It does depend; if you haven't booked seats and you are travelling from the starting station it is well worth getting there 15 mins early to get a good choice of seat.
jazzzzdude Swings and roundabouts. In Germany for example you can't get a day return. You have to pay for 2 singles. In Britain a day return is not much more than a single. Its not all rosey abroad, and having spent 3 years in the Ruhr area (Dusseldorf, Bochum, Dortmund) I can tell you that late trains, cancelled trains, strikes etc were the norm. And don't get me started on the lack of luggage space!!!
@@lyndoncmp5751 Exactly - here in Spain they had / have a shortage of AVE drivers and trains - who'd have thought that extending the network, and adding stops to the existing network over the last few years would mean that you'd need more trains and the drivers for them? So for the last couple of years the frequency of service has fallen to the cities already on the network - although they are trying to rectify this now.
To do it right you need to turn up at the last possible minute and get an adrenaline rush trying to find what platform your train is on and then do a mad dash thinking you are going to miss it. We'll that's how my family always seem to do it.
As an American who now lives in Kensington, London, I find it a wonderful treat to tour and see the country on my motorcycle. You actually feel the vibe of the towns as you arrive. Keep the videos coming!!!
We do not usually use the term 'coach' when referring to different classes of tickets in the U.K. Usually we just call them 'first class' or 'second', otherwise known as 'standard class', like our postage.
"20 minutes to spare, so it's like down to the wire" 🤣 That's like forever early. I've had platform announcements 5 mins before departure. I've also sometimes turned up at the station with only 5 minutes to spare and it's totally fine. You certainly don't *need* to be there early in general, although it helps for a more relaxed experience.
It really depends on your anxiety levels! When I'm going down to London to see my parents, I get to the station 5 minutes before the train, because it's a 15 minute walk from my house to the station and I know exactly how long it takes me ... but coming back, I aim to get to Kings Cross _at least_ half an hour before the train, because by the time I've got the bus from their house to their local station and then got a train from there in to central London, there are so many possible delays that I don't want to risk missing my train. And I'm always travelling on a cheap ticket that ties me to a specific train, so if I miss it not only do I have a 2 hour wait for the next one but it would also be very expensive!
You must visit Durham (you actually passed through it on the train, about 10 minutes before you arrived in Newcastle). Built on the instructions of William the Conqueror, and completed in 1133, the cathedral is probably the finest Romanesque church in Europe - it's stunningly beautiful. It clings to the top of a high promontory formed by the River Wear below, and is guarded by a castle that is about 950 years old. The surrounding streets and walks by the River are really lovely. The university is almost 200 years old, and although the city is quite small, it is full of charm.
@@B-A-L that's nonsense. The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, and the Beamish Open Air Museum are well worth visiting, and there's lovely countryside in the west of the county
@@stanleyt.7930 On our last visit to the UK in 2012 we singled out Beamish and it was brilliant. Sadly we had to leave mid afternoon because we had to get to the NYMR at Grosmont for a steam festival. Next trip back is 2024 so it is again on the list. The night before going to Beamish we stayed at Pity Me! Loved it. Didn't know much about that part of the North East, but it was excellent. Planning to do the Wall walk on my return.
Thanks for highlighting all the amazing places in the UK that sometimes get left behind in the shadow of London. Although, the train you were on is not really classed as high speed rail. The only official high speed rail in the UK is the HS1 line, which runs from London St Pancras to the channel tunnel. You will be very impressed at the speed of the Eurostar to Paris. 300kph (186mph) is really impressive.
With a line speed of 125 mph the east coast mainline meets the European defenition of an upgraded high speed line, the Selby bypass section additionally meets the defenition of a dedicated high speed line, so yes the train he was on is high speed rail. The great Western mainline and west coast mainline are both upgraded high speed lines, the east coast mainline is a dedicated/upgraded high speed line, and HS1 is a dedicated high speed line. The UK has several high speed lines in other words
As @trainman10000 said, as an upgraded line it can be considered by some definition as high speed train, but on the lowest side. As for HS1, it is currently the only full dedicated high speed line in the UK but personally I do not think you can consider it to be a UK high speed line as it does not serve the UK itself, you can only ride the train if you're leaving the UK to the rest of Europe so it does not serve as a transport mean inside the UK. HS2, when it's open, will be the first actual UK high speed line.
@@AL5520 Southeastern operates a high speed service stopping on places the eurostar doesn't, as well as the places it does. HS1 does serve as a transport eman inside the UK, albeit a limited one as it was designed for the erurostar
Yep I'd recommend a little trip on the Southwestern Javelin (Class 395) on HS1 from St Pancras to Kent a nice little run on 140mph. Or you could go the whole route to Dover, but after Kent it slows down to conventional speeds.
Your video was in my recommended - I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's always so nice to hear visitors to our country enjoying their experiences! The trains in the UK are indeed very good on the whole - hopefully you are not disrupted by the train strikes that are currently going on at various times. Enjoy Newcastle and the rest of your stay in England/the UK (wherever you may be going!)
Trains in the UK most have improved since I lived there, they were not that great compared to those I have travelled on elsewhere, (Ontario, France, Germany, Japan which was awesome, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand which was slow but the scenery made up for it).
Because London is apparently the centre of the universe, the trains that go to and from London tend to be very good (yet extraordinarily expensive, to the point that I just drive as it's usually cheaper). But the other trains in the country are a shambles. Try going across the North. Say, from Bradford to Manchester, or Middlesbrough to Newcastle, or Preston to Leeds. They are old fashioned, 2 carriage trains, extremely overcrowded, extremely slow, oh, and expensive as well. And rarely run on time if they run at all.
I'm from Doncaster and it was fun to see my home city (as recently upgraded to city status in the Platinum Jubilee!) featured on the video, however briefly. We are mostly known for our railway connections and train building due to our MP Edmund Beckett Denison in the 1850s "persuading" the railway companies to put the works here. His son was the bloke who designed the clock mechanism for Big Ben. Also Doncaster Minster which you mention is indeed impressive, not many people know it was only built in the 1850s to replace an older church that burned down - but they emulated the style perfectly.
I'm from Donny as well, I support Newcastle United and Rovers, of course, also ex-BR so this is pretty much perfect viewing for me. Hint, you don't have to stay in your reserved seats if you see unreserved or not taken up seats you can move to them if you prefer.
What an awesome video! The train service has improved so much over the last 15 years, and I frequently take the trains from Peterborough to London and they are nice and clean and really well thought out now.
I like these two; their positivity and enthusiasm is infectious. They are quite brave...visiting and travelling around in the middle of winter this time...not to mention in the middle of train strikes (though not sure of the timeline here 🤔) Anyway, such fun - as Miranda's mother would say - and it makes me feel like taking a train trip somewhere....'though not 'til the spring 😣
The thing to remember about King's Cross and St Pancras is the above ground railways are two entirely separate stations (though across the road from each other) that serve entirely different areas of the country (and foreign destinations in the case of St Pancras also) - but underground it is a massive, shared complex that sits underneath both of them. Good place to go in the event of impending nuclear attack, but use the deep tunnels ;) By the way UK railway trick for tourists and others, particularly on the LNER - if you know where you're going and when and can prebook a specific train first class is only very very very slightly more expensive which given the free drinks (including wine and beer), free food, free wifi and extra leg room that is included it's very very worth considering, also you can bet that it's likely they'll still have at seat service on that train in first.
This was great, thanks for sharing! Seems like you had a relatively smooth train experience up to our wonderful city of Newcastle, which given the recent chaos, I'm happy for you guys. I've seen your subsequent Newcastle/Durham vlogs and its sort of strange seeing our home through newcomers eyes - kind of just makes you appreciate what you have even more. Hope you come back soon, and I'd be glad to show you around some of the more less touristy spots!
Fun fact: You can tell what filling is inside a Greggs pastry bake by the secret code pattern on the pastry 😊 Diagonal lines: steak. Wavy horizontal lines: chicken. V shape lines: cheese & onion. Straight horizontal lines: sausage, beans & cheese.
Nice to see a video of Americans getting out of London and going to Greggs! I'm a northerner and you 2 would be more than welcome in my local pub haha.
Even though the design is inspired off a high speed bullet train, the Hitachi trains used by LNER branded as AZUMA were tailored for the UKs railways and are not high speed rail or bullet trains. Since the track our railways run on is still very old, a legally required speed limiter is in the train set to 125mph, however these trains do have faster acceleration than the 50 year old trains it replaced despite the speed limit enforced on it
125 is high speed rail, a 125 mph line speed meets the European defenition of an upgraded high speed line, the Selby bypass section of the ecml additionally meets the defenition of a dedicated high speed line, so yes it is high speed rail. Unfortunately faster acceleration doesn't do much for trains doing infrequent stops, the trains they replaced were mostly only touching 30 years of age, the oldest were just over 40, none of it was near 50. The faster acceleration certainly isn't worth the downgrade in almost every other way over the older rolling stock
@@Trainman10715 Technically, we've had High Speed Rail for around 100 years, since the A4 Pacific broke (and still holds) the steam world record. Faster than the current train!
A tip for any overseas visitor to the UK, proposing to use long distance train travel more than twice, is to look at buying a BritRail Pass before you leave home - they cannot be purchased once you have landed in the UK. They offer unlimited travel by any train, in various forms - concatenated days, single days, multiple days etc. - and are very good value. Available in First and Standard Classes and can be limited to whole of UK or just particular areas.
The Train that you saw at Doncaster was the class 91 and that's the only one in that livery as it was specially painted to represent the old BR intercity days nice video and so nice to see Americans over here in the UK :)
I’m from Newcastle and had a friend from the US come to visit me in October it was awesome. Going to see him in Baltimore next year. Hope you guys had a great time
Been to Newcastle a few times (I'm from Bristol in the South West) I love Newcastle and its citizens, its a very underrated City and the Geordies are honest, hardworking and friendly people.
I live in Bristol and I hope to visit Newcastle area next summer. I want to see the museum about Roman life they've got in that area. Somewhere. I'll research the details if or when I know I can go. I'm even hoping I could do a day to Holy Island.
@@janebaker966 Segedunum Roman Fort Wallsend North Tyneside is the last part of the Hadrian’s Wall, as for Holy Island in North Northumberland if your driving up via the A1 just make sure you check the tide times for getting across the Causeway at Holy Island on the way across and for the way back as well.
As a Geordie, you should have gone to a Newcastle Greggs. Until they went national, they were Greggs of Gosforth (a suburb of Newcastle) They still make the best Stottie Cake (a delicious oven bottom flat loaf)
Hope you enjoy it here. We’re a train loving country, which is why it’s sad that train travel is ridiculously expensive, and working out the best fares is very complex. The most stunning stretch of railway in England is probably the Settle-Carlisle line. I still hope to experience beautiful railways in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The most beautiful station in the UK may be Corrour in Scotland, another one for me to tick off… … but it’s expensive! ❤
Other than Eurostar, you don't have to be particularly early to catch a train, with most you have up to two minutes before departure, though obviously not a good idea to cut it that fine.
@@annother3350 or allow extra time in case of leaves on the track, the wrong type of stars in the sky...perhaps a potato on the line. The railways here 💀💀
I usually go for 15 mins early. Gives me time to grab a cuppa and head to the platform ready to get on and settled. I know when I travelled by train to get to/from uni and it had changes I used to get super anxious in case I missed my connection! I'd usually go for a minimum of 30 mins in case train 1 was delayed. I cut it close a few times still. First out train was very delayed and I asked the staff member doing tickets what time they expected us in so I knew if I'd make my train. She went away and checked to find out the train was still behind ours and got the platform number at the station I was changing at for me (Sheffield) which was incredibly nice. The 2nd time I knew it would be close so I picked a station (Chesterfield?) where there was only 1 platform so I was getting off and on at the same one so I didn't have to rush across a station lol.
It's a shame you didn't get a steam railtour. The Gresley A4s, Peppercorn A1 and Thompson B1s make the ECML into a true time machine. But either way, it warms my heart to know there are Americans that appreciate rail travel like we do.
My father was a fireman on the flying Scotsman locomotive silverfox and some of the other 36 locomotive, He was conscripted in the 1950s And by the time he was demobbed ,They began training to work on diesel locomotives, And so he did the knowledge and became a London cab driver, He has been dead over 32 years now ,but he used to work the st pancras rank , the former LMS train line runs from London to his home city chesterfield Derbyshire, And nowadays the old taxi rank is where the foyer of the Renaissance hotel is, In our nation's history the railways were like the arteries, not pumping blood, but trade and commerce into the body of our motherland, one has to sometimes marvel at how our railways were built, An acknowledge that 100,s of 1000,s of people's whole families and lives revolved around every aspect of railway life
I'm a American rail fanner and I really appreciate rail travel, sure wish we can do world tours with the big boy, unfortunately, our load gauge is very different than the u.k so the big boy would BE way tooo big to fit on the U.K rails, I would say the same thing for any other American locomotives that's well over the size of 14ft tall unless it's a midsize or small size one
It's good that you appeared to enjoy travelling by train. I haven't used anything but the train and local buses during my last 20 yrs of visits to the UK. The same has been true of inter-city travel throughout western Europe. During my decade in the US, I used a train just four times: DC to NY, and Seattle to Vancouver BC. I think that says it all.
Brings back memories. Pre pandemic I travelled to London from Leeds twice a month. Found the new Azumas seats really uncomfortable compared to the previous trains. The East Coast line is in government hands and yes, still staff shortages. It never changes!
Most modern train seats are far too hard even the first class ones. Bring back the soft comfy moquette covered horsehair and sprung but often very dusty ones. 5 minutes into the journey and I was always asleep not now as can't get comfy.
I thought I was the only one - they're sized badly if you're even vaguely tall and the head cushion thing digs in your back really badly. Spent many a train journey complaining to their staff on twitter about them ;)
Public transport (the rail network) is amazing, except for times when there's a strike going on - Which thankfully isn't often. I use the train often to get from home (down in the Southwest) for business meetings in London. I love looking out of the window and spotting something I know I'll want to visit. Fully fledged born and bred Brit, and I have never had a Greggs! Have a fun time in Newcastle and the Northeast. x
I would never describe the UKs rail network as amazing. I’d describe Japans network as amazing though. Europes railway systems are fantastic as well - especially since you can cross borders easily. Germanys rail network, is my favourite though - trams, trains and buses competing, make travelling really affordable. Unlike the UK.
I'm also from Cornwall and never had a Greggs! Had no idea what it was until I left to go to university. I looked and there's literally only 1 Greggs in all of Cornwall, hiding away in a roadside services somewhere. Considering that all Gregories were purged in the 1200s by the Pasty tribes, they have good reason to hide.
Whoa! Your in the toon guys 🥰😍 Welcome to Newcastle. (The toon) I’m sure the Geordie’s will give you a very warm welcome! and the Hilton has great views of quayside.
For clarity in the intro, you were riding onboard a Class 801 train (called Azuma's by LNER) run by the train operating company: LNER (London North Eastern Railway), and were traveling on the East Coast Main Line railway line from King's Cross to Newcastle.
@@theotherside8258 the operators like to call them bullet trains to deceive people into thinking the things bare some sort of relation to the shinkansen in Japan, in reality they are part of the A-train family and have no relation to bullet trains whatsoever. they've also proven to be total crap, poorly built, badly designed rubbish, unlike the shinkansens which are world class
@@theotherside8258 Thats down to L.N.E.R. marketing. Hitachi were the designers of these I.E.T. units. And L.N.E.R. stated they were based on the designs of the shinkansen bullet trains. There are more train operating companies that operate this type of train the class 800/801/802/803 and the new 805 now being tested for AVANTI WEST COAST. The only company that uses the term AZUMA is London north EASTERN Railway, as the word Azuma is Japanese for EAST.
Unlike a plane a train can travel in reverse. So sometimes First Class will be at the front, sometimes reverse. As I remember travelling towards London, First Class tends to be at the front. Presumably so First Class passengers can get off quicker at London Termini. Tends to be less important at other stations.
Newacstle is somewhere I have never been, although did stay in South Shields when we did a mini UK tour as we wanted to see The Angel and go to the wonderful Beamish Living Museum.
Booking online up to 3 months ahead and some great bargains can be had even for the same or next week. First Class for the same as Standard or even less often. May be a middle of the day service though (after 09:30). All the companies take bookings for all the others services or use 'The Train Line' for the cheapest. Tickets can be posted to or collected from the machines at the station. If that train is cancelled the tickets are valid on any later service for the same class but the seat reservations won't apply.
In UK you can move to a different seat within the same class, as long as it’s not ‘reserved’ for another passenger. Most of the time you will see vacant seats somewhere on the train. Thanks for being so positive when you try something new.
Usually 'coach' is any carriage but the first one (which is 1st Class). Always ask a member of staff - or a passenger - before you board if you are not sure.
WOW i live in the UK Manchester and i can say i have never been or ever will go by train anywhere. having said that you guys make it look quite satisfying i might just give it a go :)
Living on the LNER route is actually great. It's amazing how much better it is than the non publicly owned rail franchises. Transpennine, Northern Rail and Thameslink (the other ones I've been on) all seem so much less reliable.
Love your videos guys, it's definitely making me see some of the stuff we consider ordinary in a brand new light! Your enthusiasm and positivity is definitely something we'd take in exchange :)
For Eurostar, you will need to arrive a lot earlier, because you have to go through two sets of border control before you reach the platform. First the UK border force to leave the country, then the French Police aux Frontières to "arrive" in France. You need to do the reverse at Gare du Nord when leaving Paris.
Glad you enjoyed the train and thanks for the video. I normally see a different view of the journey as I am a driver working for LNER based at Kings Cross 👍👍
Did you visit ‘The Angel of the North’ monument whilst in Newcastle , it’s spectacular , situated on the outskirts of Newcastle 😉. Also Holy Island , (Lindisfarne) , just down the coast is a must , can only be reached at low tide by road . There is a group called Lindisfarne that has great folk/rock songs relating to this part of England 😉
I took this exact trip yesterday, as I live in Newcastle and had been visiting the London West End to visit a couple of theatre shows. I hope you enjoy the UK.
There used to be a saying 'let the train take the strain' in respect of why drive if you can relax and watch the world go by on a train. Although i'm not so sure now with everything that's going on and it's been a while since I went on one. On a more positive note places are more accessible I understand than they would be by train in the US via train or bus here in the UK. I agree cheese and onion from Greggs is delish as are the vegan rolls. :-)
I’m still trying to figure out when these videos were filmed because the weather is completely different now lol. And you went to the Birmingham Xmas market, so obviously it wasn’t too long ago . I hope you enjoyed!
There's a phrase, "Let the train take the strain". Yea, the rains are good. I hope you'd seen it, but perhaps a bit of advanced warning would have helped but, one of the best scenes to be had from the East Coast Main Line, which you were on, is the view of Durham Cathedral and Castle. You can get a good view from the train if you look out the left-hand side just before the train enter Durham station.
Yes - trains in the uk are generally quieter, because in the uk we talk in a lower tone on public transport. That stereotype of Americans being loud is absolutely true, especially on public transport. Nice video!
Lovely to see you visit my part of the world. The North East is often overlooked. We are super friendly & our coastline is beautiful. My hometown Darlington is the place of the world's first passenger railway.
I'm interested to hear your thought on the ironing board like seats as they're a much complained about part of all the Class 800 varients. The seats in First Class aren't that much better so not really worth the upgrade
Trains are far and away the best way to travel long distance in the UK - so much quicker and less stressful than driving (as well as being better for the environment). And I say that as someone who really enjoys driving ... but where's the enjoyment of slogging along a motorway for hours? And on most of the main intercity routes there are trains every 30 minutes, so it's generally pretty convenient as well.
this is adorable, it’s fun to see how this experience that is mundane to me feels as a new thing. when you got to “oh you can order food to your seat! that’s fancy” I was like “haha no you can’t” and sure enough, there was the announcement :D
Nice to see you in my neck of the woods. Take the metro to Whitley Bay and walk along the seafront. The metro uses the old railway lines and if you're a Dire Straits fan you have to see the Spanish City at Whitley Bay
Hope you are having / had a great time. Hope you noticed Durham from the train! Your fellow American Bill Bryson is a big fan of our cathedral here! Look forward to seeing the rest of your uk travels. And Paris too? Ooh la laa!
In the 1970s in the UK there was an ad campaign to encourage people to use trains, the tag line was Let the train take the strain. Which still applies, glad you had a nice time!
I have travelled that exact journey 3 times a year for over a decade and only ever once had a train delayed, brilliant service and even if it is delayed you get a refund
![30 ชั่วโมงคนเดียว บนรถไฟชั้น 3 โซเวียต [Around The World Ep. 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlE9boAVqDA/mqdefault.jpg)
New here? Check out some of our other UK travels, like our first time driving a car in the UK: th-cam.com/video/1f6GH9GIEf0/w-d-xo.html&t
First time trying Greggs: th-cam.com/video/iKiJmhW5G84/w-d-xo.html&t
Loving these videos👍
The reason for all the different London main line stations dates back many decades. It is from before nationalisation, when lots of independent companies operated the railways from different areas of the UK, into their own London station.
@@brianwhittington5086 yh the big four
Mind you UK "high speed trains" aren't even close to the speed or level of service you'll get on European high speed lines (or in Japan).
But then again I've been on Amtrak trains....And VIA rail....
That is not the Shanghai Manglev Bullet Train made by the Japanese it more likely be a French TGV or the Locamotive that was supposed to run the HS2 Route before it thankfully got stopped.
FYI It's St Pancras International not St Pancras.
Thanks for travelling with us, guys. Hope you enjoyed your journey and had a great time in Newcastle! 🚅
STOP CANCELLING TRAINS! I see you 👀
i bump all ur trains
MUM GET THE CAMERA!!!
Finally a train company that is on youtube.
Cool you're engaging on TH-cam - maybe you and the government should engage with your striking workers too 😐
@@liamc19 Absolutely...£65,000 per year for a driver is no where near enough.
Unless the train is full, feel free to move to any seat or coach within the same class.
as long as it isn't reserved!
@@bakedbeanishdragon you can sit in a reserved seat up to the station where the person that has reserved the seat gets on 👍
@@johnross2924 even then you can sit in it until that person comes along
@@bakedbeanishdragon If it is reserved and no one sits in it then you can sit in it.
Unless it's a Tuesday, in which case you must first get written permission from the Deputy Head, but only if your brother is not attending formal hall, in which case you need to first move your PE kit on to the lower peg, except in those cases where permission-amnesty has been enacted due to PTA-reform, in which case you should, of course use the upper peg. Is that clear ? Then, yes, you may move freely around the carriage
'Bullet Train' - Being from the UK this makes me laugh so much 🤣🤣
The Azuma engine design is based on the Japanese 'Bullet Train'
Yup. Having been to Japan not all that long ago and ridden on the shinkansen there - it's in a totally different league. The precision with which it arrives and departs (to a precision of seconds and millimeters) is something you have to experience.
@@porthmeor1 Sadly, our railway infrastructure isn't.
@@IanNoble-qb7mb Maybe take a peak behind the curtain..;....
Well enjoy your laugh its the best you are going to get and the roads will get worse,
What nice people, to have been so positive and polite about our UK quirks. I'll watch more!
I feel like this is so nice and wholesome! There are plenty of problems with train travel in the UK for sure, but when it works well (which is a lot of the time too) then it’s a really great way to travel.
Pleased that you had a good experience with this one. ❤
As someone who works on the railway (you passed my station on your journey) I am so glad you had a positive experience, and hope you'll have many more on your visit here!
Well done for travelling by train. The great thing in the UK (and most of europe) is you can turn up about 5 minutes before the train departs with no bother. It's more like a bus than an aeroplane. You can also get flexible tickets which mean you can turn up and go on any train with no reservation.
It does depend; if you haven't booked seats and you are travelling from the starting station it is well worth getting there 15 mins early to get a good choice of seat.
the down side is that it costs an arm and a leg. Other European countries' rail operators charge a fraction of what our's do. Rip-off.
jazzzzdude
Swings and roundabouts. In Germany for example you can't get a day return. You have to pay for 2 singles. In Britain a day return is not much more than a single.
Its not all rosey abroad, and having spent 3 years in the Ruhr area (Dusseldorf, Bochum, Dortmund) I can tell you that late trains, cancelled trains, strikes etc were the norm. And don't get me started on the lack of luggage space!!!
@@lyndoncmp5751 Exactly - here in Spain they had / have a shortage of AVE drivers and trains - who'd have thought that extending the network, and adding stops to the existing network over the last few years would mean that you'd need more trains and the drivers for them? So for the last couple of years the frequency of service has fallen to the cities already on the network - although they are trying to rectify this now.
When she said “only 20mins”, Euston west coast main line - you luckily get 5 mins 😂
To do it right you need to turn up at the last possible minute and get an adrenaline rush trying to find what platform your train is on and then do a mad dash thinking you are going to miss it. We'll that's how my family always seem to do it.
As an American who now lives in Kensington, London, I find it a wonderful treat to tour and see the country on my motorcycle. You actually feel the vibe of the towns as you arrive. Keep the videos coming!!!
Tip for motorcyclists: don't make the mistake of booking a seat that faces backwards
@@trueriver1950 At least you an smoke on a motorbike. :)
@@damianbutterworth2434 You can smoke on a bike , but my ashtray is next to the throttle . Typical Jap bad design .
We do not usually use the term 'coach' when referring to different classes of tickets in the U.K. Usually we just call them 'first class' or 'second', otherwise known as 'standard class', like our postage.
Haven't seen it called Second clas in terms of modern, day to day services for a long time lmao
I usually use the term “scum class” but maybe they only call it that in first.
Did you know that...they're American? And Americans have different terms for things?
Or cattle class
There actually used to be a third class
"20 minutes to spare, so it's like down to the wire" 🤣 That's like forever early. I've had platform announcements 5 mins before departure. I've also sometimes turned up at the station with only 5 minutes to spare and it's totally fine. You certainly don't *need* to be there early in general, although it helps for a more relaxed experience.
It really depends on your anxiety levels! When I'm going down to London to see my parents, I get to the station 5 minutes before the train, because it's a 15 minute walk from my house to the station and I know exactly how long it takes me ... but coming back, I aim to get to Kings Cross _at least_ half an hour before the train, because by the time I've got the bus from their house to their local station and then got a train from there in to central London, there are so many possible delays that I don't want to risk missing my train. And I'm always travelling on a cheap ticket that ties me to a specific train, so if I miss it not only do I have a 2 hour wait for the next one but it would also be very expensive!
Oh bless, 20 minutes to go i would just be leaving home😆
I once was booked onto the 12:30 KX - Northallerton. I was still on the tube at 12:28. I caught the train. 😉
I lived in Newcastle for 4 years recently and I love when people visiting the UK get to see more than just London
Same, especially the north than skipping it to visit Edinburgh. It maybe grim, but the north has character.
You must visit Durham (you actually passed through it on the train, about 10 minutes before you arrived in Newcastle). Built on the instructions of William the Conqueror, and completed in 1133, the cathedral is probably the finest Romanesque church in Europe - it's stunningly beautiful. It clings to the top of a high promontory formed by the River Wear below, and is guarded by a castle that is about 950 years old. The surrounding streets and walks by the River are really lovely. The university is almost 200 years old, and although the city is quite small, it is full of charm.
Durham is not a must visit place its full of chavs and drug dealers
@@B-A-L that's nonsense. The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, and the Beamish Open Air Museum are well worth visiting, and there's lovely countryside in the west of the county
Mildly surprised that it wasn't noted in the vid, even just passing through the view _of_ Durham from the train is lovely.
@@B-A-L shildon lad here, they’ll be alright 😉🤣
@@stanleyt.7930 On our last visit to the UK in 2012 we singled out Beamish and it was brilliant. Sadly we had to leave mid afternoon because we had to get to the NYMR at Grosmont for a steam festival. Next trip back is 2024 so it is again on the list. The night before going to Beamish we stayed at Pity Me! Loved it. Didn't know much about that part of the North East, but it was excellent. Planning to do the Wall walk on my return.
Thanks for highlighting all the amazing places in the UK that sometimes get left behind in the shadow of London.
Although, the train you were on is not really classed as high speed rail. The only official high speed rail in the UK is the HS1 line, which runs from London St Pancras to the channel tunnel.
You will be very impressed at the speed of the Eurostar to Paris. 300kph (186mph) is really impressive.
With a line speed of 125 mph the east coast mainline meets the European defenition of an upgraded high speed line, the Selby bypass section additionally meets the defenition of a dedicated high speed line, so yes the train he was on is high speed rail. The great Western mainline and west coast mainline are both upgraded high speed lines, the east coast mainline is a dedicated/upgraded high speed line, and HS1 is a dedicated high speed line. The UK has several high speed lines in other words
As @trainman10000 said, as an upgraded line it can be considered by some definition as high speed train, but on the lowest side. As for HS1, it is currently the only full dedicated high speed line in the UK but personally I do not think you can consider it to be a UK high speed line as it does not serve the UK itself, you can only ride the train if you're leaving the UK to the rest of Europe so it does not serve as a transport mean inside the UK.
HS2, when it's open, will be the first actual UK high speed line.
@@AL5520 Southeastern operates a high speed service stopping on places the eurostar doesn't, as well as the places it does. HS1 does serve as a transport eman inside the UK, albeit a limited one as it was designed for the erurostar
London overpriced overcrowded up it's own arse
Yep I'd recommend a little trip on the Southwestern Javelin (Class 395) on HS1 from St Pancras to Kent a nice little run on 140mph. Or you could go the whole route to Dover, but after Kent it slows down to conventional speeds.
Your video was in my recommended - I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's always so nice to hear visitors to our country enjoying their experiences! The trains in the UK are indeed very good on the whole - hopefully you are not disrupted by the train strikes that are currently going on at various times. Enjoy Newcastle and the rest of your stay in England/the UK (wherever you may be going!)
Trains in the UK most have improved since I lived there, they were not that great compared to those I have travelled on elsewhere, (Ontario, France, Germany, Japan which was awesome, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand which was slow but the scenery made up for it).
Because London is apparently the centre of the universe, the trains that go to and from London tend to be very good (yet extraordinarily expensive, to the point that I just drive as it's usually cheaper). But the other trains in the country are a shambles. Try going across the North. Say, from Bradford to Manchester, or Middlesbrough to Newcastle, or Preston to Leeds. They are old fashioned, 2 carriage trains, extremely overcrowded, extremely slow, oh, and expensive as well. And rarely run on time if they run at all.
Subscribed! You both have a lovely way about you. Glad you had a nice time here in the UK and you got out of London 😊
I have absolutely no idea why this was in my ‘recommendations’ but I have to say I really enjoyed it. Thank you 😊
I'm from Doncaster and it was fun to see my home city (as recently upgraded to city status in the Platinum Jubilee!) featured on the video, however briefly. We are mostly known for our railway connections and train building due to our MP Edmund Beckett Denison in the 1850s "persuading" the railway companies to put the works here. His son was the bloke who designed the clock mechanism for Big Ben. Also Doncaster Minster which you mention is indeed impressive, not many people know it was only built in the 1850s to replace an older church that burned down - but they emulated the style perfectly.
An DMBC is a set of pricks ,lol ,
Same.
I was NOT expecting the travel channel I watch to go to my home city of Doncaster 😆
I'm from Donny as well, I support Newcastle United and Rovers, of course, also ex-BR so this is pretty much perfect viewing for me. Hint, you don't have to stay in your reserved seats if you see unreserved or not taken up seats you can move to them if you prefer.
@@bleanboy2021 another Glory hunter that’s jumped on Saudi bandwagon 😏
@@Dan-B o
What an awesome video! The train service has improved so much over the last 15 years, and I frequently take the trains from Peterborough to London and they are nice and clean and really well thought out now.
I like these two; their positivity and enthusiasm is infectious. They are quite brave...visiting and travelling around in the middle of winter this time...not to mention in the middle of train strikes (though not sure of the timeline here 🤔) Anyway, such fun - as Miranda's mother would say - and it makes me feel like taking a train trip somewhere....'though not 'til the spring 😣
I mean the green trees and the fact she’s not wearing a coat are kind of giveaways….
@@MattBDG oh yes.... 🤭
Obviously not winter, but it is the UK, travelling here in winter is not exactly dangerous or difficult.
The thing to remember about King's Cross and St Pancras is the above ground railways are two entirely separate stations (though across the road from each other) that serve entirely different areas of the country (and foreign destinations in the case of St Pancras also) - but underground it is a massive, shared complex that sits underneath both of them. Good place to go in the event of impending nuclear attack, but use the deep tunnels ;) By the way UK railway trick for tourists and others, particularly on the LNER - if you know where you're going and when and can prebook a specific train first class is only very very very slightly more expensive which given the free drinks (including wine and beer), free food, free wifi and extra leg room that is included it's very very worth considering, also you can bet that it's likely they'll still have at seat service on that train in first.
They are 5 separate stations: St Pancras, St Pancras International, St Pancras Thameslink, Kings Cross, and Kings Cross St Pancras.
@@katrinabryce but annoyingly many people call all of them kings cross.
I wouldn't trust Kings X as a bunker, it didn't fare well in the fire & still has lots of long open tunnels & cavernous ticket halls.
@@katrinabryce and there used to be another station too; kings cross York road
York Road runs along side the station...only one st Pancras station and one King's x....the other names are rail service names
This was great, thanks for sharing! Seems like you had a relatively smooth train experience up to our wonderful city of Newcastle, which given the recent chaos, I'm happy for you guys. I've seen your subsequent Newcastle/Durham vlogs and its sort of strange seeing our home through newcomers eyes - kind of just makes you appreciate what you have even more. Hope you come back soon, and I'd be glad to show you around some of the more less touristy spots!
Facing back used to be the posh way to travel on trains. You didn't get soot in your face if a window was opened!
I love seeing my country from a different perspective. Thank you!
Fun fact: You can tell what filling is inside a Greggs pastry bake by the secret code pattern on the pastry 😊
Diagonal lines: steak.
Wavy horizontal lines: chicken.
V shape lines: cheese & onion.
Straight horizontal lines: sausage, beans & cheese.
Who needs Bletchley Park.
Because you can't actually rely on the taste.
Nice to see a video of Americans getting out of London and going to Greggs! I'm a northerner and you 2 would be more than welcome in my local pub haha.
Even though the design is inspired off a high speed bullet train, the Hitachi trains used by LNER branded as AZUMA were tailored for the UKs railways and are not high speed rail or bullet trains. Since the track our railways run on is still very old, a legally required speed limiter is in the train set to 125mph, however these trains do have faster acceleration than the 50 year old trains it replaced despite the speed limit enforced on it
125 is high speed rail, a 125 mph line speed meets the European defenition of an upgraded high speed line, the Selby bypass section of the ecml additionally meets the defenition of a dedicated high speed line, so yes it is high speed rail. Unfortunately faster acceleration doesn't do much for trains doing infrequent stops, the trains they replaced were mostly only touching 30 years of age, the oldest were just over 40, none of it was near 50. The faster acceleration certainly isn't worth the downgrade in almost every other way over the older rolling stock
@@Trainman10715 Technically, we've had High Speed Rail for around 100 years, since the A4 Pacific broke (and still holds) the steam world record. Faster than the current train!
You are both so lovely! So glad you had a nice journey on LNER. Also hope you enjoyed Newcastle, as it's a beautiful city.
A tip for any overseas visitor to the UK, proposing to use long distance train travel more than twice, is to look at buying a BritRail Pass before you leave home - they cannot be purchased once you have landed in the UK.
They offer unlimited travel by any train, in various forms - concatenated days, single days, multiple days etc. - and are very good value. Available in First and Standard Classes and can be limited to whole of UK or just particular areas.
The Train that you saw at Doncaster was the class 91 and that's the only one in that livery as it was specially painted to represent the old BR intercity days nice video and so nice to see Americans over here in the UK :)
If you're visiting Newcastle, I highly recommend a day out to Beamish museum. It's an easy bus ride from Newcastle and has a lot to see.
So pleased you recommend other parts of the UK, England isn’t just London! Enjoy your visit
And the UK isn't just England.
@@teresaravenshaw5477Agreed. Hopefully the U.K. won’t be around much longer anyway.
@@Irishlad1916 Ah, someone else who wants to see the UK dissolve. Me too, me too.
@@teresaravenshaw5477 That’s nice. You want to see the UK dissolve?
Oh i was looking forward to seeing Durham from the train window - there is some amazing scenery between Newcastle and Edinburgh 🤗
I’m from Newcastle and had a friend from the US come to visit me in October it was awesome. Going to see him in Baltimore next year. Hope you guys had a great time
Been to Newcastle a few times (I'm from Bristol in the South West) I love Newcastle and its citizens, its a very underrated City and the Geordies are honest, hardworking and friendly people.
And the folk from Bristol sound 'Canny' too!😀
I live in Bristol and I hope to visit Newcastle area next summer. I want to see the museum about Roman life they've got in that area. Somewhere. I'll research the details if or when I know I can go. I'm even hoping I could do a day to Holy Island.
@@janebaker966 Segedunum Roman Fort Wallsend North Tyneside is the last part of the Hadrian’s Wall, as for Holy Island in North Northumberland if your driving up via the A1 just make sure you check the tide times for getting across the Causeway at Holy Island on the way across and for the way back as well.
Newcastle is place I must visit one day. Plenty of architecture.
@@janebaker966 We've got quite a few Roman museums/forts along Hadrian's Wall route. Vindolanda. Sedgedunum. Arbeia.
As a Geordie, you should have gone to a Newcastle Greggs. Until they went national, they were Greggs of Gosforth (a suburb of Newcastle) They still make the best Stottie Cake (a delicious oven bottom flat loaf)
If you want to try something regional have a stottie cake with boiled ham (gammon is best) with pease pudding.
My Gran and Dad are Geordies, and she called them Fadges.
YEP ! got to agree with that
Sounds epic, next time I'm there I'll try one.
I adore Newcastle, hope you guys enjoyed it
You two are great people I've being watching for around a year now proberly watched 15 vids. and I hop you keep up the good work/vids
Hope you enjoy it here. We’re a train loving country, which is why it’s sad that train travel is ridiculously expensive, and working out the best fares is very complex.
The most stunning stretch of railway in England is probably the Settle-Carlisle line. I still hope to experience beautiful railways in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The most beautiful station in the UK may be Corrour in Scotland, another one for me to tick off…
… but it’s expensive!
❤
With your name I thought you would be travelling by TARDIS
Working out the best fare is straightforward, many sites do it. Split ticketing is the best way.
Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is very impressive as well.
Another great video, thanks for sharing. Cara could I suggest better audio, for some reason I can't hear you properly. Safe travels. Take care.
Love your videos exploring our great country. Hope you have a great time in Newcastle im from Durham not too far away.
A love the trains with my late father been a train driver,he started on Steam trains ,in Yorkshire , 🔥 firering coal , fireman ,🤗
Other than Eurostar, you don't have to be particularly early to catch a train, with most you have up to two minutes before departure, though obviously not a good idea to cut it that fine.
no but you have to allow extra time getting TO the station in case of cancellations, rail repairs, road works etc
@@annother3350 or allow extra time in case of leaves on the track, the wrong type of stars in the sky...perhaps a potato on the line. The railways here 💀💀
I usually go for 15 mins early. Gives me time to grab a cuppa and head to the platform ready to get on and settled. I know when I travelled by train to get to/from uni and it had changes I used to get super anxious in case I missed my connection! I'd usually go for a minimum of 30 mins in case train 1 was delayed. I cut it close a few times still. First out train was very delayed and I asked the staff member doing tickets what time they expected us in so I knew if I'd make my train. She went away and checked to find out the train was still behind ours and got the platform number at the station I was changing at for me (Sheffield) which was incredibly nice. The 2nd time I knew it would be close so I picked a station (Chesterfield?) where there was only 1 platform so I was getting off and on at the same one so I didn't have to rush across a station lol.
Welcome to Newcastle! I hope you enjoyed your stay in my home city :)
It's a shame you didn't get a steam railtour. The Gresley A4s, Peppercorn A1 and Thompson B1s make the ECML into a true time machine.
But either way, it warms my heart to know there are Americans that appreciate rail travel like we do.
My father was a fireman on the flying Scotsman locomotive silverfox and some of the other 36 locomotive, He was conscripted in the 1950s And by the time he was demobbed ,They began training to work on diesel locomotives, And so he did the knowledge and became a London cab driver, He has been dead over 32 years now ,but he used to work the st pancras rank , the former LMS train line runs from London to his home city chesterfield Derbyshire, And nowadays the old taxi rank is where the foyer of the Renaissance hotel is, In our nation's history the railways were like the arteries, not pumping blood, but trade and commerce into the body of our motherland, one has to sometimes marvel at how our railways were built, An acknowledge that 100,s of 1000,s of people's whole families and lives revolved around every aspect of railway life
I'm a American rail fanner and I really appreciate rail travel, sure wish we can do world tours with the big boy, unfortunately, our load gauge is very different than the u.k so the big boy would BE way tooo big to fit on the U.K rails, I would say the same thing for any other American locomotives that's well over the size of 14ft tall unless it's a midsize or small size one
It's good that you appeared to enjoy travelling by train. I haven't used anything but the train and local buses during my last 20 yrs of visits to the UK. The same has been true of inter-city travel throughout western Europe. During my decade in the US, I used a train just four times: DC to NY, and Seattle to Vancouver BC. I think that says it all.
I did the D.C. to N.Y. Walking would have been quicker .
Brings back memories. Pre pandemic I travelled to London from Leeds twice a month. Found the new Azumas seats really uncomfortable compared to the previous trains. The East Coast line is in government hands and yes, still staff shortages. It never changes!
Most modern train seats are far too hard even the first class ones. Bring back the soft comfy moquette covered horsehair and sprung but often very dusty ones. 5 minutes into the journey and I was always asleep not now as can't get comfy.
I thought I was the only one - they're sized badly if you're even vaguely tall and the head cushion thing digs in your back really badly. Spent many a train journey complaining to their staff on twitter about them ;)
I found azuma seats ok but they are a lovely ride
Luckily as you are from Leeds you still get chance of a 91!
Enjoyed watching this. Kudos for venturing outside of London and the South East. Newcastle is a fantastic city that often gets overlooked.
Yeah it's a bit confusing as the underground station is called Kings Cross St Pancras.
That’s my weekly commute. Interesting to hear a different perspective. Pleased they weren’t on strike.
Public transport (the rail network) is amazing, except for times when there's a strike going on - Which thankfully isn't often. I use the train often to get from home (down in the Southwest) for business meetings in London. I love looking out of the window and spotting something I know I'll want to visit. Fully fledged born and bred Brit, and I have never had a Greggs! Have a fun time in Newcastle and the Northeast. x
I would never describe the UKs rail network as amazing. I’d describe Japans network as amazing though. Europes railway systems are fantastic as well - especially since you can cross borders easily. Germanys rail network, is my favourite though - trams, trains and buses competing, make travelling really affordable. Unlike the UK.
The strike is a necessary evil. Otherwise we'll ended up like Russia or North korea.
@@MaliceandEnvy I have lived on the continent for last 5 years everywhere I've been the rail system has been so much better than back home in the UK.
I'm also from Cornwall and never had a Greggs! Had no idea what it was until I left to go to university. I looked and there's literally only 1 Greggs in all of Cornwall, hiding away in a roadside services somewhere. Considering that all Gregories were purged in the 1200s by the Pasty tribes, they have good reason to hide.
I'm a Geordie and don't frequent Greggs. The shame!🤫
Whoa! Your in the toon guys 🥰😍 Welcome to Newcastle. (The toon) I’m sure the Geordie’s will give you a very warm welcome! and the Hilton has great views of quayside.
For clarity in the intro, you were riding onboard a Class 801 train (called Azuma's by LNER) run by the train operating company: LNER (London North Eastern Railway), and were traveling on the East Coast Main Line railway line from King's Cross to Newcastle.
I've never heard it being called a bullet train
@@theotherside8258 the operators like to call them bullet trains to deceive people into thinking the things bare some sort of relation to the shinkansen in Japan, in reality they are part of the A-train family and have no relation to bullet trains whatsoever. they've also proven to be total crap, poorly built, badly designed rubbish, unlike the shinkansens which are world class
@@theotherside8258 Thats down to L.N.E.R. marketing. Hitachi were the designers of these I.E.T. units. And L.N.E.R. stated they were based on the designs of the shinkansen bullet trains. There are more train operating companies that operate this type of train the class 800/801/802/803 and the new 805 now being tested for AVANTI WEST COAST. The only company that uses the term AZUMA is London north EASTERN Railway, as the word Azuma is Japanese for EAST.
@@darrylrichardson7940 .... and all of them inferior to the Class 91 / Mk IV sets 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I'm always slightly excited when I use platform 0 at Kings Cross
The cheese and onion and bean and cheese bakes are banging, if you are still in the uk you have to try the festive bake 👌🏻
Love Newcastle lived there and in the northeast for few years as a student, hope you’ll enjoy the city 👍🏻
Unlike a plane a train can travel in reverse. So sometimes First Class will be at the front, sometimes reverse. As I remember travelling towards London, First Class tends to be at the front. Presumably so First Class passengers can get off quicker at London Termini. Tends to be less important at other stations.
Yes, I think on that line 1st class is always at the southern end, so nearest the ticket barriers at King's Cross.
@@caw25sha Yes - it's so the gentry can get the Hansome Cabs before the hoi polloi
I love the way you're tucking into to all the different Greggs offerings, and thoroughly enjoying the moment! Welcome to the UK x
Newacstle is somewhere I have never been, although did stay in South Shields when we did a mini UK tour as we wanted to see The Angel and go to the wonderful Beamish Living Museum.
Booking online up to 3 months ahead and some great bargains can be had even for the same or next week. First Class for the same as Standard or even less often. May be a middle of the day service though (after 09:30). All the companies take bookings for all the others services or use 'The Train Line' for the cheapest. Tickets can be posted to or collected from the machines at the station. If that train is cancelled the tickets are valid on any later service for the same class but the seat reservations won't apply.
In UK you can move to a different seat within the same class, as long as it’s not ‘reserved’ for another passenger. Most of the time you will see vacant seats somewhere on the train. Thanks for being so positive when you try something new.
At 4:03 you passed Arsenal's "Emirates Stadium". 😁🔴⚪
Hope you enjoy your time in Geordie land I’m on the coast in Seaham so not far away, have a goodn
Looking forward to you showing the local sights from my home town..Gateshead…and Newcastle! Enjoy!
Usually 'coach' is any carriage but the first one (which is 1st Class). Always ask a member of staff - or a passenger - before you board if you are not sure.
WOW i live in the UK Manchester and i can say i have never been or ever will go by train anywhere. having said that you guys make it look quite satisfying i might just give it a go :)
Living on the LNER route is actually great. It's amazing how much better it is than the non publicly owned rail franchises. Transpennine, Northern Rail and Thameslink (the other ones I've been on) all seem so much less reliable.
Lived in the UK for 23 years and not met anyone who's never been on a train!
Love your videos guys, it's definitely making me see some of the stuff we consider ordinary in a brand new light! Your enthusiasm and positivity is definitely something we'd take in exchange :)
For Eurostar, you will need to arrive a lot earlier, because you have to go through two sets of border control before you reach the platform. First the UK border force to leave the country, then the French Police aux Frontières to "arrive" in France. You need to do the reverse at Gare du Nord when leaving Paris.
when coming back from france, hire a rubber boat and save time on the border checks plus free hotel upon arrival
...yet another Brexit benefit. lol
@@curmudgeon1933 That was the situation before hand also
Glad you enjoyed the train and thanks for the video. I normally see a different view of the journey as I am a driver working for LNER based at Kings Cross 👍👍
Did you visit ‘The Angel of the North’ monument whilst in Newcastle , it’s spectacular , situated on the outskirts of Newcastle 😉. Also Holy Island , (Lindisfarne) , just down the coast is a must , can only be reached at low tide by road . There is a group called Lindisfarne that has great folk/rock songs relating to this part of England 😉
I took this exact trip yesterday, as I live in Newcastle and had been visiting the London West End to visit a couple of theatre shows. I hope you enjoy the UK.
There used to be a saying 'let the train take the strain' in respect of why drive if you can relax and watch the world go by on a train. Although i'm not so sure now with everything that's going on and it's been a while since I went on one. On a more positive note places are more accessible I understand than they would be by train in the US via train or bus here in the UK. I agree cheese and onion from Greggs is delish as are the vegan rolls. :-)
Greggs are based in Newcastle. Enjoy the Toon! I'm in Hexham, 20 miles east in the Tyne valley.
I’m still trying to figure out when these videos were filmed because the weather is completely different now lol. And you went to the Birmingham Xmas market, so obviously it wasn’t too long ago . I hope you enjoyed!
26th October 4:05
Thanks! I somehow didn’t catch that
There's a phrase, "Let the train take the strain". Yea, the rains are good.
I hope you'd seen it, but perhaps a bit of advanced warning would have helped but, one of the best scenes to be had from the East Coast Main Line, which you were on, is the view of Durham Cathedral and Castle. You can get a good view from the train if you look out the left-hand side just before the train enter Durham station.
Yes - trains in the uk are generally quieter, because in the uk we talk in a lower tone on public transport. That stereotype of Americans being loud is absolutely true, especially on public transport. Nice video!
However, I couldn't hear what these two were saying on the train even with my laptop's sound up to the max.
@@delukxy best to get earphones, you'll be able to hear easier
Loud people do appear on UK trains. Especially those doing FaceTime at high volume. Or drunk women on hen do trips.
Lovely to see you visit my part of the world. The North East is often overlooked. We are super friendly & our coastline is beautiful. My hometown Darlington is the place of the world's first passenger railway.
I'm interested to hear your thought on the ironing board like seats as they're a much complained about part of all the Class 800 varients. The seats in First Class aren't that much better so not really worth the upgrade
Are they the Thames Link service type seats?
@@joyfulzero853A little bit better than those, but still not really suitable for inter-city travel.
I’m impressed you pronounced Peterborough correctly. 👍🏻👍🏻
Yay for Doncaster, my home town.
Home to the pilgrims that first settled in America.
@@drewmidgley9717 Indeed, shame we missed doing a 400th anniversary celebration due to that being 2020 and, well, you know.
Put the LNER app on your phone. When you purchase a ticket you can reserve your seat on the app.
Good to know!
Doncaster!! My home city!!
Trains are far and away the best way to travel long distance in the UK - so much quicker and less stressful than driving (as well as being better for the environment). And I say that as someone who really enjoys driving ... but where's the enjoyment of slogging along a motorway for hours? And on most of the main intercity routes there are trains every 30 minutes, so it's generally pretty convenient as well.
this is adorable, it’s fun to see how this experience that is mundane to me feels as a new thing.
when you got to “oh you can order food to your seat! that’s fancy” I was like “haha no you can’t” and sure enough, there was the announcement :D
When Crossrail 2 opens, one of the proposed stations, Euston St Pancras, will most certainly confuse even more tourists. Hilarious.
Newcastle upon Tyne the greatest city on 🌎
Welcome to the toon. I hope you enjoy your time here!!
Newcastle has the friendliest people in the UK, and the beat pubs.
I like to to think it's not specifically Newcastle but the North East region as a whole.
Make sure you visit The Centurion Bar on Newcastle Station if just to view the interior.
You're fast becoming honorary brits. 😁
Nice to see you in my neck of the woods. Take the metro to Whitley Bay and walk along the seafront. The metro uses the old railway lines and if you're a Dire Straits fan you have to see the Spanish City at Whitley Bay
Hope you are having / had a great time. Hope you noticed Durham from the train! Your fellow American Bill Bryson is a big fan of our cathedral here! Look forward to seeing the rest of your uk travels. And Paris too? Ooh la laa!
I love you two. Just the joy of your travels and trying new things. Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year x
In the 1970s in the UK there was an ad campaign to encourage people to use trains, the tag line was Let the train take the strain. Which still applies, glad you had a nice time!
I have travelled that exact journey 3 times a year for over a decade and only ever once had a train delayed, brilliant service and even if it is delayed you get a refund
I love sitting above the motor wheels, sound of the trains motors really adds to the journey!!
That's the place I don't like - mid carriage is best (and also the safest in an accident)
Re: trains being relaxing. When they work well, fabulous. There was once an advertising tagline, "Let the train take the strain"
Later there was "This is the age of the Train".
Nowadays it's often "What is the age of this Train ?"
Really good to see you back, I've been subscribed for awhile and always enjoy your videos.
Take care 😊
If you'd have done these journeys a few years previous, the trains had very comfortable seats but now it's ironing boards.