London - Newcastle

[Jturner98]

Hi all,

I’m looking to travel from London - Newcastle next year. I’m not a fan of Azuma trains so will be travelling to York with Grand Central and then changing to a Cross Country train. I’d like to know anyones experience with first class on Grand Central and Cross Country. I’ve been in first class before up there ECML with LNER on their gorgeous 225 trains. I don’t think it will compare to the 225 experience but nonetheless I’d like to hear peoples experiences and opinions.

Thanks

 

[Sealink]

My colleague travelled with them recently and was quite happy with First Class, despite it just being sandwiches and hot/soft drinks.

If it's a 2 x Voyagers config I know you used to have to be in Coach A for food and beverage

 

[barringtoncem]

Have a look at the travelsogood vlogger on You Tube as she has tried First Class Travel on every Toc where it is available

 

[xotGD]

You could take a 225 to Leeds and change there for Cross Country.

 

[D6130]

You could take a 225 to Leeds and change there for Cross Country.

....or indeed a 225 from Kings Cross (09 06) to York and then Cross Country or TPE onwards to Newcastle.

 

[xotGD]

....or indeed a 225 from Kings Cross (09 06) to York and then Cross Country or TPE onwards to Newcastle.

Indeed - I was forgetting about the one a day to York.

 

[Kite159]

You could use Lumo, the seats are better than the standard azuma seat. Plus has the benefit of being nonstop from London to Newcastle without the hassle of having to change at York/Leeds only to see your connection disappearing into the distance when LNER arrive late

 

[yorkie]

Hi all,

I’m looking to travel from London - Newcastle next year. I’m not a fan of Azuma trains so will be travelling to York with Grand Central and then changing to a Cross Country train. I’d like to know anyones experience with first class on Grand Central and Cross Country....

The biggest problem is reliability. If I was in your positon, I would book it as a through journey, specifying in the advanced options to avoid LNER (or, if you prefer, choose XC/GC only)

There are a few (but not many) journey opportunities via Hull Trains and XC, with a single change at Doncaster (which is guaranteed to be step-free in the northbound direction); again if you search avoiding LNER, you will see if any of these coincide with your requested travel times.

A more comfortable option would be a 225 to Leeds and chnange there for XC (or potentially TPE, but some of these trains are very similar to Azumas and I think the seats are identical).

I would be keen to get a through itinerary (the number of tickets doesn't matter) as evidence of a contract to be conveyed for the whole journey; bear in mind trains can not only get cancelled, but deleted or retimed between the time of booking and the time of travel.

 

[MrJeeves]

My colleague travelled with them recently and was quite happy with First Class, despite it just being sandwiches and hot/soft drinks.

For what it's worth, I travelled on Grand Central from Bradford-way down to London earlier this month and they had no sandwiches on offer in 1st; just some highly preserved pain au chocolats, biscuits and other small snacks.

It might vary based on Voyager/Adelante stock or by route?

 

[xotGD]

Travelling First Class I'd definitely go for the LNER 225 option. Free food. Free booze. Loco-hauled train. Happy days.

If you end up with an extended connection at Leeds, you can then also make use of the First Class lounge.

 

[MrJeeves]

Travelling First Class I'd definitely go for the LNER 225 option. Free food. Free booze. Loco-hauled train. Happy days.

If you end up with an extended connection at Leeds, you can then also make use of the First Class lounge.

Or, if taking the 0906 off King's Cross, you could get all the way to York on the 225!

 

[DanNCL]

I’d avoid Cross Country as reliability is poor and they’re usually overcrowded.

My go to is a 225 to Leeds then onwards with TPE as that lets me get off at Chester-le-Street instead of Newcastle so door-to-door for me it’s just as quick that way as it would be if I went direct to Newcastle, plus of course it includes a 225!
Granted you still have an 80x unit with TPE but it’s a much shorter amount of time on one.

Another option to consider is taking Grand Central all the way to Sunderland, it’s a same platform connection there for Newcastle, both Northern and the Metro (if it’s running again by that point - see this thread). The first class service isn’t as much as you’d get on LNER but you’re guaranteed a 180 on that route with comfortable seats and friendly Sunderland based crew.

 

[Sealink]

For what it's worth, I travelled on Grand Central from Bradford-way down to London earlier this month and they had no sandwiches on offer in 1st; just some highly preserved pain au chocolats, biscuits and other small snacks.

It might vary based on Voyager/Adelante stock or by route?

I didn't make it clear I was only referring to XC trains. I know GC offering is dire! Up there with GWR...