Rail Britain : Travel Blog

Day 8

Arrived in London Euston at 06:15 (see Day 7 for train details)
This allows one hour to walk to London Kings Cross

08:04 London Kings Cross – York
Operated by Grand Central
Reservation Coach F Seat 10F
Shortly after departure there was a service of drinks, where food orders were taken, I asked for the Bacon Roll
The Bacon Roll was freshly prepared, however at no time was there any mention that this was an extra £3.00
There were two further services of drinks from the trolley
The locomotives were 43123 and 43084
This service arrived in York at 09:57, 5 minutes early

10:28 York – Manchester Piccadilly
Operated by TransPennine Express
No seat reservation
Seat used Coach A Seat 17
Due to the previous train arriving early, this service was used instead of the one below
On boarding I was offered a tea from the trolley, but it was difficult to understand the host whom had poor English
This service arrived in Manchester Piccadilly at 11:49

10:40 York – Manchester Piccadilly
Operated by TransPennine Express
Reservation Coach A Seat 12
This service was not used
This service arrives in Manchester Piccadilly at 12:05

12:16 Manchester Piccadilly – Preston
Operated by TransPennine Express
No seat reservation
Seat used Coach A Seat 15
Due to the previous train arriving early, this service was used instead of the one below
On boarding I was offered a drink, having orange juice
The hostess then came round with a basket of well presented biscuits, the service was more personal than the previous train where the host was using the trolley
This service arrived in Preston at 13:00, 5 minutes late

12:46 Manchester Piccadilly – Preston
Operated by TransPennine Express
Reservation Coach A Seat 09
This service was not used
This service arrives in Preston at 13:33

13:53 Preston – Haymarket
Operated by Virgin Trains
Reservation Coach E Seat 20
Seat used Coach E Seat 24
Shortly after boarding I placed an order for the Ham sandwich with tea
There was one further service of drinks after Penrith and another after Carlisle
The late running was due to this train only having three of the five engines fully working
This service was operated by 221113
This service arrived in Haymarket at 16:38, 23 minutes late

16:38 Haymarket – Inverness
Operated by National Express East Coast
Reservation Coach M Seat 03
Seat used was Coach M Seat 39
The locomotives were 43239 + 43320
This service arrives in Inverness at 20:08

20:38 Inverness – Crewe (sleeper)
Operated by First ScotRail
Supplement £43.00
Reservation Coach L Berth 09
The locomotive was 67004, replaced by 90026 from Edinburgh Waverley
Due to an electrical fault on this train, it operated at a reduced speed of 60mph from Carlisle
This service arrived in Crewe at 07:00, 90 minutes late