Central Line train of 1992 Stock seen at Stratford on a Saturday evening with a service to West Ruislip. Notice that the doors open on both sides here. Stratford is one of the only places on the Underground where this occurs.
The boarding music and announcements are just wow 😍 Nice to see the extra attention in Business First Class though the price is absurd. Also great to see toilets, large luggage racks, Reading lamps, coat hooks, plug sockets, foldable tables, cup holders and airport related information on TV displays which I suppose differentiate itself from the Elizabeth line.
£32 for a one way 15 minute train ride in "Business First" - with essentially no added benefits? Years ago, they had a promotion and it cost me nothing extra to ride in the business class car (back when they had a staffed office in terminal 3 the guy selling me the ticket just upgraded me) and even then with free papers, etc I could not possibly justify it. I see people in it who must just expense it to their companies.
My least favourite line, but on my favourite station lol. My favourite is the Jubilee line, which ig can be found in Stratford at the veritcal platforms
What a step down. Sure the old interiors were in need of some attention but these interiors are so utilitarian. The business first looks like a drab standard and standard like some grim suburban set. Not exactly ‘welcome to Britain’ is it?! Perhaps it’s designed for outbound passengers...
I'd never travel on Heathrow Express again after these new "upgraded" trains. The prices they make you pay for 15 mins off the journey has always been ridiculous, although at least with the old trains you had a bit of luxury, even in Standard Class, although the new units provide no more comfort than a 345 on TfL Rail. The old units had large screens on them for information, so nothing new there. The seats are 100x downgraded, The old standard class seats were comparable or better than some operator's First Class products, and now they're just as bad as Thameslink, same with the new Business First. To travel with Heathrow Express out of the free transfer zone, you'd be a mug. You pay up to three or four times the price to travel on a train with no extra comfort levels than a 345, with only a 13 minute difference between journey times (15 mins Express, 28 mins TfL)
The 332 decor is much more spacious. Much more support on the seat cushions, way more legroom, wider aisle, and what is more the round decorative light at each door is beyond compare. Conversely it is just way too apparent this 387 is a low-cost refurb from what was already there. Look at that green carpet they didn’t even bother changing it from the GWR one. The legroom seems pretty disappointing given how much they charge a normal ticket. Is it really that hard just to take one row off each carriage? With the introduction of Crossrail I don’t see any incentive to pay a fortune on an older train (than Crossrail) and an additional interchange at Paddington for central London (than a direct train ride on Crossrail). I guess it will probably not resume to 15 min service interval even after the pandemic unless there is a huge fare reduction that attracts higher passenger numbers.
You kinda said it all to be honest. And the Crossrsil trains will be just as fast. And will people really cahhgd at Paddington and pay £25 just for a slightly faster train to Heathrow.
@@michaelNCM say that when have a lot of luggage 😁 I however will be quite interested in when Crossrail/TFL rail starts with the central tunnel section Heathrow to Liverpool St/Whitechapel stn 's without having. to change
It's the first time that there's been ANY significant difference between 1st Class and Standard on 387's...at least there's 2 plus 1 seat configuration, making them wider. On the other TOC's, the only difference appears to be headrest covers!
Class 332 vs Class 387 is like Mercedes vs Skoda, Class 332 was more modern and luxury than 387, I hope the price is half now for half-luxury train, even business class looks so simple...even logo in 332 was so luxury.
Significant downgrade from the 332s and certainly not worth the premium price that Heathrow Express asks. With Crossrail opening potentially later this year, I don't see the point in paying up to ride on a 387 when you can ride a 345 with the same seats, if not more comfortable seats, clear across Central London and not have to change. Just like Gatwick Express is no longer worth the premium, neither is Heathrow Express.
