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8 HOURS on Britain's WORST High Speed Train - The Highland Chieftain from Inverness to London 

OM the Rails
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For my 100th video on the channel, we'll be looking at LNER's Highland Chieftain service which runs a daily service from Inverness to London (and return) and takes close to 8 hours to complete. Whilst the Azuma trains LNER use aren't the comfiest, this journey is undoubtedly one of the best you can take in Britain, and you'll see why in the video. Enjoy!
Journey details:
Date of travel - January 2024
Operator - London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Train type - Class 800 "Azuma"
Origin - Inverness
Destination - London Kings Cross
Class of travel - First
Price - £95.35/€111.02/$121.57
Advance First Single (inc
1/3 Railcard discount)
Journey time - 8 hours, 18 minutes
Distance - 566 miles/911km
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Music from EpidemicSound and is used under license.
A massive thanks to Roddy MacPhee for the use of the photo for my thumbnail, check out his amazing photo gallery here! www.flickr.com...
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Support the channel here: ko-fi.com/omth...
Link to the LNER first class menu: www.lner.co.uk...
Link to the LNER café car menu: www.lner.co.uk...
#class800 #azuma #lner #highlandchieftain #tripreport #vlog #trains #edinburgh #inverness #london #scotland #england

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24 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 97   
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Alright, because I've had several comments about this... The map used in my intros are not to be taken as gospel - they merely just show the origin and destination city. The full route map, which follows the East Coast, is shown from 04:57. Hope that clarifies 😁
@walterfillingham
@walterfillingham 11 часов назад
I live in Inverness, a lot of people who live in and around Inverness use LNER first class to go to Edinburgh for the day, as you get your breakfast on the way down along with constant snacks, teas, coffees and cold drinks. Enjoy a few hours in Edinburgh, then head home on the return LNER service back to Inverness getting your dinner. snacks, hot and cold drinks on the way back. I have noticed this is extremely popular. The comfort is dreadful, however the service provided in first class along with the food, drinks and snacks is superb and makes a nice day out. ScotRail by comparison is dreadful, where you will be lucky to get a cup of coffee and nothing else (it’s still hit and miss catering being available with ScotRail). Plus ScotRail use dirty old trains, which seem to be getting really grubby and poorly maintained.
@stepheng7586
@stepheng7586 10 часов назад
I much prefer a 1st class Scotrail HST carriage compared to the Azumas. The only downside to the Scotrail 1st class HST is the near absence of catering services.
@moneycash-wg7wp
@moneycash-wg7wp 10 часов назад
Map seems to show WCML but I assume you went down the ECML?
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
See pinned comment
@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne
@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne 8 часов назад
I travel from the midlands to Inverness on average 4 times a year. Prior to the introduction of the godawful Azuma trains I always made the journey in first class, at considerable cost I might add. I made one return trip by Azuma and decided there and then my patronage of LNER services had ended. I now use either the Caledonian Sleeper or fly.
@gordonjohnston8321
@gordonjohnston8321 11 часов назад
They've removed all the headrests in first now. They never worked well, but if you put the headrest where you wanted it, pulled the flap off the velcro, tightened it and stuck it back on the velcro agian they would stay where they were. I assume they were detachable in the first place to make rebranding the service easier. I wonder if they'll bring something new in in the future.
@herschell64
@herschell64 10 часов назад
I got one of the headrests when they were removing them, had no idea what I was going to with it but I gave it to my dad and he's found use for it putting it on the back of one of his chairs
@ejc7129
@ejc7129 8 часов назад
Great video 😎👍🏽⭐️ Back in the 1980’s there were 2 services to London. This one to Kings Cross operated by a HST (Highland chieftain) plus a later departure (10:30am from Inverness) “The Clansman” to London Euston via the WCML, Wolverhampton, Birmingham & Coventry. Up until the mid 1980’s the up and down Clansman used to completely avoid calling at Glasgow or Edinburgh with the loco swap from Class 87 Electric to Class 47 Diesel (and vice versa) taking place at Mossend freight yard (Motherwell)…those were the great days 😎👍🏽
@jonelson1983
@jonelson1983 11 часов назад
I did this journey this year, travelling 1st, and it was great. No complaints at all.
@DeltaJazzUK
@DeltaJazzUK 2 часа назад
You're right about standard class seats - awful, like sitting on an ironing board.
@r.markclayton4821
@r.markclayton4821 8 часов назад
Stirling please, not Sterling [GBP] currency!
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Yes that was a typo mistake, as you'll see from the originally uploaded subtitles to the video which have the correct spelling. Happens to us all!
@hypergolic8468
@hypergolic8468 7 часов назад
When the HST's and MK3 coaches came on stream, they were amazing. I was disappointed when the Class 91 and MK4 coaches came into service in the mid 80's, they ride harshly in comparison to the MK3. When they announced the replacements for the class 91 (225) fleet, I had high hopes: sadly misplaced. I have taken to driving sometimes as the ride quality is so appalling I can't face it. I hope the people of Mexico get to enjoy the HST and MK3 combination for many years to come.
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 6 часов назад
Apparently there are concerns about what they do to the track. Each generation of trains has been worse than its successors for decades.
@alexf7377
@alexf7377 6 часов назад
I think the 7:55 departure is the classic Inverness to London, and we're glad to have it, particularly as the price is good value, compared to much shorter journeys. 2nd class is okay, (still better than a plane!) you can reserve a seat. Make a nice picnic lunch to avoid mundane at best onboard catering. Arrives before 5pm, so plenty of time to meet up, dine and go to theatre/concert/etc etc.
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Yes the service I took was on Sunday which has a slightly late departure and a 12ish minute journey extension - even then the arrival isn't too bad (provided it's on time!)
@cobalt8619
@cobalt8619 4 часа назад
Thanks for giving commentary! I hate watching these travel videos where people only show text on the screen and dont talk.
@campbell9091
@campbell9091 3 часа назад
I, on the other hand, prefer them. Each to their own.
@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo
@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo 12 часов назад
Excellent video
@pnwlion9337
@pnwlion9337 12 часов назад
Looks pretty great to me
@LadySophieofHougunManor7325
@LadySophieofHougunManor7325 11 часов назад
Journey other way be much better under current shower in government Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 has far better prospects
@josephrailfan3349
@josephrailfan3349 9 часов назад
I went on LNER Azuma Class 800 from York to London Kings Cross on The Highland chieftain in August 2024. On 15th August on Thursday. And it was great trip on that day. But the hold up at Peterborough was bit crazy. As there was a congestion and traffic jam. To many trains there.
@fredburley9512
@fredburley9512 8 часов назад
Great video. That's one of the best UK journeys I have seen and I think I might do it myself one day. Not a bad looking train either. Don't know if you have done this one. Recently I took a Transport For Wales journey from Birmingham New Street to Barmouth in Wales and that includes some nice views as you pass through the unspoilt Welsh Valleys towards the Cardigan Bay area. You can either turn south to Aberystwyth or north all the way to Pwelli on the LLeyn Peninsula. Happy travelling. 👍
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Thank you for your nice comments! Yes that is on the list to do at some point, ideally before the new stock comes in!
@jackmellor5536
@jackmellor5536 9 часов назад
I actually like the LNER Azumas, especially in first class. The service is very good.
@imsbvs
@imsbvs 7 часов назад
Wife and I travelled Aberdeen - London in May 2022, about 7 hours, we used advance tickets & railcards to make this a very reasonably priced journey even for 1st class travel. We wanted two seats facing around a table but these trains only have one such per cariage and ended up having to share a table with strangers. I endorse the comments about poor ride quality, there were times the train seemed to crash over the track and gave me the impression of a derailment (thankfully not). At Kings Cross we crossed the road and took a Javelin home, another 90 minutes, these ride better because HS1 track is of a better quality and 140mph is fairly comfortable (that makes it a longer journey than your's was!!). I later found a split fare option would have been even cheaper, Aberdeen to Montrose and Montrose to London.
@paulroach2538
@paulroach2538 8 часов назад
Was on the train when you was doing your video ' it is hard work went all the way to King's Cross 'done it 3 time in standard ' spectacular scenery.
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Yes the only reason this journey is still bearable - a brilliant way to see Britain by rail
@GMDLgnd
@GMDLgnd 9 часов назад
If this was the intercity 225 I would say it's 500% worth the price
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
100%!
@sandyneedham6499
@sandyneedham6499 11 часов назад
Please quote prices for Standard Class - we are not all rich (or subsidized by You Tube) so most of us have to travel in "standard" cass - which used to be known as 3rd Class!
@JamesT85Gaming
@JamesT85Gaming 10 часов назад
The best Advanced single I could find a week in advance (Which is what he did). Was £53 with a railcard and £79.60 without. But as he said in the video its worth paying the extra for such a long journey.
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
I'm far from rich and the channel doesn't make as much money as you think - I'll take the standard class price inclusion on board for the future, but it is rather unfair to make such assumptions.
@realman6ft6
@realman6ft6 3 часа назад
Don’t forget to search for tickets to/from Finsbury Park to get those off peak tickets again.
@colinriley123
@colinriley123 10 часов назад
Have you tried Cardiff to Penzance first class on GWR? No refreshments, let alone a first class host, for the entire journey. In contrast LNER London to Inverness is one of the best rail journeys in the UK.
@anthonywarrener1881
@anthonywarrener1881 6 часов назад
First class on the Azuma is very poor. The cushions are too shallow - compare with any SNCF TGV ! The ride is also poor, and frankly no match for the Inter City 125s or the later Class 91s and Mark IV stick. A huge disappointment, and no improvement whatsoever.
@gftyhify
@gftyhify 11 часов назад
I’ve never ridden first class on the Azumas but I did once ride in standard class. While the seats aren’t the best I found them to be manageable for a short journey at least. I was only on the train from Newcastle to Edinburgh I might not say the same if I was on the train for the entire journey. To be honest I don’t think I’ll ever do the Highland Chieftain as I don’t think I could manage a train journey of that length even with comfier seats
@michaelj3282
@michaelj3282 7 часов назад
Thanks for the particular attention to the North East, I think the Northerly approach is the best I know, Durham is wonderful too, and Northumberland? Shhhh, don't tell anyone.
@benbrist
@benbrist 10 часов назад
"to the British capital London" - you're going to anger a few folk here as you've passed through Edinburgh 🤣
@Sir_David_Beatty
@Sir_David_Beatty 10 часов назад
Growing up is realizing Scotland will never be fully independent.
@ThePeteW
@ThePeteW 9 часов назад
​@@Sir_David_BeattyI've never heard of Britain having a capital. The UK does. But not Britain.
@ericnairn2321
@ericnairn2321 8 часов назад
Where the hell is Sterling is that not a currency . You need to edit your vlog otherwise very good
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Yes it was a typo - this was written correctly in the originally uploaded subtitles. Happens to everyone!
@herschell64
@herschell64 10 часов назад
I'm not planning to do this journey but a similar journey in Aberdeen to Kings Cross the next time I holiday in London
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Enjoy, even the route from Aberdeen is amazingly scenic!
@j3xk72r9
@j3xk72r9 8 часов назад
Looks like the Azumas are no better than the GWR trains. Truly dreadful trains, how did we get stuck with trains like this?
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 6 часов назад
The Department for Transport got involved. Civil Servants
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
DfT penny pinching sadly, which is a shame as later models are nowhere near as bad.
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 57 минут назад
@@OMtheRails There is nothing penny pinching about these trains - at almost £3 million a vehicle, they cost big bucks. For comparison, a mark 1 vehicle cost £5000 in the 1950s, and you can allow a factor of 50 for inflation. If you think that is an unfair comparison, then use the mark 3 stock, which would have cost about £500,000 apiece in the end of the 1980s - lightweight steel bodies with air-conditioning and separate power cars. The efficient steel construction system was abandoned when the mark 4 was introduced, with a resulting increase in mass. The intention was to continue with the mark 3 construction system, and that became the International Train, of which only a prototype was built, plus thousands of vehicles in China when Britain Rail Engineering Ltd sold an entire factory to build the design under licence. A mark 3 vehicle was dismantled and surveyed around 2010 in a joint exercise by Porterbrook Leasing who owned most of them, and IMeche. At that time they were known to be good until at least 2035 ie they had another 25 years of potential service. The main weakness was corrosion at certain points, mainly associated with the toilet areas and around the vehicle ends, and these needed to be monitored and attended to as required. There was also a need to fit retention toilets and reinstate internal door handles. Unfortunately the civil servants at the DfT stuck their noses in, were in love with Hitachi, decided to go for the absurdity expensive, overweight and inefficient bi-mode and a 26 metre vehicle, and we got the dreadful 800 series. 26 metres is too long for Britain as there is a 4.5 meters overhang at each end. Reduce the wheel diameter to 80 cm and you get a rough riding track basher. You also get a vehicle which is difficult to get on and off,; goodness knows how many trips and falls these trains are responsible for. The story doesn't even exist end there. Once the decision to replace the mark 3 feet was made, maintenance was reduced and corrosion allowed to set in, and by 2018 renovation would have been expensive. For from penny pinching, money has been splashed up the wall to get these trains inflicted on the hapless public.
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 47 минут назад
@@OMtheRails YT lost my carefully composed comment. I am not going to spend another half hour. In short, everything about these trains was the result of a series of bad decisions by the Civil Servants at the Department for Transport. The Mark 3 fleet was known to be good until 2035 - 2050, based on a tear-down survey of a vehicle in 2010. These trains should not exist. A £2.7 million apiece, there is nothing penny pinching about them. That is three times what they ought to cost.
@JackJackProductions
@JackJackProductions 10 часов назад
More reasons why flying between London and the Scottish Highlands is better. It's faster, and thanks to easyJet, cheaper
@tonys1636
@tonys1636 7 часов назад
The East Coast Mainline and Scotrail do not have the smoothest track in the country so don't put all the lumpy ride onto the Azuma. Diversions over weekends and speed restrictions for and after reballasting are almost constant over sections. Last year's very dry weather combined with this year's very wet have worsened the maintenance load. Network Rail is having a struggle to keep up and keep lines open and safe.
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 6 часов назад
The trains are bad for the track That is why it has got rough. Small wheels, 26 metre cars with bogies at 17 metres centres is asking for a bad ride quality and damage to the track.
@martinbradshaw7877
@martinbradshaw7877 7 часов назад
I rode on both Azusa and class43 on the same day to and from Edinburgh in standard class. Both were acceptable. I think it has become fashionable to berate Class 800 trains
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 6 часов назад
Dreadful seats, ride quality and ambience. What's to like about them?❤
@Westlondontransportguy7045
@Westlondontransportguy7045 12 часов назад
you should try SWR
@spottymaxy1628
@spottymaxy1628 12 часов назад
The class 800 just can't get a break 😅
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 6 часов назад
They need a break Sims Metals, Newport.
@jackmellor5536
@jackmellor5536 9 часов назад
Dunfermline also used to be Scotland's capital
@mrcogginsgarage7062
@mrcogginsgarage7062 4 часа назад
You need to work on your pronunciation of Scottish place names .
@BobTheBorracho
@BobTheBorracho 4 часа назад
Yes, it does make the video more authoritative if they actually find out how to prononunce the places correctly, especially on a travel channel. And his pronuncation of the word chieftain needs work as well.
@joemercedeschannel196
@joemercedeschannel196 7 часов назад
Great video mate. Still think the GWR IET's are way worse than LNER for me. The internal ambience is awful in them.
@antigod8385
@antigod8385 12 часов назад
why am i this early
@bugattiiscoollans15
@bugattiiscoollans15 5 часов назад
What is the app you used for the speed?
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 5 часов назад
Bad ride quality = track bashing 26 metre vehicles, 17 metre bogie centres and 80 cm wheels is asking for trouble. Apparently Network Rail is concerned about the damage thse trains are doing They need to make a one way trip to Newport
@stephenharper9961
@stephenharper9961 4 часа назад
Technically theres two lner services a day from Aberdeen, one goes to London for sure though
@DavidChild-ty2od
@DavidChild-ty2od Час назад
There are four LNER services per day from Aberdeen. Three go to London and the 4th terminates at Leeds.
@jackchapman5052
@jackchapman5052 8 часов назад
I would not do the highland chefitan because for 8 hours and 7 minutes is very expensive in first class with LNER onboard the AZUMA trains
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Worth noting this fare can be cheaper - I think I saw around £71 with a Railcard for first when booked at the right time. LNER's new fare trial extension sadly does remove the flexibility with off peak fares, but hopefully sooner rather than later this will be resolved.
@threesixnine369six
@threesixnine369six 6 часов назад
Are they getting this on the west coast main line as well?
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
See pinned comment
@pupster6848
@pupster6848 7 часов назад
LNER operate on the ECML not the WCML as shown on the map at the start of your video
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
See pinned comment
@saintuk70
@saintuk70 2 часа назад
Nice video.... only oddity, the slightly wonky pronunciations and a whopper of a spelling mistake. Stirling isn't Sterling, tho' not that far away from Stirling is a link to "sterling" and silver that was found in the Ochils. Chieftain is cheef'tonne, Moray is sounded like Murray (as the in the mints). It's a lovely journey across Scotland, have done this trip too many times to count.
@martyndyer4444
@martyndyer4444 10 часов назад
I think you need to get a better map. The one you show 20 seconds in does not show the East Coast Main Line!
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
See pinned comment
@tsl56
@tsl56 3 часа назад
Is your pronunciation of 'era' an AI error?
@Robotnik
@Robotnik 6 часов назад
England's most northernly town is Edinburgh 🌞🌞🌞
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Are you ok?
@Robotnik
@Robotnik 4 часа назад
@@OMtheRails Quite. Was only joking though as Edinburgh falls into the Old English section of Scotland (Lothianshire being the northernmost But).
@ZakariaAli-v2w
@ZakariaAli-v2w 6 часов назад
Nightsleeper
@jamesgoodman1733
@jamesgoodman1733 11 часов назад
The class 80X is the best train ever
@saturnsandjupiters358
@saturnsandjupiters358 9 часов назад
You're joking right?
@jamesgoodman1733
@jamesgoodman1733 8 часов назад
@@saturnsandjupiters358 no
@alanbrown3015
@alanbrown3015 7 часов назад
😂😂😂😂😂😂
@derekmeller5873
@derekmeller5873 5 часов назад
I struggle with these reviews. The journey looks great, especially the Highland bit. But I have never found these units uncomfortable. And the service is brilliant. The staff really do shine. And that makes LNER my favourite journey to London from my home town of Rochdale. I have absolutely no complaints. I seriously think ride issues may be track. I also think some people moan about them because they think they're supposed to.
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions at the end of the day, but I personally think they’re trash compared to what they replaced. There are some positives of course, but the DfT really screwed over the design specs with the seat comfort amongst other things in my opinion.
@mikemainer3009
@mikemainer3009 11 часов назад
Here we go again from our elitist RU-vid presenter who thinks all travellers have buckets of money. How about doing the vast majority of viewers a favor and travel like the rest of us and show what that is like. Until then this video gets a thumbs fown and a channel skip.
@benbrist
@benbrist 10 часов назад
Ever heard of cheap advance tickets?
@Greggs30806
@Greggs30806 10 часов назад
He has literally said nothing to make you think that all travellers have buckets of money lol 😂😂 Also, he has done plenty of standard class trip reports on his channel. So how about you stop getting mad over him doing a first class trip report. Also, what's the point in telling him that you disliked the video and used channel skip?.. like are you trying to hurt his feelings or something, it's pretty childless if you ask me 😂
@benbrist
@benbrist 9 часов назад
@@Greggs30806 For an 8 hour trip it's worth having a bit of 'luxury'. If I ever travel up to Glasgow from Cleethorpes/Grimsby I'll always book first class which is about 6/7 hours. Worth it just in case there's any cancellations so you're not panicking to get a seat on the next train and get to use the first class lounges during the delays. The 'free' beer is nice too 😁. Let's be honest if you're doing that length in journey there's an airport in Aberdeen - you'd be faster/cheaper booking a flight unless you've tons of luggage.
@physiocrat7143
@physiocrat7143 5 часов назад
It is telling if even first class is poor.
@OMtheRails
@OMtheRails 5 часов назад
With plenty more standard class trips to come too... ;)
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