FIRST CLASS on Britain's High Speed Train - The AZUMA 

The irony is that the lockdown has made your content so much better, it's hard to find people who produce the kind of stuff you do on a local level, and I think you're so much better for it. I kind of reminds of Rick Mercer, when he would go around Canada and do the same kind of random and wholesome things.

I'm getting all sorts of ideas of where I want to travel after the pandemic.

I'm lucky enough to drive high speed trains in the UK. I LOVE my job.....

I just wanted to let you know how comforting it is to watch your videos. It reminded me how much I loved train travel and trains, period. Thanks for doing what you do!

i commend you for your choice of criteria at the end, when you offer your summation of the ride-experience. In some "rail reviews" I think the reviewer is asking for the impossible; you've evaluated the trip based on its reality ... an inter-city commuter train that doesn't require being noticed. Well done!

As a journalist working overseas, I was one of the few lucky ones to board the maglev between Tokyo and Nagoya. It's quiet and stable, and when I closed my eyes, I really could forget that I was moving at 500km per hour.

If you go to St Pancras they have a high speed train that runs on a line with a MUCH higher speed limit. You can get the train to Ashford in like 20-30 minutes, a journey which if you take on the slow line takes like 2 hours!

Too bad your travel is on pause but I’ll still look forward what ever comes next ! 😎

AZUMA means EAST, INAZUMA means thunder in Japanese! very exciting movie😻😻

You guys stay safe and whatever you give us next, we'll be with you.

London to Leeds in four hours with traffic? More like 6-7 hours! Used to hate driving between East London and the Northwest. Trains are the way to go.

Live in England born in Canada stay safe will be back home when all this is over great videos

I used to live in Leeds for university and had to take this same journey for like 3 years, seems like a massive difference from the old trains they used to use! I hope you enjoyed your stay in the UK and I hope you looked around Leeds it’s a great city!

I thank you again for a wonderful, adventurous, and honest train review. I also appreciate how you characterized the Azuma as being a commuter train with a practical purpose as opposed to a luxurious or tourist route that accentuates the amenities. We often overlook the value of what we use in our daily routines. Stay safe as well and I look forward to the next adventures.

I hope this finds you and your family safe and well. My parents and sister (all passed now), travelled to Leeds from London in 1976. My sister met a young woman there and they became penpals for many years. We actually met the gal and her husband in Orlando years later. Traveling is a great way to meet people and experience new things.

The “leather” seats are found in the old train carriages, the fabric seats belong to the new Azuma carriages. In general, the food and drink service is better on a weekday, while weekends have a reduced service.

Honest but brutal. Gotta love having Mike as a friend! For whatever, I'd bet your channel will never be "average", because you'll never, ever, never let it get boring!

Thanks for this! Interesting observation that it is a "commuter train" and practical . It looked quite nice and comfortable for a 2 hr. trip. Glad to see you again and to hear your positive attitude in our challenging times.

6:50 I have never heard a more perfect narration and compliment of something that's so ordinary that it just blends in. That's a perfect tagline for a commercial for Azuma: Azuma, a train that's so unnoticeable that it blends in perfectly into your life. LOL This is what makes your videos so enjoyable. You notice the little things and showcase them in ways that we have never noticed before.

Gosh Mike I love your videos! So energetic and personable. No pointless narration... and great vocal modulation. Fine camera work and terrific editing. You're a joy to watch AND to listen to! Thank you so much!

lnteresting to see the newer trains. I used to do the trip from Milton Keynes to Aberdeen and back again 13 years ago, with three kids, every school holiday for two years. One time as a treat we took the Caledonian Sleeper from Watford to Aberdeen, first class so teenager had a room to herself and middle child and I had interconnecting rooms, with the baby in the single bunk with me. I forgot the pop up cot! I loved it. We all slept reasonably well and I woke to views of the Firth of Forth.

The Class 800! What a lovely train. I haven't been on the LNER Azumas yet, but I certainly have been on the GWR IETs and they are great to ride!

I’m glad you are home and being safe....but I do so love your train travels....until next time stay safe 😘

A year ago I was riding the trains you review in this series, the LNER, ScotRail, and the Caledonian Sleeper. The rolling stock has changed on two of them, much to the better, but the experiences are similar. Thanks for your reviews and stay safe at home for the time being.

Amazing video … thanks so much for sharing your travels. Stay Safe!

Channels like yours are so helpful right now. I can't travel myself, but I can vicariously enjoy your previous adventures. Stay healthy!

I appreciate you posting this and the sweet message towards the end. Hope you and yours are doing well. I am patiently waiting for more vids!

Stay safe and well!

Excellent video! Thanks

I think that a fast train will be a great idea. Stay Safe and God Bless You Mike and your family.

Great video! I love the Azuma and travel on it regularly when travelling to England for work (never on 1st class though - the Civil Service won't go for that). We still occasionally have to travel on the diesel 225s, and there's a huge difference in comfort! Hope you're coping okay with lockdown, and hope to see you out and about in the world again soon. Stay safe.

Thanks for finishing off your UK journey. Stay safe back home in Canada. I’m catching up on your earlier work from before I subscribed. Take care. 😊👍🏻

Thanks, Mike for your video and the effort you put in it. I hope you and Nicole are still safe and healthy and can enjoy the Easter days in sunny weather as much as possible in these times. Happy Easter

I’ll be sticking with you Mike!

Stay well❣️

Yess I wish they would bring high speed rail to the USA, I would still use Amtrak. It’s just some times I want to get somewhere quick, because I won’t have a lot of time in some cases. 🥰🥰

I must admit it gave me a giggle when you did the whole "WassSSShhhRRRoooomm Tourrr" - it made me subscribe.

Beautiful train travel video thanks.

Love the Azuma! Such a nice train.

Great video, still love those leather seats on the '225' train sets (the older train), so comfortable.

The best first class seats are on the older class 91 trains, they are leather and very comfy with better tables

This is so cool. Thanks for the tour. Fast trains are nice. But I so love the pitter-patter of the tracks at 50 mph.

That was great! Can’t wait to see more

Thanks for sharing. This morning my partners asks "is there a new DownieLive" ? We love the trains and have been a big advocate for bringing high speed rail to the United States. Actually just medium speed would be better then what we have now. We are lucky to live in Oregon and take Amtrak up to Seattle from Eugene, Oregon. Stay safe and we look forward to the next video. Great job on the channel. Cheers.

Enjoyed your videos. Happy days ahead.you too.

You can be forgiven for thinking Kings Cross & St. Pancras were one entity, after all they're labelled as a single entity on the Tube/Underground map; enjoyed your honesty. You might be interested to read about how St. Pancras was threatened with demolition back in the 1960s, if you don't already know about that. So pleased it never happened!

Can't be a better place to end this season of your travel videos in Leeds. Wonderful city to live, work and play in. Come and visit when we get through this.

I'm so pleased to have encountered your channel, as I too love train journeys. Your style and presentation are a joy to watch, so thank you, truly, for that. I hope that when things return to a semblance of normalcy, you might consider visiting us here in South Africa, so I can - in my capacity as a South African travel industry planner and writer - show you some of the highs and lows of our train offerings, including Rovos Rail, arguably the most luxurious train in the world...

Nicely done

It is a great honor to have Japanese cars running in England, the birthplace of railways. When traveling in the UK, I want to ride an "Azuma" and also an old traditional vehicle! I love it UK!

A fun video from a sweet guy supporting a great cause.

Now it's time for a comeback! You're welcome to our trains👍👍👍

Mike, thank you. I rode the London to Leeds train, twenty years ago for a business meeting in the North. You definitely highlighted a much needed upgrade for highspeed commuter trains. As you suggested, I signed the USA Congress petition, as the USA must improve mass transit. Thank you for all you are and all you do.

Glad you're staying home, Michael. We'll stick with you.!

Thank you so much - I love all your videos!

Awesome vlog. What ever you post in the coming weeks will be awesome also. Keep smiling and stay safe. From a fan in Ontario Canada.

Great video! I found your site only recently and enjoy it tremendously! I will be right here catching up on you previous trips plus whatever you get to post through the pandemic. Glad you are staying healthy. Thank you so much for the enjoyment you post!

Thank you for posting this video! I saw the St. Pancras Station sign and thought it quite awesome to see a place that brings back great memories! My sister and I took the train from Paris to St. Pancras Station - staying in the hotel while touring various places. One of the best trips of my life♥️

Wow I get this train all the time and I never realised it goes so quick! Inside you would never know.

Stay well! Look forward to your return.

Thank you for this great video of a train lover! If you're enthusiastic about high speed rail I'll be glad to welcome you to Germany and France to experience real high speed services in ICE 🇩🇪and TGV 🇫🇷. All my best wishes to 🇨🇦, hope we'll be able to visit Vancouver in summer again .

Hey Mike, your videos came in my recommendation this week and I love your train journeys. I am a train enthusiast and a vlogger myself and can so relate to your excitement on these journeys. We are all stuck at home now for some time, but I do look forward to your videos. Stay safe. Love from India :)

Another awesome video!!! Lol the train looks like a huge caterpilar from the front 😜

I really enjoyed your video, very cool! Thanks for sharing!

good honest review

As for North America (especially the USA), which desperately needs an European/Asian world class regional, intercity and long distance high speed rail system, you guys should get the Class 801 (same as 800 but electric only) one day! Ideally, the Class 801, with its great fast acceleration (but only a 225 km/h or 140 mph top speed) would be suited to medium distance intercity rail services (I'd say up to a 500 km / 300 mile radius) with frequent stops. For example: an intercity Amtrak service from Chicago, IL to St Louis, MO. Or the Acela Express. Or an intercity Amtrak fast train service from Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA! Outside of the Acela Express and the NEC (Northeast Corridor), the Class 801 would be a huge step forward in improving rail services in the United States.

Here's hoping that you're back on the rails soon! Enjoy your videos!

Hope you are back on the road! Thanks for great videos!

This looks like such a fun trip!

thanks Mike

Your editing is the best I have ever seen in the "train" genre.

Very nice. Loved Scotland too!

I live in Suffolk in the UK, however I'll definitely take the train when travelling around the country and to Scotland and Wales with my kids, my youngest loves trains

Amazing video as usual bro. Looks like a simple yet fun experience.

So cool!

Keep the videos your making up I love watching them

You gave me a needed laugh today when I saw your click for my favorite underwear link lol. You looked so sad when you announced you have no more from your trip. This will all end eventually, my friend, and like you said we're all in this together. Stay safe ..

Really good watching 😊

looking forward to your vids once all this passes!

Watching you go past the houses I also go past on my way to and from London was rather surreal. 😁 I love going on trains, although I haven't been on any since last November. I'm going to London soon, and I'm half excited, half scared, because I'll be the first time I'll have been on public transport since the pandemic started.

I love your videos! I look forward to all of them!

good luck mate thanks for all your vidios you kept an Aussie bloke amused

GREAT VID

I enjoy your videos because of your kind and welcoming personality. Looking forward to whatever you have next.

Wow. Such a flashback. I first discovered your videos when the UK was is lockdown. You visited Fort William a few weeks before I did on a road trip. If I visited a week later restrictions would have made it impossible. I still sense the emotion in your message at the end. However it was great to see you back in the uk visiting our canals! We are still with you. Even if we don’t know where you are going next either 👍🏻

I can’t wait until you can get back to doing what you love. I know that these people on here who love you will be here post apocalypse to watch you travel yet again. I know I will and I can’t wait. Until then stay healthy and stay happy. ❤️

Another awesome content thanks for quarantine content.

You make learning about the high speed trains so very enjoyable. I love the trains in the U.K. , I hope they will soon be available in the US, I live in Northern Virginia Amtrak is with in walking distance. Safe travels to you and may God Bless

Another good vlog!! I enjoy going on these trains. Your description of these Zumba trains was perfect. I look forward to seeing the return trip. The price of the ticket was really good I thought.

Canadian Cuties is a phenomenal concept. Thank you!

I was surprised after supporting the High Speed Rail Alliance in the US then you went to the loo and said washroom. Welcome home to Canada.

Nice to see. Will take the train trip from London, when i go over to the UK from Ireland in the future.

Half of an adventure is better than no adventure ! Looking forward to when you can do another one . Your ending was right on be safe be apart but stay connected.

Take care!

This is so slick.

Keep up the grate job! I have been binge watching all your videos and love each and every one! You are a fun host with great insight. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Great video. Thank you. I hope these travel restrictions ease up for you.

Again a nice video! HUGS!

Hitachi train...a sure bet....you make your trips fun and informative.

Love travelling along on your videos! It's a great escape. My work is put on hold too and it stinks. I want our old normal back, you know.