My Train Was So Delayed I Rode it FOR FREE - TransPennine Express' IMPRESSIVE Nova 1 in First Class! 

Trans-Pennine and Avanti WC have never tried to fully recruit the correct amount of train staff, relying on Rest Day and overtime working, however with the current dispute they have been caught with their pants round their ankles as staff take the days off allocated to them, this led Avanti WC to brand it as illegal strike action, sorry if i want my day off i'm taking it, and Neither operator even now is advertising for NEW Drivers, instead trying to poach other operators staff, the solution is really simple recruit train and retain the correct number of staff to operate the timetable plus the number of spares to cover for unforeseen events, i work for South Eastern, who suffer with the same trouble and have yet to get it right.

Usual chaos on TPE! And if the trains aren't bad enough, you get mad passengers causing chaos. It must be something to do with Darlington.....the last time I was there, the trains were held up by BTP removing people from the train. Nova3's were promised for the Middlesbrough line, but I've never seen one. Presumably the powers that be consider them too posh for Teessiders....

Newton-le-Willows and Lea Green will still receive a TPE service in December, but as the Hull service is being extended to Liverpool, Lea Green receives this and not the Newcastle service (except a few a day) and vice versa for Newton-le-Willows

Everytime I'm at Edinburgh Waverley there seems to be an announcement about a Transpennine service being cancelled

I rode from Braintree to Southport and just outside Runcorn we were diverted to Warrington Banks Quay then de-trained and just left to find our own way no apology and no information other than a power failure in the Runcorn area. I got a full reimbursement of the ticket so I did the whole journey both ways for nothing. I arrived at Lime Street over 2 hours later than scheduled because we had some stationary time before being diverted.

Absolutely brilliant video thanks. I find it a little frustrating when I can see a delay is so huge but still have to buy the ticket - not knowing if the service will be resumed - because your claim of a huge delay would be rejected because you didn't have the ticket within the huge delay, if that makes sense. It feels like a lottery ticket. Anyway, wonderful story and can't believe that Liverpool to Manchester line will soon be 200 years old.

Great video mate. I've been on the Nova 1 before and I like them. Good units they are.

Another brilliantly put together video, very enjoyable.

Great video! If I was a day earlier to going to Newcastle, I would of seen you which I’m kind of gutted about! Glad you like the Nova 1. Can’t wait to see Merseyrail. :)

Always a pleasure to see the view from Durham Viaduct

That "bad seat" in First is not too bad - you're the first one to get your cuppa tea!

You’re level of knowledge is outstanding bro.

I had a journey once that was so delayed I actually earned money. Got 100% of my return ticket as compensation for the outward part, then also 100% of my ticket in compensation for the return part as well! They don't like doing it but if you remind them that it's compensation, not a refund, then they'll pay out

I travelled this route on September 12th this year, was meant to get the 10:54 train, which was cancelled, and ended up on the 11:54. I was in standard class, but it was basically cattle class at that point. I only ever have bad experiences with TPE...

Never been on the Nova 1's myself and I'd love to try them out sometime. Also that journey you had must of been fun with that cancellation and the delay.

A few years ago, we rode the highland Caledonian sleeper from Fort William to Euston. The Fort William to Edinburgh leg got cancelled so had to take the replacement coach down to Edinburgh and got access to the first class lounge at Edinburgh, then because of a problem with the seated carriage, got a free upgrade to a sleeping room. We then got delayed by more than 2 hours around Warrington as the other sleeper service from Glasgow/Edinburgh broke down ahead of us, blocking the line. Ended up getting all this for free as got refunded the full fare.

Train travel is wonderful when it's free. Maybe they should roll out the scheme across the entire country ;)

At least they gave you refund. Some operator on other countries don’t 🥲

How you didn't even mention the astounding cutting leaving lime Street shocks me

Thank you for a most interesting review. I agree with most of what you say, but I must say First Trans Pennine Express are a complete and utter disgrace. There are cancellations galore EVERY day, even now. They should not have bought three types of train, for the Class 802 bi-modes can work every route. The Class 68s and Mark V stock are still not all in service - WHY ? There are sets parked out of use at Warrington, which judging by their exterior condition have been there for ages. First Trans Pennine should be stripped of this franchise, and the sooner the better.

Truly awesome vid very descriptive a very accurate account of what punters can expect on todays Trains credit to yourself for sussing this for the minions

Newton-le-Willows trial stop, was to encorage Warrington passengers to get Trans Pennine services to the Northeast, after this direct services were diverted via the present route in order to avoid the congested Castlefield railway corridor and snaking diagonal crossing roads blocking the much busier Manchester Piccadilly Junction end to end from Slow to East tracks on a 6 track layout. As is no functional connection from Warrington route to Manchester Victoria at Castlefield, the solution was to divert through Newton-Le-Willows, whose station no longer be served by Trans Pennine Express, as Warrington is once again served by Trans Pennine to South Yorkshire and Humberside. Manchester's railway system lacks vital links lost in the past mass clousures that are taking so long to reopen and get issues like those mentioned partially or totally sorted for good. Thank you for sharing the video.

Great video 👍👍 I'm surprised that TPExpress haven't been stripped of their franchise if I'm honest. I live in Cleethorpes, the Cleethorpes - Manchester service and back (on a normal day with no strike action) has been shambolic for months on end now, with a lot of Manchester to Cleethorpes services terminating at Sheffield and Cleethorpes to Manchester services terminating at Doncaster................ And that's If they're running in the first place and not cancelled which a lot of services have been. The one's that are running are now served by one class 185 set instead of the two 185 sets coupled up which we used to have.

It appears TPE and Avanti WC are the worst two train operators currently. I have had bad experiences with both of them. Yes, you may be able to get refunded but to be honest I would rather the trains ran on time and as advertised.

Praying to the heavens above that they get their operating license revoked

I took the Nova 3 last year when i was in York. It was of course cancelled :)

I recently travelled on this train (May 11th 2024) I travelled in first class for the first ever time and was disappointed as the train only went as far as Leeds and I was travelling to York in the rush to check the trains were still running after the recent strike I missed an e mail informing me of the Newcastle cancellation I was expecting a meal but like yourself I had a fresh orange juice and a packet of crisps The problem I found is transpennine express first class doesn't look like first class and so a lot of people mistakenly sit there when boarding the train I had to change trains and about 30 minutes after arriving at Leeds boarded the cross country service to Edinburgh it's only 20 minutes away to York from Leeds but within 10 minutes I was offered a drink and also a trolley service came around I politely refused as I was getting off but I received better service than the in the previous 90 minutes with transpennine express and the carriage felt like first class Can't complain about the staff on transpennine on my outward and return in fact the same staff were serving our carriage on the return leg as on the outward I have received compensation for the delay from transpennine express which was unexpected but it really is a poor first class However I would travel first class with transpennine express again firstly we have no option on this route from Liverpool and secondly it was worth the extra money for a guaranteed seat and a quiet carriage

Depending on what day you went, your train may have been delayed because of a Points Failure in-between I think Huddersfield and Leeds. This happened on Wednesday I’m pretty sure. To be fair staff shortages seem more realistic for TPE but you gotta cut them some slack for being under quite a bit of pressure with Overcrowding and I think maybe the strikes meaning some people left the group? Idk honestly to be fair. Edit: also these trains are slightly overrated as well

Pity it did stop at Rainhill, would have had a nice Segway to talk about the Rainhill trials.

I hope that is no longer true about the lack of service at NLW on the Newcastle route as they have let me book a ticket from NLW to Chester-le-Street for 16 June 2024!

Wish public transport was free, something that never happened between 1948-sectorisation

Thanks for a great video. Do they operate the Nova 1s on the Scottish routes?

2:10 that 153 is curious about something...

Tip for southerns visiting north: DON'T RELY ON NORTERN TRAINS! (Northern, TPE, EMR) Cancelations and delays is new normal. Should I mention about small overcrowded trains? I visited capitol few weeks ago and transport there is so much better.

Merseyrail is fantastic value for longer journeys but for short hops it’s a rip off. Also it’s a fare dodgers paradise. As for TPE, like Avanti, it seems an utter inconvenience to First Group. TPE first class food and drink is laughable. Just don’t dare ask for another tea.

My wife and I are travelling to Manchester from Newcastle at the end of October. We have not yet booked our outward journey yet, but hopefully , when cheaper tickets are released, they will be about £29 (standard) and £54 (first) for the two of us, with a railcard. We have never travelled first class before, so I was thinking about it trying it this time, but after seeing your review I am in two minds still .. the catering doesn’t seem very good. For some reason (obviously wrongly) I assumed first class passengers were ‘wined and dined’ Of course, if the train gets cancelled, we might get our money back too.

That is very so sad

Well... About TransPennine....

At least was not cancelled as use to happen quite often. Anyway, franchising was scrapped weeks ago for those reasons.

Last year, my trains from Birmingham New Street to Preston, and Preston to Glasgow Central the next day were all delayed. Got compensation. Total cost I paid for this journey? £8. Bargain!

The ride quality looked absolutely appalling. Blame the DfT for that.

I do think lime st is one of my least favourite stations as the service is usually terrible and the train lines that go from there aren’t very good

I assume you took the technical difficulites slide to say some profanities!

Nova 0 is the 185

Nova 1’s are Brilliant Machines, A much needed upgrade over the 185! Transpennine Express really need to sort out their delays and Cancellations. (Although it has never Affected me badly)

I shoud have gotten a free train back in October, but Thameslink the scummy cucks never got back to my claim I was transfering through London Blackfriars heading down to the South Coast in Sussex. My original train that I booked was cancelled, and due to ticket restrictions it wasnt valid during rush hour. I got stuck in London for 3 hours, submitted the claim. What are we now, 3 months later? and nothing. Thing is my Great Western Railway service into Paddington was 30 minutes late and within 4 hours of me submitting my claim GWR authorised a partial refund

TPE they will be soon Gone Thank God along with Avanti.

riding the train for free is common with southeastern if you miss a connection at ebbsfleet intl