Pendolino from Euston to Glasgow with Avanti West Coast in 1st Class 

Yes. I think we would all agree that it is "a great service when it runs" and hopefully the reliability is coming back now. Thank you so much for watching. It is really appreciated 👍

Do report back in how it goes. I hope watching the video helped to reduce your anxiety a bit. I still watch youtube videos of journeys i am about to make too! 👍

Blimey that's high praise indeed. Thank you so much for saying so! I've only been at it for a year, so I've definitely room for improvement. Words like this spur me on to better things! Much appreciated indeed 👍

Brilliant. I'm sure you will both have a lovely time. In my experience spoiled dogs get even more spoiled on trains as lots of people pass through the carriage and make a fuss of them!

Yes. It was a really good thing to do by the Avanti host and I thought it also made a good story because I just happened to record him serving the waffle to the lady too. I think I missed out on the waffle. I'll have to go Avanti again! Thank you so much for watching and commenting - I really appreciate it.

Thank you. Lovely of you to be so kind. And thanks too for watching 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels everyone deserves credit for doing something that helps others 👍

You are very welcome! Your journey may be even nicer as it is likely that you will be on one of the recently refurbished sets. Whilst they are ostensibly the same, the decor has been refreshed. Of course, what won't be different is the great views you will get, especially as you get further North. Have a lovely time in the UK and thanks so much for watching 👍 Oh and don't forget that your ticket allows you into 1st Class lounges. So if you have time to kill its always worth getting a coffee and a cake there before departure!

Thank you so much! It was a great trip and I always enjoy trips to Scotland. I shall be returning again in October. Thanks for watching 👍

Thank for that. Yes, I'm that age too, so remember the Class 87s with some fondness. I'm not sure about the comfort thing wrt the past. The coaches were undoubtedly very opulent, but the ride was a lot rougher without continuous welded rail. Bit it would still be cool to go back 100 years to try!

I hope you enjoy the journey! Thank you for watching 👍

Funny, but a large part of my earnings has been spent on the same things! 😁. 🚅🍺

Blimey, you have been away a long time! Thanks Jim 👍

I see them a lot on the train. People always say Hello. 🐕‍🦺

Thank you so much! 👍

You are very welcome. I hope the video has reduced any anxieties for the journey. The good news is that the train on the route will likely be now part of the refurbished sets. No great material difference, but the seats and facilities should be a bit nicer. Best wishes for your trip and thanks for watching 👍

Thanks! And yes, I have been told about the Dalzell gaff before. I shoulda known that! Thank you so much for watching 👍

Thank you for such an informative comment. I'm pleased that you had an excellent journey too. Many of the complaints about Avanti we have in the UK are around the service quality wrt cancellation of trains. I think there's a general agreement amongst the train fans I know that the route is beautiful and the onboard 1st class service is good WHEN it is actually there! Thanks again for watching. Much appreciated 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I am again visiting this year - more time in UK as I love it, but a reasonable whack in Europe. I will be covering a few lines I've not done before with a heavy emphasis on more heritage railways. The only cancelled train I had in late 2022 was a TPE from Preston northbound, so I quickly went to Manchester Oxford Rd by another route IIRC. The ability to do this in rural Australia is mostly non existent. My impression is leisure travelling is doing extremely well. Hopefully the RMT is finished with strikes, as per the week just gone's brief announcement. I found track quality very good to excellent, even over crossovers and points. Hats off to Network Rail - I know it sometimes gets a bad rap: I was only a visitor, but unjustified in my view. You have a very good style: not overbearing, with about the 'correct' dosages of information. You may not always think so but even if a video only receives 1500 views, many will be from elsewhere: not all from the UK.

@@edmundcarew7235 thank you for being so kind. Both about my work and the UK's railways. You are right that we maybe have more contempt as we are closer. I'd certainly recommend to anybody from outside the country to explore the UK with Interrail/Eurail. Towns, cities, beaches, mountains, castles and places of interest of all kinds are within easy reach of the network. I wish you a very pleasant trip, next time you visit the UK and Europe. Feel free to browse my videos for ideas! 😀

Sounds like I great trip. Don't forget whilst your are in Liverpool for the week, there is the Saveaway ticket in the city that lets you explore Merseyrail, the ferries and much more for a day for, I think, just £6. Thank you for watching and for the kind comment 👍

Thanks. And thanks for watching 👍

Yes, that's why I've no preference really. They are both great once you get in the North, and the Southern sections are really for tucking into the 1st class freebies. Thank you for watching and commenting. 👍 btw - I'm back in the High Tatras in Slovakia next week, but the following week I'll be on the ECML - just don't tell your friends cos it will spoil the surprise 😉

It is a real shame that the promise of Euston's lovely, brutal, concourse isn't matched by the platform level and the transition between the two. Have a look at my video if a ride from Seville Santa Justa station (to Cadiz) to see brutal done really well. That station has the size and majesty that Euston cannot match (sadly) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--1lk-1trPx0.html Thank you for the kind comment and the honest feedback. It often does take a while on my videos before you actually step on the train, as I'm interested in the architecture of the stations, and then if I do some more voice to camera at the station (like in this vid) then you can be well into the video before we've even departed! I'm not sure what I can do about that, as I feel my style is to review the departure station and talk about the route just as much as it is to show the train and the journey - I suppose, in the end, it is down to the viewers to decide what they wish to watch and for the RU-vid algorithm to decide what to offer up! I'm heartened to hear that you stuck with it and enjoyed it and subscribed! 👍

Cheers Johnny. I’m a Scot from near Glasgow and Grandad worked for BR for over years 50. I’m in radio here and spent two years in radio in Peterborough/Cambridge. Trains are my passion or hobby if that suits people. I’m back over in September as I was last year. I mostly did the Avanti WCML and then planned the LNER but HM died so my plans went pear shaped. Just keep doing what you do. I enjoy it as do there it seems. Mac.

You are very welcome. Thank you for watching 👍

Yes, being from the SW too, I agree about the through ticketing. Maybe things will be different when we are changing at Old Oak Common.

Very kind of you to say so. Thank you so much for watching 👍

I'm hoping those new Class 80x will be an upgrade on the old Voyagers. I was on one out of Holyhead a couple of weeks ago and it had very noisy engines and general rattles. Time for a replacement. Thanks for watching 👍

I will not travel on pendilino trains as they go too fast to enjoy the views and they scare me when they swerve into tunnels. They make me feel unsafe. Thanks for your interesting and informative video. Much appreciated 🙃👍👏

Haha yes. Glastonbury toilets are indeed legendary even if you've never been! And yes - as you say it is "D-L" - should'a know that... thanks for the gentle reminder ... and thanks for watching too 👍

I think the red/white/green in stations pre-dates Virgin. I saw it a lot recently in Wales. So I wonder if it is connected to the old London Midland &Scottish (LMS) back from the 1920s. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Maybe, I mean most of the stations in Wales I have been too are either red from Transport for Wales or Pale Blue from the old Arriva branding. In my opinion, the red and white work together, but the green with it isn't really my thing. I am sure the branding people in the 1920s probably have different thoughts to branding people 100 years later in the 2020s. That might be why they have gone for this colour. Or I am dumb and know nothing about L M S.

Yes. I really do not like to see it. I've been on enough fire training courses to have learned about what happens when an exit is blocked. Thanks for watching 👍

Yes, it is a real shame the platforms are so grim at Euston as I love the 1960s concourse. I'm going to stir a hornets nest, but I do not miss the Doric arch. Once the railway constructed a hotel in front of it, it lost all the point to its grandeur. The old prints of those two remaining gatehouses leading up to the arch at the end of a long carriage drive are wonderful. Once that drive was chopped off by the hotel, the whole thing was lost... Thanks so much for watching and for the lovely comment. Whilst I may disagree about things around Euston I frankly love the old stations we have like Glasgow Central, Lime Street and York - as you say to name but a few. All of those (and more) are featured on the channel - so do take a look if you've not watched some of them yet!

Thank you that's very nice of you to say, and thanks for watching 👍 The app is simply called "Speedometer" on an iPhone

Oh, I'm sorry you missed out on the Avanti trains. Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching the video. It is much appreciated 👍

Indeed I should. It's on the list 👍

Yes. I think that needs to happen!

I got an advance 2nd class single (with railcard disc) for just £20.90 for Exeter-London. Not really worth 1st class on GWR as there really isn't any pampering and I can stand the 2nd class seats for that hop! Thanks for the kind words 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I can certainly agree with the comfort (or lack of) on the IET sears in standard class; I’ve regularly had a numb bum when travelling between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington! Out of interest Johnny, do you prefer paper tickets on ticketing apps, or do you have no preference?

@@RoddyJenkins Apps every time for me tbh. Although I still print out stuff in case there's a problem with my phone.

@@JohnnyHooverTravels That mirrors my thoughts. The trip to London to pick up the East Coast is a commute. It lacks that sense of occasion you mentioned before. The real journey begins with LNER.

That IS a bargain! Nice one 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels yeah! Strangely a 20 min journey into Cardiff is more expensive that Glasgow-Crewe lol

I was on the 10:30 departure from Euston. As I'd already done Exeter to Paddington that morning, I was very pleased to get a "second breakfast". It really was a great 1st Class service. You're lucky to get a biscuit on GWR. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

I honestly can only advise that if you are travelling between London and Scotland, then I would go on both. You are right that UK train fans have long debated whether east or west coast routes are best for scenery. If it then comes down to the trains, then 1st class in both are comparable but 2nd class on the west coast wins over the east as their seats are more comfortable. Whichever route you take, they are great. And imho, on both routes, sit on the east side of the train for the best views ie. sit on the right hand side if going north. Hope that helps a little bit... thanks for watching 👍

First class lounges are run by the companies and therefore only first class tickets for that company are generally accepted. Always worth asking though! And yes. Book in advance to get the best prices. Thanks for watching 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels You're welcome, and thank you for the answers!

...and far better...

Other trains make stops at stations further south. Diverting through Manchester would not be helpful for passengers going to Glasgow from London and Manchester passengers can easily pick up the train at Warrington.

I have a "Senior Railcard" because I am over 60 yrs old. There is also a young person railcard which is for 16-25. Purchasing these gets you 1/3 off most rail fares. The cost is not high. As I recall my 3 year railcard cost about £74. 1 year costs £30. Thank you so much for watching. Fondest wishes from Exeter, UK to Sweden 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks for a quick answer

Also the infamous Trans Pennine Express run trains (most of the time!) from Manchester Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh so it would be a duplication of the route.

No problem. Each to their own as they say. I'm just a sucker for a bit of concrete, so that ceiling does it for me! Pleased you enjoyed it once we left Euston 😉

How taste can change. When that station opened the late 1960s it was considered a "wonder" and the future of BR !

Probably Avanti 1st is a little better. But LNER aint bad...

LNER. MOST DEFINITELY.

@@mickgladwish7554 when the nights are lighter I must do one of those up and back comparison videos doing both in a day!

​@@JohnnyHooverTravelswent to Dundee on 14-9-22 . Was treated like royalty. Was only o board for about 90 mins . But it was so nice on an Azuma. Seats were a little too firm. But the ride was just fantastic. Dundee has LOW platforms.

apps.apple.com/app/id1445284873?at=1001lcYH&ct=tf It's just called "Speedometer" on the iPhone. Thanks for watching 👍

Haha, no! Not the route for this train. My very first video on the channel went through New Street, but I probably need to get back there soon to make more videos. Thanks for watching 👍

Np!

I cannot argue with much your say. The service team were brilliant and if that's unusual then I was indeed lucky. But I do agree the un refurbished units really did pass their refurbish-by date for sure. Thank you for the comprehensive thoughts 👍

This was a refurbished unit. My day of travel was 19-09-22. From Glasgow. Being held up at crewe for nearly an hour wasn't really Avanti's fault. But the units in question certainly had some issues and some weary staff.

Buy as far in advance as possible otherwise it will be much more expensive! Thanks for watching! 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels got it. Thank you. 🤗

AND also the lighting is softer on AVANTI--------not the almost Hospital brightness of the two other carriers that i mentioned.

@@peterboulton137 Yes, I think all of those comments are valid. I do also worry about the 80x build quality. We will see how they are in another 5 years. I'm OK with them, as long as I'm in 1st class tbf thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

That is indeed an option. Although you would have to include either the cost of ownership and maintenance of the car or the cost to hire one on top of any fuel costs. And also include any food and drinks you would consume along the way as the railway provides these for free. Also, if you travelling during a working day, you could get a lot more work done on the train... Judging by the traffic on the M6, I suspect most people take your advice though tbh. Thanks for watching 👍

Entirely your choice. I'm just showing you what you'd get! Thanks very much for watching and commenting 👍

There is that. I'm ok with IET 1st class seats, but 390 probably edges it. Especially as they roll out more refurbished units. Thanks for watching 👍

I completely agree. I have two videos extolling both the 1 st class on TfW Mk4 sets and their excellent food. And thanks for watching too 👍

Kinda know what you mean. It was a lovely run, with great service and staff. But I can't really forgive them the disruption of the past and the generally high ticket prices. Thanks for watching 👍

@@JohnnyHooverTravels ... see Avanti West Coast if you want 'high ticket prices' !!!