LNER or Lumo – the trains

When it comes to comparing the actual trains, you won’t find much difference! They look pretty much the same on the outside:

Lumo operates all-electric Class 803 trains, which are five carriages long. Meanwhile LNER operates a mix of bi-mode (diesel and electric) Class 800 trains, and some all-electric Class 801 trains. The vast majority of their trains from Edinburgh will be formed of nine carriages.

They come from the same family and were built by Hitachi. Our only issue would be that the Lumo trains are only five carriages, which means they’re likelier to feel a bit ‘cosier’ on busier services!

SmartSplit says: LNER has the edge with longer trains and more seats, but the trains themselves look much the same!

Waiting to get on board

In Edinburgh and London, you can usually board an LNER train around 20 minutes before the train leaves. Before that time, the platform number won’t be advertised on any screens, but you might find a slow trickle of people wandering over earlier as some apps/sites will show it before the station boards do! As a result, most trains, other than the busiest ones, have a pretty calm and gradual boarding process.

Lumo is extremely variable. When we caught our train from Edinburgh on a Thursday afternoon, a crowd was allowed to build on the platform until we were eventually allowed on around 10 minutes before departure. This made boarding a little chaotic as people tried to rush on to find their seats.

The following week, we caught a Wednesday evening train, the last one of the day. Despite the train needing to be swapped at the depot, it came in with about 20 minutes to spare and everyone was allowed straight on.

SmartSplit says: With Lumo, there’s a chance that boarding might feel a bit more chaotic or left to later. No problem if you’re alone, but it might not be ideal if you’re with family.

LNER or Lumo – the seat test!

When you’re travelling such a long distance, you’ll want to know whether or not your seat will be comfortable. With LNER, we’re just going to look at Standard Class – as Lumo doesn’t have a First Class option at all!

LNER

Here’s what you can expect with LNER:

The seats are pretty firm, we’ll be honest. While legroom is good, they won’t be winning any awards for comfort. You’ll also find a tray table for each seat that’ll pull out to make some more room for a laptop.

Under your seat you’ll see that there’s a four-pin socket each. To our surprise, Standard Class didn’t have any USB sockets! However, the seats themselves were in good condition and the sockets worked. Everything felt clean and well-looked after.

There are between four and eight sets of table seats in each carriage for families and groups, so it won’t be difficult to keep yourselves sat together.

Lumo

The Lumo seat actually looks a little more impressive, at first glance:

You can tell that some more thought has gone into these. The headrests are winged, which make them perfect for a nap, while the seat isn’t quite so fully upright. Yes, the seatback is pretty thin, but this means that legroom is only slightly tighter than on LNER, despite more seats being squeezed in.

You’ll find a power socket and two USBs under the seat in front of you:

The only issue with this is that it makes putting things under your seat a little more difficult. The overall shape of the seat base is quite curved as well, so kicking a bag under there is a bit more of a squeeze.

On the back of the seat, there’s a tray table and even a reading light:

One thing to note with the tray tables is that any drinks need to go in the contoured part (pull the table out to reveal) as the rest of the table is totally smooth with no lip. Anything capable of moving will slide off.

Our only complaint was everything felt a bit worn already. Around the socket was quite scratched and one seat in the carriage even had a tray table missing. For trains only introduced in 2021, it was clear that some parts weren’t very hard-wearing.

Lumo trains also only have two sets of table seats per carriage. This makes it very likely that larger groups won’t be sat together, so you should bear this in mind when booking.

SmartSplit says: Despite being a bit well-worn, Lumo wins the seat battle. They were more comfortable, have USB sockets available and most importantly, they’re better to nap in! You might prefer LNER if you want a table, though…

Travelling with luggage?

The Hitachi trains that both companies use have been criticised for lacking luggage space. In fact, LNER ended up taking out some seats so people had enough space to store bigger bags and cases!

LNER

In every carriage on LNER, you’ll find at least two luggage racks at the ends of the carriage. On a nine-coach train, coaches B, C, H and J have four, while G has three. Five-coach trains (rarely seen on the Edinburgh to London route) have two in each carriage. The racks have two parts, with a smaller top part for smaller cases (visible in the picture below), with a bigger part for large cases.

The overhead racks will take a cabin-sized suitcase, while backpacks can be slid under the seats. The overhead racks are angled a little bit downwards too, to minimise the risk of anything falling out.

Put simply, LNER have made an extra effort to make sure everyone’s luggage can fit. That’s essential on a long-distance train.

Lumo

Lumo, in an effort to squeeze in seats, have kept the bare minimum luggage space. In coaches B, C and D, you’ll find just one luggage rack. Meanwhile A and E don’t have one at all, so you’ll need to rely on the overhead racks.

That is, unless you’re sitting in any of the seats without a window at the carriage ends, in which case you don’t get an overhead rack either. The worst seats on the train for people with luggage are E01 to E12, as coach E doesn’t have any luggage racks at the carriage ends nor do those seats have them above.

SmartSplit says: If you have a lot of luggage, stick to LNER. Otherwise, expect a scrum to get to a luggage rack before somebody else beats you to it on Lumo.

If you’re feeling peckish

LNER have a QR code on the back of every seat where you can use their “Let’s Eat at Your Seat” service, as well as an on-board cafe bar. You can take a look at their menu here.

Lumo have opted for a ‘LumoEats’ pre-ordering service if you’d like anything substantial, having partnered with M&S, the Pasty Shop and Upper Crust. It’s a decent idea, but only allowed if you’re travelling from Edinburgh or London – no good for anyone jumping on in Newcastle! Equally, if you’re leaving early in the morning, it might not be offered – meaning that there’ll be a more limited drinks and snacks selection. If you don’t pre-order, a trolley will come through and offer drinks and snacks.

There’s no dedicated menu, but you can see what’s on offer if you type in some journey details here.

Which is cheaper?

But how do they measure up? Well, whether you choose LNER or Lumo, there’s the option to have food brought directly to your seat. But what about cost? Let’s go for a simple sandwich, bag of crisps and a drink:

On Lumo, the cheapest option we could find was:

• M&S Egg & Watercress sandwich – £2.30
• Burts Salt & Vinegar Crisps – £1.45
• Harrogate Still Water – £1.50

That comes to £5.25, which isn’t bad value at all for a train! Meanwhile, LNER offer a £6 meal deal. This allows you to pick any sandwich or rice pot, any bag of Walker’s crisps or chocolate bar, and any hot or soft drink.

SmartSplit says: Lumo definitely offers the more ‘interesting’ food options if you’re able to pre-order. But, if you’re indecisive or want something on the go, LNER is best. When it comes to price, both actually offer decent value for a train.

LNER or Lumo – which is cheaper?

Travelling alone

When picking between LNER or Lumo, most of us will be thinking about price. After all, it’s a budget product, so we expect a budget price! To start with, let’s take a look at an Off-Peak trip, midweek, around a month in advance. We’ll be going from Edinburgh to London, one way, without any other discounts.*

What have we found? Lumo definitely offers cheaper single fares. There isn’t a ground-breaking difference in this example, but you can certainly save a reasonable amount. The trend continues throughout the day in our example. For instance, you could take the 16:00 to London (LNER) for £45.70, while the 16:13 (Lumo) is £37.90.

Travelling a little sooner* can cause the results to go either way. For example, we can see that there’s a bigger difference between LNER and Lumo for a late-evening trip down to London:

However, if we move that to the afternoon, it’s actually cheaper to choose LNER:

SmartSplit says: So, which is cheaper, LNER or Lumo? In most cases, we would say Lumo will have the edge when you’re travelling alone. If you’re travelling last-minute, you might snap up a great deal on quieter trains. However, busier trains might have little or no difference – it might even be cheaper to pick LNER.

*_{^{Fares quoted correct on SmartSplit.co.uk on 28/02/23 for travel on 04/04/23 and 07/03/23 respectively. All are subject to change at any time.}}

LNER or Lumo – our verdict

So, we’ve been through everything. But what’s our view in a nutshell? Here’s what we’d rate each part of the experience out of 5:

SmartSplit says: For an overall predictable and stress-free experience for all passengers, LNER definitely has the edge. But, we think that each company has its own market and purpose.

If you’re travelling as a family or in a group, we’d still recommend sticking with LNER. It has better luggage provision, more table seats and it’s likely to be less stressful trying to board and get settled. It also has the full range of food options no matter when you choose to order.

If you’re travelling light, alone or as a couple, Lumo might be the one for you. When you’re booking for yourself or for a couple of adults, Lumo is undoubtedly cheaper most of the time. The seats are more comfortable and the lack of luggage space won’t be a problem if you just have a backpack or small case.

So, LNER or Lumo? It just depends who you’re travelling with and what you’re bringing with you!

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about the Capital? Take a look at our guide to travelling to London. We’ll tell you about getting the best fares on routes like Birmingham to London and Southend to London, as well as whether it’s worth upgrading to First Class on LNER.

You can book all of the tickets we’ve discussed on the SmartSplit website. There’s no fees if you change your plans, either.

^{_{All fares and other prices, as well as times of trains, were issued on this page in good faith, and were correct at the time of writing (28/02/2023). SmartSplit is not responsible for any loss, inconvenience or otherwise, as a result of the information provided.}}

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What kind of day trips from Edinburgh by train are there?

Scotland has a great network of railways that make day trips from Edinburgh by train simple. For the most part, there’s just one operator (ScotRail) as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting on the wrong one.

Whether you just want to make a short hop and go for a walk somewhere new, or fancy a lie down on the beach, we’ve got you covered.

Aberdour & The Fife Coast

Did you know that the beach is just a 30-minute train trip from Edinburgh? Simply hop on a train to Aberdour and you can enter a completely different world. The beautiful sights begin before you’ve even left the station:

What better way to start one of these day trips from Edinburgh by train than by arriving at a station adorned with hanging baskets and beautiful flower arrangements? In fact, the village has won a Britain in Bloom award and has over 80 volunteers making sure that the entire community keeps looking spick and span.

It’s just a short walk down to Black Sands, which faces the Firth of Forth and gives great views back towards Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat:

This is definitely a good one if you fancy a walk. If you’d prefer some more peaceful surroundings, then you can head to Silver Sands. It’s connected to Black Sands by the Fife Coastal Path, or it’s a 15-minute walk if you’re coming from the station directly:

Silver Sands is great if you just want to lie back and relax. It has a wee cafe too, so you can enjoy a cold drink on a warm day (or a hot one if you’ve decided to have a bracing stroll in the colder months!)

You could pay a visit to Aberdour Castle & Gardens, too. It’s one of the oldest standing Castles in Scotland, with some parts dating back to the 1100s. Over the years, different families added their own touch to the castle, giving a real insight into the fashions and attitudes of the time. We can’t forget the beautifully-kept grounds, either:

Getting There

Ready to make this one of your next day trips from Edinburgh by train? The fares are pretty simple. It’s £8 for a day return that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Trains leave twice every hour, and the trip takes around 30 minutes. On a Sunday, the trains run hourly. The most common route to Silver Sands beach (via the station car park) has no step-free access, so you’ll need to bear this in mind if you’re travelling with kids and a buggy. Instead, you’ll need to go via Main Street to join Hawkcraig Road.

Linlithgow

This is one of the quickest and simplest day trips from Edinburgh by train. You can be there in less than 20 minutes! So, what is there to do in Linlithgow?

If you want some peace and quiet (and to get your step count in) then you can take a walk around Linlithgow Loch:

It’s just over two miles and should take you around an hour. It’s pretty level too, so this makes it a nice and easy afternoon stroll with the family, the dog, or if you just want to have a leg stretch. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as well. The loch itself is home to a lot of water birds, such as the rare Great-Crested Grebe.

You can also take a look at the magnificent Linlithgow Palace:

It’s just re-opened to the public after a two-year renovation project (as of June 2023), and it’s a fascinating building to explore. Did you know that the Palace is the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots? Construction began in 1424, and it served as a Royal Residence for over 300 years.

Getting There

Looking to visit a royal residence for one of your next day trips from Edinburgh? A day return ticket is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 09:15 on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Holidays).

You’ll find four trains an hour on weekdays (with more during peak times), six per hour on Saturdays and four per hour on Sundays.

Glasgow

While Edinburgh might be Scotland’s capital, it’s Glasgow that takes the crown for Scotland’s largest city. It has a plethora of free museums, parks and more, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for action-packed day trips by train from Edinburgh.

One of the longest-running and largest museums in the city is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You’ll find 22 different galleries to explore (and the odd plane suspended from the ceiling):

What’s more, it’s completely free to visit. Whether you want to know more about Dutch art, Ancient Egypt or Scotland’s very own Charles Rennie Macintosh, there’s something for everyone to learn about and enjoy.

Is a hundred years not old enough for you? The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city since 1817, and they’ve been at their current spot since 1839:

The gardens are home to over 9,000 plants. Not only are the gardens a great (and free) place to visit, but they’re a key part of the effort to preserve many endangered species of plant in the face of climate change.

We know that Glasgow is full of things to see and do, and that we couldn’t squeeze everything in here. Don’t worry though, you can take a look at our guide to a Day Trip to Glasgow if you’re after some more inspiration.

Getting There

If you’re travelling on a weekend, or outside of the evening peaks, then it’ll cost £14.20 for an Off-Peak Day Return. This means that you can travel after 09:15, and then return before 16:43 and after 18:16. It’s valid all the time on weekends and Bank Holidays.

An Off-Peak Return is £19.10. It has the same restrictions on a morning weekday, but you can return whenever you like in the evening. Finally, an Anytime Day Return is £27.60 if you want to be up bright and early on a weekday.

The fastest trains go to Glasgow Queen Street and take around 50 minutes. You’ll find four trains per hour in weekday peak hours, as well as on Saturdays. Two trains run every hour during weekday Off-Peak hours and on Sundays.

Pitlochry

This is one of the longest day trips from Edinburgh by train, but it’s great if you want to get away from it all. Pitlochry is just on the edge of the Tay Forest Park (and not far from the Cairngorms National Park). So, what is there to do?

You can take a walk across the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about how the area generates hydroelectricity. The fish ladder sees over 5,000 salmon come upstream to breed every year, too. It was once feared that building the dam back in 1947 would wreck the tourist trade here. It’s actually done the opposite!

You can take all of this in on a simple circular walk around the town. Don’t forget to take in the views of the River Tummel, including the 12th-century hamlet of Port na Craig:

Looking for more places to walk? You’re spoilt for choice. There’s an entire network of Pitlochry Walks to take you out into the wilderness. Whether you want your day trips from Edinburgh by train to be a gentle look at nature or a bracing hike into the hills, you’re sure to find the one for you.

Getting There

A day return is £24.20 and it’s valid after 8am on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). Trains run roughly every hour or two, though you’ll need to change at Perth or Stirling for some trips. Direct trains leave Edinburgh in the morning at 08:33 and 10:36 (Monday to Saturday) and take just under two hours.

On a Sunday, the best direct train for a day trip leaves Edinburgh at 09:25.

Stirling

Finally, let’s take a look at Stirling. It’s one of the best choices for day trips from Edinburgh by train if you want to explore the history of Scotland. It’s less than an hour away, too.

The main attraction is of course Stirling Castle. The Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls, and it’s had a front seat for many events in Scotland’s history:

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Do you prefer your history to be a little darker? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It isn’t all doom and gloom though, as the building was once home to a sweet factory.

It’s £10.60 for a day return ticket that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). For most of the day, you’ll find two trains per hour on this route, and the trains take around 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Here at SmartSplit, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next? If you’re looking to get to Edinburgh first, we also have a guide to cheap train tickets to Edinburgh.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 27/06/23. All times stated were correct at the time of writing. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. Always check before you travel.}}

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The cost of Avanti vs LNER First Class

One of the most important factors to consider when you’re booking an Avanti vs LNER First Class journey is the cost. After all, First Class can be expensive, so you’re likely to want to book it in advance. Let’s say that we want to travel from London to Edinburgh a month in advance, in the middle of the day, and see how much it costs:

The 12:16 Avanti West Coast service is £151.00. There’s also the option of paying £94.00 for Standard Premium if you’d prefer.

Meanwhile, it’s a little cheaper to take LNER at 12:30 instead:

It’s £132.40 to make this trip. It isn’t a huge saving, but LNER just edges out Avanti in the battle of Avanti vs LNER First Class. As I mentioned in my look at Avanti Standard Premium vs First Class, the advent of Standard Premium has caused First Class to generally be more expensive.

Avanti vs LNER First Class seats

So, let’s start out with the seats. Who has the better place to sit? Let’s start with Avanti West Coast. The trains are slowly getting a freshen up, and I was lucky enough to travel on a refurbished one:

The seats were well-padded and comfortable with a good amount of recline. There’s a bit of a wing on the headrest which provides good support, too. You’ll find plenty of power sockets if you need to get some work done:

The only awkward thing is the huge ‘lip’ on the table as it curves upwards towards the window. You’ll probably struggle to use a mouse without leaving a fair amount of extra space, if you’re right-handed. The same goes if you’re left-handed and sat on the left. On the plus side though, the ride quality is nice and smooth.

As for LNER, they have fairly large First Class seats:

They have a reasonable amount of recline and I’m always able to get fairly comfortable in them. The headrest is a bit hard though (it’s not like the ones in the photo above anymore), and they’re a bit prone to falling off the seat entirely.

Power sockets are in a better place as they’re under the armrests. There’s still a bit of a lip on the tables for four, but it isn’t quite as drastic as on the Avanti trains. The ride quality is a bit bouncy though, and I’ve witnessed glasses of red wine splashing all over the table (plus it can make working on your laptop a bit trickier).

Overall, the seats are fairly similar. In terms of Avanti vs LNER First Class seats, I’d say that the actual seat and ride quality is a little better on Avanti, but you have more space to work (and better placed sockets) on LNER.

Who has the better service?

When you’re comparing Avanti vs LNER First Class, you also want to be sure that you’re going to get a great level of service. After all, it’s a premium product, so you’d expect premium treatment.

On my journey from Carlisle to Crewe, I was genuinely impressed by the staff. As soon as I boarded, someone approached me and asked what I’d like to eat, and listed off the options. I hadn’t even sat my laptop up or put my bag away! The staff were friendly, but professional and unobtrusive. I was even offered a hot drink on a shorter subsequent journey (Crewe to Liverpool). Nothing was too much trouble.

I’m an LNER regular, as I’m from the North East. So, I’ve had plenty of experience with the sort of service that you get over the years. In general, the staff are great (particularly the Geordie and Scottish crews) and we’ve left the rather weird days of Virgin Trains East Coast where you got the impression that quite a few of them didn’t really want to be there.

On my journey from Newcastle to Edinburgh, the service was a bit mixed. The drinks trolley came around asking if people wanted hot drinks (I didn’t). But then, I watched the gentleman on the trolley giving out cold drinks so I had to call him back and ask. The menu was also drastically more limited than advertised (with no apologies made, more on that later). The crew were doing their best though, and I wouldn’t say that they did a bad job. It was just poor luck that it was a very busy train with a limited menu.

Avanti vs LNER First Class food

So, what’s on the menu? These days, it’s fairly ‘static’ and First Class menus on trains don’t seem to rotate as often as they used to. Both of the trains I’m comparing were scheduled to offer a fairly similar menu, which in this case was their most extensive breakfast menu.

Avanti West Coast

The menu on Avanti West Coast can vary, depending on whether you’re travelling on a Voyager or Pendolino train. It’s a bit more limited on weekends, too. In my case, I was travelling on a weekday Pendolino train.

So, did the food live up to expectations? I thought it looked the part:

The toast was a welcome addition, too. Everything was tasty, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. My only gripe was the scrambled eggs! The best way to describe them is that they were like the ones you’d find at a hotel buffet abroad. That is, they were a bit gritty and the texture in general was rather off. The good news is that if you made the same journey today, you’d get a fried egg instead.

Was it a huge portion? It wasn’t, but combined with the toast, it was fair. It kept me satisfied and it didn’t feel too stingy.

LNER

So, what about LNER? The Dine menu is what my train had scheduled for it. It was even off to a great start, as the right menus were out on the tables.

“We don’t have a chef”.

Oh dear.

It wasn’t the first time that this had happened. I’ve never actually seen the ‘full LNER’ breakfast with my own eyes. Instead, it was the lowly bacon roll:

The vegan sausage roll was available too, or overnight oats. The bacon roll was fine, and it was well-cooked and well-filled. As a bacon roll, you can’t complain. But it was still just a bacon roll.

Lounges

The last thing it’s worth comparing with Avanti vs LNER First Class is the lounge experience. Both companies have lounges for you to use both before and after you travel.

I popped into the Avanti lounge at Crewe and found that it was pretty good. You had plenty of different kinds of seating to choose from

You had plenty of food to choose from as well. It was mostly snacks, but homemade banana bread was a nice surprise. You can find a full menu online and there’s also a more substantial menu if you’re travelling from London Euston.

The LNER lounges are all rather stylish, like this one in Edinburgh:

The only issue is that none of the seats are very comfortable! They’re all a bit style and aesthetics over substance and functionality, and everything is a lot firmer than it looks. The food and drink offer is very much just hot drinks, water, biscuits and crisps, too.

Both lounges do their main function well though, which is to give you a quiet place to wait before you train, and maybe to get some work done. The railway is never going to be wining and dining you like in airline lounges.

So, who has the best First Class?

See, this is a tricky one. As you’d think that based on what I’ve said, I’d be all over Avanti West Coast and recommending them to everyone. Yes, they do a good product and have great lounges, as well as some lovely staff. But, and it’s a big but, they’re often very expensive. I’d recommend staying well away on weekends as you effectively only have half a carriage of First Class on most trains (Coach K).

The introduction of Standard Premium has also meant that many of the passengers who just want a cheap upgrade for a better seat are better off sitting there instead. It’s often a lot cheaper.

Meanwhile, LNER can be great value if you’re travelling last minute. Journeys to and from London can be pricey, but let’s take Newcastle to Edinburgh as an example:

This is for a journey tomorrow morning. It’s only an extra £11.80 to upgrade, which is a difference that many wouldn’t mind paying. You just can’t go in with expectations that are too high. You’ll be fed something, you’ll get a bigger seat and you can use the lounge at both ends of your journey.

In a sense, Avanti West Coast First Class is only worth it if you go on a weekday and the price difference isn’t too stark. LNER on the other hand is fine at any time of day, just don’t always expect the full works. My experience shows that the menu isn’t set in stone! It’s a great operator for getting a last-minute upgrade at a reasonable fare, while Avanti West Coast can be very expensive if you leave it too late.

Is there anything else I should know?

Looking to know more about First Class? Take a look at our dedicated page for First Class train travel. We’re here to help with finding the best First Class train, our Top 5 Tips for getting cheaper fares, upgrading on board and even how to use First Class for free. We’re also here to help with our guide to travelling to London.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 16:00 05/07/23. Both they, and the First Class products shown, are subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. All opinions expressed in this post are based on real-life experiences.}}

The post Avanti vs LNER First Class – which is better? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

This page was originally written in March 2023 and was updated with new data in August 2023.

How do we work out how reliable trains are?

A great question! We measure reliability by what’s known as ‘PPM’ or ‘Public Performance Measure’. Every time a train runs (or doesn’t!) it’s separated into one of three categories:

• On-time – If it arrives less than five minutes late (10 for long-distance trains)
• Late – If it arrives between five (or 10) and 30 minutes late at its destination
• Very late/cancelled – If the train arrives more than 30 minutes late or is cancelled.

If your train is cancelled part-way through the trip or skips stops to make up time, it’ll also ‘fail’ PPM.

So what’s the least reliable train operator?

For June and July, the least-reliable train operator award goes to Grand Central. But why? Let’s go through some of the reasons:

• They’re a small company that only runs a few services each day. If even one service is cancelled, that has a big impact on their statistics
• Services run on a busy section of railway. The East Coast Mainline is prone to issues and their services interact with lots of others
• Their trains aren’t reliable. The fleet of Adelante trains are prone to breaking down, put simply! They’re remedying this though. Extra trains are being introduced so that there are more spares to fall back on.

Can we trust these statistics?

For some companies, you might be wondering how the statistics look quite reasonable, despite the fact that their trains seem to be so unreliable. For example, at the time of writing (16th August 2023), Northern’s JourneyCheck page looks disastrous:

Okay, so 103 of those cancellations are actually for the following day, but that seems like a lot more than 6% of trains being cancelled, which is what the official stats say. So, what actually happens here?

Put simply, if it’s cancelled before 10pm the previous day, it doesn’t count as a cancellation. This is known as ‘P-coding’ and means that it won’t be reflected in the performance statistics. Most frustratingly for passengers, the reason given is ‘a short notice change to the timetable’. This reason doesn’t tell you anything!

The latest report by the Office of Rail and Road from January to March 2023 shows just how this works. At the time that it was written, TransPennine Express were using P-coding extensively. Since then though, they’ve managed to improve industrial relations, and the statistics below are a far better reflection of reality.

So, is Grand Central the least reliable train operator? Officially, yes. Unofficially, perhaps not.

Who’s the most reliable train operator?

Now we’ve covered who the least reliable train operator is, it’s only right to cover who the most reliable one is.

If we focus purely on trains that are on-time, that’d be Caledonian Sleeper. They managed to run 96.8% of their trains on time.

The operator with the lowest rate of cancellations was c2c, with just 1.1%. Chiltern Railways isn’t far behind with 1.3%.

What do these operators all have in common? For one, a relatively common fleet of trains. Chiltern has three types of train and c2c is running just one type of train. Meanwhile, Caledonian Sleeper has just one fleet of carriages, and a few types of locomotive. Their trains run overnight, and have large allowances in the timetable in case of engineering works.

c2c and Merseyrail are also fairly self-contained networks. It’s unlikely that another company’s trains will cause them to be delayed, and they’re pretty small networks, as well.

What are the full statistics?

Want to know how your local operator did? Here’s the full statistics for June and July. We weren’t able to get monthly statistics for Hull Trains.

_{*Includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.}

What can we take from this data? As you’d expect, companies that have smaller networks and don’t have to interact with too many operators tend to fare better. Those that travel over longer distances and interact with each other more are more vulnerable to delays.

Operators like Grand Central are also more vulnerable to poorer statistics, as they only run a handful of trains per day. If even just one train is delayed, that’ll cause a much bigger knock than on LNER or Avanti, for example.

What can I do when there’s a delay?

When you book with SmartSplit, we’ll let you know if there’s any planned changes to your train, if we’re given enough notice. If you choose to change your plans, we’ve got you covered, too.

You’re also entitled to claim compensation in the event of a delay. You can find out more with our guide on what to do when there’s disruption.

_{All punctuality data on this page is courtesy of trains.im. You can visit their site, check how your operator is doing and can also make a donation to help with upkeep.}

_{The data is also issued without liability, and is correct at the time of writing (16th August 2023).}

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Calton Hill, Edinburgh

If you’re not quite up for the slightly brutal hike up Arthur’s Seat, but still want some breathtaking views of Edinburgh and beyond, then Calton Hill is probably for you. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a number of different historical monuments.

We’ll be honest, there’s still some legwork involved! After all, it does still have ‘hill’ in the name. But, if you exit Edinburgh Waverley onto Princes Street and turn left, a short five-minute walk will bring you to the bottom of the steps. A short workout up some steps and a bank later, and this will be your reward:

You can see right across the city and towards the Forth River, with a plethora of green spaces to kick back and relax in. If you’re looking for something more exciting, it also hosts the Beltane Fire Festival every April!

Linlithgow Park & Peel (Palace), Linlithgow

This is one of those green spaces where you truly feel like you’ve got away from it all. Despite backing onto the town of Linlithgow itself, there’s quite a ‘wild’ and isolated atmosphere. Perfect for some peace and quiet!

You have several options here. If you just want to sit back and take it in, there’s plenty of places to sit near the palace:

For the more adventurous, you can walk around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). That said, it’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

Of course, we can’t ignore the imposing and rather beautiful Linlithgow Palace:

This palace once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I). As of June 10th 2023, it’s open to the public again, too.

The current building was planned and built starting in 1424, but was largely abandoned when James VI became James I of England and moved the royal court to London in 1603. Despite efforts to rebuild the collapsed Northern Quarter of the palace in 1620, a fire in 1746 spelled the end of Linlithgow Palace as a royal residence.

As green spaces go, the area around Linlithgow Palace certainly has it all. If you’re coming from Edinburgh, you can get there by train in as little as 17 minutes.

Museum Gardens, York

Situated near the banks of the River Ouse, the Museum Gardens are just a short walk from the station. The main attraction (as the name suggests!) is the Yorkshire Museum, which tells the story of York and beyond from as far back as the Roman era.

If you want somewhere to wander or just relax though, then you’re still spoilt for choice. It can be quite the oasis of calm compared to the bustling nature of York itself. It’s the ideal place to start or finish a riverside walk, too.

As well as the green spaces, you’ll find a number of historical buildings to explore. One of these is the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, which date from between 1271 and 1294:

The park is open between 9am and 6pm all year. You can find out more about its history on the Yorkshire Museums Trust website.

Valley Gardens, Harrogate

This is one of the green spaces that forms part of Harrogate’s rich history as a spa town. Valley Gardens have more mineral springs in them than any other known place, with there being 36 wells alone in an area of the gardens known as ‘Bogs Field’. The gardens are English Heritage Grade II listed, too.

In the winter months, you can expect plenty of places to walk and explore. The gardens also give way to the Pinewood Woodlands, so you can extend your adventure even further.

The gardens truly come to life in the warmer months, though. There’s a number of cafes selling light refreshments, as well as outdoor activities to keep everyone of all ages amused. You can choose from mini golf, a paddling pool, tennis courts and more.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more sheltered, why not relax in the pavillions?

On Summer Sundays, you’ll even find outdoor concerts taking place.

Vimto Park & Sackville Gardens, Manchester

Finally, how about two green spaces for the price of one? The first one, Vimto Park, may be one that you’ve seen from the train. Who could miss the giant Vimto bottle looking up at us from the street below? The drink was born in Manchester in 1908, so this seems like a pretty fitting way to pay homage to it:

It’s located on the Science Campus of the University of Manchester, around a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station. To get to it, you’re best using the Fairfield Street exit (follow signs for the Metrolink and the taxi rank). While it’s only a small space, it’s a little oasis of calm in the city centre. It’s perfect for watching the trains go by, as well!

A short walk away down Sackville Street, you’ll also find Sackville Gardens. The land was originally purchased by the Manchester Corporation in 1882 so there’d be an interrupted view of the Manchester School of Technology (now the Sackville Street Building).

Nowadays, it’s a great place to relax and reflect, as it’s home to various LGBT+ memorials. One of these is the Alan Turing memorial:

Sackville Gardens is also around five minutes from Piccadilly Station and it backs onto the popular Canal Street.

No matter which of these green spaces you might choose to visit, you can book your rail tickets with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you want to change your plans, either.

The post Green Spaces near Stations: Our Top 5 appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.