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.}}

The post LNER or Lumo? Big brand vs budget appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the best ways to get cheap First Class train tickets?

It might seem that ‘cheap’ and ‘First Class’ don’t go together in the same sentence, but there can be some bargains if you know where to look. Whether that means following a particular route or avoiding certain times, let’s have a look at some of the best ways to save.

1. Avoid London

London can attract a premium (and lots of people want to go there!) So, if you’re after a trip in First Class for less, we’d recommend leaving it for a journey that avoids the capital. The same usually applies for Standard Class, too. Let’s take a look at an example where we’re travelling from York a month in advance:

It’s £45.50 to travel in Standard Class to London, or £95.70 in First Class. That’s more than twice the Standard Class fare!

Meanwhile, let’s see what happens if we go in the other direction and head for Edinburgh instead:

It’s £36.00 for Standard Class, and £52.40 for First Class. That’s a much smaller difference, and it isn’t a bad fare for a journey of over two and a half hours. So, your first step to finding cheap First Class train tickets is being choosy about where you go.

2. Pick a Friday morning for London trips

So, you want cheap First Class train tickets and you want to travel to London? Your best bet is to travel down on a Friday morning. In particular, you’ll find that this makes a difference for trips on the East Coast Main Line (Edinburgh – Newcastle – London) and West Coast Main Line (Glasgow – Preston – London and Birmingham – London).

This is because peak time restrictions are eased on a Friday. There’s less business-oriented travel too, so the trains are usually quieter. Because the most expensive tickets are Super Off-Peak ones, rather than Anytime or Off-Peak, this effectively ‘caps’ all of the cheaper Advance tickets.

3. Avoid the Frills

This depends on why exactly you’d like to travel in First Class. Do you want the full works with food and drinks, or do you just want a bigger seat to stretch out in with a cup of coffee? You might find cheap First Class train tickets with companies that don’t go all-out with the free food.

For example, we looked at York to London earlier, and found that it could be quite pricey. Let’s have a look and see how it compares if we choose Grand Central instead:

It’s still quite a bit more than you’d pay for Standard Class, but £55.00 is a more reasonable price than what we were finding above. You won’t get the same level of service, but you’ll still get a more spacious environment. In fact, we’ve written about the best First Class trains so that you can compare every First Class product across Great Britain.

The same applies if you pick an LNER train that doesn’t have such a substantial food menu, as there are three different menus to pick from (Dine is the largest, followed by Dish, then the most limited one is Deli). You can check which menu is scheduled on northbound trains here and southbound trains here.

4. Try Standard Premium

Did you know that Avanti West Coast gives you the option of travelling in a First Class carriage, sometimes for a fraction of the cost of a First Class ticket? Standard Premium is essentially First Class without the free food and drink. It’s the same seat and the same environment.

You don’t have to book it in advance, either. All you have to do is buy a Standard Class ticket, then take a free seat in Standard Premium. It costs up to £30 to upgrade on board, and the conductor will sell you the upgrade when they check tickets. You can book Advance tickets for Standard Premium, too. Let’s see what we get if we want to go from Carlisle to Crewe a month in advance:

So, it’s £16.40 for Standard Class, £31.40 for Standard Premium and a rather high £85.80 for First Class. That’s quite a saving over sitting in a traditional First Class carriage! We’ve also compared Standard Premium v First Class so you can see which upgrade is best for you.

5. Keep an eye out for last-minute bargains

Cheap First Class train tickets don’t have to be booked up months in advance. Sometimes, if you’re travelling at the last-minute, there’s very little difference in price between Standard Class and First Class. It might even be cheaper! Let’s take a look at travelling from York to Newcastle this coming Saturday:

That’s just over an extra fiver to travel in First Class, so it’s not a great deal more expensive. So, why is there very little difference on some trains and a huge one on others? In a nutshell, when it gets very close to departure, the cheaper ‘tiers’ of Advance tickets start to sell out. This can happen at a faster rate for Standard Class than First Class.

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 upgrading on board and even travelling in First Class for free. We’ve also compared Avanti West Coast and LNER.

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your cheap First Class train tickets. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 09:00 12/07/23 unless otherwise stated. All information is issued in good faith. 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.}}

The post Our Top 5 tips for cheap First Class train tickets appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the best train companies for Standard Class food and drink?

We’re going to base this on how consistently you can get food and drink, and how convenient it is to order. We know that Transport for Wales have their Premier dining service, and Great Western Railway have their Pullman, but these are on a very limited number of trains. They’re great, but you can’t jump on board and get them every single time! So, who can you rely on?

LNER

It doesn’t get much more convenient than LNER when it comes to Standard Class food. All you need to do is scan the QR codes on the back of every seat:

From there, you can access the Let’s Eat at Your Seat menu. You can order hot and cold sandwiches, snacks and drinks. If you do fancy a stroll, then you can also visit the café bar on the train. From our experience, this will be available on every train for most of the journey.

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast has a similarly extensive Standard Class food menu to LNER. However, you can’t have it delivered to your seat. Previously, this option was trialled, but it was often not available. You can click and collect instead now, but we don’t know how reliable this is. The good news is that you can just pop to the shop:

This would probably win the award for best buffet on a train, as you can actually see what’s on offer. The only negative is how far down the train you need to trek to reach it. The good news? It’s advertised on all services.

Grand Central

Grand Central will also allow you to choose from their menu, and then click and collect from the buffet. The menu isn’t huge (and you won’t know the sandwich fillings in advance) but you’ll find it on every train. Of course, you can just pop to the buffet as well.

Lumo

The LumoEats service is worth mentioning, as it’s a pretty interesting concept. It’s available on every train, but with a few caveats.

Basically, you can pre-order your food from a number of different station outlets, and they’ll bring it to your seat. The price isn’t very different to going to the shop yourself, and it can be a big time saver. The only issue is that you need to be getting on the train in either Edinburgh or London. You’ll need to do it in advance, as well. That said, you can do it up to two hours before you travel.

Once you’re on the train, a trolley will also come through regularly with smaller snacks and drinks.

TransPennine Express

Finally, we have TransPennine Express. They don’t offer food and drink on every train all of the time, but they cover the bulk of the time period that you’d expect to be able to order it.

It’s advertised between 07:00 and 18:30 on weekdays, and 09:00 and 18:30 on weekends. You’ll find it between York/Leeds and Manchester on the Hull, Saltburn and Scarborough services, and Sheffield and Manchester on the Cleethorpes services. It’s available on the entire Newcastle to Edinburgh and Newcastle to Liverpool routes.

On trains between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Manchester Airport, you can get it on the entire route, all day long. As for the menu, it’s pretty much what you’d expect. You can choose from sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Just keep an eye out for the trolley!

Is there anything else I should know?

Feeling peckish? Looking to book a ticket and have a trip with some great Standard Class food? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

_{^{All information quoted is correct as of August 2023, is subject to change, and is issued without liability. SmartSplit is not responsible for any disappointment or loss incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

The post 5 best train companies for Standard Class food and drink appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What sort of day trips from Newcastle can I do?

Newcastle is in a great spot. You’ve got the coast nearby, the rolling hills of Northumberland, and a fair-size train station with routes criss-crossing the region. Whether you’re after a walk along the beach, a hike in the hills, or getting up-close and personal with the trains of yesteryear, there’s something for everyone.

As a child, we were a pretty active family. Sundays always meant going out and exploring somewhere new (or old), even if the weather was, well, British. I’ve been a rail geek since I was little, too, so there was always an excuse to jump on the train.

I’m going to take you from north to south, so these day trips from Newcastle are in no particular order of preference!

1. Berwick-upon-Tweed

We’re starting right up near the Scottish border. In fact, it’s just under three miles from the station before you end up in a different country. It’s been part of Scotland, too. The town has actually switched hands many times in history. It’s been the site of wars, battles and bloodshed, though it’s been a part of England since 1482.

When you take the train, you’ll find yourself getting quite the introduction to the town. The railway line hugs the coast, before sweeping to the left and taking you over the Royal Border Bridge, which carries the line over the River Tweed:

It’s around here that you’ll also find the remains of Berwick Castle. Back in the 13th Century, this castle was at the forefront of defending Berwick from outside intruders. Parts of the walls still survive as well, though funnily enough it was the advent of the railway that saw much of the building demolished.

The Town Walls and Ramparts also form part of the defensive structure of Berwick, and it’s possible to walk a complete circuit of the town on them. Rather than trying to defend the town these days though, you might prefer to just take in the views:

Finally, you can’t beat a good beach, and Berwick has plenty of coastline to let off some steam. You could take the dog for a walk, get your steps in or simply lie down and listen to the waves.

Getting There

There are frequent train services to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Typically, you’ll find two trains per hour (one LNER and one CrossCountry), with extra ones at some hours of the day. It’ll take you between 45 and 50 minutes to reach the town from Newcastle.

All of the attractions are within walking distance, and when I visited, I walked to all of the places above at a relaxed pace in around two hours.

2. Alnmouth (and Alnwick!)

The nearest station to these places is called Alnmouth for Alnwick, so it made sense that I took a trip to both of them. One is a sleepy seaside village, and the other is a bustling market town. So, what do they have to offer on day trips from Newcastle?

Alnmouth

It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station to Alnmouth, so that’s where we’ll begin. My only memory of this quaint little village is driving in when I was little, usually when it was pouring with rain. We’d park up, realise this was a terrible idea, and try to find somewhere a little more sheltered. In fact, until last week, I’d never seen this place in the sunshine! So, why is it one of the best day trips from Newcastle? Put simply, this beach:

When I popped down on a mid-week morning, it was sheer bliss. You just had a couple of dog-walkers, and some holidaying families moseying around the village, which is full of independent cafes and shops.

It’s possible to walk all the way around the bay and up towards Seaton Point and the village of Boulmer, or you can follow the path of the estuary and the start of the River Aln. I ended up picking the latter, as I needed to head back towards the station:

For bonus points, you can try and spot the train in the background. I passed a few dog-walkers on the way along the river, before heading up the hill into the village of Lesbury, where the station is located.

Alnwick

If you go to Alnmouth to get away from it all, then Alnwick is where it’s all happening. People have been making day trips from Newcastle to Alnwick for years, and I’ve been coming here since I was a toddler.

But why? First of all, it’s home to Alnwick Castle. This is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK. Its popularity increased massively when it started appearing on the big (and small) screen, too. The castle has featured in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and even the Transformers Movie.

Just next door, you’ll find the Alnwick Garden. It’s been welcoming visitors since 2001, and I can remember coming here just after it opened, and many times since! When I was around eight, we had an annual pass, so many day trips from Newcastle on a weekend involved a trip to the Alnwick Garden. So, what’s on offer here? Well, the first thing you notice is the impressive Grand Cascade:

We can’t forget the Poison Garden, either. I can remember coming here when it opened and essentially getting a personal tour. These days it’s a little more popular, and I had to wait half an hour to get in! As the name suggests, it’s full of plants that could kill you. Don’t worry though, there’s a guide on hand.

Did you know that Alnwick is home to Barter Books? It’s one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Europe:

Does the poster look familiar? They uncovered the original one back in 2000. Fast forward a decade, and it was suddenly impossible to use Facebook or Twitter without scrolling past ‘Keep Calm and Drink Tea/Wine/Whisky’ memes. Well, the renaissance of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was spurred by this discovery at Barter Books.

Getting There

There is at least one train per hour from Newcastle to Alnmouth, operated by LNER. Additional trains are also operated by CrossCountry and TransPennine Express. It’ll typically take half an hour on the train, followed by a 20-minute walk to the village of Alnmouth.

Looking to get to Alnwick? The X20 bus runs every hour, and leaves from nearby. Just leave the station, cross over and turn left down the hill towards the village for around two minutes. On an evening and Sunday, the X18 goes this way instead. The bus journey should take no more than 20 minutes.

Direct buses also run from Alnwick to Newcastle down the A1 Motorway, so you might find it easiest to make a triangular journey by train up to Alnmouth, then a bus to Alnwick and back to Newcastle if you want to visit both destinations.

3. Morpeth

Heading down the coast a little (and popping inland), we make it to Morpeth. This is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle by train, as the trains will all get you here in less than 20 minutes. It’s the main town in the county of Northumberland, and I’ve been coming here since I was little.

Why? It’s an easy place to come to for a relaxing stroll. Plus, while just about everywhere has a park, there’s something quite special about Carlisle Park:

It’s immaculate! There’s plenty to do as well, especially for the kids. You can even take a rowing boat for a spin down the river.

At the edge of Carlisle Park, keep an eye out for the Floral Clock. It’s not just a beautiful floral display, either. It’s an actual working clock which has been telling locals the time since 1972:

Finally, if you take a stroll along the river, don’t forget about the Stepping Stones. Hopping across the river on these little rocks is one of my first memories of Morpeth.

How about something completely different? I was surprised to discover that the town is home to the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum. It’s on the top floor of the Tourist Information Centre, and takes you on a journey through the history of different kinds of Bagpipe. This includes the (more famous) Scottish Bagpipe, and the lesser-known (and gentler-sounding) Northumbrian Pipe. It’s a quirky little place that you can pop into for half an hour or so to learn something new:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle. Throughout the day, a more limited number of long-distance trains also stop. It’s a 10-minute walk from the station to the main attractions.

4. Corbridge

We’re now into Hadrian’s Wall Country. You’ll find relics in Corbridge that date back to the Roman-era, so it’s a perfect place for History buffs looking for day trips from Newcastle. To start with, you could take a 10-minute walk down the river to the Roman Bridge:

It was built to carry Dere Street, which was the Roman road from York to Scotland. To give you an idea of just how old this bridge is, it’s been out of use since around AD670!

Hungry for more history? Corbridge Roman Town isn’t far from the village centre. This was once the most northerly town in the entire Roman Empire, and it gives a fascinating insight into the life of a soldier around Hadrian’s Wall.

Back in the pandemic, I spent a lot of time out walking, and this is one of the places that I came to. You can actually keep walking all the way along the river and head towards Hexham, which is what I did. It’s one of the Tyne Train Trails which links up stations along the Newcastle to Carlisle line. Just make sure that you bring the right footwear, as I have many memories of having to dodge giant puddles and squeeze through a few overgrown tracks.

Getting There

Northern runs an hourly train direct from Newcastle to Corbridge. It’ll take you around 40 minutes to make the trip. From the station, it’s a 10-minute walk to the river and village centre.

5. Hexham

Just one stop up the line from Corbridge, you’ll find Hexham. Where do you begin here? Well, the Abbey is a great start. It was founded in AD674, and the existing building was completed in 1250:

Make sure that you don’t end up causing any mischief, though. You could end up in the Old Gaol, which is one of the oldest purpose-built jails in the country:

It’s been around since roughly 1332, but these days it’s just a museum, so there’s no danger of accidentally being locked up!

Hexham is also the gateway to Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re looking to dive further into the Roman history of the region, then you can jump on bus AD122 from outside of the station. It’ll take you to the likes of Housesteads and Vindolanda Roman forts.

Getting There

Hexham is one of the simplest day trips from Newcastle, thanks to the frequent train service. On a Monday to Saturday, up to three trains per hour run to Hexham, operated by Northern. The fastest trains take around 30 minutes.

6. Seaham and the Durham Coast

Looking to embrace the great outdoors? Take a trip down to Seaham for one of the most bracing day trips from Newcastle. Up until recently, I’d only seen the Durham Coast from a train window, but decided to leave the rails behind and take a stroll down to see what was on offer.

Seaham is the starting point of the 11-mile Durham Coastal Footpath, which will take you down to the outskirts of Hartlepool. So, it’s a great place to come if you want to blow the cobwebs away with some refreshing North Sea air.

I chose to stay closer to the town itself, which is no bad thing. You have Seaham Beach, Seaham Hall Beach and the Glass Beach, all linked by a promenade:

You could have a look at the Lighthouse or visit the Heritage & Lifeboat Centre, too. Either way, I was impressed. It’s a bit weather-dependent, but you shouldn’t overlook Seaham for day trips from Newcastle.

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train from Newcastle, which takes roughly 30 minutes to reach Seaham. The 60 bus also runs to/from Sunderland, where there are more frequent Metro connections to Newcastle. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the seafront from the station.

7. Hartlepool

Hartlepool is full of naval and maritime history. So, if you want to take a step back in time to Georgian England, then this is a day trip from Newcastle for you.

The main place that you’ll want to come to is the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can get aboard HMS Trinkolee, which is the oldest floating British warship. It’s not just the ships though, as the museum has recreated the entire 18th-Century seaport experience.

It’s next door to the Museum of Hartlepool. This museum is completely free, and it takes a look at the history of the town and its Maritime heritage.

Don’t forget to take a look out the back too, where you’ll find PS Wingfield Castle:

Getting There

Northern operates an hourly train service from Newcastle, which takes around 45 minutes. Grand Central also connects Hartlepool to Sunderland, where you can change for Metro services to Newcastle. The Museum of the Royal Navy and Museum of Hartlepool are a 15-minute walk from the station.

8. Shildon (for the Locomotion – National Railway Museum)

I’ll confess that Shildon itself isn’t much of a tourist destination, but it is a place where everybody’s doing a brand new dance now, as they’re visiting the Locomotion. Think of it as the younger brother of the main National Railway Museum in York! It was opened in 2004, and I remember my parents bringing me here not long after that. This is one of the day trips from Newcastle that rail geeks, history buffs and anyone with a passing interest in trains will love.

After all, the museum is in a part of the world which pretty much birthed the modern railway as we know it. It’s near the site of Timothy Hackworth’s Soho Works, which built and maintained locomotives and wagons for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This was the world’s first public railway, and it was opened in 1825.

Shildon Station is pretty much on the site of the museum, which is an open-air museum around 1km in length. When I visited most recently though, most of the activities were going on in and around the Main Hall:

I must admit that it is a strange feeling seeing that a train you’ve rode behind (43102, on the right) is now in a museum! Locomotion is home to dozens of different exhibitions, which cover the days of the early railways right up to the modern day. If you commuted by train in the north up until around 2019 though, you might not be too happy to see the infamous Pacer train:

The best part? It’s completely free to visit. So, you can pop in and out as you please. The only thing that’s paid-for is the train rides through the museum site.

Getting There

Frequent trains link Newcastle to Darlington, where you can change for an hourly Northern train to Shildon. It’s possible to reach the Locomotion in roughly an hour and the station is on the Museum site.

9. Saltburn

Back when I was seven or eight, I became a regular visitor to Saltburn. My Dad used to take me out on a Saturday morning while he worked as a delivery driver. He covered just about everywhere in the area (Middlesbrough down to Staithes, on the edge of North Yorkshire), plus the then-booming ‘Corus’ Steel Plant in Redcar. Saltburn was a regular stop for us.

Why is this one of the great day trips from Newcastle? It’s a charming little town full of independent shops and cafes, and that’s before we get onto the beautiful beach:

Whether you want to soak up some sun (on a rare hot day in this part of the world) or just take a walk, you’re sure to love Saltburn Beach. It’s home to a 208-metre-long pier (with all of the classic amusements you’d expect), colourful beach huts and the quirky Cliff Lift.

You can actually walk all the way down the beach to Redcar. It’s about four miles, and you can pick up the train in Redcar as well, rather than needing to walk all the way back.

Like I said, the town itself is full of great places to grab a bite to eat and drink. When I visited, I popped into The Sitting Room for a cuppa. It’s a quirky little café (and bar) with lovely staff, and it’s situated in the old railway station building:

A final bit of trivia from Saltburn is the existence of Saltburn Bank. As this piece is about day trips from Newcastle by train, you’ll not have to worry about negotiating it, but this zig-zagging piece of road is rather infamous for being difficult to drive around. You might have seen it in this clip from the snowy winter of 2010!

Getting There

Three trains per hour run from Saltburn. Two Northern trains go to Middlesbrough and Darlington every hour, where you can change for regular services to Newcastle. An additional TransPennine Express train also goes to Middlesbrough every hour, where you can change for trains to Newcastle via Hartlepool.

It’s around a 10-minute walk from the station to the seafront.

10. Whitby

Whitby is probably one of the most famous places on this list. After all, anyone who’s read Bram Stoker’s Dracula knows about the existence of this quaint seaside town. It’s a firm favourite with North East folk (and all folk!) so I have memories of many happy day trips from Newcastle to Whitby.

The station is right next to the harbour, where you can take a boat trip or climb aboard the Bark Endeavour and learn about Captain Cook and his sea-faring voyages:

On this visit, I opted to take a walk down Sandgate, before braving the 199 Steps up to Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary:

Don’t forget to take a stroll down Whitby Beach, either. It’s a beautiful stretch of coastline, though I rocked up during high tide, so there isn’t much beach visible!

Now, Whitby is of course famous for Fish and Chips. There’s much debate about which is best, and I wouldn’t want to say that one is the best. Whenever I’ve visited though, I’ve always opted for Magpie. Just don’t be surprised if you need to queue for a wee while!

Getting There

Northern operates five trains per day in and out of Whitby. Two each way are direct to/from Newcastle, while you’ll need to change at Middlesbrough on the other journeys. The fastest train takes around three hours to complete the journey along the scenic Esk Valley and Durham Coast lines.

Is there anything else I should know?

I hope that you’ve found some inspiration for your day trips from Newcastle by train! This part of the country is full of things to see and do. Fancy a bite to eat or a pint? Take a look at our guides to Station Pubs and Eateries in the area.

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Leeds, London, Edinburgh, 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.

The final thing I’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next adventure. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All information on this page is issued in good faith and was correct at 14/08/2023. It’subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

The post 10 best day trips from Newcastle by train appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

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.

What’s the best way to take a day trip to Glasgow?

Glasgow is very well-linked by train, so that’s the best way! It has two major stations, which will bring you in from just about anywhere in Scotland, as well as a variety of destinations in England.

You’ll be arriving into Glasgow Queen Street if you’re coming from most large cities elsewhere in Scotland. This includes Stirling, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh. Don’t forget that if you want to book a cheap train ticket in Advance on ScotRail (who operate on all of these routes) then you’ll need to make sure that you buy it before 18:00 the day before you want to go. After this, you can only buy ‘flexible’ singles and return tickets.

Glasgow Central is where you’ll arrive if you’re coming from England, as well as places such as Kilmarnock, Ayr and Stranraer. If you’re travelling from Yorkshire to Glasgow, keep an eye out for fares routed ‘via Appleby’. Here’s an example travelling from Leeds:

You need to look for journeys with just one change where the first leg is a Northern train. You’ll even get to travel over the scenic Settle & Carlisle Railway on the way!

Getting around Glasgow

While Glasgow is full of attractions, you might want to use public transport to help you get around on your day trip. The Glasgow Subway will take you to a number of destinations that we mention on this page, while you could also take local ScotRail trains to reach some of them, too.

The Subway (also known as the Clockwork Orange) runs from early til late Monday to Saturday and during shopping hours on a Sunday. Did you know that it’s the third-oldest underground railway in the world?

A single ticket is £1.75, while a day pass is £4.20. You can find more information on the Subway’s website.

Free Museums to visit on a day trip to Glasgow

No day trip to Glasgow is complete without taking in some of the free museums on offer, so it’s a great place to start. You might struggle to get around them all in a day, but there’s something for everyone. It’s a great backup plan if the weather is a bit dreich, too.

Gallery of Modern Art

Coming off the train at Queen Street station? It’s just a short walk past St George’s Square to the Gallery of Modern Art, making it a great place to begin on your day trip to Glasgow. The building was originally constructed as the townhouse of William Cunninghame, a Tobacco Lord who made his fortune in the slave trade.

It’s now home to four different galleries as well as a library. The exhibitions change regularly, so you’ll always find something different to look at. Here’s the Taste! exhibition:

You can visit the gallery every day. It’s open from 10 til 5, except on Fridays and Sundays when it opens an hour later at 11am. Click here to find out more about what you can see when you visit.

Riverside Museum & The Tall Ship Glenlee

Heading a little outside of the City Centre, you’ll find the Riverside Museum, which is also home to the Tall Ship Glenlee. It’s a 15-minute trip on the Subway to Partick Station (also served by ScotRail trains), followed by a well-signed 10-minute walk.

Inside the museum, you’ll find a plethora of historic buses, trains, trams, cars, ships and more:

Don’t forget to take a look at the reconstruction of a typical Glasgow street. From a sweet shop to a Subway Station, they’ve included everything:

Finally, why not pop outside and take a look at the Tall Ship Glenlee? After a career sailing to the Americas, trading across the Mediterranean Sea and being used as a military training vessel, she returned to the Clyde in 1993.

You can jump on board and see what life was like at sea, as well as learn about the importance of the Clyde and the shipbuilders that graced it.

Both the museum and the Tall Ship are open every day. The museum is open 10 til 5 (11am Fridays and Sundays), while the Tall Ship is open 10 til 5 every day except Tuesday (11am).

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

One of the grandest-looking museums in Glasgow has to be the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. It’s a 10-minute trip on the Subway from the City Centre to Kelvinhall, followed by a 10-minute walk.

The best way to describe it is that it has just about everything! With 22 galleries to explore, it’s one of the most comprehensive museums that you’ll find on your day trip to Glasgow. It’s been a firm favourite with visitors and locals alike since it opened in 1901:

From Charles Rennie Mackintosh to a Spitfire plane, and the depths of Ancient Egypt to the wonders of Dutch Art, you’ll be taken on a journey to the deepest corners of Glasgow and the world.

The museum is open from 10 til 5 every day (11am Fridays and Sundays). You can download a full guide to what’s on here.

People’s Palace

Open to the people of Glasgow (and beyond) since 1898, the People’s Palace was designed as a place of recreation, pleasure and learning. Since the 1940s, it’s been telling visitors about the social history of Glasgow. Set on Glasgow Green, it’s a 15-minute walk from the City Centre.

This is an essential part of any day trip to Glasgow if you’d like to know about the people that make Glasgow great. Take a step inside the minds and streets of Glaswegians and explore the issues and triumphs that they faced and embraced.

The museum is open from 10 til 5 every day (11am Fridays and Sundays).

Green Spaces

You might associate Glasgow with heavy industry, bustling streets and a general sense of urban-ness. While it’s a vibrant and busy city, this doesn’t mean that green spaces are out of your reach. If you want to get closer to nature, then Glasgow is still the city for you. Here are some of our favourite spots to take it all in.

Pollok Country Park

Our first stop is just 10 minutes by train from Glasgow Central. Hop off the train at Pollokshaws West and you’re almost already at the gates of the Pollok Country Park. It’s the largest park in Glasgow, too.

While you’re having a wander around the extensive grounds and woodlands, don’t forget to say hello to the Highland Cows:

The country park is also home to Pollok House, which was built in the mid-18th Century, though the site itself was actually home to the Maxwell family for six centuries. Home to an extensive art collection, it was also the founding site of the National Trust for Scotland.

Another thing to look out for is the scattering of rather quirky paintings around the park. They’re part of the Art Gone Wild trail:

Finally, the park is home to the Burrell Collection. It contains over 9,000 different objects, including stained glass, armour and over 200 tapestries.

Whether you just want a brisk walk or an entire day of exploring, the Pollok Country Park is a great place to make part of your day trip to Glasgow.

Botanic Gardens

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city for over 200 years. Originally opened in 1817 on a different site, the Gardens were such a success that they moved to their current home on the banks of the River Kelvin in 1839. They’re just a short Subway ride away, a few-minutes walk from the nearest station at Hillhead.

You’ll find over 9,000 plants here, with the greatest number being in the plethora of glasshouses around the Gardens. The plants hail from all over the world, and not only are the Gardens a beautiful place to explore, but they help to keep endangered species alive in the face of climate change.

They’re open every day. In the summer months, this is usually from 7am til around 8pm.

Kelvingrove Park

Finally, if you’re paying a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, it’s worth exploring the park that it sits in.

Kelvingrove Park was purchased and created for the rapidly growing West End of the city in 1852. It was actually the first purpose-built park in Scotland! We’d recommend having a stroll after you take in the delights of the museum.

Is there anything else I should do on a day trip to Glasgow?

Naturally, we haven’t covered everything. So here are a couple more things that you might like to see. With this much to take in, you might want to extend your day trip to Glasgow and make it a weekend!

Glasgow Necropolis

So, who fancies a trip to a cemetery? It doesn’t seem like an obvious place to make a part of your day trip to Glasgow, but it has a fascinating history. The Necropolis has over 50,000 people buried in it, and contains over 3,500 monuments. It’s a bit of a climb, but you can enjoy some great views over the city:

Unusually, not all of the monuments here relate to someone actually buried in the Necropolis, either. You can find out more on the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis site.

The Duke of Wellington Statue

Well, we’ve got to end on something light-hearted. Why is this statue famous, you ask? The cones on top of it! You’ll find the cone-adorned monument outside of the Gallery of Modern Art.

Sticking a cone on the statue has been a local sport since the 1980s, if not earlier. While the council and the authorities have spent much time and energy asking people not to do it (and even trying to put the statue out of reach), it’s always been met with defiance and outrage.

So, just enjoy snapping a picture and embracing the humour of Glaswegians. Why is there a cone on the statue? Why not.

Where should I eat and drink?

Glasgow is a foodie’s paradise. Whatever kind of cuisine you want to try, it’s probably going to be here. In fact, you could probably spend weeks eating the same kind of cuisine at dozens of different restaurants! It’s difficult to know where to start, but we have a couple of recommendations.

If you’ve been to the Botanical Gardens or you’re just wandering around the West End, then Ashton Lane is a great place to start. Whether you’re in the mood for ramen, a curry or even just a beer at the Innis & Gunn Taproom, there’s something for everyone.

Just around the corner, you’ll find KoKo House. We’d definitely suggest trying their soufflé pancakes. It’s cash only, but there’s a cash point nearby!

Fancy something more substantial? The Brunch Club is just a quick stroll from the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. They specialise in all your favourite brunch items, and even do a bottomless brunch with cocktails. We opted for the chicken and waffles with a drizzle of Hoisin sauce:

Is there anything else I should know?

Now that you know what to do on your day trip to Glasgow, it’s important to book everything as smartly as possible. When you book smarter with SmartSplit, we don’t charge you any fees. All of our tickets can be changed without any extra charges, or refunded if it’s a refundable ticket.

We’ve produced a bunch of useful content about travelling by train, too. Did you know that we’ve gone out to find the best First Class train, or even the best one to store your luggage?

The post Day Trip to Glasgow appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Journey 1 – Newcastle to Carlisle

Now, I’d tried to cover as many of the “key” train types of possible that have the widest coverage. For example, this first train, a Class 158 “Express Sprinter”, runs on many short and medium-distance Northern services. However, you’ll also find them on East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales, ScotRail and South Western Railway.

I ended up getting on at the wrong end of the train to the big luggage stacks, of which Northern has one per carriage. So, it was time to give the overhead racks a go. I managed to get it up there, but it was looking a little precarious:

However, I decided to have faith that it wouldn’t jump out and give a fellow passenger concussion. And, to be fair, it stayed put the entire way. It wasn’t the best train for luggage, but it did the job. Just don’t try and put anything bigger above your head.

And so, my day had started as it meant to go on: looking like a right weirdo taking photos of a suitcase in a luggage rack.

Journey 2 – Carlisle to Crewe

For my first long-distance trip, I was taking a famous “Pendolino” train, operated by Avanti West Coast. They’ve always been known for feeling a bit cramped (and having tiny windows) so I didn’t have a great deal of hope for this one.

You can imagine my surprise when I jumped on and my case fitted perfectly above the seat. It didn’t even stick out and look like it was about to injure someone, which was a bonus.

On board, there’s also quite a few luggage stacks if you’re bringing a big case or something else that won’t quite fit above your head. Some are even in the centre of the carriage, so you can keep an eye on your things without needing to trek down to the ends.

It should be noted though, that it does depend on where you’re sitting in some carriages. For example, most of Coach C has equipment on the roof, so the overhead racks are tiny. Only seats 1 to 22 have the full-size rack.

Journey 3 – Crewe to Nottingham

It was back to the wee regional trains for the next one, and I was taking a Class 170 “Turbostar” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find these trains on CrossCountry, ScotRail and Northern, though they all have slightly different layouts. Most importantly though, the overhead racks are broadly the same size.

My case just about fit in the overhead rack, much like the first train. There was a luggage stack towards the centre of the carriage as well, but I decided to trust that gravity would stay on my side. This was a tricky one to illustrate as everyone seemed very aware of the strange man photographing his luggage:

The lack of decent (or at least obvious) luggage storage became rather apparent when we rolled into Stoke. Four different people with positively huge suitcases got and looked a bit dumbfounded as to where to go. Where did they go? Nowhere. They all stood by the doors with their precious cargo. Not ideal on a two-car train, but there’s no way all four would have fitted in the rack. The main issue was that it wasn’t totally obvious as you boarded.

Thankfully there were a fair amount of people jumping on and off at different points so the little train didn’t completely descend into chaos. My main issue was that these trains also make mammoth journeys across England (such as Stansted Airport to Birmingham and Nottingham to Cardiff) – hopefully nobody turns up with anything heavier or bigger than a Tesco carrier bag! (other supermarkets are available)

Journey 4 – Nottingham to Derby

Spoilers: It was exactly the same train as the last one.

The only difference was that I turned up struggling to breathe after it chose to leave from the furthest platform possible from the entrance. Cue me legging it with a suitcase in tow while being screamed at by the dispatcher to go faster. It wasn’t entirely my fault I was so late, as the self-service till at the supermarket in the station had had a bit of a meltdown on me.

The train wasn’t quite so busy this time, so I found a table seat and the case went under it.

When I got into Derby, I had a second attempt at getting something to eat and was served by the friendly lasses in the Pumpkin cafe. They even warmed up my pasty (us Geordies love a pasty – even if it wasn’t quite Greggs) which was welcome on a bit of a blustery day.

Journey 5 – Derby to Sheffield

For this next train, I’d be jumping on board a “Meridian” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find similar trains on CrossCountry or Avanti West Coast, where they’re known as a “Voyager” or “Super Voyager”. While the seating layouts are a bit different (and Meridians can be a bit longer), the trains themselves are mostly the same.

I found myself a free table, lifted my case up into the rack and…it was nowhere near fitting. Safe to say, this wasn’t the best train for luggage – it was pretty much the worst. The trade-off was that some cases would fit between the seat-backs (I had a go, mine squeezed in) but the train was empty enough to just stick it under the table next to me.

There were some luggage stacks at the carriage ends, so you aren’t left totally high and dry if your luggage is big, but I can imagine it being a challenge on busier trains. As you can see, someone’s managed to squeeze a tote bag in, but there’s already enough space under the seats for that!

Journey 6 – Sheffield to Doncaster

It was now time to head for home after a brief stop in Sheffield. Rush hour was looming too, so this would be a good test of luggage space with plenty of exhausted commuters around me. Namely making sure I didn’t block any seats or accidentally hit them in the head, as I’m sure lots of disgruntled tutting would ensue.

Northern had gifted me a Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ for the short journey to Doncaster. You’ll find these trains on much of the Northern network as well as across pretty much all of Wales. They operate everything from local hops to long-distance trains taking you from Manchester to Cardiff. In a nutshell, they have a pretty tough gig trying to meet all sorts of demands.

I’ll be honest, my expectations were rather low. So I was quite surprised when I lobbed my case it’s the overhead rack without any problems! Sure, this particular train had next-to-no legroom, but at least my suitcase was comfortable.

Journey 7 – Doncaster to Newcastle

I was now on the home stretch. One more train where I’d have to look a bit strange taking photos. I already knew what to expect from the LNER Azuma trains, as I can remember them being a bit of a revolution when they started running on the Edinburgh to London route.

While the seats were a bit harder than on the trains they replaced, I was at least able to comfortably chuck my case into the rack above my head. A welcome thing for a student going home with dirty washing to beat the costs of student accommodation washing machines.

You’ll also find some bigger luggage stacks dotted around the train, but where they are varies massively depending on who runs the train. After all, these Hitachi trains are operated by Great Western Railway, LNER, Lumo and TransPennine Express.

Great Western Railway trains have two per carriage, no matter their length. This is the standard number, and LNER Azuma trains which have five carriages are the same. TransPennine Express “Nova 1” trains have two as well. LNER Azuma trains which have nine carriages are quite generous, with some coaches having up to four luggage stacks. This is because some seats were removed to make way for extra space.

So surely, you’d think that these Hitachi trains were the best trains for luggage? Well, yes, unless you’re getting on a Lumo train. The number of stacks in the carriage ranges from one to none! If you’re in part of Coach E, you won’t even get an overhead rack. This is because they’ve tried to squeeze in as many seats as possible. They even have a restriction on the amount of luggage you can bring that’s a lot stricter than other companies.

The verdict – what’s the best train for luggage?

Out of the trains I’d travelled on today, the Pendolino felt like the best one. This was mostly because you could rely on every Pendolino having the same number of luggage stacks, and the overhead racks fit a cabin-size case comfortably. Some coaches have a smaller overhead rack in places, but this is compensated for with more stacks.

The LNER Azuma is a close second. The nine-car version is arguably the best train for luggage seeing as it’s had seats taken out for more luggage stacks. So, you’re in luck if you’re travelling between Edinburgh and London, in 99% of cases. By contrast, Lumo’s version of the Hitachi trains is probably one of the worst.

The worst I travelled on today had to be the Meridian operated by East Midlands Railway. The overhead racks are barely good for any luggage of any size! You’ll have to hope you can squeeze your case between the seats or find a luggage stack. There is some good news, as they’re being replaced by Hitachi trains similar to those on LNER in the coming years.

It had been a long day on the trains, but I was quite impressed by most operators. In my view, you’re well-covered for taking a cabin-size case on the vast majority of services! When you’re ready to take your next trip, you can book without fees (even if your plans change!) at SmartSplit.

The post What’s the best train for luggage? 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).}

The post What’s the Least Reliable Train Operator? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.