The Anonymous Widower

Grand Central Up And East Coast Down

I went up to York on Grand Central in First and came back down in Second on East Coast.

As you can see, both trains were forty-year-old InterCity 125s.

First Class on Grand Central might have been affordable at £49.50 and it was a convenient train in that it got there just before the museum opened, but it was a very poor offering. I got an uncomfortable seat with a narrow table in a group of four and the only refreshment I had was two cups of tea.

Coming back I’d booked an open Off Peak ticket at £32.00, so I could come back at a convenient time.

I managed to get a more comfortable window seat in a group of four, with a bigger table than I had on the way up. The train seemed to be fairly newly refurbished and was probably in better condition, than it had been in all of its long life. The trolley came through twice and I bought just a bottle of water.

Both trains were on time.

It is interesting to compare these two journeys with the Copenhagen to Hamburg trip I did recently in a diesel German ICE TD.

I was in First on the German train and the seat was marginally more comfortable, than that of the seat in Second on my journey home yesterday. I also had a bigger table. But the ride was no better on the newer German train, which incidentally tilts, and there was nothing to choose between the views through the wide windows on both trains.

But the real problem on the German train, was the total lack of a decent drinks service.  The trolley on East Coast was much better. But I have feeling that the layout of German ICE trains effectively rules out a trolley. food on all three journeys didn’t include anything that was gluten-free, but that is coming if my taste of Virgin is anything to go by.

I doubt I’ll be travelling on Grand Central again, and certainly never in First. Unless I have no choice!

July 12, 2013 - Posted by AnonW | Food, Transport/Travel | Coeliac/Gluten-Free, InterCity 125, Lumo, National Railway Museum, Trains, York