18-MAY-2013
Our next 4 journeys would be courtesy of Scotrail so I'll give an over view score a little further down the blog.
This morning they provided a Class 158 for the return trip to the West Coast. To our surprise this did have a first class section which was good as the train was full mainly made up of a coach party on an organised UK rail tour. One or two loud experts in the group that knew everything....happy to be independant!
Not sure if it was a true first class offering or just the train rostered had one but it did ensure we had good seats for the trip.
One thing noticed was the helpful nature of the crew, assisting passengers with a smile. Limited but adequate trolley service was provided both ways with frequent passes thru the train.
18-MAY-2013
On time arrival at the end of the line
Not much to see in the town, a hotel, fish processing shed and a view of the Skye Bridge
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The local friends of the line joined the train to push their cause which is currently focused on the rebuilding of a fire damaged signal box. They have a small museum and model of the railway as it was in its heyday...well worth a visit if you are "passing"
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Short turn round then back to Inverness a round trip of 164 miles bringing the running total to 604 miles by the time we made it back to Inverness.
Due to the on time arrival we were able to update our plans and take an earlier train to Perth with a change for Edinburgh rather then wait for the direct train an hour later.
No images but the Class 170 to Perth provided the comfiest seat to date, good service from the catering crew and an on time arrival into Perth...little to fault with that leg at all.
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The train down to Edinburgh was busy, it was late Saturday pm and some of the passengers were "priming themselves for a night out"....red wine from the bottle is not very ladylike. At least those in the 1st Class came pre-prepared with plastic glasses for the wine. :-)). No catering service offered which was poor, the first real let down by Scotrail.
OK train, can't even remember what it was...a 158 probably. a further 174 miles bringing the total to 778 miles into Edinburgh.
So overall for Scotrail's first go (we return later in the week). I put them in the league of TPEx, medium long runs but not frontline top class league. And if that is their place they easily top TPEx. Nicer trains, Nicer staff, punctual and relatively clean and tidy. I know blue and white is "Scotlands colours" but the trains look like Northern/TPEx/FCC.....have a re-think on the paint scheme at the next change over and be distinctive.
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Overall a good 8/10 but the seating on the 170 was good for me and that is up there with a 9/10
19-MAY-2013
A very wet cold miserable evening greeted us in Waverley. Luckily the Motel One is 50yds from the station exit so we did not get too wet. This is a German chain which only has two hotels in the UK. They have taken an old building , retained the old fascade but put a modern "motel" like facility inside. Checking in was a bit fraught, busy etc, with the guest in front (overseas) trying to book a taxi to "Boness". The receptionist (overseas) made a good stab at telling the taxi firm where it was to go but was not quite there....A taxi to "Bones" is required.....it took some assistance to get them to the right place :-))
Hotel itself not particularly memorable. Clean warm and surprisingly quiet room. The one notable item being the fire on the TV....the room did feel warmer when it was on.
Decent chatty barman in the evening.
No tablet soap just a shower gel...poor. Shower cubicle very slippy when wet....not good Otherwise fine room. Breakfast was continental and simply adequate.
Motel One manages 7/10 based mainly on it being very handy for the station.
24-MAY-2013
Our hoped for visit to the Mussel Inn was quashed when it was full so we ended up here for tea. ( Image courtesy of Google maps as it was too wet to think about taking photos.)
They managed to squeeze us in at short notice and the food was excellent.
The really old grumpy one remarked that in Edinburgh the ladies dress up for a night out but the men seemed to dress down ( ie they were scruffy). My thoughts were the ladies seemed to wear very little material and the blokes were sensibly dressed for the weather!
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Any way I'll give this establishment an 8/10 for the food and the fact we managed to get a table with no booking.
19-MAY-2013
Day 3 dawns in Edinburgh cold, and misty but at least the rain had stopped.
Edinburgh Waverley seems to have been under renovation since it was first opened and it is still on going.
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Not the easiest station to navigate but has all the standard facilities you would expect from a capital city station.
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Frequent trains to most parts of the country with Virgin/East Coast/Cross Country/Scot Rail and our beloved TPEx being the major TOC working out of it.
Due to the ongoing work here Waverley station can only warrant a 7/10 for me.
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Our plan was for a long Sunday run to Plymouth direct on Cross Country trains
19-MAY-2013
One of the tour party deems this to be an ugly engine, whereas another thinks it looks quite smart.
Either way we were not using it so it hardly matters!
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Weather was slow in picking up.
PS I think its smart!
19-MAY-2013
A little bright colour to liven up the gloom of a late spring morning in Edinburgh.
A DB Schenker (the Germans are taking over) Rescue engine was parked up along with an East Coast about to leave for London and a ScotRail going somewhere in Scotland I presume!
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19-MAY-2013
At last our steed for the day is ready. Cross Country Voyager ready for the 542 mile trip all the way to Devon.
Views on this Cross Country service, bearing in mind it was a Sunday are.....
1. Train itself was presentable and relatively comfy even after the high mileage
2. Driver from Edinburgh to Leeds very friendly and talkative whilst on the platform
3. The crew on the middle section were good, our Julie made a big hit with the really old grumpy one.
4. On time within acceptable limits
5. Until Newcastle all was fine but from then on until south of Bristol the train was exceedingly busy and the standard issue is that these days trains are simply not long enough. Five carriages with the two ends taking up the equivalent of a carriage along with the catering bits leaves very few seats for the many that got on...by Birmingham it was unacceptable. Even up front it was full. Why can't we invest in more trains rather than worry about building HS2 which will in my humble opinion never happen or be the biggest white elephant going. Edinburgh to Plymouth deserves proper length trains. Simples!
So overall 7/10 mainly due to the crew being good, maybe on a week day mid afternoon the service might have been better....we shall have to try it again.
If in standard class I am sure it would have been a lower score.
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On arrival, on time, in Plymouth our mileage now stands at 1320 miles since leaving Shepley.
19-MAY-2013
Nice scenery as you left Exeter for Plymouth
View here of Exmouth across the river.
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First time also for a run along the Dawlish sea wall, quite amazing experience. Must try it again when the wind is blowing!
19-MAY-2013
Sunshine at last.
Left the gloom behind in Scotland and there was plenty of sunshine to be had in Devon.
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Another crew change before the train left for its last leg to Penzance, we had had enough by then.
Jury's Inn, Plymouth
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Our accommodation for the night was the Jury's Inn which was also being used by a coach tour from Trafalgar tours so not as quiet as expected for a Sunday night.
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The really grumpy one was upset about Gladys hogging the toaster at breakfast ( she had four slices) and people socialising over the fruit display.....never mind it was the best breakfast on the trip, rooms fine, it had baths as well as showers. Not too long a walk into the Barbican area of Plymouth and the Hoe and its sea view.
Not a bad hotel at all I'll give it 8/10 mainly for its breakfast.
19-MAY-2013
Just round the corner from the hotel was the Barbican area.
Lots of bars and eating places.
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The really grumpy one disapproved of the noise though, live music in most of the places
Also some interesting old railway related buildings to be found there.
Dinner was at a Cafe Rouge. Somewhat quiet when we arrived but then a group appeared and one of the ladies had a voice to sink the navy ships in the bay, even the not so grumpy one was glad of a quick exit. otherwise good food, nice place 7/10
19-MAY-2013
For some unknown reason Geoff seemed quite taken by the pink bicycle.
Overall we were impressed by Plymouth and will award it 8/10
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So that's us half way through the week.....still feeling fresh and raring to go....train travel especially at the front of the train is a nice stress free method of getting around.
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Reasonably fed and watered on the trains, good food in the eating places and weather holding on OK
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Continued on page 3