22-MAY-2013
The trip to Aberdeen gave us a good clear view of the Firth of Forth as we crossed the Forth bridge at Queensferry
The road bridge is in the distance
22-MAY-2013
Aberdeen station is nice and bright. Could not work out why the train stopped short of the central area where the access footbridge is, only to drive out passed it on departure. the result lots of passengers simply had further to walk.....railways are run for passengers not the convenience of the operating companies.....1 lost mark there Scotrail/Aberdeen station.
Otherwise the station was light and airy, and attached to a shopping centre making it very conveneient for the locals.
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One point to mention is that following the alarm incident I had held on as I did not want the embarrassment of also setting the alarm off. At Aberdeen station the toilets are barrier controlled and its 20p to have a pee.
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Luckily, as I was in a rush and didn't have 20p, the barrier was broken and I along with many others enjoyed a free "p" on Scotrail....thank you.
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Overall Aberdeen station gets a 6/10 losing marks for the walk/broken electronic signs and 20p charge.
22-MAY-2013
We had time to wander down to the harbour area and have a quick look round before we set off for our last overnight stop in Glasgow.
It might look summery but it was cold and windy and not at all like summer.
22-MAY-2013
Another class 170 to take us back to Glasgow. This one got quite full on the way down.
But as with most legs of the trip it was an on time departure and arrival into Queen Street
A journey of 154 miles giving us 2608 miles in total.
By now both of us were getting a little weary of lugging the cases around but surprisingly the travelling was not causing tiredness or rail weariness.....we were still looking forward to our last day on the rails.
22-MAY-2013
Glasgow was also fine sunny but very windy and cold.
Just round the corner they were demolishing a building and the dust combined with the wind was ensuring everything got covered with dust......very surprised at the H&S guys allowing this in the middle of a city with busy streets all round.....standards must be slipping since I retired!!!
Still last hotel was the Mercure. I think it was a robot that checked us in, no interaction simply a well rehearsed set of questions and statements that required no response other than Yes or No.
Hardly a warm welcome......rooms had everything you needed but were cramped to the point of being too small for comfort. In need of some TLC to replace cracked washbasins etc......struggle to give much more than 6/10 for this place.
22-MAY-2013
After a good meal at the Mussel Inn ( always gets 9/10 from me) we sampled the delights of the Pot Still pub across the way (9/10)
A fine selection of malts and an entertaining birthday party celebrating a 60th to keep us amused.
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On their departure our new friend seemed to be using someone elses legs as he clearly was unaccustomed to using them. The left one in particular giving him problems. Still he did make the door which is better than some!
He came to shake hands, after a visit to the gents (no alarms by the way,)with the classic phrase:
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"its OK I have washed my hands "..we shook his hands!
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....just brilliant.....Well done the guys from West Kilbride
23-MAY-2013
Last day starts with a brisk walk to Glasgow Central. Lovely old interior to the station but no waste bins requiring a walk to the road to deposit the coofee cups ....poor show.
Otherwise a station with everything you need so long as you don't want a free "p"....yes its 20p again to spend a penny....another poor show...these things matter to grumpy old men.
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Do the same trick as other terminus stations, keep you guessing until the last minute before giving the platform details. However with a rover and a little bit of nouse ( there was only one Virgin Pendolino in the station) the grumps were first on board long before the platform announcements were made.....1-0 to the oldies!!!
23-MAY-2013
Neither of us had ridden on the Pendolino before so we were looking forward to sampling the tilting train's performance.
11 car unit...a proper train.
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Settle into the seats...exactly the same as those on a Voyager....and ready ourselves for the run to London.
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Non stop after Warrington Bank Quay.
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Note from Geoff: Alarm in toilet has been relocated in this train...so it was clearly a design fault not operator error!
23-MAY-2013
Breakfast at 125 mph.....that's my excuse for the blurred shot.
Good service on the train, engaging crew, plenty of offers for coffee, light lunch and red wine as well...offered to leave the bottle as it was almost done......good show by all
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A little disappointed in the Pendolino in the fact you didn't notice any real difference...maybe a slightly more angle on the corners. I was expecting more than that but that's probably my fault.
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So it got us to London without fuss, on time and stressless...
...another 9/10 I think.
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Virgin by far the best service overall of the mainline TOCs
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For the East Coast lady we met on day 1......yes the windows are small but not a problem and no smelly tanks as promised....sorry Virgin beat East Coast by two country miles.
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400miles so far today making 3008 miles in total...we have broke the 3K barrier!
23-MAY-2013
Those orange jackets get everywhere....
23-MAY-2013
The original entrance to Euston lists the stations that were served in the days of proper trains. trains of decent length, trains run for passengers not shareholders, trains that went where needed not where franchises let them, trains run by one company BRITISH RAILWAYS.
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Explain to me how it is cost effective to have umpteen operating companies, each with their own infrastructure, management teams, staff etc each making a profit for the share holders. Train leasing companies also have multiple set ups also making profits for their shareholders and network rail running the track and stations for profit.....there is too many taking too much out of the system strangling growth, investment and operational capability....rant over.
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Or this could just be a football league table with Halifax trouncing neighbours Huddersfield
23-MAY-2013
Now that's a proper station roof.....light and airy....watch and learn Paddington.
St Pancras our last leg now upto Sheffield with yet another TOC East Midlands.
A 125 awaites in Platform one to get us back to Yorkshire in just over two hours.....how will they compare?
