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!
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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.