LNER's FANTASTIC Intercity 225 - Britain's BEST First Class?
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- čas přidán 4. 01. 2024
- To kick off 2024, I'll be showcasing my first journey of 2023... a ride on LNER's brilliant Intercity 225s which are sadly being replaced in the coming years. These British Rail icons are now the oldest trains to run on Britain's East Coast Main Line and really provide a brilliant travel experience on the line - find out why in this video!
Journey details:
Date of travel - January 2023
Operator - London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Origin - Doncaster
Destination - London Kings Cross
Price - £39.40 (advance first single including Railcard discount of 1/3)
Journey time - 1 hour, 54 minutes
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Music from EpidemicSound and is used under license.
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#intercity225 #lner #class91 #eastcoastmainline #london #kingscross #tripreport #vlog
I personally think that the 225’s are easily the best trains anywhere by far. The interiors are just great.
Same😄
I mean to each their own, but if we just talk interior the Italians are waaaaay ahead in that regard lol
You clearly have not been on the European High Speed network or the new American Amtrak.
You guessed it I have not (I haven’t even beo on on a train outside the uk)@@howarddavies8937
The only letdown is their acceleration
We took LNER first class from Edinburgh to Aberdeen where we were catching the Northlink to Shetland. It was excellent. Comfortable seats, clean, delicious food, friendly staff and on time.
225 do not go to Aberdeen no over head wire, they are talking about the class 91 locomotives, not the Azumers
I do find the current “225” livery a stroke of genius. It’s a wonderful take on what I think is the classic “Intercity” livery.
I’ve not been on LNER for a bit as I’m based in Merseyside, but I’m pleased to say that Avanti’s first class offering is much improved of late and back to the decent VTWC service. It’s a shame hardly anyone uses it. Prices are odd, peak prices are much less than Virgin and off-peak far more. This kind of suits me as peak time travel means I get home earlier rather than waiting for the 19:07 from Euston as peak time under Virgin was eye-wateringly expensive and under Avanti there’s not that much of a saving to go off-peak.
I travel from Leeds to London quite frequently and am always happy when on the 225's over the Azuma because of the appalling seats on the Azuma. The standards class 225 seats are more comfortable than the first class seats on the Azuma.
Love the "Activate Windows" message on the PIS at 6:53, c'mon LNER, pay up to Microsoft 😂
It’s a shame the InterCity 225 is in its twilight years.
There are no plans for them to get fitted with ERTMS, as the replacement CAF microfleet will come with it fitted, which means we will probably never see it do 140mph in passenger service.
It would be so good if the 225 group could keep one set, and retrofit with ERTMS so 140mph rail tours can finally happen on the upgraded ECML.
I dont think 140mph running will ever come into play, even with ERTMS. It should allow for greater capacity, but 140mph running would potentially reduce that. Not to mention its estimated at best it would only provide around a 6 minute time saving between London and Leeds. What will cut times is bringing into play the greater acceleration of the newer fleets as well as reducing bottlenecks in the known areas.
@@aidengillag acceleration makes little difference on limited stop express trains, top speed is more relevant
@Trainman10715 it actually makes almost as much difference on this stretch of route as a 15mph increase in top speed in the areas it would be achievable. Work out the distance vs speed and you'll see why the increase would barely be worth it, especially when additional energy plus wear and tear on both the rails and train is factored in too.
Nothing has been confirmed regarding if the CAFs are replacing the 225's.
@@aidengillag youd have to have a significantly greater acceleration rate to gain enough distance on a train doing 15 mph more even on a stretch like peterbough to stevenage. if they were to try to increase the acceleration of the new trains (not possible anyway) itll be by a very small amount, not nearly enough to offset the difference
I guess that makes it even more appropriate, that in May 2023, I travelled LNER First Class on an InterCity 225 to attend my cousin's wedding up in Leeds!
For onboard ambience these trains are just second to none, they're just fantastic.
In terms of seating the first class seats on these are so much better and more comfortable than an Azuma. Personally I find standard class more comfortable on the Azumas, largely because of the better legroom, the onboard atmosphere just isn't the same.
I love the LNER DVT sets because they're more comfortable than the IET sets and they're btter than many First Class trains in the UK.
Very good video Midland.
Fabulous futuristic looking trains, but annoying that we have lost our feats of rail engineering down the years.
Totally agree, both internally and externally the 225s are the best things on the UK network at present, for medium distance travel I'd go with the 170s.
I have used LNER between Wakefield and London many times And I quite like the Azuma trains but the 225 are the better, more comfortable in 1st or 2nd class the service in 1st class is "1st class" and I shall miss these trains when they go and i do try and fit my trips to London on the 225 if I can thanks for a well made video you could say it was 1st class !!
The 225 or class 91 locomotives will never see their full speed potential of 140 mph in service. Actually, I have a tale to tell about the first class 91 to arrive at Bounds Green Depot. It was hauled by a class 40 diesel locomotive I was mightily impressed my view was on the platform at Alexandra Palace Station and watched it shunted around and powered up with a pantograph up and was moving in front of the front of depot over points very slowly and there was an almighty crash sound, It had derailed. I said to a railway worker that it was a shock he replied not as shocked as the driver shunting it!
Great video as always. Thanks
Awesome and old skool and a Happy New year buddy from Alan in Lowestoft buddy 🎉😊
In 2005 I had the pleasure of travelling from King Cross to York (and back) in a GNER 225. Beautiful train with buttery a smooth ride and cozy interior, even in standard.
Ive applied to LNER just work on these great machines
So if you have a 1st Class Grand Central Ticket and want to use the LNER 1st Class longue.... You'll be going nowhere! lol but I remember doing a journey back in 2017 on a HST from London Kings Cross to Inverness and managed to pick up a first class ticket for £49.50 advance with a railcard and really enjoy the experience, that was during the Virgin Trains East Coast days. great video and honestly I do love the Class 91s and they are epic trains, in fact my first 'vlog' was riding my first Class 91 from Leeds to London
Couldn’t agree more Simon, thanks for your comment!
Recently travelled on LNER 225 Set & was really impressed by the cleanliness, service & ambiance of the sets. The livery is a class touch, giving them a face lift whilst giving a sense of nostalgia. Glad I actually managed to ride one before they bow out which will be a shame as they have been the backbone of the ECML for 30 years.
I like the 225 sets and the levery colors on them. I like the Azumas too the only minus with the Azumas are the ironing board seats in standard class from what I’ve have seen in videos and the brake sound when they are braking. When I visit London i am planning on traveling on both sets if the 225 sets are still in service when i visit just because I like train journeys
I don't dislike the Azumas, but I did travel on a 225 set up to Leeds last year and enjoyed it a lot.
I think the 225s may be the best available, but still not a touch on the HSTs. In my opinion the Mk3 coach was the best design to have come out of BR and anything since has been of lesser quality. A number of years ago I used a Grand Central HST from Sunderland. I found what I thought was my seat and made myself comfortable before a member of staff came along and explained I was sitting in a de-classified First and that my seat was at the other end of the train. I'm not certain that the leather seat was better than the original.
Hope they preserve a set or two
Me too; I joined the 225 Group fairly soon after I found out it existed.
I loved the 225, very sleek and comfy. One of the best trains
Need to go on one at some point. They do look good.
Gotta love LNER first class
Nice video 😊
I painted these into this livery,they was put back into service because the azuma boggies are cracking on the welds and have to be repaired so 8 rakes of mark4’s was put back in service
I've not been on a 225 in ages but I miss the leather seats in the Azumas especially since Scotrail have them in their HST sets
I still remember when I was on an 225 in first class, I went from Edinburgh to York
EMR also serve Doncaster with services to Peterborough via Lincoln and Transpennine Express with services to Liverpool Lime Street via Sheffield & Manchester Picadilly/Oxford Rd. and Grimsby Town/Cleethorpes via Sunthorpe. Also CrossCountry serve Doncaster.
Also Virgin Trains East Coast, not Virgin Trains refurbished the trains.
6:57 - LNER really need to activate their Windows!
Yes I’m aware, I just gave examples of other operators who serve Doncaster.
Virgin Trains East Coast was still under the Virgin Trains banner, hence why I referred to them as Virgin Trains.
Yes I have traveled on the inter city 225 sets in first class from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh and the service was excellent and I think LNER are one of the best train companies in the Uk for service to the customer and give good customer service I would always travel with LNER.
If those new caf sets aren't having good seats there's no point of riding in lner. The one thing that was making people go on lner which was the chance of go on a good train would be gone, and even one would go use lumo or go on a different main line, or ho on a different mode of transport all together.
Please do a review onboard the RENFE AVE S102 Talgo pato and the Alvia S730 from Madrid to Extremadura. Good video, I am subscribed to your channel. Happy New year
You should try TfW’s Mark 4s since they use ex-LNER coaches. They run between Holyhead / Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central / Swansea
I had the pleasure of a journey from Peterborough to Leeds over Christmas on the flying Scotsman in standard class. I found it much better than the Azuma. on the return journey.
Few facts about the MK4 choach/91 loco
91 loco has 2 cabs as it was originally designed to be used for freight and passenger services
The 91 and MK4s have a tapered profile as they were designed to have tilting equipment installed when the tech became available
I needed to know why they don’t dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so that they can extend the unused abandoned underground train stations. Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock that includes the class 313, class 314 and class 315 remix and make them all together and also redesign them an overhead line and also make them into Five cars per units and also having three Disabled Toilets on those Five cars per units A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes even Loud 8-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock, class 313, class 314, and class 315 and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into an 11 car per unit so it could have fewer doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers. A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the Waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it larger and extend it to the bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Railway tunnel into a High-Speed Railway lines? The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Railway line to make it 11 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. Then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised Waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbished 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 47 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project if that will be OK for London Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from the Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden more Easily. Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly Line and also build brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street can they also make another brand new underground train station in Chingford and could they extend the Piccadilly Line and the DLR right up to Chingford? All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, and 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Five carriages three disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extended roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains. Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and can they order Every 77 Octagon and Every 47 Hexagon shape LNER diagram unique small no.13 and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 147MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 147MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units, can they use those class 55’s, class 44’s, class 40’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 18 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!!!!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 18 Tonnes for all of those 147MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!!!! so please make sure that the Builders can do as they are told!!!!!! And Please do something about these very very important Professional ideas Please? Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.
I just want to say that best trains with comfort I have ever been on has been the 125/225. I’ve travelled on both since GNER days and I have never been disappointed when travelling with them from Peterborough to Donny or from Donny to Peterborough. I haven’t travelled with lner since they brought in the azuma fleet. I’ve heard so many different stories on how the azuma has issues
I remember waiting for them to come up to the platform at Peterborough or Donny hearing their engines whir & roar best bit to go find my seat chill until I get to Donny.
I miss that LNER has no longer got the 125 fleet big mistake taking on the azuma & cutting out 125 fleet.
Yes the 125 have been in service for over 45years & was only supposed to be temporary but turned out to be for the long term with many train companies taking them onboard using them throughout the 45year plus period.
125s still have plenty of life left in them and their carriages provided the comfort/luxury that we do miss today compared to rock hard azuma seats.
I’m glad lner still kept some 225s on and painting them in vintage intercity swallow livery colours. Shame they couldn’t keep on 125s but glad couple of other train companies have even some train heritages took some on from what I could see when visiting :).
GNER was amazing
@@sglenny001 100% agree with you. Always looked forward to going on GNER whether it was from London to Leeds or Peterborough to Donny or Donny to Peterborough. No other company that’s ran on east coast mainline can ever compare to GNER.
@@LoneSheWolf09 it's amazing
I wish we build more of inter city family they look amazing
Best trains in the UK imo
Also 91130 wow haven’t seen that for a while
Let’s hope at least one of these sets are preserved. Graat livery, seating and ambience onboard instead of the tiny padding etc of the Azumas. The Mk4 coaching stock hae a
How many miles was the journey from Doncaster. Long ago when I worked in Leeds I'd often take the 125 train to London. Now in the USA with a train journey from Champaign to Chicago taking nearly three hours. Thanks so much.
I like the 225s, however i prefer the way tfw operate the black and gold DVT sets with the 67s, Most of the time the canteen staff board at Newport station however there are often plates and glass cups etc on the tables, My ticket was cheap and definitely worth it. I really thought it was the best first class i have ever seen considering there was only one other person there.
The Intercity 225s are really the only train worth travelling on up the ECML. It's a shame they don't go all the way north any more. I recently did 1st class Bradford Forster Square to Kings Cross and back, dirext, which was ideal as I was staying near Shipley. Great service and food and the most comfortable stock still running in Britain. I absolutely refuse to use the Azumas in 2nd class again, although 1st class is bearable. Isn't that a shame - that "bearable" is the best thing I can say about the flagship service on one of the countries most important lines.
Oh wow!!! Looks so much nicer than First Class on an LNER Azuma! I'm definitely going to try it out at some point!! Great video!
Living in Leeds I have traveled on these trains many times. I seem to recall LNER did a refurbishment on them, strangely, as the Azumas were announced to be on their way, which is when they got their bright red and white wave line livery which was, I think, to be used on the Azumas to indicate speed. I can’t quite remember what they did on the inside of the carriages but I have a feeling that’s when the leather look seats arrived in first class. I’m not a fan of leather look seats they always seem cold to me.
Travelled from Retford to both Kings Cross and Newcastle on a regular basis for many years... almost since the introduction of the Intercity 225's. They are the best trains ever to run on the British railways network anywhere. Dare I say, at least on the East Coast Main Line, better than the HST's deltics and even the A4s. They are very comfortable, have a smooth ride and are quiet. It is a shame that they will eventually be phased out, having already been replaced north of York with the Azumas... Terrible trains, nothing more than a commuter train, uncomfortable, noisy and at time's bumpy.
Eurostar e300 class 373 for me is the best first Class, it starts/ends in uk so should be included with LNER and Avanti
nice review of LNER; Are all First Class fares on LNER include a meal; I assume its different for Avanti West Coast; Moreover, I think the Intercity 225 trainsets were the first ones with automatic doors, or ?
My trip from Edinburgh to Birmingham on Avanti provided me with an excellent hot meal and refreshments and refreshments on LNER are not far behind. Azuma’ s you can keep thank you. International railways improve with most new trains, we go backwards. Surely we could have upgraded the HST and 225 sets to meet legal requirements instead of the 800 sets.
@@artfuldodger4850 Why would we want to spend money "upgrading" stock that is life expired?
I'm travelling on LNER from London to Newcastle at the end of January. I already have my standard ticket, but does anyone know where to get a cheap upgrade? Best I can see is £54 one way
i accidentally started playing this without realising, and i found out at 2:25, must be a sign
NO TICKET BARRIERS??? yhhhh that’s my new hub
Am I the only one who loves the look of the class 700??
The 225 is leagues ahead of the glorified commuter Azuma replacement. Such a shame it is being phased out. Even the crew prefer it 😂
THE 225s HAVE ACTIVATE WINDOWS WATERMARKS IN THE SCREENS 6:59 LMAO
The first class does look nice, shame they are at fhe enc of their ECML life. I hope ghey find use elsewhere maybe with a trimode loco. The best alround package (1st and 2nd class) ever has got be the HST125 with it's original wide IC70 seats and tables.
I would prefer travelling in Intercity set any day, they more comfortable than the azuma sets
I don't know what the Azuma trains 1st class is such a downgrade from the 225s. Luckily these are still working on the Leeds to King's Cross services and it's always nice to see a 225 waiting at Leeds because you know that the 1st class is fantastic
These trains are avoiding me I swear
I’ve had 4 occasions I could of caught these but instead an azuma turned up
One of the times my train pulled into Leeds, it being a 225 set then it left towards a depot and a 800 came from the depot to replace it
Doncaster station has been ruined in recent years. Almost no drop off/pick up parking spaces (anyone disabled will really struggle), and for some reason, no arrivals board any more.
225 is number 1.
Yes I agree must better than their azuma trains
Pity that LNER is going to replace the IC 225 trains.
They need a Menu for a bowl of oatmeal?
It's pathetic how trains that were designed 40 or 50 years ago destroy what we have to ride on today as far as quality and comfort are concerned. From digusting build quality to ironing board seats . It just does my head in. If you went back in time and told the people of the 70s and 80s that this was as good as it gets and its all downhill from that time to today, they would never have believed you.
Oh dear... replacement by 'CAF' trains... perhaps they'll be back before long!
Most comfortable relaxing of our trains by far the mark 4 coach 1st class is better ride than the crappy azumas , pendolino, voyagers, the only experience that could rival this has been taken out of service the intercity 125 and her 1st class mark 3 coaches the replacement azumas are no where near as comfortable
Very sad that these trains are being withdrawn. Iconic design and by far the best 1st Class, very ambient and cosy with dark colours and wide space. The Azumas are awful value in comparison.
It’s only because we used too have that style back then, we still could but we let it all go to cock, the luxury was there because the government were accountable if it wasn’t, not some ceo who couldn’t care
What are you going on about..........?
I miss those trains!! Do not like the azumas. So sad that we have the potential to have a world beating train service but choose to plough money into roads instead.
The 80x need to be improved onto this level, the outside and much more importantly the interiors on the 80x are terrible
They are good by contemporary standards but that isn't saying much. The ride quality of the mark 4 bogies is poor.
The best first class were the mark 2 side corridor vehicles without the air conditioning. The original mark 3 firsts were OK. Before that you have to go back to pre nationalation stock for quality first class, and the Pullmans.
If this is really the best first class train in Britain, then it's quite sad. This looks subpar compared to first class intercity trains in France, Germany, Italy or pretty much any other European country. Britain invented trains, but its modern trains are atrocious. All that cheap looking plasticky junk without any style or thought put into it. Just horrible. Sorry for being so so blunt, but this is how I really feel riding British trains.
Remember they're over 35 years old! They might not look as swish and shiny as newer stuff but you need to experience the low noise, seat comfort, ride quality etc. to really appreciate them - none of that comes across in a video. The food and service are as good as I've experienced anywhere in Europe too. The example of food shown here doesn't really do LNER justice.
Pile of junk needs updating