GWR First Class Review! Is It Worth The Upgrade?
Hello and welcome back to another trip report, today I’m travelling from Hereford to London Paddington with GWR in first class.
Date of travel: 05/07/22
TOC: GWR
Rolling stock: Class 802
Class of travel: first class
Origin: Hereford
Destination: London Paddington
Length of journey: 3hr 11m
+6 minute delay
My Patreon: / danielstripreports
My Instagram: daniels_tripreports
Пікірлер: 102
Excellent video Daniel! Keep up the great work!
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Just stumbled across your channel while viewing other KZread clips. Very well presented. I travelled this route from Worcester Shrub Hill to Reading four years ago in similar accommodation when the Class 800/802 sets were new in service. Thanks for the memories.😀😀
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video. I must say I am rather suprised GWR offer a full Intercity service on these routes as it is essentially a regional service.
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
@@danielstripreports - Oxford, Worcester and Hereford are all cities and Reading will soon be joining them. Some very wealthy and influential people live in and around the Cotswolds, not to mention the Malvern Hills!
The Hitachi trains need to be upgraded to the scrapyard.
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
You seem to be in the vast majority on that!
Stunning Video Bro 👍
Great trip report
Nice to see you come to Hereford where I am fron
125 Mph and electric running kicks in after Didcot, in order to not hold up services from Bristol, Cheltenham, Swansea, and Cardiff
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
We didn't call at Didcot though.
@JackJackProductions
Жыл бұрын
@@danielstripreports The 80x units can change between diesel and electric running whilst at speed. That is why Penzance and Plymouth services don't leave Reading under diesel when the wires extend to Newbury, they drop pantograph at Newbury Racecourse.
@OnTheRailwayOfficial
Жыл бұрын
@danielstripreports The service you were on doesn't stop at Didcot, but it changes power at Didcot.
This is good to know as booked a 1st class ticket to Bristol Temple Meads in February. Possibly booked too early as had 0 sest reservations but we'll find out
I enjoyed this a lot.
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed!
I travelled on a Transpennine Express on this class of loco, it was very comfortable and quiet 😊
Great Western Railway is still a good train operator as I quite how they made their trains so posh, beautiful and very enjoyable. Despite the seats on the Class 387, Class 800 and Class 802 that aren’t as comfortable that most passengers have complained about.
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
GWR is a "good train operator"? Who are you trying to kid? Certainly nobody who travels regularly by rail between Portsmouth Harbour and Cardiff Central via Salisbury will be taken in by your assertion. A route linking major cities (Portsmouth, Southampton, Salisbury, Bath, Bristol and Cardiff) served by slow, noisy, dirty Thames Turbo commuter trains with no First Class seating areas, no refreshment trolley and a fares structure intended to rip you off (no Off-Peak Singles or Returns, just expensive Anytime tickets) deserves much better than GWR's offer. It would be rather nice if Transport for Wales could run locomotive-hauled Mark 4's with First Class and a Restaurant Car between Cardiff and Portsmouth. That might make GWR sit up and think!
@joemercedeschannel196
9 ай бұрын
@KempSimon I agree. GWR has got to be more worse than TFW to be fair. The seats on the 800/802 IET's are so uncomfortable and very bad. The interior doesn't look good either as the colours don't go together for me.
@Shadow_x12
5 ай бұрын
@@joemercedeschannel196GWR should've kept the HSTs with their lovely leather armchair seats
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
How can a train be posh/enjoyable if it is painful?
Great video
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
I made the same rail journey on Monday, 11th July, returning home after attending the Hereford Beer, Cider and Perry Festival. The five-coach GWR IET was very busy on departure from Hereford and the overcrowding (which became severe after Oxford) wasn't helped by an air conditioning failure on one of the hottest days of the year. The scenery along the route is fantastic, with apple orchards and hop gardens west of the Malvern Hills and the rolling limestone uplands with their picture-postcard villages east of Moreton-in-Marsh. It would be rather nice if GWR provided a Pullman Dining offer on this route at lunchtime and in the evenings, similar to the provision made between Paddington and Plymouth/Swansea. I believe that the North Cotswold Line contains the only stretch of single track railway in England which is cleared for 100mph running! Such a shame about the uncomfortable seats which spoiled the journey for me.
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
GWR is not responsible for and should not claim credit for the countryside!!!
Seems a very nice journey.
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Was indeed
Most of it isn't their fault as the spec is all down to the DFT. The old HST first class was how GWR wanted and planned for the IET's to be.
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
The uncomfortable seats are 100% GWR's fault and comfort and safety are the most important things.
@maimadha
2 ай бұрын
@@daydays12GWR need to scrap the 800s and 802s
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
@@maimadha Agreed!
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
@@maimadha Agreed!
Not too sure if u mentioned this. It To add on the snacks in FC are complimentary but in ST u would have to pay for snacks & drinks so technically if u wanted food on the train depending where u go & the price of said ticket FC & standard would roughly be the same price 😅😊
Wonderful trip report along a beautiful stretch of line. How far in advance did you book your ticket?
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
I booked about 2 months in advance
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
Worth noting that if you ever travel mid-day with GWR between Guildford and Hereford, a refundable walk-on Super Off-Peak Single is considerably cheaper than a non-refundable Advance Purchase Single! Not that I'm complaining, but where's the sense in that?
I have many memories of travelling between Hereford and London by train. Back then it was mostly HST’s and Class 180’s.
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
London Paddington to Hereford was better operated by HSTs
@Metal197
Жыл бұрын
Long live the HSTs
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
@@Metal197 HSTs will live on forever
@Abandoned23345
Жыл бұрын
@@maimadha Unfortunately, just in hearts. GWR said that the Castle HSTs will be withdrawn in December 2023
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
@@Abandoned23345 why are GWR retiring the Castle Set HSTs?
GWR first class catering is massively inferior to that offered by Avanti West Coast and LNER, where coffee is served in proper cups not plastic!
window blind is availble in standard aswell. but this could very on the type of train
It good G.W.R 125 hatchi trains service not stopping at elizabeth line stations .
I always choose to travel 1st long distance (when provided).
Nice video. I tend to use First Class a lot west of Cardiff (where it's exceptionally good value). My main gripe about the 80x's is that the single seats are almost all singles facing in one direction, rather that 1+1 bays - this has the effect that they can almost all be backwards! I also dislike the composite carriage in the 5-car units - this has the effect of passengers traipsing through to/from standard class at every station. Good to see the sandwiches back - they've been gone for two years. They look decidedly less fancy than the ones from before the pandemic though.
Do they offer marmalade sandwiches in the lounge? They should as they are Paddington’s favourites
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Unfortunately not!
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
No, but you can take a free hot shower to freshen up if you need one!
New subscriber here 👍 Think you could do with the ambient sound being a little louder as at certain points in the video there's just silence.
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for subscribing!
The toilets don't stay clean for long. The ride is so rough that you can't be sure of aiming into the bowl.
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
good point!
Brilliant video, how much was this trip
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Hi it was £21.50
Great video mate! I've caught this service from Moreton-in-Marsh before. When the rail sale was on I got Penzance-Reading for £30 first class and I really enjoyed GWR first class! I found the seat cushion and overall seat comfortable and much better then standard class and much better then LNER's Azuma first class.
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Wow that's a good price! While GWRs service doesn't rival LNER and Avanti in quality, I do find it to be pleasent enough, don't see any difference to LNER in comfort though.
When I did it recently there was no catering at all!
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Probably some sort of staffing issue, lot of that going on rn.
Great video Daniel. I haven't travelled on a GWR 8xx set but I have travelled on the Transpennine Express 802 units. I found the first class section on the 802s very underwhelming.
Thanks for the upload. First class does look clean and comfortable. But don't they have an onboard buffet? I am only asking because I am thinking of travelling first class from Paddington to Cornwall. I was a little disappointed they only sell sandwiches in First Class. No hot food on the menu then, apart from hot drinks!
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
No onboard buffet on the IETs sadly. Only a trolley service which never reaches the end of the train on a 9 car
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
@@danielstripreports that is pathetic!!! GWR has NO consideration for its customers
I’m from Hereford
The on screen links to your vids need adding.
@danielstripreports
Жыл бұрын
Yes my bad, I will add them when I'm home from holiday
West Midlands I think you meant London Midland since they never separated
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
London Midland lost the franchise in 2017
So there seats with no windows in first class on these trains??? Scandalous.
I had a first class journey on the same train as this one over the weekend, though I came on later in the journey than you did. No sandwiches were offered, train was delayed 40 minutes, and first class was packed and very noisy. My first experience in first class, something I only went for as the upgrade price was on offer and was very cheap. Overall I didn't enjoy my time and it didn't feel like a first class experience, wouldn't have paid full price for it. I was also unaware of the first class lounge, it wasn't well advertised or signposted at all at paddington. Would've saved me sitting in a cafe when waiting for my return trip the next day.
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
There used to be a rather good First Class customer lounge at Bristol Temple Meads but penny-pinching GWR shut it down around the year 2006 not only in order to save a bit of money, but also to display the full depth of their contempt for passengers paying well over the odds to travel First Class. The First Class Lounge (or, if you prefer the Welsh language version, Lolfa Dosbarth Cyntaf) at Cardiff Central was very small and lacking in amenities when I last used it, just before the first Covid-19 lockdown. Apparently GWR has no plans to extend or refurbish it.
Probably quicker traveling via Newport from Hereford to Paddington
@shiro8686
Жыл бұрын
For now, very true
What happened to Evesham
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
Daniel didn't include Evesham in the video
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
@@maimadha - Or the four-mile continuous and unbroken climb out of the Severn Valley, through Campden Tunnel and over the Cotswold Escarpment, banked at 1:100, between Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh. It was here in 1935 that the Down "Cathedrals Express" became the first GWR train to smash through the 100mph barrier, rather than merely nudging up against it.
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
And Honeybourne!
Those seats are very hard. Not particularly comfortable for a long journey.
@maimadha
Жыл бұрын
The seats are very uncomfortable for any length of journey
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
@@maimadha - I started my journey in a GWR five-coach IET at Hereford, and on arrival at Worcester my backside was numb and sore. No matter how much I twisted and turned in my seat I just could not get comfortable. Oh, how I miss First Class on the old IC125's or the Class 180 Adelantes, which used to run between Hereford and Paddington!
@gowestyorkshire_4782
Жыл бұрын
@@maimadha well you could always stand or find another train company
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
Why have GWR done that? Do they hate their customers?
@maimadha
Ай бұрын
@@daydays12Hitachi are twats by giving the 800s and 802s uncomfortable seating
30 Jan 2024 things have not got any better in first class no trolley service between Plymouth and Reading and prices have just risen guess GWR shareholders don’t travel on these trains
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
They surely don't the *******s
Nothing wrong with the train or seats or ride perfectly comfortable
@henrybn14ar
7 ай бұрын
I have been on these trains recently. The ride is unstable and the seat cushions have collapsed. The seat layout is a mess.
@maimadha
6 ай бұрын
@@henrybn14ar43s and 91s are better than 800s and 802s
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
@@henrybn14ar thank you for your honest reply
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
Examples of long distance journeys in second class you've taken on these trains?
@maimadha
28 күн бұрын
@@daydays12 travelling on the 800s and 802s is absolutely horrible
my experience of the GWR was how uncomfortable the seats are on long haul journeys, I left the train with a numb bum!!
@KempSimon
Жыл бұрын
I got on at Hereford (like Daniel but a week later) and by Worcester my backside was sore. No matter how much I twisted and turned in my seat, I just could not get comfortable. Why, oh why, did GWR get rid of its IC125's with their lovely leather armchair seats? And, come to think of it, what became of the complimentary glass of wine served to your seat by GWR on Friday afternoons and evenings?
@daydays12
2 ай бұрын
@@KempSimon Thanks for your info I am planning a trip from Bristol to Plymouth. GWR sounds vile.
I would of chosen a bay of 2, I dont get why you would sit in a bay of four, when maybe someone with their kids would come on. It just seems greedy to me, great vid tho.
@NafisaLondon
9 күн бұрын
*would have chosen