On board Class 390 Virgin Trains Pendolino (1st class weekend upgrade)

[Realfoxhawk]

These were great.

[111meikle]

what is that room at 3:09 ??

[ay76]

@111meikle Train guard's /conductor / managers office.

[111meikle]

@ay76 cool ! nice to know.

[danbroad9]

@ay76 And its in the train awsome!

[Virgintrainsuk]

Great video, 390042 I see. This is the one I cabbed at Manchester Piccadilly. The driver was really friendly, I was in there a for a while before she departed. Some driver really go the extra mile, the East Coast HST driver at Carlise won't even do a horn as its in a station.

[ay76]

@Virgintrainsuk Thank you. I guess it depends on the driver, as i've seen other rail fans get EC drivers to do horns at some stations. Nice of the driver to let you step in & a take a look :-) Cool.

[Virgintrainsuk]

@ay76 Yer, it sure does. I got a dirty look, I think he was really shock with the thought of an idea of a horn in a station, however "Maybe in the country side" ... What an earth would the "Inspector think". lol

[ay76]

@Virgintrainsuk Possibly??

[Virgintrainsuk]

@ay76 Just uploaded the cab video of this train, 390042.

[ay76]

@Virgintrainsuk Okay cheers.

[clusterfak]

My god it doesn't even like you're moving at all! Thanks for this...another "to do" if I get there next spring...

[ay76]

@clusterfak At 51 seconds in the video, i was clocking it at well over 100MPH :-) on the GPS.

[howarth004]

Nice one, must go on one some day

[ay76]

@howarth004 Well worth it.

[TheClass377]

how do you book the week end upgrade

[ay76]

@TheClass377 We'd already booked standard class tickets, so when we boarded the train went straight into 1st class & grabbed a couple of spare seats. When the train guard / manager comes round, just ask for a weekend 1st upgrade. See the Virgin Trains website for more details.

[TheClass377]

@ay76 anyway thanks

[ay76]

@TheClass377 Cheers.

[TheClass377]

@ay76 thanks for the advice

[TheClass377]

@ay76 thanks ay76 im going up to london and spend the day on the pendolino eating snacks and doing some videos up there

[ay76]

@TheClass377 Cool, hope you have a good trip. Cheers.

[TheClass377]

@ay76 change of plan i going on the train from northampton then catch the cross country service to york and visit york railway museum

[ay76]

@TheClass377 Okay cheers.

[fouloleron2002]

The only way to travel!

[ay76]

@fouloleron2002 Indeedy :-)

[334fraser]

How busy are the first class on the upgrade weekends as i am thinking of going with family?

[334fraser]

How busy are the first class on the upgrade weekends as i am thinking of going with family?

[ay76]

@334fraser On the day we did this, there seemed to be plenty of seats in 1st class free. we just grabbed two seats & paid the guard the upgrade. So i think you shouldn't have to much trouble getting seats, just depends i guess on how busy it is on the day. I'd most def do it again. Regards.

[334fraser]

cheers mate how do you actually pay it do you just sit in the seats and then when the train manager comes along pay him then?

My situation is im going at the end of May from London Euston to Glasgow, so should I just go straight into First Class then pay when the guy comes?

[ay76]

@334fraser Yes, just sit in any free seats, & when the guard / manager comes round just ask them for a weekend upgrade, & then pay them there & then. So sooon as you get on board go straight to 1st class, jobs a good un!!

[334fraser]

Cheers do you know if virgin can have first class fully booked out, or if they are obliged to leave some unbooked?

[ay76]

@334fraser Er.... not sure. Best i think would be to ring Virgin Trains on this one, & see what they say, but i reckon you should be able to grab a seat. Think it'll depend on what time train you'll be going on, i reckon.

Regards.

[334fraser]

OK cheers I remember a while ago I was told by the guy who sells the tickets at the station that Virgin are obliged to keep some seats unreserved in standard class so I was assuming it was the same with first

[ay76]

@334fraser Was talking with a freind about this & he say's they usually have spare seats in 1st class, so it shouldn't be to much of a problem. But i'm thinking with the current ban on flying, the trains at the moment may be a bit fuller??

Cheers.

[334fraser]

yeh I'm going at the end of May so should be alright

[ay76]

I think it should be back to normal by then, i hope.Cheers.

[334fraser]

yeh i hope so too :)

[19bootsy68]

I always travel 1st class not cos i think im a snob but its less hassle, i used to think 1st was a waste of money until some football fan was sitting in my seat and there was about 6 of them with him, then a old lady was sitting in my seat...i could hardly tell her to get out of my seat, now its easier to pay the bit more, ur seats never taking, its more relaxing cos its not overcrowded and i don't need to worry about someone standing over my bag, I might do a video?

[ay76]

Very much so, good points you mention there. If you do a video do the old YT share video with us. Kind regards.

[19bootsy68]

OK i'll try my best to make a goodish video..but my airline cabins and lounge videos are poor so im not counting on a good coach video.

[ay76]

It's okay, go for it i say. Cheers

[HSTcallum]

i went on a pendolino from there about 2 weeks ago (but in standard class, which was completely overcrowded)

[ay76]

Sounds like a case for longer & more trains.Cheers.

[KaPOWitsCHRIS]

I live in Coventry ;D

[WrongRoadRailways]

I took 390013 from Euston on sunday, but it broke down at Rugby. Not very reliable...

[ay76]

Sorry to hear about that....

[dfoggin]

Yeah, must say that it;s not much compared to the 1st Class inside NXEC (or what it used to be) and Grand Central. And, in it's day, GNER first was THE best. Free breakfast, tea, coffee, big comfy seats, nice tables, big smiles. Just how 1st class should be done :)

[ay76]

Yes GNER 1st was / is the tops :-) Cheers.

[WrongRoadRailways]

Looks comfy, but for the money, I think Virgin First Class leaves a lot to be desired compared to other First Class like First Great Western and Wrexham & Shropshire.

[ay76]

Gner/ Neec last time i went on them was very good. Not been on FGW or W&S, so good to hear of the comparisons. Cheers.

[bronzeonion]

I prefer the voyager inside to be honest, the windows are much bigger

[ay76]

Yes, it did strike my about the size of the windows being smaller on the Pendolino's. Wonder if it's to do with the crash worthiness or something?? Cheers.

[bronzeonion]

I think at the time the pendos were built the desire was for it to be as much like air travel as possible

[ay76]

Yes it's more like being in a plane than a train i guess.

[navmantogo]

Cool vid, I go down from Glasgow to carlisle now and again, must get the upgrade and give it a try next time. Think I will give the goodies bag a miss. LOL

[ay76]

Many thanks, cheers.

[modelearth]

hey mate - ive never been in first class before but whats the major difference? all i can notice is the white head rest cloth and the lamps. i havet been on any pendo's before so i cant compare it to second class.

[ay76]

Well the seats are wider, & recline plus you have more leg room & more comfy (well to me it was). The seating is 2 + 4 instead of 4+4. I think every seat in 1st has a table?? Table lamp, pull down window blind (if you can call it that), plus other bits etc. Hope you get chance to try both classes out. Cheers.

[howarth004]

Back in Action then? that was better than the pensioner speciale i went on Bridlington to Hull £5 return think it was class 17o?

[itfcsam]

never been on a pendolino! Want to though sometime. nice one

[ay76]

We had it confirmed by the onboard train crew that on some stretches they now do 140MPH, we clocked it on two GPS's doing around 133MPH...... we was like go on driver go for 140!! Happy days!!

[itfcsam]

wow! excellent!

[granskare]

nice so only you in first class? and they even let you drive the train? now that's cool but wait a minute...it's just a management ploy to save £s on train drivers :) but no matter, still a fun video :)

[ay76]

Heh heh heh like it. There was a few others in the seats behind. My mate had gone off to the onboard shop for freebies that they allow you to have...... don't what i'll do with the V-kids goodie bag though

:-) heh heh heh. Cheers.

[pjdscott]

Most interesting! I think this sort of detail is really useful, not least since train companies seem to refurb on a semi-regular basis.

Don't know of anyone else who thought of taking inside shots - good for you!

[ay76]

Thank you, thought this may of be some use to folk. Wonder when these will go for their 1st refurb?? Cheers.

[pjdscott]

Suspect the first class don't get the same level of abuse as the standard class carriages...? Perhaps in another 8-10 years?

[ay76]

Maybe?? cheers.

[TheLukei]

me 1st viewer im just about to leave for the fair

were were you going how much was the ticket

i bet it cost the earth

[ay76]

Cool, Return to london was £22 so on the return we opted for the upgrade which was £15. Cheers.