All Yours
Hull Trains - Which do you prefer?
by ChrisHolmes
4 months ago
in group
Railways
Last updated 4 months ago.
Hull Trains have recently introduced a class 180 Adelante into its fleet as a replacement for the unit that dropped off the jacks at crofton depot last year during routine maintenance. Although the circumstances that have led up to this situation were unfortunate the outcome has added to the variety of rolling stock now running around our local rail lines. If anything it gives off the impression of more investment being pumped into train services in the Hull area which surely has to encourage more people to use the trains to/from Hull.
Has anyone used the 180 and do they prefer it to the Pioneer? One advantage has to be five cars over four. Using the 180 has effectively added extra seats to the existing fleet. I have not travelled on the 180 but the 175s operating in the north west have identical interiors (see third photo) and there are many who would say that the standard class accommodation on the Alstom trains is superior by comparison with that offered by other rolling stock on the network. I certainly find that the Alstom trains feel "roomier" with better seat pitch and leg-room between seats.
Interestingly, one of the cars of each Adelante was fitted with at-seat audio when they were in use with First Late Western. Have not used the HT adelante but wondered if the at-seat audio was still working (useful if the batteries on the i-pod run flat).
First and foremost as long as it gets you to your destination that is the main concern but comfort is a factor on long journeys. However I think the arrival of the 180s in Hull gives the station that "part of a big city" feel to it and personally I hope that HT exchange the 222s for 180s.
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Colombo Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
Displaying my age, I remember when we had a luxury train called The Yorkshire Pullman. It wasn’t as fast as today’s trains, but it was luxurious, with waiter service at every seat. The supplement was about 2/6 for second class.
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KenStarkey Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
The Hull to London service has certainly improved since I started using it 40 years ago, I think the journey was well over 5 hours and well over 8 if you braved the weekend milk train journey from Kings Cross to save a few bob. It left KC at about midnight Friday and the first connecting train from Donny was 7.30am. Thank heavens for that coal fire in the waiting room in the winter and someone to keep it going! You always knew you were home when you walked through the old booking hall at Paragon, so pleased they didn’t rip it out during the installation of the new Interchange.
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Colombo Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
Ken. I used to use that train from King’s Cross. You could save a couple of hours, by changing at Selby, although the connection was not shown in the timetable.
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KenStarkey Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
Remember once on the return trip to London one Sunday in the late 60’s we were travelling with some friends. After setting off from Paragon one of our friends went to the buffet car for coffees only to discover there was no buffet! So after half an hour of mutual complaining he got up and proceeded to walk the length of the train [It must have been one of the old corridor/ compartment trains] announcing ‘The buffet car is now open’ of course, chaos then ensued for a good 20 mins as everybody looked for the non- existent buffet! We eventually managed to grab coffees from the platform buffet at Grantham, rail travel was much more exciting in the old days!
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Colombo Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
The 9:24 Hull – Liverpool (Exchange), which went via Sheffield (Victoria) and the Woodhead Route, had a waiter with a very nasal twang. Shortly after the train left Brough, he could be heard the length of each coach, announcing "Marning Caffe, Marning Caffe".
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JohnN Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
Of course, it means the end of the distinctive Hull Trains livery as First Group tightens its grip on its subsidiary! All will be blue all over once the 222s have gone.
Whilst regretting this immensely, one has to accept that without the support of a "Big Player", HT would have gone under ages ago – through no fault of its own (q.v. Grand Central!).
Terrorism in London, Hatfield, Crofton and arising from the last mentioned, one week (Only) of extremely difficult operating when they had only one train (But even that is better than Grand Central!).
Whilst I still lament the passing of BR, one has to acknowledge the great job done by HT in giving us a superb London service when all BR (And GNER in its day) would offer was a begrudged single train.
What a pity that their aspirations to operate also from Cleethorpes have been stuffed by the DfT Rail Office.
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ChrisHolmes Submitted 4 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!
Well JohnN, well all know what DfT is really short for don’t we? Surely they could have come up with a better name for themselves if only to save all the pun-making headlines that have left newspaper editors everywhere drooling at the endless prospects for poking fun at this joke of a government department!
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