First Class Showdown on LNER
Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, we took a trip up to the glorious county of Yorkshire. As opposed to our visit to Manchester on National Express, this time we decided to take the LNER (London and North Eastern Railway) high-speed train from London King’s Cross to Wakefield, and then York to London King’s Cross on the return. On the outbound we took an old InterCity 225 train, some of which are approaching 25 years old, and the newer AZUMA-branded Hitachi AT300 on the return which have been in service for around two years - my preference may surprise you, but read on to find out about the experience.
How much was the journey?
TLDR: In total, our return journey cost GBP 104.10.
The full explanation….: This is slightly convoluted. Originally we had booked a Standard Class London to Wakefield return for GBP 48.10 per person booked about three and a half months prior to travel - not bad for the journey distance on one of the busiest weekends in the year. However, we later decided in early-August to return on the Sunday evening from York (review coming soon). LNER currently, until the end of 2021, are offering greater flexibility on Advance tickets and the option for a refund to your LNER account for use anywhere on trains in Great Britain- rather than having to pay for a change fee. We ended up booking a one way from York to London in First for GBP 45 per person as it was only GBP 5 more than Standard Class.
As noted in a review of Seatfrog last week, we upgrade our outbound to First using the last-minute upgrade auction app for GBP 11 per person.
Is the seat really that different in First Class?
Yes. The seats offer:
Extra padding and wider space versus the ironing board like seat in Standard Class
Reclining function - however they do not extend into the person sitting behind like on a plane
Additional legroom
More privacy - for example: solo seats with a large table or seats for two facing each other across a table
The first point is the most important. We took a short 15 minute journey from Wakefield to Leeds on LNER Azuma Standard Class and I felt a bit numb from sitting on their uncomfortable seat, I dread to think what a 4.5h journey to Edinburgh from London would feel like.
However, there is significant difference between the old InterCity and new AZUMA trains. The older trains use are closer to First Class on a US airline with significant padding and leather-style covers adding to a sense of being in a better cabin, whilst the AZUMA uses fabric covers with less padding. I suspect this is a combination of cost cutting that is styled as being better for the environment by having the train and it’s seats weigh less.
Regardless, both seats are comfortable - but the older InterCity trains win out. Here you can see the seats in upright position (L: Azuma; R: InterCity):
And then in reclined mode (L: Azuma; R: InterCity):
How’s the cabin ambience and atmosphere?
Again this depends on which train you’re travelling on. The old InterCity trains are clad in leather and still have hints to their past as part of the Virgin Trains East Coast fleet - but do feel dated in places, such as the wood style tables. They feature proper curtains that can be pulled across the windows and plenty of space overhead or in designated areas to place luggage.
The Azuma trains instead take on a set of warmer colours - hues of their signature red colours, dark greys and Scandi-esque tables, surrounded in metal for greater durability. It looks more modern and stylish, but that’s because of their age. It’s a slightly nicer environment, but not by much.
Food, amenities, service and more
On both journeys, the food was exactly the same. At the moment, until the UK Autumn season kicks in, LNER are offering their “Let’s Eat Deli” menu onboard their trains. This is an improvement from earlier in the pandemic, but is still a far cry from what would have been served prior to March 2020. Here’s a snippet, in effect similar to the items you might find at a Costa or Starbucks:
We opted for the Bacon Roll and Cheese, Tomato and Mushroom Ciabatta. Both were okay, but never going to set the world on fire. A comprehensive selection of drinks are available, including alcohol and even dairy-free milk alternatives for hot drinks, which was a surprise. It should be noted that LNER place emphasis on sourcing food and drinks from along their route map - this is a neat addition emphasising that they are a national rail network, not just one for the South East. Their Chocolate Brownie from Beckleberry’s is to die for! We asked for many more…and they kept coming haha.
When it came to service, they outbound crew were great. Lively, interactive and helpful Northern women who had fantastic customer service and were extremely engaging. I have a sense that perhaps they were former Virgin Trains staff - their vibe was very similar to the energy from cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic. They even put a personal touch to an otherwise unremarkable sandwich:
The inbound service was okay, but not a patch on the outbound. The staff were nice but not as engaging, and hadn’t provided a menu as they did on the outbound (although they could have ran out since I believe this service originated in Edinburgh). Whatever service you take, I expect you’ll be well catered for.
On both journeys, I worked on the train. WiFi was noticeably better on the AZUMA, I suspect due to having more modern equipment installed over the InterCity. All seats feature a dedicated UK three-pin plug and, unlike some aircraft, can supply enough power to charge a laptop. Space was ample on both train tabletops for my MacBook Pro 13 inch (Below top half: InterCity; Below Bottom half: Azuma).
The trains generally seemed clean and had an attendant on board walking through the train every now and then to clean after departing passengers left the train. The toilets were generally clean too, but don’t expect much space here - they’re as cramped as the latest 737 MAX aircraft toilets if not more. At least they feature a proper lock…unlike many trains in the UK…
The verdict
Whether you take the Azuma or an older train, you are in for a good experience that is better than Standard Class. I would say that overall the Azuma just beats the InterCity primarily if you need to work on the move with more reliable WiFi - but I would say the comfort on the InterCity is better, just. If you’re on a long journey from London to Scotland, definitely look out for reduced price Advance tickets where you can get more comfort for the longer.
And besides, Azuma - what a great marketing name, even though it means nothing in Japanese! Any fellow marketeers agree with me out there?
Soon there will be a follow up review on the LNER experience at both King’s Cross and the newly opened York lounges.
