I spotted a sign to the Azuma First Class Lounge next to Little Waitrose, just along from platform 9 . Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. LNER Green Guide. Northbound Azuma services begin at London Kings Cross. [1] For compatibilities with legacy signalling systems, it is also provisioned with apparatus for the Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS), Automatic Warning System (AWS), and Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. The British Rail Class 800 - branded by Great Western Railway (GWR) as Intercity Express Train (IET), and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) as Azuma - is a type of bi-mode multiple unit train built by Hitachi Rail for GWR and LNER. I could tap away on my laptop undisturbed. Kitakyushu Hotels with Laundry Facilities, Hotels near Kyushu Railway History Museum, Indian Restaurants for Lunch in Kitakyushu, Japanese Restaurants for Lunch in Kitakyushu, Japanese Restaurants with Private Dining in Kitakyushu, Restaurants for Group Dining in Kitakyushu. Hakodate, Hokkaido On virtually all departures at some point during the journey a catering trolley will be taken through the train, from which you can order hot/cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches at your seat. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) tickets, An Azuma with 5 coaches: 2 bike spaces in either coach K or coach D, An Azuma with 9 coaches: 4 bike spaces in coach K, An Azuma with 10 coaches: 2 bike spaces in coach K and 2 bike spaces in coach D. I managed to do a bit of work and, before I knew it, we were soon pulling back into Kings Cross. Clearly there were some stocking issues. An unusual feature for a British train are the window blinds which can be used to shield from bright sunlight, though when using them be aware that it won't only be your seat(s) which will be impacted. 2023 Head for Points. Azuma first class seats are hard compared to seats on the older trains. Part 1 of our LNER Azuma review can be found here. Taking bikes on trains in the UK is completely free. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Bear in mind that the timetable only lists Azuma services - there are plenty of other daily trains from Kings Cross. The LNER Azuma 801206 departing from Kings Cross Station (Photo: RPL via Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) . The First Class seats are arranged 2 + 1 across the aisle instead of 2+2 and another difference with Standard Class seats is that you can use a button to recline them. [29] Following further issues, the units were withdrawn from service on 19 October for the rest of the day, re-entering service during the next day. To reach Shinmoji Port from Kokura Station, take a JR local train to Moji Station. What do you think of LNER Standard class? . (8) Up to two dogs can travel for free with an individual or group of travellers. First Class . Amongst other functions, it provides onboard information systems such as the seat reservation system, public address, and passenger information system, as well interfacing with the cab displays, on-train data recorder, and 3G/4G communications. Beppu Port is a 10 minute bus ride from Beppu Station. Check out these popular Azuma destinations for travel details and nearby attractions. The main port (used by most ferries) can be reached in a 10-15 minute walk from Izurodori tram stop or a 15-20 minute bus ride from Kagoshima Chuo Station. A look at LNER's 1st Class aboard one of their brand new Azuma (class 800) trians between Inverness and Darlington.Watch: Caledonian Sleeper NEW Classic Room https://youtu.be/5-trV68plWgFollow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanstravelreports/Want to tip me? We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture Orders for lunch were taken shortly after departure. First Class seating saloon on an LNER Azuma, A standard class seating saloon on a LNER Azuma, Note the bike symbol indicating that this coach houses bike storage racks, Note the symbol which indicates that this coach has wheelchair spaces, Azuma trains travel at up to 125 mph/200 kmh, When boarding check the seat numbers which are by each door, The general guide to travelling in Britain by train, Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes, European Daytime Trains: A Beginner's Guide, the on board facilities of more than 70 European train services; check the catering, whether you can take bikes and whats available in 1st class. These Azuma trains either have five or nine coaches, though on some departures two five coach trains are joined together to make a 10 car train. Each passenger is given a glossy Lets Dine menu on their folding table; we ordered from the ordinary Rest of Day menu, but theres also a special menu for journeys north of Edinburgh. LNER First Class . LNER offer an excellent First Class service with wider seats that recline, generous legroom, and large tables for those wanting to work en route as well as for those simply looking to relax and recharge. Crucially, they will provide more space for travellers on LNERs increasingly busy core Edinburgh-London route in other words, more seats and extra legroom. Is IHG One Rewards the best hotel loyalty scheme? Train operators. The seats offer good choices for those seeking privacy if travelling alone. The new fleet. Were striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements. But LNERs express trains have had a far longer gestation period, with the project starting more than a decade ago since when the east coast franchise has changed hands three times. Good service . It will be over a year before youll find Azuma trains on all LNER services, although they should be widespread by Christmas. How to get free hotel elite status from UK credit cards, Get exclusive benefits on luxury hotel bookings via HfP. Tomakomai, Hokkaido THE SEAT:Compared with the existing trains, the Azumas First Class carriages have more legroom, larger tables, reclining seats with adjustable headrests, and both USB charging and plug sockets at every seat. I was in a single seat and had plenty of legroom thats coming from someone who usually has to stick their legs out into the aisle to sit comfortably. 5-5-10 Yugawa Kokuraminami-Ku, Kitakyushu Fukuoka Prefecture. For everyone involved in booking, buying, managing or arranging business travel and meetings. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in our exclusive First Class menus, with hot and cold sandwiches to choose from, as well as hot and cold drinks. Kitakyushu is Kyushu's second largest city, located just across the straight from Honshu. Naha, Okinawa Prefecture Azuma First Class. [1], The driving cab of the Class 800 is provisioned with a variety of physical switches and monitors. A look at LNER's 1st Class aboard one of their brand new Azuma (class 800) trians between Inverness and Darlington.Watch: Caledonian Sleeper NEW Classic Room. Complimentary food and drink is served to first class passengers at their seats, but one of three menus will be available per departure; and this offering will be consistent throughout the journey. [38] The type was initially worked on Leeds, Hull, and Newark services. Onboard our Azuma trains, you'll experience a whole new First Class with more room and a smarter layout for you to relax and recharge in our most luxurious train yet: The seats are wider and recline for added comfort; Each seat has generous leg-room and larger tables for you to work Have been on the 19.03 London to Leeds Standard Fare, carriages lovely and clean, seats are like sitting on a plank of wood. Combined with slimline seating, each seat actually has a full 7 cm more leg room than Standard Class seats on the older trains. On most Azuma services coach C in is set aside for Standard Class passengers without reservations, though there is no guarantee that spare seats will be available in coach C when boarding. So, if you want to travel on Azuma, make sure you book one of the trains listed! [1], It has been outfitted to work with various signalling systems, including the European Train Control System (ETCS) level 2, which satisfies safety integrity level 4 requirements. Early operations have been troubled by fatigue cracking and corrosion on the aluminium vehicle body shells, particularly on the yaw dampers. Rokko Island Ferry Terminal can be reached in a short bus ride or 20 minute walk from Island Kitaguchi Station on the Rokko Liner. While shorter routes are served by small ships, able to carry a couple of cars and a few dozens of passengers, large liners are employed on longer routes. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. The interior of first class aboard a LNER Class 800, The interior of standard class aboard a LNER Class 800, The passenger compartments on the Class 800 trains are typically divided into both first class and standard class sections. This coincided with the 60th anniversary of the late author's famous Paddington Bear series of children's books, and the other end of the unit carries the bear's name. All seats will have access to a plug socket, with First Class passengers also benefitting from an at-seat USB charging port. Some say they are harder than those in the previous coaches, and I hear there have been complaints about those on the Great Western Railways version of the trains. Maizuru is located 100 kilometers north of Kyoto on the Sea of Japan coast (100 minutes, about 3500 yen by JR limited express train or two hours, 2500 yen by bus from Kyoto Station). Some ferry routes can be reserved online in English through Direct Ferries. It is less clear cut with First Classwhere the seats appear far more streamlined than those they replaced. The turnaround in Leeds also saw a good clean of the loos which smelled fragrant and lovely throughout the journey even when using the hand dryer! The London <> Hull service operated by LNER is also now an Azuma train. First Class with LNER. As you enter the coach/carriage check to see what other seats are free, which is comparatively easy to do thanks to the seat-sensor devices that LNER has installed above each set of seats. LNER hopes to crack the unreliability of previous seat reservation indicators with a traffic-light system so passengers can spot as soon as they enter a carriage where the empty seats are with red for reserved, yellow reserved for part of the journey and green for free. They are adjoined by two companion seats. THE JOURNEY: I travelled first class on LNER's new super-fast Azuma train service between London King's Cross and Peterborough, which took less than an hour.It was the first of 65 new LNER trains using Japanese bullet train technology engineered with the help of Hitachi. Will you still be using the pass? Part 1 of our LNER Azuma review can be found here, the First Class menu on the LNER website here, Wrong pricing for return leg: Barclays Upgrade Voucher, Iberia flight redemption MAD-LIM shows no flights in April, Old style BA Amex 2 for 1 voucher for indirect flight, Niche Avios destinations inspiration needed. The train arrived into London Kings Cross at 13:23, making for a journey time of just over two hours. What are the most valuable credit card sign-up bonuses? The power sockets are located out of sight, you have to lift up the arm rests to find them; but in First Class USB ports are also available. If you need to catch up with work or prefer to enjoy your journeys in . It was certainly very noticeable compared to my last train journey. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) was established in 2018 when LNER took over the InterCity East Coast franchise, which previously was owned by Virgin Trains East Coast. Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as theres a lot of ideas which we want to make happen. Complimentary alcoholic drinks were served alongside the main, also in proper glass. Or cycling as part of your commute to work? Osaka LNER. [1] The train communicates in realtime with wayside systems, transmitting from the data recorder and receiving timetables and seat allocation data, amongst other material. [20] As a part of this reconfiguration, the original 1.35m3 (300impgal) fuel tanks were replaced with larger capacity 1.55m3 (340impgal) tanks. Standard Class interior in unit 800002 before receiving GWR colours. [1], The interiors have reportedly been praised for their increased leg-room and greater number of seats and tables in standard class, in comparison to the trains they replace. On board: First Class seating saloon on an LNER Azuma. It was the first of 65 new LNER trains using Japanese bullet train technology engineered with the help of Hitachi. The traction system comprises electric motors that are alternatively capable of drawing power from electrified overhead lines where available, or of using electricity produced by onboard underfloor diesel generators when travelling beyond the current electrified network. in this LNER first class vs Scot Rail first class tripreport we aim to find out. Were the UKs most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Aomori Ferry Terminal is about 2 kilometers, a 10 minute taxi ride or a 30 minute walk northwest of Aomori Station. Advance First Class single fares between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh can be found for as little as 79.50 when booked well ahead. For more information see:lner.co.uk. Taxi from Fukuoka to Kitakyushu. LNER is now using these trains on most departures on the London <> Leeds route plus most departures on the London <> Edinburgh route. What is the best Virgin Atlantic credit card? All passengers will also have access to the onboard Cafe-Bar and snack wagon. [5], The Class 800 trains came into service on the Great Western Main Line on 16 October 2017, under the brand name Intercity Express Train (abbreviated to IET). The train can reach a maximum speed of 225 km/h but is limited to 200 km/h while travelling. All First Class travellers are offered a complimentary two-course meal, with three-course meals served on evening trains coming out of Kings Cross. Below are maps and lists of major domestic ferry routes: Otaru, Hokkaido Kitakyushu has two ports, Shinmoji Port, which is used by most ferries and Kokura Port, which is used by the ferries from Matsuyama. If only all journeys were like our 1st trip. I also found some bike stores which each hold two bikes securely. . LNER azuma First class or ScotRail Inter 7 City 1st class which is better? Keep in mind that these times are for weekday services. Tomakomai has two ports, Tomakomai East Port (used by Shin Nihonkai ferries) and Tomakomai Port (used by most other ferries). Subsequently, these were reclassified as Class 800/3. At Kings Cross and the stations in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Hull, Inverness and Leeds where these Azuma trains commence their journeys, the number of the platform (track) that a specific departure will be leaving from, normally appears on the information screens 10 -15 minutes prior to departure. Book quickly and easily direct with LNER. As part of the UK Government's Intercity Express Programme (IEP), the Class 800 units were built as partial replacements for the InterCity 125 trains which at the time operated services on the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Main Line, as well as the InterCity 225 trains which currently operate services on the East Coast Main Line. However, the loos are duller than ScotRails, lacking their swimming pool-design basin splashbacks which provide welcome brightness to the alas now windowless rooms. Thank you to LNER for inviting us and to David Horne for the interview. Read about our Azuma trains ; Where we go . Assistance dogs and other well behaved dogs on leads will be permitted in all LNER First Class Lounges. The Kobe Port Terminal can be reached in a short bus ride or 15 minute walk from Sannomiya Station or a short walk from Port Terminal Station on the Port Liner. It is a part of the Hitachi AT300 product family. Miyazaki Sad reply to feedback survey! We strive to keep Japan Guide up-to-date and accurate, and we're always looking for ways to improve. There is also an on-board caf where you can order hot food and a more extensive range of food/drink items. LNER also rolled out Azuma services on routes to the North East of England and Scotland, providingmore services from Lincoln and Harrogate to London. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Our privacy policy is here. The Sauvignon Blanc was also perfectly drinkable. The food is served on proper crockery with metal cutlery, no paper plates in sight! Elements external to the GU include the traction converter, fuel tank, automated fire protection system (using high pressure nitrogen gas), and braking. Tickets cost 2800 - 4400 and the journey takes 15 min. . David was keen to point out that each carriage is three metres longer than a regular train and is also slightly wider. The on-board wifi worked really well for simple tasks such as checking emails. Matsuyama's ferry terminal (Matsuyama Sightseeing Port) is located a 3 minute bus ride or 10-15 minute walk from Iyotetsu Takahama Station, the last station on the Takahama Tram Line (20 minutes, 440 yen from Matsuyamashi Station). The interior of the First Class carriage was spacious and comfortable. It can be configured to include catering facilities, including a kitchen and preparation room. When looking up a journey on the LNER website, you can see which departures will be by these new Azuma trains. There is also a direct bus between Tokyo and the ferry terminal, timed to ferry arrivals and departures. The Class 800 train is a high speed bi-modal multiple unit (BMU). LNER Azuma train first class vs standard class Edinburgh to Durham and back.I'm comparing LNER First Class with LNER Standard class on th.