Hi, I'm Mark! I enjoy travelling, music, and film, and also enjoy using the internet. I work as a ...
Hi, I'm Mark! I enjoy travelling, music, and film, and also enjoy using the internet. I work as a Train Steward for a well known company and really enjoy it - so if you ever see me, feel free to say hello!
Member since:25.03.2003
Reviews:23
Members who trust:12
I work at Liverpool Airport, which is handy but every now and then, I need to travel to Manchester Airport for training, review days etc, which is not so handy. Therefore, not being able to drive means I need to travel by bus or rail. More often than not I choose the train because its faster and involves less bumper to bumper action all the way there! There are two main operators between Liverpool and Manchester Airport, namely Northern and First Keolis Transpennine Express. With Northern you have the option of manky trains, but a direct service and with Transpennine you have the option of fast, quiet express trains with toilets and catering, but a change of train at Warrington Central.
I choose Transpennine - firstly because they are the most reliable train company I have ever laid eyes on secondly I want a nice cup of coffee before I start work, so having one on the train means I don't have to allow time
for breakfast at Manchester.
The Transpennine franchise was originally a part of the massive Regional Railways franchise, until it was separated and awarded to Northern Spirit, then Arriva took it over and finally, a venture company created by First Group and Keolis bid for and subsequently took over the franchise in late 2004. The new company took over the operation of approximately forty train sets and thirty stations.
I have used Transpennine since the Arriva days and when First Keolis took over the franchise the changes where literally made overnight. Almost immediately, we saw new green, blue and white logos appearing on the rolling stock, trains were cleaned up no end and they applied new lemon scented headrests in the cabin, which was such an innovation, it was in the regional newspapers.
Now, that's enough about Transpennines' history. Lets get down to the nitty gritty.
THE NETWORK… The First Keolis Transpennine Express Network stretches between Liverpool and Blackpool, Scarborough, York and Newcastle, Hull, and Middlesborough linking stations such as Warrington Central, Leeds and Manchester Oxford Road and Piccadilly. These routes pretty much are bang in the middle of Britain (over the pennines), hence the name. Thirty of the stations on the route are owned by the company and these stations hold the logo of the company on their signs and are all clean looking (from a point of view of passing on a train). The company also owns Warrington Central station. The station is clean, tidy and well signposted. I also noticed the number of staff on the platforms available to help.
THE TRAINS… The trains run by the company are all ex Regional Railways Express trains, yet all of the carriages are fitted in comfortable blue upholstered seats, with carpets and new looking faux pine wall panels. Towards the front or back of every TPExpress train you will notice a first class compartment, which I have never been privileged enough to travel in, yet I know for a fact you receive complimentary drinks, newspapers, snacks and an at seat service. (I trained for crew). Standard class passengers receive a standard catering trolley service brought through the train at intervals. Catering is quite expensive, with a coffee setting me back £1.20 and sandwiches costing up to £5. Lets face it though, its nothing new!
On quieter routes and at quieter times trains are run in two car sets, yet I always notice that this changes to suit demand, for example, coming home from Manchester Airport at half five in the evening, there is normally a three car train, which obviously has more seats.
The seating onboard is ample, not only in sheer quantity of seats but also in the dimensions. Their seats are larger and wider and the legroom is ample. I am a large man all over and find travelling onboard very comfortable. Some seats are in an airline style and others face each other over a table, ideal if you are travelling on business with your colleagues.
There are always at least two toilets onboard, which I have mostly noted to be spotless, the one problem I had was with the disabled toilet, which was the only one vacant at the time. I walked in, and noticed that nothing flushed and no taps worked. I was told upon leaving the toilet that it wasn't plumbed in! Where the sign was I don't know!
For the most part though, I have found Transpennine services to be comfortable and reliable. It's a stress free way of travelling to be honest. Conductors and catering staff are always there to help if you need it.
Trains run frequently throughout the day on their main routes. They are usually on time and never normally cancelled. Train times suit the commuter and traveller alike and start early, finish late. Trains run on average every forty five minutes, changing to suit the time of day!
Disabled facilites are also quite good. In the middle of the connections between carraiges, there is a large area suited to a wheelchair, right next to a large disabled toilet.
PRICES… Now we know rail travel is expensive anyhow! The government generally dictates prices anyway so I don't really understand the point in having Train Operating Companies. I pay £8.90 single each way but if you book in advance, online for example at www.thetrainline.com, it works out at £11 return in standard class, or £19.80 return in first class. It is reasonable but if you pay it on a daily basis it isn't. I'd recommend getting a rail card in that case or even a season ticket. You can reserve seats but I would not recommend it unless you were travelling first class because you will board and find that your seat is more often than not - taken!
GENERAL SERVICE… If you go to www.tpexpress.co.uk you can find out lots of information regarding delays, cancellations, ticket prices, routes and information about the company. I find this website a really useful tool when planning travel as you can also download timetables and print them. At owned stations, such as Warrington Central, the staff members have always been extremely helpful and I have always been kept informed to delays, which are generally caused by congestion around the main Manchester stations. Delays only tend to run to a few minutes, but you will always be told about them, which I think is vital.
Onboard, the conductors I have gotten to know through frequent travel are very professional and will always let you know about connecting services, even if they are with another company. Catering staff, who are subcontracted to a company called Express Catering still know more than you would expect.
Overall, I would say that Transpennine is a well-oiled machine that is destined for success. With a £100 million investment in new trains and station facilities over the next seven years, the company is heading for the same success that Virgin has had with the West Coast Main Line.
Thoroughly recommended.
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Nice review. It is always nice to 'Arriva' on time. That would have been a good title come to think of it. I prefer travelling by train over any other form of transport
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Advantages: pretty much everything about the company is good Disadvantages: many engineering works on route can often cause severe disruption
DC-DanielColeflax 15.04.2007 (20.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Arriva Transpennine Express
Advantages: pretty much everything about the company is good Disadvantages: many engineering works on route can often cause severe disruption
DC-DanielColeflax 15.04.2007 (20.07.2007)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Arriva Transpennine Express
Apr 13th, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
