I frequently travel between London and Leicester, since my other half lives there, and I have found that Midland Mainline offer the most consistent, reliable service there and back. In a world where trains seem to be getting worse and worse, Midland Mainline, in my opinion at least, are a breath ... Read review
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...and I have found that Midland Mainline offer the most consistent, reliable service there and back. In a world where trains seem to be getting worse and worse, Midland Mainline, in my opinion at least, are a breath of fresh air. Or rather, a lungful of diesel fumes.
I wanna travel North. Where do I get my ticket?
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Tickets for Midland Mainline trains ... ...to order direct from the Midland Mainline website. Taking my journey from London to Leicester as an example, tickets range in price from around £15 for your super-dooper saver ticket (not its real name!) to £125 for the all singing, all dancing First Inclusive ticket (now that is its real name!). For a lot of the cheaper tickets you have to book a few days in advance, and availability is limited. Since I generally know well in advance when I'm travelling, ... more
I frequently travel between London and Leicester, since my other half lives there, and I have found that Midland Mainline offer the most consistent, reliable service there and back. In a world where trains seem to be getting worse and worse, Midland Mainline, in my opinion at least, are a breath of fresh air. Or rather, a lungful of diesel fumes.
I wanna travel North. Where do I get my ticket? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tickets for Midland Mainline trains are available direct from the station, over the phone, or from resellers like your local uni travel shop. By far the easiest, and cheapest, way though is to order direct from the Midland Mainline website. Taking my journey from London to Leicester as an example, tickets range in price from around £15 for your super-dooper saver ticket (not its real name!) to £125 for the all singing, all dancing First Inclusive ticket (now that is its real name!). For a lot of the cheaper tickets you have to book a few days in advance, and availability is limited. Since I generally know well in advance when I'm travelling, its not really a problem but last minute travellers may get stung. The website is pretty comprehensive, listing times and fares accordingly. The website also features various promo offers, including at one point First Class tickets for £25! Not too shabby. They'll post your ticks to you for free, or recorded delivery is a shade under a fiver. You can also collect your tickets from the station. Incidentally, the website offers a free seat reservation with every ticket, and this is STRONGLY recommended.
Right. Got my tickets, where's the bloody train? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Midland Mainline's main terminus down "sarf" is London St Pancras. Its currently undergoing major development works, and as such is a total maze to navigate Bring a compass! You'll need it. Once you're in, the station features a variety of retail outlets, including a Bar, WHSmiths, and a pasty shop! All very expensive, naturally.
So many trains. Which One?! ------------------------------------------------- Midland Mainline runs very frequent services - train to Leicester depart at a rate of 2 every 30 minutes. You are offered a choice of High Speed Train or Meridian Trains, with the former being faster and the latter more modern and comfortable. Your ticket, unless its a full open, is only valid on the train booked.
Slumming it. -------------------- Perhaps the title is a little OTT, since Standard class on board the train is in my opinion better than the service offered in First on a lot of other operators. Standard class seats are arranged in groups of 2 or 4, with the 4 having a big old table to rest your Stella on. Leg space is limited, as is butt space. However, the seats are reasonably comfortable. Midland Mainline is unique in that it offers free Tea and Coffee to all its passengers. Admittedly the quality is not up to much cop but... its free! Bring on the caffeine. One of the standard class coaches is designated a "Quiet Coach" where Nokia's are banned.
MM's Bar ------------------- In between Standard and First Coaches, you have the cunningly titled MM's Bar, which serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. All stupidly priced. Handily though you can buy a cut priced voucher at the station, saving you a smidge of cash.
Living Like a King. --------------------------------- Now, where Midland Mainline excels is in the service offered to First Class Passengers. Seats are roomy - even for my ample backside, and all have a table. You are provided with a free newspaper, a free snack, proper Tea and Coffee, and, depending on the time of day, free wine! Yes that’s right, they will give you a couple of free glasses of wine.. that retails in the bar for £4.95 a glass! Very refreshing. (glug). First Class Passengers can also take advantage of an exclusive menu of food, served at your table. Fancied having Brekka at 125MPH? You can now. First Class Passengers can also take advantage of the First Class Lounge at most stations, offering more free stuff, comfy seats, a guy willing to take your bags to the train... and CNN. Snore.
Yes. But do they run on time? ------------------------------------------------ To be honest, I have never dealt with a delay on Midland Main line that has lasted more than 5 minutes, and only witnessed a cancelled train once. Thats in 5 years of using them. In contrast, their main competitor in the midlands (Central Trains) is consistently late, slow and unreliable.
But I don’t wanna go to Leicester! ----------------------------------------------------- Don’t worry! Midland Mainline services most of the Midlands, and up North. They’ll take you to Derby, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and a whole load of little towns that are dotted about. Bear in mind though that some of these may be serviced infrequently, and by the slower, older Turbostar trains.
Negatives? -------------------- Well. I do have a few beef's with this company. Refunds on tickets are rarer than a panda in the dessert - it’s very, very tough. Also, you have to sign up to the website to get your tickets - which means junk mail. I even got a bloody birthday card! Now that’s a company that cares... Not. I also feel that they don't cater for diabled people very well - only the Meridian trains have space for a wheel chair - not a chance on the faster High Speed Trains!
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now arriving at the end of my review. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As far as trains to the North go, Midland main line offer a fast, comfortable service that can be reasonably priced if you book far enough in advance. First Class accommodation is superb, with Standard pretty acceptable. Wholeheartedly recommended. Unless you wanna walk!
Advantages: Smart trains, fast, reliable, comfortable, friendly Disadvantages: Website doesn't work for me
The Midland Mainline runs out from London through Leicester and branches out to Nottingham and Sheffield with limited morning/evening trains to Leeds. --------------
HISTORY
Midland Mainline were probably the forgotten Intercity operator back in the 90s. They operated High Speed Trains at 110mph up a route which ran adjacent to the much faster East Coast Main Line (GNER). The trains were not very fast back then due to frequent stops, and were not ... ...this changed in 1999...
Midland Mainline were taken over by National Express group, and ordered a brand new batch of 3-car Turbostar local trains to operate stopping services. This would mean trains running at double the frequency ,and would also mean High Speed Trains could run faster. This of course, had it's downsides. The turbostar trains were simply not fast enough, and didn't carry enough capacity to deal with Midland Mainline's passenger ...
seanjkeating 01.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Midland Main Line
Advantages: Usually on time, friendly, informative staff Disadvantages: Not the most modern trains
...best experiences have been with Midland Mainline.
About Midland Mainline
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Midland Mainline as we currently know it was founded in 1996 and is part of the National Express Group. They currently principally run routes from Sheffield and Nottingham to London St. Pancras but also operate services as far north as Leeds and Scarborough! Midland Mainline operated stations include Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester, Kettering, ... ...at Derby to get a Midland Mainline train to Bedford and then another one from there to the airport. My journey was saved... thanks to the speedy and, most importantly, on-time Midland Mainline train! The staff onboard the MM train were very sympathetic, friendly and informative. I could not have asked more. I got to the check-in desk at 6:13PM! My flight was delayed anyway... but that's beside the point...
I have been on many MM trains and I don't ...
ambidextra 10.10.2006 (23.11.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Midland Main Line
Advantages: Frequent trains, free tea and coffee Disadvantages: Frequent delays, high ticket prices, uncomfortable Turbostars
...I have been travelling on Midland Mainline almost every working day for over five years from my home in Leicestershire to work in London. I have seen it all.
When the service works well, and you are aboard one of their High Speed Trains (HSTs) as opposed to their Turbostars, it is a good way of getting about. For the occasional journey to the Midlands, and now to Manchester, I would recommend it.
But sadly, a lot of the time it is a complete shambles. ... ...I have been using them, Midland Mainline have fallen below their targets for on-time performance, and last month they fell below their target for reliability for the first time. This is good news for season ticket holders, as we now get a 10% discount. But you only get that if you renew your season ticket, and face the same hassles again.
While I am talking about season tickets,I do think they are exceptionally good value. You may draw breath when ...
Quakerman 22.11.2003 (05.10.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Midland Main Line
Advantages: Fast service, complimentary tea and coffee Disadvantages: Can't use Saver tickets from London until after 7pm on a Friday
I use Midland Mainline frequently, on average every other weekend, to travel from London St Pancras to Derby. On the whole I find the service they offer to be acceptable, it is certainly not the worst train company I have travelled with and generally the trains are pretty much on time, or only slightly delayed. They offer complimentary tea and coffee to customers which is a nice touch more train companies should consider (however I often find it ... ...have a few 'complaints' about Midland Mainline.
My first complaint is my biggest gripe about Midland Mainline and that is their railcard policy. I am currently eligible for a young persons railcard, which offers the holder 1/3 off the cost of a rail ticket. However Midland Mainline impose restrictions on the use of these cards, meaning that if I wish to travel out of London on a Friday evening I have to wait until 19.25 before I can leave (or else ...
hawleydv 22.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Midland Main Line
Advantages: At-seat complimentary refreshments; clean toilets. Disadvantages: No onboard Wi-Fi; no power points for laptop computers
...to a high standard by Midland Mainline, the eight-coach trainset still displays the livery of the former Train Operating Company which set such high standards of customer service.
There is no First Class Lounge at Nottingham, although it forms the hub of a rail network stretching from London in the South to Scarborough in the North, and from Norwich in the East to Liverpool in the West. I wonder if EMT plans to provide a First Class Lounge in future? ... ...not guarantee admission - only full-price First Class tickets do that! (Question - Why, when the First Class lounges are empty away from peak travelling times? Shouldn't all First Class ticket holders be equal, rather than some being more equal than others?) Actually, my train has been standing in Nottingham since at least 17.50 hours, so why not unlock the doors and allow First Class passengers to use the train itself as a lounge, as Scotrail used ...
Granet 24.05.2008 (11.06.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Midland Main Line
Frequency of trains
Reliability of trains
Comfort of trains
On-board facilities
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