On the Rails: Planet Industrials weekend in Bexhill…

I spent the weekend in Bexhill doing Planet Industrials work with Steve, the Coronation giving us the time to get a big job all finished off…

That meant travelling down on Friday so rather than war and peace here is a quick photo led ‘infrequent’ travellers review with captions.

Ruabon station, a shadow of former times but a pretty building that feels wasted without current occupation.

Train 1: 10:55 Ruabon to Chester. TFW 158, fast, reasonably quiet but seats quite tightly packed in. Most have a reasonable view out the window. 7/10

Train 2: 11:54 Chester to Crewe, TFW 150/2. Comfortable, spacious, reasonably quiet. The TFW refurbs have turned these into lovely units to do an hour or so in, possibly a little longer. Alas, this leg was only 20 minutes or so! 8/10

Train 3: Crewe to London Euston, Avanti Class 390 Pendolino. The combination of being treated like a commodity, inflexible reservations and general overcrowding combined with the worst trains on the network make travelling the West Coast an experience to endure rather than enjoy. Thank god they’re quick, and quiet. Not much else going for them, bring back loco hauled electric coach sets tomorrow please! 5/10

Train 4: Euston to Victoria, London Undergroumd, Victoria line. Noisy, busy, clean, efficient. 7/10

Train 5: London Victoria to Bexhill, Southern 377 EMU. Quiet and comfortable ride, overly firm seat for a 2 hour journey. 6/10.

The return journey yesterday retraced my steps from last year, so Bexhill to Ashford, to St Pancras. Transfer to Euston, then Chester and finally Ruabon. All on time, no problems. The Southern 175 was comfortable and quiet with a big window, 8/10. The SouthEastern Javelin was quick, but firm seat and overcrowded, 6/10. If you think a Pendolino is bad, you don’t want to get a Voyager, awful. Loud,MU comfortable a touch less claustrophobic but with the issues I’ve mentioned about being commodified and the push towards a budget airline experience I’m sorry, but it’s a 4/10. Chester to Ruabon via a Sprinter lash up of 158 and 150/2, I sat in the 150/2 at table seat, windows open. Clean, comfortable, reasonably quiet and spacious, it felt wonderful to be going home on my favourites. 9/10. 

It is great to be able to utilise our public transport system and to find it working well, clean, efficient and timely. Competitive price for the off peak return compared to driving and a lot nicer experience overall. The return journey with the wonderfully bucolic run from Ore to Ashford is one to experience and savour, if you’ve not done it and you’re local, do consider the run on a quiet weekday when the sun is shining and soak up the landscape and branch line feel. I’m sure there will be more rail adventures this year, but for now, use the ‘on the rails’ label to find previous instalments! Until next time, more soon…

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