Cruising through the Grampians on an Inter7City HST

My weekend in Aberdeen was over and I could have caught the train home from Aberdeen to London. But I really fancied a ride on a refurbished Inter7City HST and I'd never ridden the line from Aberdeen to Inverness. That would also mean I'd have to get the sleeper home from Inverness to London!
So, let's ride the line together from Aberdeen to Inverness... and then you can carry on with me on the sleeper here: • Inverness to London on...
Departure: Aberdeen, UK
Destination: Inverness, UK
Distance: 174 km / 108 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 26 mins
Cost: Adult off-peak single w/railcard discount £21.95 / €24,90
Date of Travel: October 2022
Operator: ScotRail
Motive power: Inter7City HST. The Class 43 power cars originally built by British Rail Engineering Ltd (1975-1982)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@CeTrains]

Edinburgh Airport...at Dyce? Smashing 😂. Also, I do believe the tanks as you left Aberdeen don't in fact convey oil, but instead China clay.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I do say "Aberdeen airport" as we pull into Dyce. You are quite right about the tankers. They are "Silver Bullet" china clay wagons. My mistake. Thank you for putting me right. And thank you also for watching the video and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@CeTrains]

At 4:13 on your route plan, you mistakenly say "Edinburgh". Enjoyable video nonetheless, as always! Thanks again!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah you are so right! Doh! 🫢

[@Grangeburn]

In his later years, Charlie Chaplin would regularly visit Nairn and stay at the Newton (now Muthu Newton) Hotel. I think there is a bar or restaurant in the hotel bearing his name. I would imagine that he too appreciated Nairn station upon alighting the train - it does look lovely.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Oh, thanks for that extra information to add a bit more colour to the story of the trip. It is always interesting to hear the lesser places that notable people choose to visit. Of course it now begs the question, "why did he go there? did he just like it?" Thanks for watching 👍

[@kevinellis8869]

Glad you had the pleasure of a HST, we spent a week in Scotland in June/July using a Freedom Pass (with the reduced timetable!) and rarely saw one in operation let alone travel on one and Aberdeen station was still a building site. Must go back and try again.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, it turns out I was lucky. I used Real Time Trains to check which services were pathed for an HST. It isn't infallible if there's a late replacement, but it does help! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

The ScotRail Class 43 HST “Inter7City” are so nice. I do hope that ScotRail will keep them.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I agree. And I'm def going to shell out to ride 1st class next time!

[@TheUncleGrant]

Thank you for another informative video, Aberdeen Stn looked nice. I travelled from Inverness to Wick in 2019 and enjoyed the many beautiful old stations, especially Invergordon, much like the one at Nain. I was very impressed with the Scotrail Staff, They were all very friendly and helpful.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I agree . ScotRail staff have always been excellent on my journeys. Thanks, as ever, for the kind words 👍

[@colinriley123]

I particularly enjoyed the look at Aberdeen station --- where I've never been. I agree with you -- something very strange about the exterior become interior.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It can work just fine, but this one looks as strange in real life as it looks in the video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

But all in all Aberdeen is an excellent station.

[@northernblue1093]

Interesting video, good. commentary.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you 👍

[@walterfillingham]

Lucky you, 9 times out of 10 you travel on a freezing cold overcrowded class 158 (in winter) or sweating hot in summer time, between Aberdeen to Inverness. I do this journey about twice a month every month. Note, the section of line between Aberdeen, Dyce, Kintore and Inverurie is now twin track, this was single track beforehand, this was completed a few years ago

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I hope your jealousy of my good fortune to be on the HST didn't spoil your enjoyment of the video 😉 If you are flexible on time, then you can check on RealTimeTrains to see which trips are pathed for HST, but I suspect if it is for work reasons then maybe you cannot. Thank so much for watching and communicating. I really appreciate the feedback. 👍

[@SeanMidlandstransporthub]

Great video! The Crosscountry to Plymouth goes to Penzance sometimes too. I've done it from Aberdeen to Penzance! Uk's longest direct train journey

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, should know that, given I commuted many times on the Exeter-Leeds section. Not sure I could handle being on a Voyager that long! Thank you so much for watching and communicating. I really appreciate it.

[@SeanMidlandstransporthub]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I don't mind voyagers so I quite enjoyed it

[@cryzcryz2345]

Carriages look very comfortable! Your videos are too short definitely! 😊

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

They are comfortable indeed. I don't think the videos can be any longer. There's a kind of sweet spot between about 12 and 15 minutes that should tell the story... although I do often exceed that! 😉

[@GabrielsReviews]

10:46 Think it opened last month but not been yet (many storms got in the way )

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

The airport station has been open for a while now. In fact I tried it out in a later video Exeter to Inverness - door to door on public transport - Train/Coach/Plane/Train kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXvXmoZ_mpWplZo Thanks for watching 👍

[@GabrielsReviews]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Nae bother. Will take a look at some point 👍.

[@marcinklimas2670]

Old in new building part is in Łódź Fabryczna station, Poland.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah yes. Łódź is on my list of stations to visit. Even if I will struggle to say it! Thank you for watching another video 👍

[@ScottishTransportHub]

The tankers you referred to as oil tanks aren't oil tanks they carry china clay slurry down to Irvine papermill and workington docks

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes I must apologise for that mistake. It was also pointed out by a previous commenter. I hope the error did not spoil the video too much. Thank you for watching 👍

[@VVellieMan]

Excellent video as always, sir. Is this Monday video a bonus or going to be regular?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

My editing got ahead of a "once a week" cadence so I could send one out as a bonus. But I'm not making any long term promises! 🤷 Mind you, I'd love to have enough content. But we'll have to see. Thank you, as ever, for watching and making a kind comment. 👍

[@modelrailpaulcee]

It’s beginning to look as though the future of these trains may depend on ASLEF, after the Stonehaven incident…

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, so I've heard too. At the end of the day, they are very old now and safety levels have improved in that time. Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@spottingnorth]

At 4:18 you accidentally said Edinburgh Airport :D

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes I did. Can't undo that now. My apologies. Thank you for watching though. 👍

[@colinriley123]

I am in Aberdeen having travelled up via Kings Cross. You are spot on with the old station facade; it’s as just as it would be done in Las Vegas, or as I imagine it would be done there. How did they get away with it?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It is very weird. There's a couple of Brewdogs if you need a beer. I think we went to the original one.

[@Andrewjg_89]

ScotRail should still keep the Inter7City HSTs as they still look very nice.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

As a passenger I'd certainly agree if it was a choice between HSTs or 158s or 170s.

[@Andrewjg_89]

True.

[@markwringe2826]

The pronunciation of Moray catches a lot of people out. It rhymes with hurry, not with hooray or today.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Damn! Oh well, I'm recording voiceover for Welsh and Irish vids at the moment, so I suspect the pronunciation trajectory may be downwards! I hope my mangling of Moray didn't spoil it too much. But rest assured I'm very happy to always be corrected. Thank you for watching and for the clarification 👍

[@timythomas8057]

Train

[@andrewlong6438]

I am sure the ride and comfort of the HSTs is fantastic but given line speed of 75mph arent the HSTs wasted on this route ?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Maybe for the speed, yes. But as you say, there's still the ride and comfort that far exceeds the Class 158s that ply that line at other times. So I'd definitely be checking RealTimeTrains to ensure I was on an Inter7City set! Thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated 👍