Doncaster to Cleethorpes with Transpennine Express

It's time to head out for the seaside, this time to that old favourite East Coast sandy playground of Cleethorpes.
We'll head out from the old railway hub of Doncaster to then discover the drained flatlands of northern Lincolnshire and the vast steeltown of Scunthorpe. There's more industrial and fishing heritage as we skirt the south bank of the Humber through Grimsby and into Cleethorpes.
I've packed my GoPro, but I think I forgot my bucket and spade!
Departure: Doncaster, England, UK
Destination: Cleethorpes, England, UK
Distance: 84 km / 52 miles
Duration: 1 hr 16 mins
Average speed: 66 km/h 41 mph
Standard class advance single: £11.30 / €13,50
Date of Travel: September 2024
Operator: TransPennine Express
Motive power: 2 x Class 185 Desiro 3-car DMU. Built: Siemens, Germany (2005-2006)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@trailwayt9H337]

I am enjoyed as a real riding with you on the train from Doncaster to Cleethorpes ❤️

[@ChooChoo-gw6py]

Great video. Haven't been to Cleethorpes for 50 years (on day trips by train in the 70's) inspite of me living in Lincolnshire!!!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@ChooChoo-gw6py worth the trip. If only for chips and a pint (or two) 😁 Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@Timstravels01]

Another great video. The amount of research that goes into your videos is incredible. So informative. Cheers Johnny.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Timstravels01 you are very welcome Tim. I try my best 😉 Thanks for watching along again 👍

[@horsehollerer]

Thanks to you, I will now spend a couple of hours mildly obsessing over the gorgeous blue clock/airy upper-case typeface combo adorning D O N C A S T E R station - not to mention the surprisingly tasty interiors of those regional 185s. Cheers!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@horsehollerer i like your (sense of) style. Both are truly lovely. There was a lot more looking up (pretty much staring at) going on than my edit implies. As you know, i just love these little details 👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

Great video. It's a nice route and Barnetby used to be a massive freight hotspot for catching freight trains. It shame the old semaphore signals are gone

[@craiglogistics2092]

Did you enjoy your trip to Pilning with Georgia Drake aka GLoves Trains?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Sim0nTrains yeah that signal box is a real doozy. Wouldn't mind a nosey around that one! Pleased you got out of Pilning! Best wishes to you 👍

[@clivelangham435]

Good morning, Enjoyed this a lot. So much information. Thank you!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@clivelangham435 you are very welcome. Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@terranceparsons5185]

Ist class was a surprise. It looks stunning. Even standard is quite swish.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@terranceparsons5185 yeah, as i say, i think they are surprisingly nice inside. Thanks for watching along 👍

[@stevecooksley]

I for one like trains and beer. ☺

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@stevecooksley then you'll fit right in on this channel 😁

[@markwivell1817]

Thanks for posting this journey. I hoped you stopped for a pint at the No2 bar? Its not changed much in decades. Great beer and full of character. I took my wife there back in the early 90s. One of the regulars was thrown out for bringing in a plastic bag full of rotting fish! She still reminds me of it 30 years later. I take her to all the nice places ! 😂😂.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@markwivell1817 Yes. In the next video i will go to No 1 and No 2. Mind you, there were lots of people in No 2, so i had to respect that and i didn't point the video camera about in there 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for watching this one 👍

[@alanbrown3015]

Love railing in Lincolnshire. Happy childhood memories of New Holland Pier and station, and the Castle ferries that went to Hull and back. I think Cleethorpes is the only seaside terminus in England that opens onto the seafront. Dawlish and Obam don't qualify and there the only other ones I can think of. My crib list for north Lincolnshire services are. At least one direct service Cleethorpes to London KX, even better if reversing at Lincoln and routed via Sleaford and Spalding. This would offer a genuine trans Lincolnshire direct service. Leicester/Newark NG/Lincoln services to run through to Cleethorpes as in BR days. At least 3 return trains every day between Cleethorpes and Sheffield via Brigg and KL. At least one direct service each day between Barton and Lincoln. Great vlog thank you.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@alanbrown3015 great crib list! Two things i have thought about since this trip is visiting all the stations on the Barton line and also taking the slow train from Peterborough to Doncaster through Spalding. So they are now on the ever increasing list! Thanks so much for coming along! 👍

[@BlueGamingJD]

Let's gooooo Cleethorpes

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@BlueGamingJD hooray for Cleggy!! Thanks for watching 👍

[@terryosullivan2620]

Another great video Johnny keep up the good work.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@terryosullivan2620 thanks Terry. And thanks, as ever, for watching it! 👍

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Johnny

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@paulgibsonphotography cheers Paul 👍

[@kevinellis8869]

You struck lucky again having two 3 car units, so many TPE services are just one unit with serious overcrowding issues. Before I moved away from the South Coast I always enjoyed my trips on the 159s, although that was before they were refurbished into SWR grey. Story to tell about visiting Cleethorpes and beer which I'll save for the next video :) Keep up the good work!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@kevinellis8869 haha wrt TPE... i think you can count yourself lucky if any train turns up! Although hopefully the cancellation rate is falling now... I await the drinking story after next week's video, when i do indeed try both No. 1 and No. 2 pubs! 👍

[@colinriley123]

Good to watch, and shows history is as important as scenery on a rail trip. I suppose you were too early for The Draughtsman at Doncaster station. Tiny, but worth a visit.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@colinriley123 Yes. Definitely worth the ride to experience the living history of the landscape! Not unlike my Netherlands rides! And yes, i have enjoyed a few at the Draughtsman at Doncaster when passing through at a more appropriate time! Excellent little pub 👍

[@htt232101]

Last time I went to Cleethorpes I left the station to the sight of 6 or 7 young lads running across the bus shelter roofing....

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@htt232101 not sure if this is a good or bad thing? Has parkour made it to Cleethorpes? Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@htt232101]

@JohnnyHooverTravels not sure what constitutes ASB anymore, if it was parkour, then bus stop running with a few cans of Stella shouldn't make the cut 🤣

[@Camymanc]

I’m surprised it turned up 😂. Joking aside I enjoyed the video

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Camymanc haha yes. In the next video I too make a joke about TPE cancellations, so you're not alone there! Thanks so much for watching along 👍

[@sandiandgregh]

Looks like a nice beach.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@sandiandgregh it's not bad! Oh and we'll get to see a bit more in the next video too. 😀

[@sandiandgregh]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels we’re missing the beaches of Ireland and we’re only back home 5 days. Lol

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@sandiandgregh I'm off to Ireland in 8 days! Hopefully will get some nice shots to make some videos 😀

[@sandiandgregh]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels wonderful! Can’t wait!

[@garrymartin6474]

When the tide goes out its more like a desert !

[@stevenmc4446]

I have been on that service from Manchester several times it can be really busy in fact the last time I had to stand between Manchester Piccadilly and Meadowhall

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@stevenmc4446 Yes, others have commented that it is often short formed with just three coaches... not ideal... Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@k1eranjames]

Great video 👍 Cleethorpes, Barnetby area is my local area

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@k1eranjames nice place! As long as you're ok with "flat" 😀 My Mum also hails from round there. Best wishes to you and thanks for watching 👍

[@k1eranjames]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I live in the Lincolnshire Wolds, Caistor "Not flat lol" 😆

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@k1eranjames i used to with my mate to Cadwell Park to watch the bike racing.

[@k1eranjames]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels nice 👌

[@VVellieMan]

Great video Johnny, the amount of research you put in is admirable. Got my fingers crossed that you didn't get your fish and chips from Papa's (the one on the Pier), but instead sampled one of the true local chippies like Steels, Becketts or Ocean Fish Bar...

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@VVellieMan I wasn't ready to eat when i passed Papas. Ended up at the Mermaid at the station. It met with my needs admirably! As you'll see next Friday! Maybe should have asked you first though 😀

[@craiglogistics2092]

You forgot to mention that this line was part of the Great Central Railway network as was your next trip down the Brigg Line towards Gainsborough, Retford, Worksop and on to Sheffield where it turns off at Nunnery Junction and on to the Midland, you never know but one day they might get round to reactivating the line through Sheffield Victoria and up to Fox Valley at Stocksbridge

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@craiglogistics2092 Yes, as you suspect, i will give the Great Central a nod when i do the video from Cleethorpes to Sheffield through Brigg, next week.

[@OlliesTrainsGaming427]

Transpennine used to go to Manchester Airport before they dropped it and went to Liverpool from Cleethorpes.

[@donovanemery597]

Transpennine now run from Manchester Airport to Glasgow

[@OlliesTrainsGaming427]

@@donovanemery597 Oh nice, sadly they don't do the service from Cleethorpes to Man Airport now

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@OlliesTrainsGaming427 Yes, I suppose it depends what you need. Obvs the direct airport run was dead handy with loads (out even a bit) of luggage. Hopefully people can still change to make it to the airport. The biggest worry has always recently been whether the trains would get cancelled on you! Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@arthurtownsend8843]

Interesting you mention Grimsby Town as the station and football club, as the club is actually in Cleethorpes..... I doubt you had time to visit possibly one of the best Indian restaurants in the country, the Agrah in Seaside Street.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@arthurtownsend8843 Yes, i did notice (after uploading the video) that the footy ground was on the edge of Cleethorpes! Still the question remains, is there somewhere else where the station and football team has the same name? Obvs I'm not including teams where their name is just the name of the place, without any further descriptor...😉 And thanks so much for watching this one 👍

[@PeteG143]

Thank you for that little seaside journey. When are you going to the NFL games in London this month?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@PeteG143 you are very welcome! I'm going to NE/JAX. Not expecting the best ever game, but i suppose judging by how they are currently doing, the teams will be evenly matched!

[@PeteG143]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels make sure you wear a Patriots hat. 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@PeteG143 I'll be wearing my Exeter Falcons hat! Just hoping there's lots to cheer from both teams!

[@tonys1636]

Wood paneling? Formica more likely. (other brands are available).

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@tonys1636 well yes. "Wood effect" would have maybe been a better description 😁. But i do like the ambience you get from the finish. And thanks for watching too 👍

[@FlyingPhysicist]

To be fair, the 185s replacing the 158s on TPE didn't work out as well as was envisaged. They're very heavy and are limited to running below line speed on substantial parts of their routes, where the 158s they replaced, weren't. This is probably the main reason they are unlikely to replace the 159s on the SWR route to Exeter. Their performance is only slightly better, as well. The 159s have a little over 9 hp/tonne, where the 185s have a little over 13 hp/tonne. Hardly night and day... and this shows in acceleration. Put all of those together and you end up with the main benefits being some more capacity (on average) and a slightly newer vehicle configured (arguably) a little better for commuter services. I think the 185s will stay with TPE for their entire lives, honestly. TPE are already using them on "skip-stop" services across the Pennines, which IMO they're very well suited to. I'm interested to see whether the 158/9 are proposed for replacement even within the next decade. They're tremendous units and a real credit to BREL, IMO. Northern are only just starting to look at replacing the 150/3/5/6 units, which are also still going very strong. I saw a news article indicating SWR might use some sort of hybrid units on that route, with "discontinuous third rail" partial electrification for charging batteries. Safe to say, I think, that any ideas to replace the 159s are in the very, very early stages.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@FlyingPhysicist thanks for that. Yes, i was just musing really. As you say, given the amount of current 3rd rail on the route out of Waterloo, it would make sense to go with some kind of hybrid. But i agree that there doesn't seem to be any talk at all about a 159 replacement. They really struggled in the summer with their a/c not being able to manage with high external temperatures. I just wondered that with SWR already running Desiros, that taking on a diesel variant might mean an easier cutover wrt maintenance and training 🤷‍♂️. But again, i know you're right really 😉 Thanks so much for watching and discussing things 👍

[@FlyingPhysicist]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels thanks for the videos! one of the better travel channels IMO and deserving of more subscribers.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@FlyingPhysicist thank you. That's very kind ❤️

[@garrymartin6474]

Norwich City, but thats long since closed 🤔

[@richardfurness7556]

Same with Swindon Town.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@garrymartin6474 yeah, it's a tricky one...