Great Western Railway (GWR) 1st Class Penzance to London Paddington.

Join me onboard a Class 802 Azuma on a trip from Penzance in Cornwall to London’s beautiful Paddington station in 1st class.
A massive thank you to my Patreons:
Daniel Jones.
Stormhammer Firebrand
Peter Harrison
Tak Lau
Anonymous donator
Date of Travel - 19th May 2021
Departure Station - Penzance, Cornwall, England.
Arrival Station - London, England.
Class of Travel - 1st Class.
Rolling Stock - Class 800 IET
Cost of Journey - £48.85
You can now follow me on -
Instagram / thegeordietravels
Twitter: / travelsgeordie
If you would like to support the channel further visit my Patreon page - 100% of all proceeds get reinvested into the channel -
/ thegeordietravels

[@landhopper4296]

On the 125s the trip in 1st class was an event, a proper experience, and I remember the full English as well. I also remember taking the Riviera back in the early ‘80s. Exeter St David’s in 2 hrs non-stop from Paddington on the Berks and Hants even with the limited speed on that line. Looking out of the windows was a joy through that beautiful countryside as the (nicely padded) seat backs then were lower and the view panoramic. Not sure I want to pay to travel in a rock hard seat with no catering. I hope you got a refund!

[@miahaskurti4539]

Nice Ride With GWR And Their Hitachi Trains!

[@stormhammerfirebrand5820]

I've just discovered your channel. Loving it. Thank you for your trip reports!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thank you for watching.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I don't understand how at 02:55 you say the seats are quite disappointing, yet on your LNER video (with the exact same seats) you say that they are extremely comfortable. Which one is it? 😝

[@TheGeordieTravels]

The LNER video was my 1sr ever review - at the time I thought they were, the more I have done the quicker I’ve learned that compared to others they’re a tad hard!?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Ah, fair enough! 😁

[@peterharrison6696]

Just seen your Penzance review and it was really good. You are 100% right about the interiors. The seats are hard and because they look uncomfortable one judges them harshly. The ambiance in first class on the HSTs was superb. Perhaps GWR should buy back the seats that were discarded and fit them to the new trains

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thanks, hopefully when the new 803’s get launched later they may have done an upgrade on the seating.

[@barbaralcharles]

Your scenery was beautifully photographed. Well done.

[@herenow6953]

Thanks for the great video! I've literally just got home after doing most of this trip (I got on at Truro and got off at Reading) - I was also in first class, using Seatfrog to get an upgrade from an economy ticket bought in advance - it was very good value. I thought the service was excellent - we did have catering but limited - no sandwiches or hot snacks - just crisps, biscuits, cake, and hot and cold drinks (and wine etc that you had to pay for but it was available) - which obviously is much better than you had but I can't fathom why they don't provide sandwiches. The old GWR service used to have a buffet car and you could get hot and cold food as well as both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. The crew were fantastic - both ways, and said that they expected to reintroduce sandwiches etc as the route is getting busier post covid. I am SICK of companies using Covid as an excuse for poor service. If they had a restaurant car on this service, I would have loved to have used it. At Truro there is a first class lounge - also only available to Night Riviera passengers?! Ridiculous - I'll take this up with GWR. Overall I really enjoyed the trip - especially the Exeter to Newton Abbot stretch - what a fantastic experience that is.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate - thanks for watching. I use Seatfrog quite a bit and find it really useful. That journey is a fabulous one and the Dawlish sea wall part is an amazing part of it. But yeah I agree, some companies were using covid as an excuse whilst still charging full price. I will travel with GWR again and hopefully the kitchen, this time will not be broken!?!

[@ludwigtails]

At 1:02 No, tha GWR Class 800/802 does not called Azuma. They are simply called “intercity” services.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Yeah I know - my mistake.

[@UKTransport232]

Liked and subscribed, found your videos very good and enjoyable to watch, so thanks and keep up the good work :D

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to watch and subscribe and thank you for your extremely kind comments.

[@emilianohaskurti9344]

I Really Enjoyed Your Experience On The GWR IET 👍

[@j.j.c.s2802]

Excellent removal of Swindon.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate, cheers for watching - appreciated.

[@j.j.c.s2802]

@@TheGeordieTravels Lots of good memories in the video - thoroughly enjoyable!👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

What about Great Western Railway Class 800 IET. Class 802 are exactly the same as the Class 800 but with different engines and speed.

[@devon896]

Email GWR and ask them why the Night Riviera lounge can't be used.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

It’s something today with the council and it’s out of GWR hands apparently but they’re trying!?

[@devon896]

@@TheGeordieTravels Oh right.

[@paulmcnally9613]

I think that the complete lack of catering was very poor service. You should be entitled to compensation for that inconvenience. 😞

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Yes i know, I would have thought that some forward thinking from GWR management could have solved the issues slightly but to offer only a bottle of water!? I have an ongoing query with them.

[@emilianohaskurti9344]

Everyone Wants A Buffet Car. But A Trolley Service Was In Use. But Covid-19 Suspended It

[@thearsenalmisfit2414]

Now I dare you to do the reverse trip in coach class. After that you will never want to ride a GWR class 800 again. Between the rock hard seats no buffet car and an atmosphere that is harsh and uninviting because of the lighting and the stark bare interior design these trains are a disaster. The only thing these teains gave over the HST is acceleration. Sorry but give me 5+ hours of comfort and a slightly longer journey over a 5+hour journey in complete discomfort to save 10 or 15 mintes anyday. The class 800s as they are are a failure in every respect to passengers needs.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Would it be acceptable to do standard class between Newton Abbot and Exeter only instead of the full 5+hrs journey?

[@Listenerandlearner870]

@@TheGeordieTravels no. It's a different experience on very long journeys. I wouldn't have thought there's much difference on the 802s between standard and first.

[@derisleybrittain]

Excellent 😊👍❤😃😆

[@Listenerandlearner870]

I boarded at St Austell but there were no sandwiches so I got off at Plymouth and ate well at an independent cafe just before the barrier that has since been closed. There is another cafe beyond the barrier. Minimal on train catering is bad.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

I probably would have got off at some point to get something to eat but as I had a shortish connection in London I couldn’t.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

@@TheGeordieTravels the 802 is fine for 2 or 3 hours but for longer journeys it is not comfortable enough as an overal experience and the catering varies alot so it can't be depended on. It's not the trains fault it is the way it is furnished and the varied catering. Koeln to Berlin is alot better according to KZbin posts.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Btw to help you out at 13:29, I believe this is because the council funded it, so it won't be available for First Class for a few years at least. Bizarre!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

I spoke to the staff member who never mentioned it was council funded but did say that GWR were hoping to allow it soon. Just found it a bit odd.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yeah, that was what they told me over two years ago. Progress must be slow!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

@@SuperalbsTravels I wouldn’t expect anything less from a council other than slow progress!?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

🤣🤣

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Actually I’m quite pleased that you messaged, during lockdown from March 2020 onwards I watched your and Dylan’s videos a lot which gave me a bit of inspiration to do the same when restrictions were lifted - I’m in no way as experienced as yourself but I’m giving it a go and for that - thanks.

[@craiglogistics2092]

I would not be at all happy, a 1st class ticket deserves 1st class service or a full refund, an appology is not good enough, a trolley service should,ve been put on board at Plymouth or Exeter, GWR hold your heads in shame

[@sgthree]

Again, NOT called Azumas except on the LNER network.

[@Chetok]

Hayle not Harle

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Gotcha, noted.

[@emilianohaskurti9344]

It's Not Azuma, Its GWR IET

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Yeah I know - typo, I’m just blaming autocorrect

[@emilianohaskurti9344]

@@TheGeordieTravels Ok

[@transitimprover]

Dylan did a similar thing.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

I think Dylan has covered most trips in the northern hemisphere!

[@madtrainspottermacrae6744]

If it was me get something before you get the train

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Lesson definitely learned!?!

[@not_lewis2649]

To be honest i would prefer the 2017 First livery over the green, i just think the new livery is bland and boring

[@TheGeordieTravels]

I agree that the livery is kinda bland but I do like the British racing green colour.

[@lucia201189]

GWR are Shite The services are slow too many slow stopping trains

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

Agree but beware, these trains are used as Intercity AND regional. a couple of decades ago you would have known the difference through the livery or train type. Today they are all the same livery and same trains but do exactly the same service routes. London - Bristol Parkway is Intercity. London - Cheltenham and Hereford most definitely is not. On the WCML at least they make the difference clear with the trains used. Northampton to London used to be the same Intercity rolling stock in the 1980's for example, but the livery was different. GWR are crap. I have gone back to my car and many journeys (as LNER) I now take the car as the trains are that bad for comfort.