GWR 'Castle' HST Standard Class Review - Better than a Class 802 IET? (Plymouth to Penzance)

[@StaxRail]

Coach D, seat 69 can't have been a spontaneous choice... Great review, absolutely love the Castles and 253s they once were (then again I may be biased, my dad drives HSTs regularly 😀)

[@Jack.harrison6]

Exactly out of all the. Numbers you could’ve picked 69 😂😂

[@petergibson9956]

HAHAHA

[@Cactus732]

The HST is still in a class of its own on non-electrified routes. Voyagers, Meridians and IETs just don’t even get close.

[@JustClickApprove92]

100%

[@Pulsarnix]

I'd say the Meridians are good, I'd still rather have a HST though

[@Pacer667]

Yup I’ve seen voyagers replaced by em!

[@twoosted499]

Wrong

[@RyanVaughan-ok8de]

Voyagers stink like crazy. I hate 4hem.

[@jimmenycricket4598]

I would choose an HST anytime over a class 800/801/802. Talking of auto announcement systems, I don't mind them as such. What winds me up are the various announcements on Northern Trains' class 331 & 195 which are loud, frequent, use 5 different voices (was 4, but today there was a 5th voice encouraging passengers to download the Northern app). They are infuriating!

[@D.music85]

Totally agree

[@moose_ringo9161]

Oh god... that fake Geordie accent going "iF yOu SeE SoMeThInG tHat dOeSnT lOoK riGhT"... infuriating

[@jimmenycricket4598]

@@moose_ringo9161 Normally I like the Geordie accent but what irritates me the most on Northern Trains is that it's usually far too loud! One day this week there was a 5th voice inviting "customers" to download the Northern app. Thank god the auto announcements weren't working working the last 2 days!

[@paulcrook792]

That Smoothness and Comfort rolling into the Stations, Bliss.

[@paulcrook792]

@Conner Perry all part of the Great Experience ❤️

[@desmondatkinson4642]

These sets are a great improvement over the Class 150s for such journeys. I have made several trips from Tiverton Parkway down to Redruth and Camborne, and the 150s made it a tiring experience. The Castles make it a pleasure!

[@markm-1976]

castles have been a great improvement for de-spinterizing the great western main line regional services in the West Country and South Wales. 150s should strictly be used for local routes and branch lines. They are too noisey for long journeys.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for an excellent review ! I agree these shortened HSTs are far nicer than the IETs.

[@SR-eo5no]

The interior in the HSTs just looks so appealing and even relaxing you could say compared to the harsh lighting and horrible seats on the class 800/802s. Just imagine if these ran on the London to Cornwall/ Swansea services.

[@gxxttxxr2442]

If only the 800s had the seats and build quality of a hst

[@maimadha]

​@@gxxttxxr2442the seats on 800s and 802s are very uncomfortable

[@DentalHygieneTipsUk]

Brings back memories. Good memories. The old first great western interior was better, but in the new Great western green, its still an HST. That's all I can say. It's still an HST.

[@SR-eo5no]

Agreed, I much prefer the old FGW interior

[@paulcrook792]

The Experience has gone now 😭

[@TEBEnthusiast]

I agree, I growed up on that one

[@Transpennine]

It’s really good to see Hst’s still being used on GWR and Scotrail and CrossCountry! These trains don’t even compare to the Voyagers, IETs and 385s!

[@ChrisH-1952]

In terms of passenger comfort, these trains win hands down over the Incredibly Expensive Trains, but obviously the technology is not that environmentally friendly. I miss the occasional treat in the First Class section. Up to Scotland for that, I think.

[@geraiswaiya2347]

Moreover, this part of the route would have been run using the diesel generators. So even the environmental benefit would not have been that great.

[@neilcoram3495]

A very enjoyable video thanks a lot having travelled on the 125s ever since the late 70s i have always enjoyed them my longest trip on them being Inverness to kings cross.

[@drdewott9154]

Honestly with how the UK seems to be recycling a lot of their older rolling stock in recent times, I wouldn't be surprised if at least 1 company tried to fit some HST power cars with a few battery packs if possible, and then run them almost like a plug in hybrid. I mean that'd certainly be a good boost to the lifespan of the units and be much more environmentally friendly.

[@SR-eo5no]

MTU engines are better environmentally than the older Valenta engines so I guess it's not as bad as it could be.

[@SR-eo5no]

"Incredibly Expensive Trains" just about describes the class 802s

[@stephenwilliams1269]

Great video to watch in lockdown. I travel regularly from Paddington to Plymouth and the new GWR trains are noisy and uncomfortable. I miss the older trains with comfortable seats.

[@droge192]

Grat video! Of course, the HST short sets on routes like these are incomparably better than the awful IETs, from a passenger comfort and quality perspective. No competition! I'm glad Devon and Cornwall get to keep these marvelous sets in operation. It's the same up in Scotland with the fabulous new "Inter7City" short HST sets, beautifully re-liveried and refurbished, now with PRM compliance, electric door conversion on the carriages, etc. The HST potentially has decades of service left in it, which is a credit to the design, and the general ethos of loco-hauled services providing a far superior service to passengers.

[@PeteBrandy]

Nice video! This train looks younger than 40 years and looks not so bad :-) I like these British diesel units, I'd like to try one of them someday!

[@Neville60001]

You'll have to make a trip to the UK _soon_ , as these older trains aren't going to be around for much longer.

[@ahoyittttt7802]

@@Neville60001 they are.. don’t know where you heard that they aren’t 🤷‍♂️ they’re gonna be going for a lot more years

[@Neville60001]

@@ahoyittttt7802, glad to hear that.

[@malcolmyates5449]

Always loved the HSTs, 100% better than those plastic horrible 800\ 802 trains,

[@2112jonr]

I've stopped using GWR since they introduced the 800/802 trains. Awful, uncomfortable journeys, beyond words.

[@millercool21]

The exterior is nice the interior is bad

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

@@millercool21 And they do sound great

[@maimadha]

​@@2112jonrit's sad GWR replaced the InterCity125 sets with the class 800s and 802s

[@class56trainsrock62]

8:54 lovely engine roar

[@MattJames2211]

Haven't been on the IET for a long distance journey but I always loved the HST and the HSTs seem much better from what I have seen in trip report videos

[@2112jonr]

For god's sake, and your health, do NOT travel on the new GWR trains. The seats are rock hard, no give whatsoever, and I ended up in hospital as a result of travelling on one for the first time. Normally love to use trains, but not those vile new 800 series. Cheap, clattery, noisy and uncomfortable as hell. Never again.

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@2112jonr Thinking about it, I think the class 800 are bad, did you go on the HST? I have, if so how was it?

[@maimadha]

​@@TEBEnthusiastGWR should've kept the HSTs operating out of London Paddington on intercity services

[@dave1001]

Ride quality and seat quality is far superior on the HST sets compared to the replacement IET's. So in a nutshell, new is not always bettrer

[@christineineson9370]

There really is no contest! Class 43's excel!! Having traveled regularly on LNER/Virgin trains between London Kings Cross and the North, Ive experienced both the 800 Azuma (in standard class and first class) and 43's in first and standard. I remember having Hallelujah moments at Kings Cross when boarding the last train home - it was always a 43 and a far superior offering. Seating in First class was excellent - even standard class was perfectly acceptable for the 2.5 hour journey home. The novelty of Azuma travel wore off after my first journey......

[@Marks_Trains]

Having travelled from Plymouth to St Austell on a high-density Sprinter I am pleased to see that more suitable trains are now doing this work! That looks really great.

[@sirjack_86]

I remember going to Bodmin Parkway on this train for a school trip back when they ran from London. I definitely prefer the HST sets by far as they provide better comfort and are overall more relaxing to travel in; in contrast, the IET feels like (to me) that it was built for only speed and not for comfortability which is why I dislike them, especially on GWR who take the least care of them (in my opinion).

[@chrisbiewer-rallye-info]

No question which I prefer, even from the outside. Living near the railway lines between Reading and Didcot, I hate the sight of the power lines and monstrous poles, but I love the sound of the class 43 HST, it's not noise, it's music!

[@davidashton3396]

Hands down the HST! Best train ever in my lifetime and if they can fix toilet tanks as you have shown, bring them back to the mainline!

[@SR-eo5no]

They already fixed the toilets and also fitted sliding doors, making these trains fully compliant. It's all up to GWR now

[@gxxttxxr2442]

Hate 800s they should of kept the hsts going way longer on the mainline!

[@OnTheRailwayOfficial]

@@gxxttxxr2442 IETs are good

[@Neville60001]

@@OnTheRailwayOfficial, you're in the minority on this (and I myself am shocked and stunned that these new trains [from of all companies, _Hitachi_ ] are of shoddy quality.) I hope that Britons visiting North America aren't going to be so dismissive of either Amtrak or VIA Rail after seeing this video.

[@OnTheRailwayOfficial]

@@Neville60001 American trains are shit. The class 80x is not a bad train, it's the government underfunding Hitachi in the interiors of these trains where most people will be looking. Apart from the interior, the class 800 ride quality is far ahead of the hst. Also I don't know how you can compare British rail to American rail. American rail should not exist !

[@JacobsTrainVideos]

As a Plymouth native I know these trains well its a fair review on Great train and very scenic route!

[@kiwitrains]

HST every time looked like a great trip

[@davidcowie2462]

Thanks. They have done a great job in refurbishing these HSTs. Well done GWR! Although, we should not forget they are more atmospheric polluting than IETs.

[@Neville60001]

And why they won't last long.

[@federicoeveza9656]

Happy New Year 2021, travelling during the pandemis years. Congrats and good luck

[@andybassbrass]

Lovely trains, and wonderful scenery!

[@paulcrook792]

HST Any day, A much better Experience than the IETs.

[@FPs_transport_vids]

Ikr

[@googlehomeboi9975]

Better than the cucumber train

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@googlehomeboi9975 lol

[@TEBEnthusiast]

I agree, I have never been to Penzance but took a HST a couple of time one stop before Penzance

[@gxxttxxr2442]

I hate gwrs 800s they r ugly inside and uncomfortable!

[@chrisswann2868]

I recently did some Train spotting @ Nta, and was filled with Love and affection whenever a Castle set arrived, and departed. Are they still worthy despite their age etc, er yes!. Also it was noted that an 5th coach would have improved them, I totally agree. A Micro Buffet Mk 3 would have been a massive plus point for the Castles, not sure about First Class though, might have been difficult to Police. Lastly, I have to say, I think that the MTU Diesel engines make the Hst's sound very nice.☺

[@benjamintery7847]

Great video on great trains ! Luckily you didn't land on a 150 ;) The announcements are totally fine as they're relatively quiet - they seem the same as the 143/150 although I may be incorrect here. The ones on the IETs though are really annoying... Also, great shot of the Cornish Main Line, it looks stunning :)

[@martinross5521]

Thank you Superalbs for this reminder of HST travel and the route PLY-PNZ. With reduced coaches, 8 to 4/5, they’ve downrated the engines for more economy. I used them for 40 years for Devon to PAD and they were great. An early breakfast or returning evening meal in first class is the stuff of legend. In standard I could put my folded Brompton in the space in front of my knees to keep it safe. PAD to Westminster in 15 minutes!

[@droge192]

They really haven't made any modifications to the engines, to run with the short sets. Not sure where you got that from. They are more economical in these configurations, simply due to the reduced weight and the drivers' needing to demand less power from the generators, to achieve the same speeds.

[@martinross5521]

@@droge192 thank you for the correction, it was a village rumour from an avid, we can see them passing though our disused station during the day. They sound very relaxed in their shortened form. I remember hearing the wizz-wizz of the first HST through here in 1974

[@158alfie]

Those seats are used on TfWs Class 158s. The seats are just so comfortable, I could sleep in them.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

They are fantastic! I was on one of these again yesterday, and the comfort is really the best!

[@peterdawson2645]

I'm quite jealous. Rode the HSTs so many times between London and Swansea and certainly don't love the IETs. Especially the seats! They were getting a bit tired inside and pink and purple wasn't my favourite, but the refurb looks (as we say in South Wales) tidy!

[@ahoyittttt7802]

I find the green looks a bit deppressing compared to the purple

[@nathanjp96]

Don't you mean tidy butt?? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@albertsunderland604]

As it stands right now, I'm gonna go with the HST. But seeing as the market is going to be more leasure-orientated after this virus thing is gone, I can see some hope that GWR, LNER and the other IET operators will modify their trains to offer better comfort. Do you think there's any chance of this happening?

[@ahoyittttt7802]

Yeah, ofc they’ll change the seats etc, but it probably won’t be till a couple years time

[@physiocrat7143]

What was the point of having a new design of train? They might just as well have ordered some more Mark 3 stock with the improved window spacing of the BREL International Train.

[@BRI535D]

In my opinion they should have a fifth coach with half !st class seating compartment.I travelled many times on the last refurbished 1st class carriages out of Paddington before the IET's arrived.

[@geraldhobbs1828]

HST every time!

[@RogEdwardsTV]

_Nice video._ Those seats are definitely better than the rockhard seats on the IETs.

[@StPetersLayout]

The caste sets are limited to 110mph on some parts of the line this is because it has less braking on shorter sets

[@bryanduncan6178]

They are actually limited to 100mph where line speed allows.

[@StPetersLayout]

@@bryanduncan6178 if you look on realrimetrains it says 110 🙂

[@bryanduncan6178]

I wouldn't believe a 3rd party website! The trains ARE limited to 100mph where line speed allows. 👍

[@Pulsarnix]

I did every line in Cornwall when I was there a few weeks ago and was even more impressed by these sets than I was in the video. Also, 43093 was the first power car I saw of the castle sets when I watched this video and the first one I was pulled by when I used them in person. So for that reason, 43093 will always be my favourite. I somehow forgot about Long Rock Depot before Penzance though, so unfortunately missed anything that would have been in there. Just for the record, I've also seen 43097 and definitely agree with you about those automatic announcements, they're so annoying repeating the same thing after every station.

[@holdingpointaviation]

Fun fact: the seats are the same type as the ones transport for wales use on the 158’s. gWr use them on their 158’s too. The colours are different obviously

[@CarlD08]

I absolutely prefer the HST's, so much better than the uncomfortable IET's. Very happy and glad that some HST's are still around, like on GWR, plus Cross Country and ScotRail. I also wish EMR would refurbish/update the sets on the Midland Mainline to/from Nottingham and Leeds, losing them will be very sad.

[@AquaFonic]

Old men moaning about clapped out old trains 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@AquaFonic Stop making fun of old men.

[@silenthunteruk]

Prefer the HSTs, but I don't think the IETs are that bad. They just need to sort the seats out.

[@OffTheRailsUK]

And the terrible safety.. TMS never works, you can trap your foot between the door and the step, or even the gangways. And the fact that the set on fire quite often.

[@jimmenycricket4598]

@@OffTheRailsUK I travel regularly on LNER's Azumas and can't say I've noticed the problems you mention. Having said that I'm not particularly keen on them! Much prefer HST's

[@Cyborgdelta1]

@@OffTheRailsUK sorry what? They set on fire quite often what are you smoking, please can you post a link to these "Fires" because I can find jack on any news source and you would think some thing like that would make it to local and national news.

[@OffTheRailsUK]

@@Cyborgdelta1 First of all, ask Eddie's Adventures, The Surrey Transport Hub, or Zacharys' UK Transport about a fire from an Azuma in Stevenage. Or, watch my Hadley Wood video and you'll see.

[@Cyborgdelta1]

@@OffTheRailsUK you don't have a video called "Hadley wood" on your channel, also you are now saying "a" fire when before you said set on fire quite often and there is no report of a Azuma train fire even on the gov website. Link it or it never happened.

[@Kev5565]

I've had the unpleasant experience of being on an overpacked Azuma pre-lockdown, it was a very rough ride and was difficult to stay standing due to all the sideways forces. I thought there wasn't much space on the Azuma and the ride probably worse due to the bogies being closer together also maybe due to being powered wheels. Also the Japanese seem to like no gaps between carriages on their high speed trains for good airflow, but ours have seemed to go backwards with the ugly wide gaps between bodywork.

[@markm-1976]

HSTs hands down. I don’t really like the seats and level of comfort on the IETs and Azumas.

[@LordEverythingtrains]

Plus the GWR iets rely on a trolley. I once rode from London to Plymouth on a 9 car iet and the trolleybhad only got to car 7.

[@markm-1976]

@@LordEverythingtrains It is not the same when it's a trolley for a long distance journey. Trolleys for on board catering are more suited to regional services like on a turbostar or classes 158 and 159. I was shocked at the size of the buffet counter on the LNER azuma - it is tiny. They did not put much thought on the iets for on board catering. I have not been on a GWR one. That is disgraceful that the trolley only managed to get to coach 7 on a long distance journey that you did - and not managing to reach all the cars.

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@markm-1976 GWR should be ashamed of themselves

[@markm-1976]

I totally agree with you. Intercity travel should be comfortable. GWR have let their customers down with the IPEs as the other operators that use those trains.

[@soundseeker63]

The GWR green looks very elegant on these sets. Probably the best livery they have worn since GNER. Thank goodness they have retained sensibly shaped and padded seats! It does seem a bit of a waste of their performance running on the low speed stopping services but I'd certainly rather that then see them scrapped! I only wish LNER had kept on a few of these sets too. We have a handful of Mk4 sets left thankfully but apart from that ECML passengers are largely stuck with IETs which are not nice for long distance at all.

[@rogerking7258]

It's strange how icons are born. Like the original Land Rover the HST was intended as a stop-gap measure before something better came along - in this case the APT!

[@edisonz2006]

5:42 Nice transition right there

[@chrismoore4423]

Line speed on the routes covered by Castle Sets is up to 110mph on a few stretches like Bridgwater to Weston-super-Mare. The stretch alongside the M5 near Tiverton/Cullumpton and then just west of Exeter before Powderham Castle are the fastest bits in Devon & Cornwall @ 100mph.

[@davidscarrett3804]

Great review however one point the line isn't capable of the units running at 125 mph so I feel your criticism is a tad unfair. Again a great review

[@frazermountford]

I wonder if you would be able to catch a Castle HST for part of the journey from Cornwall to Paddington for example

[@rolandharmer6402]

Thanks for your report. In terms of passenger comfort the HST is a far, far better train. Did anyone consider converting the HSTs to dual mode? After all you have a diesel engine driving a generator to power the electric traction motors. By adding a transformer and pantograph and you would have a HST that could run as an electric train.

[@TefkrosAirliner]

It's frustrating how the refurbished interior of a 40+ yo train is better than its successor, the IET

[@ironmantrains]

I miss the HSTs on long distance journeys to Swansea, but I still love them and they're awesome. At least they go from Cardiff to Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth etc. Between Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton they can max 110mph. I'd rather travel on one of these instead of an IET. I prefer the older FGW colours, but that's just personal preference. Despite this they're still better than the IETs that are packed with cheap and cheerful stuff. I'd definitely choose one of these instead of an IET. Can you do a review on the Turbo?

[@TEBEnthusiast]

HST will be my trip to Penzance(after lockdown) not taking a IEP, taking a car to Plymouth

[@yusufkhan-ig7dv]

I went on one these castle sets back when they had slam doors. First time I had been on one so I was a bit confused waiting for the door to open 😂

[@sidney001]

You have to remember that these refurbished HST's replace to some extent the awful class 150 units, which although awful are still better than a bastard Hitachi 800. I'd still rather travel from Cornwall to London on one of these shortened HST sets than I would the bastard Hitachi 800.

[@rabd9881]

think you’re a bit obsessed with iets you’ve talked about how much you hate them on every video

[@sidney001]

@@rabd9881 because they are a very horribly spec'ed train. I've spent 5yrs commuting from Cornwall to London and the HST's made that bearable, The Hitchci 800's on the other hand are a backwards step in passenger comfort in just about every way, so yes I will keep on hating these wretched units until they are either replaced or upspesc'ed

[@rabd9881]

@@sidney001 cool

[@piccadillyline9765]

Love the HST but my memories are of the 50's many years ago on holiday from Cumbria to Cornwall. Alas I now commute on the ECML and stuck with the crap 800’s. Do not get me wrong they are good for the TOC but only a few years old and problems. Useless in a slow speed collision as we have seen at Neville Hill and the rattling at least we have some Mk4 sets coming back…

[@dw3275]

Definitely the castle HST sets by a mile. Although the IET is way faster, I'd wish that GWR would bring back HST sets on the services to London. The public would love it if that happened ❤️ Also, I loved the cornwall scenery. Some of the shots were heavenly! 😍💖

[@JackTheOfficeWorker]

7:22 That's Mk3 TGS Carriage

[@tonywilkins6090]

Another good video. 2:50 Nothing to say here but good choice of seating. D69. 3:11 I'm not 100% certain about this, but the automated announcements was also done on the Scotrail's ex-GWR HSTs sets. If I remember correctly, automatic announcements was part of the PRM requirements to allow the scotrail sets to be used. I suspect this may have been the same for the GWR castle sets. 9:34 The castle sets are restricted to about 100mph due to the having less carriages. Pretty much similar to how the EMR Angel sets were restricted to 110mph on the MML. Not to mention the plymouth-Penzance mostly have a line speed of 75mph, with occasionally hitting 100 mph.

[@DentalHygieneTipsUk]

I haven't seen one of these beauties in a long time.

[@TEBEnthusiast]

Same

[@trainarchive]

I saw lots when I went on holiday in hayle. Even the flying welshman.

[@SR-eo5no]

I saw 3 yesterday (not like I was at the station or anything 😛)

[@trainarchive]

Nice

[@davidhall7811]

HST for definite, especially seeing them come in to Okehampton on charters :-)

[@toml4511]

On the ticket, it says Via Truro. I’m pretty certain you have to go through Truro to get to Penzance🤔

[@ChangesOneTim]

Indeed! Wonder whose daft idea that was.... 'Any reasonable route' would be even more ridiculous: a) Okehampton/Wadebridge/Bodmin/err... b) Par/Newquay/Perranporth/Chacewater/err... c) A38/A30 d) Nat Cycle Routes 2 and 3 e) South West Coast Path f) Inshore waters skippered yacht, calling Fowey and Falmouth for provisions

[@stevehallam0850]

Great recycling by GWR. They should have many more years of useful life, as in Scotland. IETs need new seats and a good shakedown. They were foisted on GWR by the government!

[@2112jonr]

I wonder if the NHS bill sorting out peoples' backs after travelling on them exceeds the cost savings made by having crap seats.

[@rogerwebster1216]

So great we still have some comfortable trains in the West. I wrote a review for the 800 report and I won't repeat my comments except to say it is amazing we are having to put up such awful, poorly designed new trains.

[@westy6214]

Nice video, very informative and as you said the contrast of greatness between the old order (gwr hst) and new (hitachi 802) is shocking. Also in your opinion what is the best seat in the uk as yes those Grammer seats are brilliant. I look forward to what you bring next 😃 👍

[@DanielsUKT]

Great video some good seats there and also some nice scenery of the rolling hills and sunset very British indeed

[@KempSimon]

I don't recall seeing any of Cornwall's disused engine houses in this video clip. There relics of the copper and tin mining industry are ubiquitous in the Royal Duchy and can even be found over the border in Devon!

[@miahaskurti4539]

Also About These HSTs That The Coat Hooks By The Seat Means It Doesn't Get In The Way. And The Extending Bracket For Laptops Is A Rectangle So No Falling Off Sides. These HZTs Really Master The IET!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

This comment barely makes sense.

[@miahaskurti4539]

@@SuperalbsTravels Sorry If I Said "HZT" I Was Rushing With My Comments

[@miahaskurti4539]

Heres What You Would Do. You Were On A HST Heading To London Paddington. Then Something Behind It Wants To Crash Into The HST. Its A Horrid Class 800/802 IET And It Crashes Into The HST Guving It Injurys And The IET Didnt. But It Was Rushing Faster To Stay Ahead Of The IET. But The IET Was Much Faster

[@arnoldspottingvideos5652]

1:23 that's a good shot

[@maxvandenberg6905]

Are both power cars named after castle on all Castle sets ?

[@TheDuckRN]

The vast majority are. A few exceptions are Old Oak Common and also one named after drivers that sadly died in accidents. A few are currently going around nameless too.

[@JacobsTrainVideos]

Lucky, you got 43093. Other lcos you can take on this journey are 158s and 150s. If they were all at platform heading to the same destination which would you choose?

[@JackJackProductions]

Seat 69. Well done and nice

[@ejc7129]

100% HST every time. Its a shame they never added another composite coach to the Castle Sets half and half, to offer 1st class accommodation especially for the longer journeys between South Wales and Cornwall 🤔👍🏽 The IET is a very poor replacement when it comes to the overall customer experience. Rock hard seats, noisy underfloor engines, lights as bright as stadium flood lights, no buffet, a poor ride at 100mph+ (bogies are clanky and there is a lot of lateral movement), stinky toilet smell, especially in the hot weather and windows that are normally so filthy that you can’t see though them, even in 1st class. Hardly an “Inter-City” experience is it? 🤭😢 The HST was the tried and tested design success, the blueprint was already there for its replacement, it just needed updating and bringing into the 21st Century with automatic doors, retention tanks, better on board IT sockets and power cars that were able to run bi-mode with 9 newly built coaches based heavily on the successful MK3 design. There was never any need for the IEP.

[@jimmenycricket4598]

I travel regularly travel on LNER's Azumas and can't say I've ever noticed the smelly toilets you mention

[@ejc7129]

@@jimmenycricket4598 thats good, perhaps they have cured it? Here on GWR a few summers ago in the heat of 2018, the toilets did smell, strong in the vestibule areas with the occasional whiff coming into the coach via the air conditioning system. Most unpleasant.

[@AquaFonic]

MOAN MOAN MOAN WHINGE WHINGE OLD MAN SYNDROME?? Grow up it’s the 21st century not 19th !! Old trains are past it !!!! Castle sets wont offer 1st class GWR made sure you have to mingle with the rest of us !!!

[@ejc7129]

@@AquaFonic and your point is? Just because its the 21st Century doesn’t mean passengers have to endure sub standard trains with a remarkable drop in comfort and on-board services, especially for the ticket prices they charge. The HST is not “passed it” as Cross-Country, Scotrail and GWR are currently proving. I think you need to think a bit more before shooting from the hip.

[@jimmenycricket4598]

@@ejc7129 Well said!

[@ravenmusic6392]

I don’t understand why the 800 units are so much worse in some ways. Though they are much faster on 25KV electric power than the HST, unless you’re on a line such as Cardiff to London or the ECML with electric power you’re not gonna feel the difference, and with the extensive modernisation of the HST stock and it’s carriages, I think they should keep them in service until they can sort out the 800 comfort situation.

[@colin.d]

Can I assume there is no catering onboard?

[@sidney001]

No catering, no 1st class, so bring your own food and drink along

[@nickhiscock8948]

Why do they insist on not having on train dining on long distance regional trains. You can be on these trains all day and you can only bring so much food and drinks with you. Put on a proper buffet car!

[@sidney001]

@@nickhiscock8948 Two reasons... 1. Buffets take up seats and are expensive to operate 2. When GWR was in the process of replacing the HST's they put questionnaires out for passengers to fill in and one of the questions was "would you like an at seat buffet service" to which of course most people said yes. Had GWR phrased the question "would you like us to get rid of the buffet" I expect that GWR would not have got the answer they wanted. So now when ever anyone complains about the lack of buffet, they wave their stupid survey in the air and say "but we asked everyone what they wanted and they 90% of people said they wanted an at seat service". Its like when you get the annual what do you think of senior management survey which asks... do you think senior management are doing A. A good job B. A great job C. An excellent job. Surveys are just weapons used by bean counters (arseholes) to get the answers they want.

[@2112jonr]

​@@sidney001 True. But having a split train and needing TWO guards instead of one is expensive too. Oh, hang on, that's right, GWR just cancel their "service" when they are a guard short on a train. Useless.

[@BritishRail60062]

The HST wins hands down. Don't get me wrong the AT300's are capable of doing the same job of high speed travel but the interior and the comfort isn't a patch on the HST's.

[@richardjohnson2470]

I recently travelled by train to Penzance for a holiday from our home in the midlands, having travelled on the IEPs both GWR and the similar LNER Azumas and not enjoyinv the experiece I deliberately arranged to travel by Crosscountry HST as far as Plymouth and then the GWR Castle HST to Penzance and the same on the return journey, these are great trains with lots of luggage space and very comfortable unlike the 800s and most other new trains. It is a shame trains are not built for comfort snymore, long live the remaining HSTs.

[@simonsv9449]

I think they could have installed the seat type on the HST on the IET’s too!

[@j3xk72r9]

Having used both the new Hitachi sets and these HST's, there can be no doubt that the HST is a far better passenger experience. Its a pity they have used the same nasty, scratchy grey fabric on the seats. The older moquette felt much nicer.

[@ahoyittttt7802]

Everything about the older livery was better.

[@ryanandroxy_yt104]

Hi superalbs travels I went to cornwall in summer 2020 and I went across the tamar bridge aswell it's stunning

[@rossochanel3168]

I wish LNER kept the hst it has really nice livery

[@Neville60001]

Obviously, they couldn't and can't do so for environmental reasons; it's good to see that the UK's trying to be carbon neutral with its passenger train systems, unlike here in North America where neither the Canadian or U.S. governments are willing to consider electrification of any passenger line (at least there are _attempts_ at building HSR in Texas and California, but it's slow going.)

[@nixcails]

I prefer a Castle set but it was designed for InterCity routes. The class 800/802 were designed for dual function of replacing 166/165 on GWR commuter and InterCity. I do feel the 802 should have been fitted out with longer distances in mind. The Castle sets are great upcycling of Mark III's and Class 43's. They never really travelled at High Speed after Newton Abbot. I especially like they way they are timetabled to fit in between London to Penzance services giving Cornwall a regular connection with Plymouth. These and 158's are the mainstay of my local services (Saltash and St Budeaux are my local stations but Saltash is an easy walk over the bridge) In regard to the announcements they come into their own on services stopping at smaller stations when run with 9/10 car IET's as not all stations fit more than 4 carriages. Especially little Menheniot . They also announce the connections for the branch lines. As for the price of the ticket services in Cornwall are subsidised and demand and passenger numbers drop so charging lower fares fills empty seats after Exeter/Plymouth plus wages in hospitality and agriculture in Cornwall are low so this makes rail travel affordable for all

[@SR-eo5no]

Oh yes, one other thing, the 'thing for longer laptops' was originally designed for people with newspapers.

[@gilesrdavies]

Nice video, and the "Castle" HSTs have been refurbished to an excellent standard. This will be a controversial comment, but I wonder if they are really all that suitable for so many stops between Plymouth and Penzance? While HSTs are extremely fast trains, their acceleration out of a station has never been that great and if they are not getting about 75 mph, are they really the suitable train for this route?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

The shortened rakes absolutely shift it, boasting about 4000hp for two locos and four carriages. There's no doubt it will wreck the poor things mechanically, but hopefully they will take a while before totally deteoriating.

[@agordonforme6797]

Doubt if the 802 will be about in 40 years time

[@2112jonr]

Let's hope not. The most uncomfortable train seats ever.

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@2112jonr lucky since it’s falling apart they won’t go for so long

[@sinadiatta9905]

Are the HST still on service as of now?

[@maimadha]

GWR have retired the Castle Set HSTs

[@charliewalker9443]

Around 3 or 4 left on GWR network. The rest have gone

[@bhtrains6869]

Good video mate miss the hsts like the IETs but prefer the hsts

[@TEBEnthusiast]

I haven’t seen these in a long time 😭😭 I hope I do, Why gwr to replace this beautiful HST with the 802 IESHIT, please bring them back

[@gxxttxxr2442]

Miss the FGW era no 800s and a lot of HSTS

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@gxxttxxr2442 Same here.

[@maimadha]

​@@TEBEnthusiastimagine if the InterCity125 sets were still operating out of London

[@BECMAYE2007]

I prefer the HST, The 800 and 802 seats are like ironing boards and become really uncomfortable after an hour's travelling

[@2112jonr]

Put me in hospital with a slipped disc. Never ever travelling by GWR again until the seats are removed, burned and replaced.

[@grahamnancledra7036]

I love the HST's and their conversions and enjoyed the video. One sour comment though. At this time was your journey absolutely necessary?

[@droge192]

Oh another would-be "Pandemic Policeman". Maybe it was a work journey, that just coincided with him filming it. The key thing is, it's really none of your business. You were right when you described your comment as 'sour'. Sour and unneccesary, I would say.

[@davidashton3396]

By the look of the ticket the journey was in November 2020, Cornwall in Tier 2?

[@miahaskurti4539]

The HSTs With Their New Life In GWR & Scotrail.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It's a great thing to have! :)

[@miahaskurti4539]

@@SuperalbsTravels Yeah. Better. Can You Do A Trip Report With Scotrail HSTs & 385s?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I will consider visiting Scotland again once they stop mandating masks.

[@miahaskurti4539]

@@SuperalbsTravels Ok

[@maimadha]

​@@SuperalbsTravels are you back in Scotland this year?

[@evilcdh]

The new units are so poor compared with these that I've gone back to driving the car to London

[@2112jonr]

Me too. The inhumane seating on the "new" GWR trains caused me to have a slipped disc, and put me in hospital and months of pain. I drive now, every time. My health is worth more than the saving and ecological benefits of travelling on them. No thanks. And normally I LOVE travelling by train, been all over Europe on them.

[@manusmacgearailt667]

@@2112jonr have you considered bringing a legal case against GWR and the department for transport? I've heard of at least one other person online who has been injured by the hard seats and terrible ride quality, and many youtube viewers on other GWR reviews who have also stopped taking the train. I think every rail user in Britain knows how bad the 800s are, I'm wondering if you and enough other people make a big legal fuss about it then maybe the DfT will give in and review their train seating specifications, or better still leave it up to train operators and customers. I mean the inter7city hsts are technically new trains in Scotland, and they have the old good quality seats, which are also used on modern high speed trains in Europe i.e. öbb railjet, so surely those must be acceptable safety regulation wise, so if those seats are still allowed despite the new rules than they should be retrofitted to the IETs and other new express rolling stock. Sorry for the long reply, I'm just saying I think your problem is quite a common one and might be resolved with enough public pressure :)

[@emilianohaskurti9344]

Thameslink Class 700s Are Nicknamed "Ironing Board Seats"

[@MemeReviewer]

HST For life!

[@josephharrison8354]

In principle, I want newer, cleaner and more efficient trains on the network. But so far, most of them are crap - Northern's Civity units are alright for shorter journeys, and by all accounts, the FLIRTS on GA's network are excellent, but the new rash of high speed trains is uncomfortable, loud, and to be honest, not that well built. I expected far better from Hitachi, to be honest.

[@droge192]

Totally agree. And about the GA FLIRTs being an excellent exception, to the generally poor quality new breed of modern, 'plastic' trains.

[@RandomShortsUploader]

Such a shame they removed the slam door on the HST

[@TEBEnthusiast]

Yep, it just doesn’t look right

[@PenzancePete]

You bet your sweet life that they're better than those new sooper-dooper trains. Better seats, better space. All GWR have to do now is get rid of the annoying announcement and teach the platform staff how to dispatch a train quicker than the leisurely time that they take now. Oh, and despite what your subtitle says the sliding doors aren't automatic. A button has to be pressed (as seen in the video) to operate them.

[@2112jonr]

There's nothing super about the new trains. They are crap. Hideously uncomfortable. Boycott them.

[@nikscape2993]

This makes me nostalgic for when gwr 43s wizzed past my local station

[@DentalHygieneTipsUk]

hi nikgthecatescaped