I rode from London Liverpool Street to Colchester to see if the FLIRT was as good as they say it is

[@TaylesTheTrainspotter]

Great video! I have to agree about the legroom, I am 6ft 3 and it was rather jarring to deal with. But these are my favourite units in the UK!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Seems to be a repeating refrain. I suppose Stadler can define the ride and noise, but legroom is down to the client's preferred seating configuration

[@felixblazer4640]

lovely video, thanks for sharing!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Very kind of you to say so. Thank you very much for watching and commenting 👍

[@felixblazer4640]

you deffo gained a sub from me!

[@Dunco3550]

Although the MK3 stock was very long in the tooth I did prefer the nice big comfy cushions that you could sink into as well as the sliding doors to the vestible areas which offered a more cosy feel than the general open plan design that you get on the Flirts.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes I did travel the old stock too back in the day and I know what you mean. however, I think I prefer the FLIRTs for allround quietness, speed and general comfort.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I have been on the Class 745 from London Liverpool Street and Colchester to Norwich and I quite like them. Also been on the Class 755 as well.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, they feel well built. I think they should provide a good service for years.

[@colinriley123]

Enjoyed the video. Good shots of both Liverpool St and Colchester stations. I do enjoy your map graphics. for some reason they take me back to the Dad's Army sequence, at the beginning of each episode. Please don't change them!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah yes. The big arrowhead and Dads Army! I'll keep em just for you, no problem. Truth is, I think that style explains the route in the clearest way imho, although obviously other KZbinrs do it their way. In the end, "make the video that you'd like to see" is the only thing you can do and leave everyone else to do what they prefer.

[@cryzcryz2345]

1:03 amazing sculpture! I love British Train Stations! Greatings from Hull! 🤗

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes , it is a cool sculpture. There are quite a lot of sculptures across Europe that commemorate the Kindertransport. I know someone doing an Interrail trip and he decided to go and see them all. Thanks for watching another video 👍

[@colinriley123]

635 subscribers; well done!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Just a few more each day...

[@arwelp]

Interesting video. I’ve not used Liverpool Street much, but I do remember travelling from there to Norwich in September 1976 on mark 2 coaches behind a Class 47 when I was starting my first term at UEA - fare £5.30 single, no railcard as you couldn’t buy one until you were a registered student at the time! I think that was the last time I ever paid full fare on a GB train, as by the time my last student railcard expired I’d got a BR staff priv card, and I still have a retired one!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

When I heard about all the redevelopment hoohar I was very pleased to have recorded Liverpool Street as it is now. Like you, it isn't a station I've travelled through very often as I've rarely needed to get to the places the station serves. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. It means a lot that people take the time to watch the vids I've made. 👍

[@JohnLeeming23]

They're certainly good as modern trains go, and the superior acceleration is a bonus, but the previous Mark III coaches had more comfortable seats.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

S'funny how it often comes down to the seats and yet we still keep getting new trains where people perceive the seats are worse. Thank you for watching and commenting. It means a lot 👍

[@nuinmarnuinmar5321]

Woohoo, a journey I know well. Sadly I find the seating and leg room quite poor (and I'm a very short person!). But it is quiet and fast so that makes up for it.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

well I hope I did it justice! Thanks as ever for watching and commenting!

[@alanshelly7068]

Do the joinery to Norwich

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. I didn't have time on this occasion to go all the way to Norwich Norwich has a very beautiful station! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

Why not all the way to Norwich. I have been on the Class 745 and they are very nice trains.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I'd have loved to go to Norwich. The station at Norwich is really beautiful. However, I already had a ticket booked home from Paddington and I just didn't have time to go any further than Colchester and back on this occasion.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I do remember going from Norwich to London Liverpool Street when I used to live in Norfolk and used to get the Class 90 Mk3s before they were replaced by the Class 745.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Andrewjg_89 yes, I too have ridden that old service when I was going to Norwich for work reasons back in the day. It felt quite old fashioned at the time.

[@Andrewjg_89]

True. I do miss the Class 90 Mk3s.

[@ccw1748]

Hello, I am planning on going to visit Colchester by train. I am a tourist and live in paddington, Where should I go to take the Greateranglia train to Colchester or Colchester town?(a little confused) I am not familiar with that route…. Thanks for your help.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

If you are in Paddington, take the Elizabeth line from Paddington to Liverpool Street and then from Liverpool Street, just do what I did. Thanks for watching 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

The Elizabeth line is brand new and therefore worth seeing.

[@ccw1748]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels the destination is Colchester or Colchester town station? The google shows two places..

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@ccw1748 I'd go to the main station (not Town) and enjoy a slightly longer walk into the main town but a better train service. You walk near the castle. Looks like there's no trains running today. So check at the booking office before travelling

[@ccw1748]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels ok. It helps me a lot. Thanks you again.

[@telemachus53]

The statue at the beginning is poignant. David Attenborough's father took in 2 Jewish girls from the Kindertransport, my parents in their teens assisted in receiving the refugees at a hostel in London, and my headmaster's mother was on the Kinder transport. She's still alive. And yes, the Flirts are amazingly quiet and convenient, especially for those in wheelchairs.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for that truly wonderful back story. Lovely to hear the practical and human benefit of those brave children that left their homes and the people that welcomed them.

[@DonaldTrumpIsGreat]

Good Video 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you. And thanks for watching 👍