LNER Azuma FIRST CLASS from Inverness to London! Is it worth it?

Happy New Years and welcome to the first ever trip report by Jay's Transport!
Today you catch Jay and James onboard LNER 800109 on the Highland Chieftain service. This is a service that runs from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands down to London in the south of England! It covers the whole of the Highland Mainline and the East Coast Mainline, topping out at 125mph!!
We set out to answer the question of "is this Britain's best First Class experience?". Find out our verdict by the end of this mega episode!!!
Thank you for sticking with us for another amazing year of videos! We hope to increase our output next year in 2024 with longer and better videos weekly! We are also travelling back to Spain for another round of filming!
Next video: New Years Eve Special
Checkout our other playlists:
Best of Jay's Transport: • Best of Jays Transport
British Railways Season 2: • 🇬🇧 Season 2 UK 🇬🇧
Spanish Railways: • 🇪🇸 Spanish Railways Se...
If you like what you see and want to watch more of this content in the future, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon! It helps us out massively!
Please, if you have any questions, leave a comment! We get back to them as soon as we are able to!
Thank you for tuning in!

[@brian402]

Am watching this from my homeland of New Zealand, i have travelled around the UK by train way back in 1986 / 87 & 1991.,watching your awesome video bring's back alot of memories👍

[@david5845]

Wonderful! Thank you..whoever you are. Used to live in Scotland. Used to do Aberdeen to London a lot. Done Inverness also a few times. Now live New Zealand. LNER is great. Last trip was in 2002 from Kings X to Durham. They were great then. So good to see what a (now) non privatised train company can do. Yay! Fabulous and keep up the good work. Cheers

[@stevedeakin1883]

It's the first time I've come across your channel , I really enjoyed the video . The service looked exceptional . You've got a new subscriber 😊.

[@JaysTransport]

Glad you enjoyed it!! Got two more trips planned for next week! 😁

Berwick does not mark the England/Scotland border, the actual border is a little north of the town.

[@colinriley123]

Agree with nearly everything you say except the ride quality. I don't know whether its the track or the train , but I am careful to limit my cup refills. I also wait for smoother sections to take a sip.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Maybe this is a common theme with new trains. I've noticed the same trend on CAF's rolling stock too.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Yeah I've heard this a lot about the IETs, especially when compared to trains like the 390s over on the WCML.

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@EdgyNumber1 I'm spending a week in Wales in February, I'm sure I will get to experience this first hand haha

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

A great presentation. Thank you.

[@JaysTransport]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!!

[@grahamfrear9270]

All those people must be so excited going to London kings cross on this lovely train.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Very nice. The price is quite reasonable for an 8 hour stint in first class too. I literally just paid about the same for a 90min first class ticket on Avanti up to Crewe in February (traveling from the states, will be spending a week in and around Wales).

[@lisahammond1208]

Excellent video! We are covered in ice right now over here in central Kansas with -30' F wind chill temps. Lovely to put on your video while I walked on the treadmill for some escape and exercise. :)

[@JaysTransport]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! I’d love go come visit America someday, but -30 is insane!!

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

I wish these trains would go direct from Hull or York via Leeds and Manchester Victoria to Holyhead

[@aw7544]

I'm looking forward to travelling from Pitlochry to York in summer. Looks like a lovely route!

[@JaysTransport]

It is a lovely route! Just sit on the opposite side we were on for views. They were all booked when we got our tickets, but we’ll be back for more

[@aw7544]

@JaysTransport I will do. I'm travelling solo anyway. It's my first trip on the ECML south of Edinburgh, so I hope it's as beautiful as the stretch to Aberdeen

[@JaysTransport]

@@aw7544 I’d say it is. Theres less water but more mountains and rivers

[@LILC63]

I would definitely want to be in first class for a train journey that long! 8 hours on a train sounds like my worst nightmare either way though.

[@JaysTransport]

Its definitely a lengthy journey for sure!

[@pritamkoli]

Nice coverage

[@lovefive5733]

A great video ive subscribed 😊😊

[@JaysTransport]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@colinriley123]

real luxuryCommenting as I view. I really enjoyed the long single shot into Newcastle. A

[@TheMutley]

The video is excellent and very interesting indeed. However, please note that baked rabbit is NOT served in the Scottish section of the journey, despite its local popularity.

[@alanshelly7068]

Awesome video buddy is with you on the video buddy 😊from Alan in Lowestoft buddy 😊

[@grahamfrear9270]

LNER. Give a good service. Well worth it.

[@grahamfrear9270]

I watched all this from beginning to end and I found it very interesting. Why do we need more high-speed. This train is fast enough. 👍

[@adrianbaron4994]

An excellent video, many thanks. ScotRail seems to take better care of their stations than we usually see in England. Pitlochry looked superb and unless I am mistaken, seems to have been freshly repainted in ScotRail colours. As Scotland has ambitious plans to electrify as far north as Aberdeen, it seems that rail is valued in Scotland far more than it is by meddling and penny - pinching politicians in England.

[@noraboy5863]

Great video guys, can I ask what the app is on your phone which tells you how fast you were going? Thanks for all the trouble you went to to make this video.

[@JaysTransport]

Its called Speedmeter on the app store!

[@luketrainspotteryt2007]

Great review mate! Looks a fun experience must say i did LNER Tuesday morning from Aberdeen to london and i cannot believe the value with my DSB railcard it was £78 1st class single on 1E15 and it was 7 hours the catering offering accumulated was unreal and the food was delicious! 😊

[@louisescott4333]

Most uncomfortable long distance trains in the UK. I'm talking about First Class as well. Last time I travelled out of Aberdeen I flew to Newcastle via Heathrow to avoid spending four hours in one of those things.

[@JaysTransport]

I’ve never taken the flight! How is it?

[@alexpeak16]

Standard class seats on those IEPs are even worse. I can't understand why the incompetent fools at the DfT thought they could dictate how a train is built rather than looking at basic checkpoints like ride comfort, seats and lighting. An Intercity225 does all that so much better and that's just over 30 years old. I'll make sure to get a 225 to Leeds when I go there in a few months.

[@mikegreig3338]

Newcastle, the first major city you hit en route to, ehm what about Edinburgh?..😂, sorry mate read some of your replies, I know what you meant now, also enjoyed the video 😊

[@colinriley123]

Something went wrong. pressed the wrong button . Really enjoyed the long continuous sequence into Newcastle; so often these days each shot is a couple of seconds if that.

[@christophermarkwart1267]

I'm not sure that white wine, pepsi and tea are a good combination but I suppose they are complimentary so why not? I take it the reflection of a guy in the window seen regularly is one of you, which one? And where is the other? Don't worry about having no shame, I haven't had any for 60 years lol! Also sweetie, thanks for the toilet review, you must have been visiting every ten minutes judging by the amount of drink they were giving you! Am sure you'll soon get your own travelogue on Channel 5 x

[@rain_down_]

In just that central part of Newcastle there are 7 bridges crossing the river rather than 5 (Redheugh, King Edward, QE2, High Level, Swing Bridge, Tyne and Millenium. Nice vid though, have done most of this route in first class other than the leg from Aberdeen to Inverness and have always had a good experience in first class. Generally preferred the pre-Azuma first class, but the increase in single seats is good.

[@JaysTransport]

Learn something new everyday!! I will agree, the pre azuma interiors were very very nice. Riding the 91 is a very nice experience! I wish the DFT didnt have to interfere with the interiors so we could get similar style interiors to the older stock

[@ukdavepianoman]

Great trip - so much scenery to see along the way. It's frustrating that LNER have these 3 different eating options and can switch from Dine to Dish just because they haven't got their act together. How was the ride quality? I've been on LNER a few times now and it was very jerky sometimes. A minor comment but it would be better just to display the text in one go rather than letters sliding around - reminds me of the worst of Powerpoint engineering.

[@jamesdunkley8680]

Nice video, absolutely great journey the 7:55 from Inverness in the morning, but a shame your menu changed to a Dish Menu from Edinburgh, usually a Dine all the way through, maybe didn't all the items when they loaded the food at Edinburgh as the Chef stays on from Inverness to Newcastle along with the other catering crew

[@JaysTransport]

Yeah I think it was an issue with the crew loading on the wrong items for the menu. It wss still nice either way!!

[@andrewrobinson7641]

Such a pity your views were mostly from the wrong side of the train - EVERYTHING of note on the ECML is on the EAST side of the train! You showed a small amount looking over the cliffs after Dunbar, but then missed out on the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick, Holy Island / Lindisfarne, the Castle Keep in Newcastle, all the notable bridges over the Tyne (metro, High Level, Swing & Tyne Bridges + the Blinking Eye, Durham Cathedral & Castle, York Minster etc.

[@JaysTransport]

Yeah, that was one of the first things I mentioned when we set off. Passing the lochs outside of Inverness, was disappointed but we'll be back to do the other side soon!

[@roderickjoyce6716]

@@JaysTransport The LNER website and app allow you to change your allocated seats - the seating plans for each coach show the direction of travel. Best views on the ECML - on the RIGHT on northbound trains and on the LEFT on southbound trains.

[@JaysTransport]

@@roderickjoyce6716 Yeah. i’m aware, I take their trains multiple times a week. The problem was there were no seats left, we had a look to see if we could change but it’d mean sitting apart from the 8 hour trip and that wasn’t an option

[@buzzukfiftythree]

As much as I enjoy rail travel, I just couldn’t cope with 8 or more hours on a train.

[@simonf8902]

The reflective glass means your companion is the inadvertent star.

[@JaysTransport]

He’s the face, I’m the brains 💪

[@Gourockz]

Watching your videos for first time. Being Scottish, i always enjoy vids down from Inverness but i was somewhat perplexed when it said upon arrival into Newcastle that it was the first major city en route. Oh. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, doesn’t count? 🙈 Oops!

[@JaysTransport]

It was meant to be on route on the ECML now we've left Edinburgh but I missed that part out by accident 🤦

[@andybray9791]

Is it unlimited

[@scottchristie6734]

I'd consider Edinburgh a major city. It's the capital of Scotland and where Parliament is.

[@JaysTransport]

Yeh, I was meant to put “now we’re on the ECML” in there somewhere but I forgot 😭

[@catman2007]

Checking I see the plane takes under two hours and is considerably cheaper generally.

[@JaysTransport]

Oh really? Is that with Loganair?

[@colinriley123]

Enjoyed the video, but you may have offended a few Edinburgh residents.

[@JaysTransport]

Wait what did I do now? 😦

[@colinriley123]

I think you said Newcastle was the first major city enroute@@JaysTransport

[@JaysTransport]

@@colinriley123Ohhhhhhh, I think I meant to say in England. Pls don’t kill me Edinburgh residents, I love you really ❤️

[@roderickjoyce6716]

@@colinriley123 I live in Newcastle - it's flattering but not strictly true!

[@andrewmurdoch9878]

Did you say thank you to the train staff for service, you didn’t seem to?

[@JaysTransport]

I talk to staff off camera. We were talking as we had a cab tour also

[@SternenruferinPatchouli1]

well those 50p or like in Germany 50 Cents are common to pay for Toilets

[@davidsharp-qm7xd]

Text is useful but tiny and without a dark background it cannot be read. A pity after you have gone to the trouble of providing it. Also the text disappears too quickly before you have had time to read it without pausing the film. Constructive comment not criticism.

[@JaysTransport]

Thanks for the feedback!! I’ll take this all into account for the next one! Thanks :)

[@johnmanca40]

I’m disabled and slow at reading why do you not leave information on for longer instead of removing it it’s not like it’s interfering with anything.

[@JaysTransport]

You make a very valid point, I’ll add that to my notes for the next one. Thanks 👍

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

I needed to know why they don’t dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so that they can extend the unused abandoned underground train stations. Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock that includes the class 313, class 314 and class 315 remix and make them all together and also redesign them an overhead line and also make them into Five cars per units and also having three Disabled Toilets on those Five cars per units A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes even Loud 8-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock, class 313, class 314, and class 315 and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into an 11 car per unit so it could have fewer doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers. A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the Waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it larger and extend it to the bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Railway tunnel into a High-Speed Railway lines? The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Railway line to make it 11 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. Then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised Waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbished 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 47 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project if that will be OK for London Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from the Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden more Easily. Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly Line and also build brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street can they also make another brand new underground train station in Chingford and could they extend the Piccadilly Line and the DLR right up to Chingford? All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, and 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Five carriages three disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extended roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains. Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and can they order Every 77 Octagon and Every 47 Hexagon shape LNER diagram unique small no.13 and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 147MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 147MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units, can they use those class 55’s, class 44’s, class 40’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 18 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!!!!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 18 Tonnes for all of those 147MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!!!! so please make sure that the Builders can do as they are told!!!!!! And Please do something about these very very important Professional ideas Please? Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.

[@arthurolson8922]

Not bad, but some of your captions are useless because they are not up long enough to read.

[@JaysTransport]

Yeah, I’ll be leaving them up longer for the next one for sure

[@DarrenKWSmithers]

oh so Edina isnt a city huh

[@JaysTransport]

Nope, its all a lie. Edinburgh is nothing but a railway station 👀

[@mikegreig3338]

TBF Perth is a city too, if that’s what you’re picking up on…

[@DANEBLUEGNOME]

There is no flyer LNER train, hm!!... Shame. :(

[@johnallan4826]

God I want a video not a novel

[@JaysTransport]

I mean you clicked on a 47 minute video which is titled “trip report” sooooo

[@Aidankiwi]

21.42 "Here we now run along the North Sea Coast on the East coast of England" How wrong are you there? This is still on the Scottish side of the border. 27.22 "We are now on the approach to Newcastle city centre, the first major city we hit en-route" Wrong again! Besides being a capital city, the population of Edinburgh is twice that of Newcastle upon Tyne. Video is ok-ish but jeez you fail big time with those blunders and the fact you missed so many notable landmarks by sitting on the wrong side of the train. Don't give up the day job. Might watch your next upload but unless you can cut out the errors, I won't be liking or subscribing anytime soon. You need to learn if you are going to post publicly either get it right or don't do it at all.

[@ScouseTrainspotter1999]

Jesus christ man give the man some credit, the video was absolutely solid, granted he made a few mistakes but looking at his channel its his first try. Not everyone is perfect man

[@Aidankiwi]

@@ScouseTrainspotter1999 Bollocks! Two major factual errors - simple matter to fact-check first. Solid video? Really? A solid video which misses out most if not all of the notable landmarks.

[@ScouseTrainspotter1999]

@@Aidankiwi you are being way too harsh on him, also first major stop on the ECML is actually Newcastle as Edinburgh and London are terminus, also you giving him slack for sitting on the wrong side is bollocks, I have travelled on this service a number of times and it is a busy service in both First class and Standard class

[@Aidankiwi]

@ScouseTrainspotter1999 Well I must concede the debate as you seem to be the expert on talking bullocks. He didn't state first major stop on the ECML. He said Newcastle was the first major city en-route, the route being Inverness to London That was a factually incorrect statement. What part of that are you having difficulty understanding?

[@ScouseTrainspotter1999]

@@Aidankiwi I mean I’m not but okie dokie

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

UK Rail food has got to be the worst in Europe.

[@JaysTransport]

Yeah its up there, LNER is probably the best of them. Not sure if you’ve tried the offerings on operators such as TPE but yikes

[@Ben-xe8ps]

Compare that rather pathetic lunch offering with the old British Rail restaurant cars with the white table linen and the full multi-course silver service meals. I understand that these meals are free (or rather included in the ticket price) but I would rather pay for a full high quality restaurant meal.

[@alanshelly7068]

Awesome video buddy is with you on the video buddy 😊from Alan in Lowestoft buddy 😊