LNER First Class | Highland Chieftain from London Kings Cross to Inverness.

[@LondonNorthEasternRailway]

Great video! And we're so glad you enjoyed your journey in first class with us. Don't worry about the headrests, they won't be around much longer :)

[@CherylSteele-rt8dj]

My late husband and I loved this journey. From London, now the Highlands, we knew the scenery well. The 1st class meals, seats, curtains, space snd service (plus the endless supply of Beefeater Gin and crisps) made for a very pleasant day. Thanks Scott. I loved this film! 🎉😊

[@katkat3156]

No matter what video Scott makes, I’m guaranteed to like them 😎

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Thanks very much. I always hope people find them as much fun to watch as I enjoy making them.

[@LynnB_Ky]

@@PlanesTrainsEverything we do 🥰

[@boymom509]

Love that my family and I experienced the trains at Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley last week. More relaxing than an airport. (We're from Canada)

[@LynnB_Ky]

I want to do this too 🥰

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Edinburgh will soon be hosting very many visitors for next month's Festival.

[@nb2008nc]

I took lner from waverly to king's cross in 2018. Beautiful trip along seaside near Scottish border

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

@@nb2008nc Indeed. It's claimed that the section between Edinburgh and Newcastle is the best part of the route to London.

[@robertofraser101]

Hi scott I going first class in couple of months aberdeen too London my 1at time ever first class I did previously fly in June but prices shot up £130 more return mabey it's a june September difference glad you enjoyed meals etc

[@davidhall7811]

I have to say Kings Cross has certainly smartened itself up since I last used it in the 90's

[@ab8jeh]

They did a very good job with the redevelopment, even if it did take ten years.

[@robbojax2025]

Kings Cross was my favourite station as a young trainspotter. It still gives me a tingle when I go there. Nice video

[@done-ahhh578]

It’s slower because the Azuma is weaker than an HST on diesel mode and doesn’t cope as well with inclines. That’s why GWR have the 802. They have a lot of routes with hills.

[@stuartrobertson8211]

1st class lounge at King's Cross has its own designated exit to the platforms. It's very useful when there's a huge stramash at the usual ticket gates

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

You got to love the railway line up towards Inverness, very beautiful and scenic.

[@rogertemple7193]

This was a really awesome train ride and I enjoyed it thank you for the great train ride and tour.🇬🇧🚝🚝🇬🇧

[@dennismatthews6660]

Thank for bringing me along. I loved the time table touch!

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I did that route with dad in 1989, it certainly was fast. Because of the ongoing electrification we had a Class 91 at one end and a HST power car the other end acting as DVT. It went like the proverbial poo off a shovel. I was a Bournemouth guard at the time and thanks to a uniform suggestion I put in, Gordon Pettitt, the General Manager for NSE, sent me two free 1st Class tickets for anywhere in the country. We had recently lost my mum so I took him to Inverness.

[@mariopoliti3072]

I must agree Scott, LNER is one of the best train operators in the Uk, always had a pleasant journey with them and on time which is always a bonus, another great vlog 👍🚝

[@suchcone]

Just so you know - if you were late on an inbound train and missed your last train as a result, the railway company have an obligation to get you there, be it train, coach, or taxi. This doesn't cover you arriving late to the first station (e.g. lost track of time at the pub), but if you have begun your journey, the contract is formed and they have to get you there. Do check out the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. There's some subtleties I've overlooked e.g. minimum connection times, but journey planners factor this stuff in. Cracking video!

[@nanderv]

Only for timetabled routes, not for doubling back of yourself!

[@frankhermans7511]

Still remember around 1989-1993 I went a few times on interrail and the Thomas Cook timetable was always with me. One of the best books

[@MrWebbster1997]

Great journey did it for my 18th in first class was well worth the £72

[@simonbaker6962]

Went first class to Edinburgh a couple of years ago, great service and 4 bottles of port as well . The head rest went into the overhead bins.

[@malcolmdavis3282]

2:16 wow, 3:53 wow, etc. Such a beautiful railway station.

[@grapesodatravels]

Agreed about King's Cross station. Beautiful! I remember the old boxy station before redevelopment. Shudder... I never felt very safe there...

[@colin.d]

It's amazing the number of people who need to travel for whatever reason. I agree LNER is the best First Class experience these days.

[@kevinbarrett1362]

When ever i see a video posted from scott i straight away "Like" because you know it`s gonna be a good one. Thanks scott 👍

[@mott2945]

Same he always delivers I agree mate ❤

[@CherylSteele-rt8dj]

@@kevinbarrett1362 Me too! He's a great presenter.

[@StephenHutton-ig1xp]

If you book through LNER's web site, then once when you've been allocated a reserved seat you can change it, providing there's a suitable one left. Some other train company's like Avanti offer a similar facility, providing you use that company's web site. Home or away, keep up these superb videos.

[@Charlizzie]

It's always rainy in Scotland and we love it!

[@TheMrBitsy]

My wife and I spent three weeks in Oban, Scotland in April 2024. It was sunny and warm for the whole holiday, not a drop of rain.

[@dannypaulread1023]

They are changing the headrests to make them more movable. Good vid as always

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

Tip for tight connections: As long as you know it’s the right train,GET. ABOARD ANY CARRAIGE! unless it’s coupled. Can’t wait to see you in Aberdeen!

[@paulroach2538]

Hi Scott I done it a few months ago but from Inverness ' about 8hrs 5 minutes spectacular scenery from Inverness ' I do like named trains 'it gives you a sense of occasional ' GNER was good at it .

[@sandiandgregh]

We took LNER first class Edinburgh to Aberdeen to catch our ferry to Shetland. Loved it. Great food, great service, very clean and with friendly crew. Couldn’t fault it.

[@kopynd1]

been on that ferry to Shetland its pretty rocky

[@barryroberts2196]

Nice one Scott. I hate having my back to the direction, I want to see where I'm going, not where I've been !

[@paulharvey9149]

Thank-you, Scott. I seem to remember a British Rail InterCity poster detailing all the main routes from London, and the journey times to all the outer termini and yes, I believe several of them took less time back in the day than they do now. Presumably, journey times were more critical back then as both the domestic air routes and the aircraft that operated them were still developing at that time. In practice - and as you found with this journey, much of the extra minutes allowed now are in fact recovery time that allows more trains to arrive 'on time' and many to arrive early - which is the kind of news that tends to travel, quite extensively!

[@Del-bm]

Great watch, thanks for sharing with us.

[@kevinellis8869]

Totally agree, you need to face forwards, preferably with the sun (when it shines) on the other side of the train.

[@andrewhall2269]

Definitely one of the best KZbin series to watch. Keep safe

[@Pulsarnix]

I've done this journey myself from York it's absolutely fantastic. Cracking video!

[@Arno-vj3if]

You probably know this, but there is a larger accessible toilet near first class which is significantly bigger than the one you reviewed. Great video!

[@hazels27]

Glad you made it Scott. I can use both west coast and east coast trains to London etc, and find that east coast is usually cheaper. I don’t like rear facing seats either! Thanks for travelling the journey. Here’s to the next one.

[@harveyfleming9572]

get well soon rory bell

[@anitapresnell6403]

Having to travel backwards on a train is the worst,but for 8 hours? The food looked good though. Thanks so much for taking us along. Glad you got to Inverness on time with minutes to spare. 😊

[@s125ish]

Some people prefer facing backwards

[@bobwilcox1147]

Ah, the HST,the last British passenger train designed for we customers, not the accountants!

[@daveotoole2k7]

It’s not an hst it’s a class 801 azuma

[@davidfay5683]

@@daveotoole2k7 I think Bob is referring to the HST pulling into Aviemore @10.06

[@EvanOkane]

Hello Scott I always would watch the videos you make and I always enjoy them i myself was born in paisley but was brought up in Johnstone but stay in Ireland now and every time I’m back in paisley always think Id always keep an eye out for you

[@juakkers1]

Another great video Scott - Thanks! Also just finished reading your book which I really enjoyed. For anyone who enjoys these videos I highly recommend it!!

[@alastairross9628]

My wife and did LNER London - Edinburgh return last May - great journey way more pleasant than flying.

[@thisweekmetaverse]

I've done Dundee KingsX in both directions on LNER first class and also thought the service was excellent, food good and comfortable ride. I also did it during the pandemic between Heathrow and Dundee for my quarantine at home during covid and saw Noone except the staff all the way to Dundee. I've never had issues with the cally sleeper either

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

Fantastic Vlog as always Scott I really enjoyed watching your experience of the LNER Highland Chieftain and the main thing is you made your connection to Glasgow keep up the good work take care and stay safe

[@ianlove1215]

My mum was in the travel business & had a Thos Cook train timetable. The other thing she had was an airport directory. It had ALL the airports (big & small) and all the flights to all the other airports around the world. It was great for planning trips around Europe or the world.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I have had the good fortune to do the 'Highland Chieftain' from Kings Cross to Inverness or vice versa, many times, and always in first class. For me the high spot was most certainly when it was operated by HST's.

[@ml66b]

Less Horsepower than an HST in Diesel mode. I get the point about the headrests - they end up at shoulder level. Great video.

[@TheJononator]

And slower on diesel as well

[@tmog1000]

@@TheJononator Slower than diesel surely?

[@KempSimon]

Many train journeys were quicker 35 years ago than they are now. British Rail's HST's got the journey time from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley down to less than four hours!

[@Bungle2010]

Flying Scotsman still does the run in ~4 hours........

[@GARYCLARK-o9k]

On the LNER route 30 miles north of Newcastle is a seaside village of Alnmouth. You always zip pastnot even getting a good panoramic shot of us here., Sometime soon stop get of and have a walk down and round the village. You will love it. I will even make you a coffee!

[@richardbailey4655]

Hi my partner lives in Alnwick and I always used to come in by train before I could drive,the first time I saw that view it was breathtaking and never got tired of it.

[@myrabenson1603]

Well that was an enjoyable journey from.my seat would love to do it in the world thanks for sharing 👍

[@richardleigh2788]

Loved this video as i really want to do this journey one day. Thank you matey!!!!

[@222ponys]

Great Trip

[@326Alan]

It's really great how personal you make the videos, offering your true opinions and ideas (e.g. LNER should branch out into ready meals, other rail companies should look to LNER, and such). We can tell you've done a lot of travelling and you really think about the experience. I will completely trust the ratings you have done, comparing various services. Thanks for all the interesting material!

[@stephanguitar9778]

Another great vid. Our local rail service is slower than in the 1950s when steam trains ruled the earth. I found an old timetable. The service is also half the number of trains it was, even though many more people commute thsn back then. Trains overflowing even off peak.

[@aliahmadbilal666]

Very nice. Thank you

[@lincolncityful1]

Great watch thanks Scott.

[@stevenrichards2356]

Keep up the good work Scott

[@smogmonster1876]

Thanks

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Thanks for your support. It's greatly appreciated.

[@imsbvs]

These Thomas Cook timetables, a facinating read, I found the motorail Santander - Malaga in this and booked travel in 1992, who says life didn't exist before the internet was created! Thanks for the video, a great watch as usual.

[@neiltay2002]

I enjoy these videos a lot. As a younger man I travelled a lot in Italy by train, so particularly like those ones. They're all enjoyable though. I have illness now, so these videos are a decent substitute for the real thing. I can see the vibe and scenery. Cheers!

[@bhartidasani5358]

Scott loved the liner first class trip , you have made me put it on my bucket list …fantastic

[@downtothewood1950]

Great video, thanks! A note about rear facing seats. If you’re prone to travel sickness (which I am) they’re much better at preventing it because you’re facing away rather to. Constantly trying to quickly refocus on things coming towards you can make you feel sick sometimes.

[@castortroy6588]

Stumbled across this channel . Love it , easy watching . Hello from Derry 🇮🇪

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Whew! Glad you made your connection. Looks like a great journey. Thanks for the fun video!

[@Jakegriffin2006]

Yet again another smashing video Scott not watched for a while been busy glad top be back mate!

[@calebmumby5803]

brilliant journey all the way down north to Inverness Scott great video

[@bethlowell7336]

As always, another great vlog. Thanks for posting. Happy, safe travels. Cheers. 😎

[@aaronsmith9209]

I've found LNER to be one of the more reliable operators, delays seem to only happen with them when it's really something beyond their control like someone stealing the cable, which happened the other month near Newark Northgate. They seem to be really professional and the staff even seem proud to work for them, having used a 1st class All Line Rover before, LNER is probably the only 1st class I could see myself using normally. Nice lounges available at a good range of their stations. Great and helpful friendly staff who don't waste time to serve the passengers, decent choice of food and drink at all times of day, free alcohol which includes spirits! Decent legroom, although the Intercity 225 which run to/from Leeds are more comfortable than the Azuma's in my opinion. Glad you made your connection, hopefully the new government delivers on the railways to sort out the strikes, make them more reliable and fix our daft ticket system and integrate them far better with buses. Looking forward to see the lot renationalised, hopefully the positives we can say about LNER can be said about all of them in the future.

[@SimonPJohnson]

King's Cross is so much better now. The long queues in the old southern concourse 50 years ago were often difficult to bear but the sound of the Deltics was great to hear

[@markwillis2800]

Another first class video. I love to see you travel on open acess operators Grand Central and Hull Trains.

[@Andypanda19733]

Great video Scott short and sweet today u look like you enjoyed that food keep up the great video content

[@tomburke5311]

Good video - I enjoyed it. I've travelled on the Chieftain to Inverness twice, but only from York. This was back in Virgin East Coast days, and on an HST. The first journey was perfect.The second, a year later, went very wrong - the train failed just north of York. Both power cars, we were told, and in the event they could only get the rear car working and there was no communication between them. So back to York we went, eventually arriving in Inverness at nearly midnight after an incoming HST set from Kings Cross to York was hi-jacked for our service. The train crew were being very generous with snacks and drinks, for standard class as well as first. I've read that back in the day before privatisation but after sectorisation, this was the only long-distance train run by the then (BR) ScotRail - all other trains between Scotland and London were run by the Inter City sector. ScotRail had two HST sets painted in their colours (blue stripe instead of red), a Scottish crew (at least to/from Newcastle) and apparently Polmadie depot made a point of turning the sets out in tip-top condition. That would have been a good journey.

[@rzlosty]

Good video as always! It really upsets me how expensive rail travel is in the UK. I'd love to be able to hop on a train and visit different places in Scotland or London for the weekend! Its just extortionate unless you're lucky enough to manage to game a complex and confusing system that makes no sense.

[@bertiesworld]

I travelled first class Lincoln to Kings Cross LNER and would gladly do it again. No complaints here. And we left and arrived on time.

[@Bungle2010]

The only problem with the Lincoln trains is that they only offer the most basic FC menu, so no hot meals. ☹

[@dongorgon4168]

Speaking of the 80s and speed. You could jump on an InterCity 125 at Woking, Surrey, one of the trains coming up from the coast into Waterloo. That journey, Woking to Waterloo, used to take between 20 and 25 minutes. Flat out. Packed and people hanging on for dear life! Mid 1980s. Now, you would be lucky to do it in less than 35 minutes. Great channel by the way.

[@aocxe]

Excellent video, I would love to do that journey some day. You earnt yourself a new subscriber :)

[@jamessmith6402]

Thanks Scott that was an excellent video 👍

[@kennethgibson9527]

Hi Scott I loved the train it looks fantastic great way to travel & you can sit back & relax as someone else is doing driving.. Keep up the brilliant videos 👃

[@nataliesmith303]

I do love a good train journey 😊

[@geniusgeezer1234]

We did this route last year, in reverse order during our travel through Scotland, with a 2 hour diversion due to trackworks between Edinburgh and Newcastle (went around via Carlisle). We got three (simple) meals, plenty of drinks, for like 50% increase compared to 2nd class. So much more value than first class in Dutch railways, which is almost double the price, and all you get in return are some more spacious seats.

[@perryhoy8912]

Hi Scott, great reminder of the classic 8hour journey. I never just accept my seat allocation. I already have a number of favoured seats in first and second class. Full window view and facing direction of travel, selected on the LNER ‘my reservation’ page after purchase. Mind you if I use Seatfrog to gain a first class seat, you lose any choice . Cheers. Perry

[@dylancarter1831]

I did first class once and paid a fortune. They don't give enough drinks, and once I asked for an extra glass of wine, I might as well have asked the guy for a night with his wife, as he was shocked. Suck it up LNER, 3 glasses of wine from Peterborough to Newcastle is ok, especially as they only give tiny amounts, lol :)

[@daniel69]

Lovely video

[@jonjohnson2844]

As far as I know LNER is still run by the Government and appears to be one of the better operators in the UK.

[@swc43]

Great vlog as usual Scott. My wife and I travelled to London via LNER last week, having the same menu as you. We loved it

[@steve-marsh]

Nice journey! And first class sure is the way to do it (especially when you can get 2 meals out of them!)

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

The food is pretty darn good on LNER. I was speaking to the chef, who sadly admitted he didn't do much. The only meals he makes are some items on the breakfast menu. LNER's catering separates them from the rest, making their 1st clsss a true 1st class experience. Being government run, there's been talk for ages to scrap the hot meal service to save money. Hopefully the new government, who wants to nationalise all railways in the UK, will keep it truly a 1st class experience.

[@yvonnejohnston9429]

@@PlanesTrainsEverything The only bad thing I can say about LNER is they've chopped the really early first train to london that stopped at Falkirk Grahamston, means I now have to get train in Edinburgh if I want to leave early :( apart from that I can't fault them, always found them to be good.

[@user-eg8pv2om7j]

I have a few Thomas Cook's rail guides including that 1989 edition. From such pages plans were hatched and memories made.

[@christinehodge3608]

Good video thank you for sharing

[@samuzamorano23]

Finally! A new Scott video! Loving your content 💪🏻

[@Racy_michael]

Really enjoyed the video , great work

[@paulbennett8516]

Great video Scott a great selection of rolling stock there mate keep those videos coming 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JustLuke69]

The food on LNER first class is superb. Got an early morning train to Kings Cross from York and it was basically empty so I got 2 bacon rolls (cant complain there at all) On my way back in the evening I went for the same BBQ option you had along with the Libations Rum to drink, incredible. If you're travelling LNER and a first class ticket is going on Seatfrog, grab it, 100% worth it.

[@brentford2]

Love watching your videos. So informative.

[@robdubz1510]

Went to portsmouth 2 months ago from eastbourne took around 6 hours because of issues a mix of bus+trains . This journey looks fine

[@andrewclark8630]

The fastest London-Edinburgh trip was 3 hours 59 minutes in the 1990s - surely pride of the British Rail network, and I think 20 minutes faster than now? The London-Glasgow service was slower though then - five or six hours, using old Mk2 coaches.

[@Glenn1967ful]

Was at Waverley today and the station has changed totally since the eighties, well except for an Inter City 125 going to Aberdeen. It's absolutely enormous with a shopping centre above the station, more platforms and loads of escalators. Rather a change from the old station where there was only a station buffet and WH Smiths.

[@carolynstewart9103]

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip scott..thank goodness you made your train home...strange that they should serve the same meal? Look forward to your next video scott.🍺

[@kopynd1]

av done that journey lots up to Thurso, but always been picked up at inverness, be nice to do the train from inverness to thurso, scot rail is mint at least it was 30yr ago, first time I ever seen a pay phone on a train and used it, my mobile was out of charge, the further av ever been by train is Dingwall, Elgin, and also Aberdeen back to newcastle during my working days

[@Terry142v2]

LNER are in the process of addressing the headrest issues. It's certainly on their radar so hopefully should see some updates in the coming months.

[@COMEINTOMYWORLD]

Another great video xx

[@andybishop-tf4qb]

Looking forward to travelling this same journey in first class in September..been on my bucket list for ages..also getting the Caledonian sleeper back a few days later, so ticking 2 trips off my list!..