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

I enjoy LNER's splendid first class product, including the KIngs Cross first class lounge, on an 8 hour journey to Inverness, the capital of the Scottish highlands. #lner
Filmed June 2024 | London, UK.
*** PLEASE BUY ME A COFFEE TO KEEP ME UP TO CRUISING ALTITUDE: ko-fi.com/planestrainseverything
*** MY BOOK:
End-To-End, the world's longest train journey from Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
www.amazon.co.uk/End-End-Worl...
This journey was also captured on video. To see all 16 parts, please visit • END TO END
*** FOLLOW ME AT:
X (Twitter): / planestrainsev1
Facebook: / planestrainseverything
Instagram: / planestrainseverything
Threads: www.threads.net/@planestrains...
TikTok: / planestrainsevery
*** DAILY DROP:
Be the first to learn about new and revised points/miles hacking news. I'm continually using Avios, air miles, Nectar points and other deals that come my way. This keeps me up to speed with what's out there. newsletter.dailydrop.com/subs...
*** MUSIC:
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com. If you are a KZbinr and you are considering using Epidemic Sound, please use this link... share.epidemicsound.com/togmw4
It costs you nothing more, but will help me level up to be an Epidemic Sound ambassador.

[@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! 🎉😊

[@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_and_ky_springer_spaniel]

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

[@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_and_ky_springer_spaniel]

@@PlanesTrainsEverything we do 🥰

[@davidhall7811]

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

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I did that route with dad in 1989, it certainly was fast. Because of the ongoing electrification we had a Class 91 at on 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.

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

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

[@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.

[@Gordon_Highlander]

Thank you for bringing back a wave of *MEMORIES* for me. In 1998, I made my first trip home to Scotland since 1961. I was booked on the LNER from Kings Cross to Inverness on the 1200 hours train; *THE HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN*; and at mid day on the dot; the train left, and I was bloody excited to see my Highlands again. The train made it to Inverness at 2000 hours, and as expected; it was *RAINING* when I arrived; typical of a *"Scottish Summer Night,"* except this was now the dead of winter. My second trip home was in 2001, and this time British Rail was a bloody mess. I travelled to Kings Cross from Stanmore Station to catch the 1200 hours Highland Chieftain to Perth, only to be told that the Highland Chieftain had departed at 1100 hours (there had been a change in the time table apparently that I was unaware of hence; I got the 1200 hours train to Edinburgh - Waverley, where I had to change to the Scot Rail train to Perth via Fife and Kircaldy. In all, etched in my mind was the run from Kings Cross to Inverness. I remember getting off the Highland Chieftain at Inverness, and wet ground or not; I got to my knees and kissed the ground of my naitve Scotland *ALBA GU BRATH!* Thank you for sharing this with me.

[@jameseadie7145]

British Rail didn't exist in 2001 it was GNER who had the franchise

[@Gordon_Highlander]

@@jameseadie7145 Well I did not know that. The trip I made in 2001 was a bloody mess. Whomsoever held the franchise were BLOODY IDIOTS!

[@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.

[@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.

[@dennismatthews6660]

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

[@rogertemple7193]

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

[@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 .

[@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

[@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 !

[@MrWebbster1997]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@grapesodatravels]

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

[@dannypaulread1023]

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

[@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?

[@brentford2]

Love watching your videos. So informative.

[@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.

[@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........

[@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

[@samuzamorano23]

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

[@bethlowell7336]

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

[@jenniferlevine5406]

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

[@aliahmadbilal666]

Very nice. Thank 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!!

[@bhartidasani5358]

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

[@jamessmith6402]

Thanks Scott that was an excellent video 👍

[@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.

[@lincolncityful1]

Great watch thanks Scott.

[@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.

[@stevenrichards2356]

Keep up the good work Scott

[@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.

[@castortroy6588]

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

[@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.

[@andrewhall2269]

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

[@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

[@Andypanda19733]

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

[@richardleigh2788]

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

[@COMEINTOMYWORLD]

Another great video xx

[@Jakegriffin2006]

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

[@paulbennett8516]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@myrabenson1603]

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

[@user-lz3cu8yc7v]

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.

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Scott

[@calebmumby5803]

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

[@TheMoonchester]

GREAT VIDEO SCOTT CANT WAIT TILL NEXT ONE

[@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!

[@daniel69]

Lovely video

[@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 👍🚝

[@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 👃

[@christinehodge3608]

Good video thank you for sharing

[@kevinellis8869]

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

[@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

[@lynn47001]

Loved this video. We live on the south coast but are planning this trip shortly - up to Inverness on the Friday, stay over then down to Newcastle on the Saturday morning to see our footy team play at Gateshead, then home to the south coast after the match - it’s got to be done! Just waiting for fixtures to be released!

[@jeremybanyard4448]

Hi Scott, great video again, keep up the good work. I have my own little trip planned in mid July - Harrogate to Wemyss Bay and back in a day! Up the West Coast down the East Coast with change times as low as 12 minutes, and as high as 36 minutes, part standard class part first class, looking forward in trepidation. Thanks for all the ideas.

[@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!

[@harveybaldwin9580]

great video scott

[@222ponys]

Great Trip

[@markwillis2800]

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

[@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 :)

[@susandevlin4712]

great vlog

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@seanbonella]

great video

[@aocxe]

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

[@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!

[@simonhutchings6073]

Very enjoyable vlog .😃👍

[@thepalace2446]

Scott loving the videos, taking longer now than in 1989 that is progress! At least the LNER first class is top. I use it all the time from Darlington to KGS

[@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.🍺

[@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.

[@shahjhanhaider26]

Beautiful

[@nataliesmith303]

I do love a good train journey 😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Great video, Scott. I have used LNER from KGX to Leeds and have found that first class accommodation out of London is always at the rear of the train. I have travelled in coach L and can confirm that *all* the solo seats have always been backwards facing.

[@Simonm9020]

Very interesting, well presented as usual ..also you deserve a gold star or some sort of award for eight hours going backwards ... well done😁🚄

[@alastairross9628]

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

[@silvo-sings]

I enjoyed that video - wish they were a bit longer around 30 minutes. 👍👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@PaulComyn]

Great video. Have taken LNER Kings X to Aberdeen, staff & food most excellent! Stirling..always rains, backrest issues too..haha

[@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.

[@iandalby4273]

I look forward to seeing you at the WackyBacky Falls where Sherlock met his end!!!