The excellent Virgin Trains famous Pendolino Class 390

Hi everyone, welcome to this trip report bound to Manchester, UK. :)
First class with Virgin Trains and their lounge
This time is not a part of the European train trip
Don't hesitate to leave a comment
- TRIP INFORMATION -
Railway company: Virgin Trains
Train type : Class 390 "Pendolino"
From : London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly
Duration : 2h07
Price : 40£
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[@TheSuperhouse5]

5:46 That sound indicates that the Driver would like to speak to the guard on the train. There’s another similarly sounding tone but I’m not 100% sure what that one means (might be a general crew call)

[@georgedonely7640]

Ollie Charlton I thought it was if someone had locked the toilet door in that carriage

[@jameslynch2611]

This actually means that someone has activated the emergency alarm in the toilets. More often than not it'll be a false alarm but it's always worth being vigilant if you hear this sound just in case anybody is in any discomfort in one of the toilets

[@nicolaessien6405]

I have been on a virgin train many times to glasgow central and still dont know what it means . It is as weird as it sound i like the smell of the train

[@KI22933]

It means the train is gonna be going full speed so catering crew know the tilt will be full on

[@jameslynch2611]

@@KI22933 no it doesn't

[@joshuawheal5263]

These trains are not new. They are almost 20 years old now!

[@ajf3202]

And still have another 20 years left in them

[@transporttechnologykent5829]

Some coaches on board are new as they were extending the trains

[@jethromaris624]

@@transporttechnologykent5829 I believe they salvaged some of the old coaches from the pendilino that derailed a while back to convert some of the 9 car sets into 11 car sets? I may be completely wrong with this, I know the derailed set was initially written off but I believe they refurbished the coaches.

[@james123212]

@@jethromaris624 the entirety of the 390033 was written off from the grayrigg derailment the only vehicles that were salvaged from that are used as static vehicles for crew and emergency services training, all 390s which were extended to 11 cars and 390154-157 were new built new between 2010-2012

[@jethromaris624]

@@james123212 good to know thank you for the information my friend

[@silenthunteruk]

0:30 Euston is a controversial station; the old station with the classic Doric Arch was knocked down by BR when the West Coast Main Line was electrified and replaced with this 60s concrete affair. The resulting outcry led to the architectural preservation moment that ultimately saved St Pancras and King's Cross from a similar fate. Euston's wide platforms reflect the time they were built - the station was also used for extensive newspaper, parcels and mail traffic, so the ramps were needed to get vans down to the trains. You can see similar at Paddington.

[@MikayeYakovlev]

Silent Hunter still used by DHL and the like btw. I sometimes see a mini DHL vehicle (a bit like a golf cart) when taking an early morning train up to Coventry.

[@Steve_McMillen]

This sounds very similar to what happened back here in NY, with the old Penn Station. It's the reason why we still have stations like Grand Central.

[@miguelozorio3658]

The current Euston station architecture is really awful, neither classical nor modern feeling!!

[@exilenm2]

Whilst the Doric Arch (and the magnificent booking hall) were great, the old Euston Station itself was a dump, having been built in stages over the previous 100 years and badly maintained for decades. It had to be knocked down but if they were doing it today they'd have kept the Arch and Hall.

[@miguelozorio3658]

@@exilenm2 The present one was built in the sixties with concrete design is not great either!!

[@saltspringrailway3683]

The 'tightness' of the train is probably because it's a tilting train so has to be more narrow than conventional trains so as not to hit things as it leans into a curve.

[@lewis4171]

Eh Not really

[@rowandeighton2763]

The british gauge is smaller then a lot of other tracks in Europe, that’s why it’s smaller

[@chrisnightingale6917]

It's both of the things which have been mentioned - it's also why the East Coast MK4 stock is narrower than the MK3s, they were intended to be adapted to tilting operation but it never happened (you might notice the body sides slope in at the top)

[@BlackWolf.]

No. The gauge is not smaller than rest of Europe. Is 1435 mm in UK as well. But the profile on the trains is smaller compared to Europe.

[@comradeDaisy2]

@@BlackWolf. They meant the loading gauge, not the track gauge

[@silenthunteruk]

8:44 Not really that new - these came into service in the early 2000s.

[@NSE465]

They suck too. Apt better

[@bryntownshend6528]

Even some new rolling stock like the Thameslink class 700s don't have any sockets in standard class

[@NSE465]

Proud to british... Not.

[@TheCatOfWarCSGO]

@@NSE465 hahahahaha

[@NSE465]

@@TheCatOfWarCSGO im not even british. XD and also. You know the class 195s? Right? Theyre proud to be northern apparently. If you werent proud before youre not northern you greedy twats XD (not you. Them)

[@mhashem28]

The fact is that the class 220 used to be owned by virgin when cross country was operated by virgin before handing over to arriva

[@professorsnapesvideos6393]

Being pedantic but is important to know for all that don’t, Virgin or Arriva never owned the trains. They are leased from a leasing company such as Angel Trains or Porterbrook. This is generally how it works for all companies in the UK.

[@TallysVids]

Love the Pendolino trains, they are fantastic. However when I've looked at 1st Class, the price difference from standard was an absolute rip off for what 1st Class offers. If I remember correct, 1st Class was more than double the price of standard, when really all you are getting with 1st Class is, bit of food, better seat. The table seat and power point are available on Standard Class as I used it on my last journey to top up my phone. It's a real shame that Virgin have now lost the franchise, and we will be losing all that lovely livery. Hopefully the new company that will take over, will either keep the same level of service or improve on it.

[@jethromaris624]

I travelled on Virgins Pendilino Service from Preston to Euston and likewise more recently with Avanti West Coast (the new company) and I was equally impressed. They must have done some upgrading in the cabin because my standard class seats had plug sockets and USB, but this is a standard in commuter trains nowadays. I personally really like the livery of AWC however you can see they changed the livery rather quickly, you can see the old chevrons through the paint on the doors, the roof you can spot the old red paint and the safety cards in the carriages still have the old virgin livery. These are all minor, all in all a fantastic experience, you should definitely try it.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Nice video, and that's a good price. The Pendolino trains are some of the best in the country! :)

[@servertoaster]

5:08 these trains were brought into service 2000-2002. The entertainment system was replaced with BEAM a long time ago.

[@fringestalin6263]

05:10 that entertainment system has actually been out of use for years now. Even if you had earphones that wouldn't have worked. They're in Standard Class too, which in my opinion should get replaced in the refurbishment with a much-need plug socket. Of all 56 Pendolino sets in service, 52 have been running since between 2002 and 2004, and the interior has never been refurbished since then. Even the four built from 2011-2012 had the same specifications, so sadly didn't come with a socket either. First Trenitalia have thankfully promised to refurbish the whole fleet, so I'm hoping they update the whole interior to modern standards. Much as I love them, they do badly need it. But anyway, GREAT TRIP REPORT above all else!

[@seprishere]

I think it's a leasing company requirement to keep them in? However useless?

[@alanfarquharhill]

The entertainment system seemed to not work half the time when it was operating, and now it's basically an outdated concept anyway.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Euston is crowded because rail passenger numbers have increased so much in the past 25 years. When Euston was designed and built in the 1960s, UK rail was in decline. Nobody thought it would become a booming business again. There's a similar problem at StPancras where most of the station was transferred to Eurostar. It means East Midlands Railway (the new name for EM Trains) now only operates from a few platforms so not easy to expand.

[@seprishere]

The entertainment system has long since been deactivated, I think they used the circuitry that used to feed the entertainment system for WiFi.

[@NSE465]

You'll.need to re-review them. Virgin Trains has stopped its Avanti West Coast now.

[@Bregott07]

No, They still have the old seats.

[@NSE465]

@@Bregott07 doesnt matter

[@xxsosavagexxx1067]

Nice one mr NSE

[@Bregott07]

NSE 465 uh yes it does

[@NSE465]

@@Bregott07 not bothered :)

[@detreinreiziger]

Nice trip report, first I think you should delete the spaces between words and three points -> looks more professional. ;) Your English starts to become better, keep on going with that. And about the sound on 5:46 I think it's from the front cabin of the train or someone’s phone that rung...

[@transporttechnologykent5829]

That's what i think

[@Northernlightshow]

Were you travelling at weekend with the reduced food & drinks service. Midweek it’s cooked breakfast & evening dinner, free alcoholic drinks after 12:00 served in glassware with hot drinks in ceramic cups.

[@AidanORourke]

Ha ha, you've covered my local line - it's in the last 7 minutes of this journey! Thanks!

[@MikayeYakovlev]

I take a Virgin train from Euston to Coventry at least once a week. The late platform announcements are usually due to the train arriving late. I’d say around 70% of all my journeys with Virgin have been delayed, usually it’s the morning or evening trains too. They also have ticket gates at some platforms, which is v annoying cause you dont know which platform you’ll end up using.

[@phil4977]

I’ve done that trip on that train at it was very enjoyable. It’s a shame we don’t have that type of service available in Australia

[@jameshoyle5918]

You keep saying ecstatics in the Lounge is free. It is not free, it is part of the first class ticket price.

[@mattingham83]

You missed out on the "talking toilets" - the ones for disabled users don't have a handle, so when the door slides shut a voice reminds you to press the lock and starts talking at you about what you shouldn't flush down the toilet... The sound you heard is one of two; I can't remember if that one was the "crew call" or the "passenger pressed the emergency button". Glad you had a nice trip! :D

[@s125ish]

mattingham83 makes virgin so tacky

[@jimmenycricket4598]

Love your trip reports. Nice to see a Frenchman interested in trains

[@pat_ross55]

When the 390s are rerbished u should redo this

[@system339]

J'adore tes vidéos tu nous fais découvrir comment sont les train dans différents pays continue comme ça et fait toi plaisir 👍.

[@TheArkamedBat]

5:46 Just to alert Train Manager of a incoming call or notification on TMS

[@dave1001]

Reason CrossCountry were same seat colours was because those trains were originally delivered to Virgin CrossCountry. Standard class carriages have power sockets but only on those seats with tables. The power sockets are built ito the table front edge

[@LaureanoLealJaimes]

A Pre-Coronavirus World

[@GMVISHNU]

Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Trains, the Virgin Giant, hatsoff to your achievement

[@TheFlatCapFromWN5]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend trying GWR for services south west and LNER for the east coast mainline up to Edinburgh.

[@hav431am]

Who was here after Virgin Trains died?

[@markm-1976]

Enjoy your trip reports. I use pendolinos a lot from my home town of Glasgow which is one of Northern termini of WCML. I have travelled first class on a few times - when a hot meal was offered with choice of alcoholic drinks as well soft drinks. It’s great when you get a good deal when booking first class. It’s now Avanti West Coast run in partnership with first bus and trenitalia.

[@InFltSvc]

Version just rocks all around! they are first class in every way... Richard Branson tried his hand at an airline here in the United States called Virgin America it was absolutely fabulous! Their first class service was unsurpassed and the lounges in San Francisco were out of this world I would’ve worked for him for free 😉 I flew them every chance I got, unfortunately greed and other political carriers pushed him away it was the best airline in the United States in decades

[@adnananjum7320]

The first thing I noticed, Nobody is wearing a Mask.....yep that was 2019......

[@NedsTrains]

When you said about the seats being the same as cross country it’s because cross country used to be owned by virgin but they haven’t bothered changing the seats. Brilliant trip report though! I travel on these all the time from Warrington when I go to London it’s a non stop service. 👍😀

[@TheSm0wman]

Later news is that the 220's aren't being substantially changed as they are going to be replaced by bi modes. I never understood why I'd travel under wires to Birmingham with diesel traction!

[@cooleymike1]

That tilting was awesome! Great video, thanks for uploading.

[@oforid2227]

I hate Euston now they are building HS2 they are getting rid of all of the old Buildings around it including those 1970s offices that looks like something straight out of a james bond movie Edit: although it is delayed for 5 years

[@ChristopherPin]

Its amazing how much has changed in such a small amount of time London euston now has a new departure board in the middle andd outside the station Virgin trains are no longer with us its now avanti west coast Pendolinos are now refurbished (all 11 coach Pendolinos and most of the 9 coach ones at the time of writing this) Coach H on the Pendolinos are no longer 1st class they are now a standard premium coach

[@couttsw]

I must be mistaken at 8:00, did you push past a woman, Chivalry must be dead in France, Thibault. How about just plain good manners.

[@dlittlester]

Your mention of British trains being on time reminded me of a time when I was a bit late at a station (can't remember which) and I asked an employee which platform I should be at. He told me which one, and that if I hurried, I could probably catch the train. I got there just in time to see it pull away. I must have looked dejected, because a man next to me said "Don't worry. There's another one in eight minutes."

[@Andrewjg_89]

As Virgin Trains is no more and Avanti West Coast who took over is now dominating the WCML. The Virgin Trains website is still working-www.virgintrains.co.uk Avanti West Coast website-www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk

[@charliedaffin4809]

You should travel on a cross country service out of new street, absolutely stuffed

[@UserUCKANAOD8SlYguEhbCkUdlMQ]

11:08 the down sides of using First Class on a Virgin train in Manchester is that really long walk to the exits. A nice long 260m walk. In London however, you get the benefits of being right at the front which is nice.

[@abnormallyfunny]

2:52 "Congrats Virgins" = "félicitations vierges"

[@pardss9737]

Shit service for such a developed country. Trains in Canada will continue in feets of snow. Here they'll be cancelled in rain.

[@TefkrosAirliner]

I wish GWR had kept the restaurant carriege in the class 800. That train had such a potential but they fucket it up

[@johannesbols57]

I stopped watching after one minute and forty seconds. We get that you think Euston is a mess. Get to the bloody trip review instead of dropping your comments about the damn station.

[@icextransport8490]

The Pendilino entered service in 2002 and it's not Virgin anymore it's Avanti West Coast

[@avantiwestcoastguy]

I've been on this train before But I miss your I miss it because I 2 years Now it's 2021 I can't take a trip and the more on virgin trains

[@FinleyMarshall-yn5dm]

I have never got the tickets on a virgin train let alone first class so I have to ride London midlands, tho today I finally got the ticket! First class too.

[@automatix5]

You can find fixed tables also on some german regional trains with Bombardier Twindexx.

[@miahaskurti4539]

What Do You Think Of The Hitachi Class 800/801 & 802 Trains? Avanti West Coast Are Getting Trains Like These (805 & 807) Also East Midlands Railway Are Getting The Hitachi Trains (810)

[@miahaskurti4539]

@@ethansaviation2672 I Know.

[@kennethcampbell7263]

I expect the sound is to let the train staff that the driver wants to talk to them for some reason very similar to the same sounds and flashing lights on Aircraft.

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

You should have seen the station they knocked down to build this one. Greek tragedy doesn't cover it.

[@maxart3392]

Pendolino looks great, but Euston Station is as ugly as it gets (both exterior and interior).

[@NonstopEurotrip]

Another great trip report! Virgin are one of my fav's too! I thought our gauge was the same as yours anyway ;-)

[@jimmenycricket4598]

The track gauge is the same in the UK as in France but the UK loading gauge (the width and height of the coaches) is smaller in the UK than in France.

[@NonstopEurotrip]

@@jimmenycricket4598 That told me 😂

[@dg.hfaqreus777]

Your “ elderly people” remark was a bit rude, don’t you think?

[@liamg5845]

You need to go to Poland and travel on their high speed pendolino trains trust me you won’t regret it 👍 Great video too

[@avaneeshsingh8858]

Indian in me saw plenty of empty spaces in that crowded hall😬

[@vasilicastoica6398]

Salutări de la vasilica din românia meriți un like de la mine frumoasă călătorie cu trenul în excursie bravo

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Don’t show us open toilets! Ehhhhh!😖

[@rachelehrenberg9231]

And it's Toilet, not Toilets.

[@astrofabio68]

the age when people lived in free...

[@t26hsh]

Yeah nah, the 390 ain’t a new train. Been running since early 2000

[@FranekTransport0607]

390 VIRGIN TRAINS PENDOLINO IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!

[@berendbrowny]

at least nice music at Euston station

[@faisyem]

I want to ask what is the seat made of? the seat looks comfort😅

[@uk_railspotting227]

5.46 the strange noise is just a crew call

[@karenula7152]

Does it go from Manchester to Carlisle

[@swaywax8239]

J’attends la vidéo du frecciarossa etr 500 sinon toujours super une nouvelle vidéo

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

3:38 the departure board is on a train door as well

[@TPWSProductions]

The 'Strange Sound' can be many things, different tones for different things. The one you heard sounded like a crew call bell

[@s125ish]

TPWS Productions that's what it is

[@AnatolyDyatolov]

I always thought that was someone pressing the alarm in the toilet by accident

[@DanielsUKT]

Very nice video I agree with you on euston station it would be better with seating in the main hall instead of just thousands of people pushing past each other no barriers is easy for boarding but also easy for fare evasion which is big problem over here. Those class 390 Pendolinos are due to be heavily refurbished by new operator avanti West Coast who took over virgin in December 2019 hopefully there will be better seats and also USB ports /charging at every seat. Also its good you booked in advance because fares on this line are very expensive and will probably go up as avanti is mostly owned by profit loving first group 😂 and also trentitalia (which surprisingly there trains on c2c are very cheap!)

[@owenchuarbx]

It's now Aventi West Coast as of today.

[@ericcharles8081]

Of course first class is more empty, I love taking the train but here in the UK, trains are expensive. The difference in ticket price is crazy but at leat the trains, even being as old as they are, are nice and clean and haha I almost laughed when the train departed on time knowing how delay prone our trains are 😂😂

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

The cookie was super 😀 at 6:16

[@shebinshameer3589]

Virgin is everywhere 😂😂😂

[@attenzioneallontanarsidall7940]

if this station is huge for you with huge electronic panels, then you haven't seen the Italian stations! :-)

[@attenzioneallontanarsidall7940]

@@martinrey5894 :-)

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

The countryside in the toilet at 9:31

[@alessandrognan193]

Nice video as usual. The train service seems pretty good but maybe the style is a bit outdated imho. When are you gonna publish the other legs of the European trip? :P

[@itzali6676]

Nice trip report. 🙂

[@MatthewK421]

I would’ve liked this video but I couldn’t because.. 390 likes.

[@SimplyRailway]

🤣

[@jackhannah43]

What did you use to film this video

[@TrainBoy-tf9gh]

5:44 I don't know what that means.

[@thedon404]

I’ve been on virgin befofe

[@spaldagers5489]

Mysterious sound is horn.

[@avantiwestcoastguy]

I won't Travel On virgin trains USA I will travel on Virgin trains UK

[@ajf3202]

Virgin UK aint a thing now mate. Its called Avanti west coast now.

[@deusvult7559]

Wow, that station was SLAMMED. I knew the Brits rode the trains a lot but I wasn't expecting THAT much. Nice train Richard! Keep up the good work...

[@beckychandler8513]

Please do thameslink

[@HarryParkin]

Anyone know what you get in first class on Saturday evenings? I'm going to be doing this route on their last day of service, 7th December in First and I'm wondering what I'll get extra for free!

[@Kaden303]

If I recall correctly, Caledonian sleeper passengers with club rooms or the double can use the Virgin lounge at Euston. Sucks to see that Virgin is now Avanti and Caledonian was given over to Serco from Scotrail.

[@Faulty720]

For the food you go the weekend and bank holiday menu which the snackbox. If you travel on a weekday you'll get a hot meal and free alcohol

[@markdickson3820]

I do/did really like Virgin trains, it was a good service but I’d never noticed the lack of power plug in 2nd class, that’s not acceptable these days and that floor looked like it needed a vacuum although train in general looked ok. Biggest issue with west coast main line is Euston station, easily the worst London train station which they may be working on, but I’m not sure anything less than a total do-over will save that terminus

[@waynecopple385]

At 4:02 there is a brief look at a seat with no window, in first class too. I would be very unhappy if this were my only seating option. No one should ever be forced to ride with nothing but a wall as a view. One of the main reasons I like the train is for the view. This space should be allocated for luggage or some other use. Many other Pendolino seats are poorly aligned with windows also.

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

7:32 more first class

[@alangaming2003]

5:46 emergency call from the toilet

[@colinseeney471]

Yep people press the wrong button leaving the toilet

[@Skoda130]

The gauge in England matches that of mainland Europe, but the width profile for the carriages is narrower.

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

Stanstard class at 7:42

[@PogsYrana]

Good Morgin, Virgin!

[@trainzandplanes522]

5:27 that might be a TPWS signal warning device for safety

[@PaulEubanks]

7:00 GREYHOUND!

[@theochao2361]

Catching a train at Euston is always a mad dash 2 mins before departure. 5 seems far too luxurious!

[@elnido4184]

The station is very outdated, but will get a huge makeover with the development of hs2.