I have to be in the North tonight, so why not make it so that I can ride on one of Avanti’s new Class 805 Everos?
They might be “just another 800 series unit” but what have Avanti specified to make these better than the woeful ones we suffer on the GWR? Join me to see if there’s any hope for us all with these Hitachi trains.
Oh and to add to the fun, this is the day after many train cancellations due to Storm Bert. You can be sure that this video is going to feature quite a lot of water!
Departure: London Euston, England, UK
Destination: Crewe, England, UK
Distance: 254 km / 158 miles
Duration: 1 hr 39 mins
Average speed: 154 km/h 96 mph
Standard class advance single with railcard discount: £27.60 / €33,50
Date of Travel: November 2024
Operator: Avanti West Coast
Motive power: Class 805 Evero 5-car Bi-mode unit. Built: Hitachi, Newton Aycliffe. Entered Service: 2024
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27 Comments
Great video, and glad you liked the seats !
You provide interesting info. Good to find out about Wolverton works, Continuous operation since 1838 is going some. I found the website and it needs more celebration!
800 series may have some good points..eg. acceleration in electric mode, but overall they are bland, and your videos dont lie. I have become a Voyageur aficionado.
Looked like a pleasant journey, especially with the buffet that all mainline services should have. I was going to say Kippers should be brought back onto the menus but complaints over the smell removed them back in the 60's but BTH got as many complaints over the removal from regular passengers, one in particular, an actor who had them for his breakfast on his way up to London on the Brighton Belle or the normal hourly non stop service. My go to breakfast was a toasted bacon sandwich and a gin and tonic served on a real plate and in a real glass. Can't wait to see if the new taking back into public ownership plans brings back the emphasis on service rather than profit. Having to lug one's own luggage is a pain, literally when one has back problems or if disabled and requiring assistance there are no staff to assist.
No negative comments on the review itself.
I see they have installed the ridiculously uncomfortable seating common to the Avanti fleet. Lumo seating has superior comfort as they have more padding.
I really don't care if the train runs on unicorn tears at 1,500mph – I care about the lack of comfort provided by the useless concrete seats.
Best seats – LNER 225
Worst seats – LNER Azuma , Avanti (every train standard class), GWR IETs
Hi Johnny, always enjoy your calm , well informed line side commentary. Reminds me of the booklets that could be purchased for journeys on the old LNER Edinburgh to London. Your travels are tempting me to get out more on our anmazing and varied network. Cheers.
What do you prefer, the 390s or the 807s
Very interesting and well presented film, as always. Interesting hearing your views having watched a previous one on the Avero by Winging It with Paul Lucas
Been looking forward to this video for just over 6 months😅. Great work Mr Hoover! Any planned journeys for Christmas/New Year? If not, enjoy a well earned break and happy holidays!
Great video 👍
As always it is nice to start the weekend by watching your video on my train from Linköping down to my home north of Helsingborg
Interesting to see a train that combines diesel and electricity
It will be interesting to see what fuel will replace diesel in the future
An exciting end destination for this train – the Tudor town of Chester
I am following your travels around UK and yes even in Europe but have you been at Yeovil?
Great Video Johnny
Nice review. Let's hope phase 2A of HS2 is built to Crewe, otherwise everything will come to a halt by 2050, if not before. I gather the Metro Mayors option from Hansacre to Crewe is termed 'HS2 Lite'.
A good review, my only trip on one was between New Street and Coventry in their very early days so can't really comment.
Was hoping for one from Crewe to Bangor in October but the timings meant we were on a TfW 197.
Were you on an All Line Rover from Exeter? I'm still wondering if they're VFM?
Looking forward to the next trip.
My understanding is that the Everos (Class 805/807) do not get up to 125 mph and are restricted to 110 mph on the WCML due to being non tilting trains.
Thank you very much for this. I enjoyed it a lot. Please keep up the good work. Best wishes for the holiday season.
My only criticism is the bright internal lighting. I find that really annoying particularly when it’s dark outside as you cannot see outside without the reflection of the internal lights. They still seem a bit clinical and not so warm and welcoming. Good to see the seating is better though. Great video Johnny 😊
Nice to see clean windows…I wonder how long that will last?
The maximum permitted speed for an 805/807 on WCML metals is 110 mph as they do not tilt or have any form of speed supervision. There was a scheme to increase the maximum permitted non-tilt speed to various levels between 110-125 mph but that has been stopped for the moment until a better amount of speed supervision is in situ on the sets. There is however one place that they can do over 110 on WCML and that is just after Bushbury Jn to approaching Stafford as I seem to remember that was originally cleared under WCRM as 125-HST speed cleared so as long as the rolling stock falls into that Category it is permitted a higher speed. The same also used to apply from just after Rugby TV Jn towards Coventry but I am not sure if that has now lapsed.
As you rolled into Crewe my first thought was "Meccano" haha. Thanks for sharing your trips this year, we enjoyed them all. Merry Christmas to all the Hoovers, the myriad staff at JHT we never see and each of your lovely co-presenters 🙂
Loved this and hope to ride one myself soon. Thanks for your content this year and I wish you a merry and blessed Christmas.
Brilliant video as always, wishing you and e family a very merry Christmas and happy new year
Oh! Mr Porter, what shall I do. I wanted to go to Birmingham, and they’re taking me on to Crewe!
I heard positive things about the Class 805s but yet to ride on one, but I did travel down on the Sunday of Storm Bert and heard how it battered the Great Western Network. Great video
2.55. Just like all the other operators, they can't be bothered to hoover the seats.
Lovely review. I was impressed by the 805s too. I agree with you on the luggage rack rather than windowless seats. Keep up the great work!
These are the worst train ever, they don’t tilt and maximum speed of 110 mph. They don’t deserve the title of high speed train at speed, why so slow ?We have to have gone backwards in technology. The virgin pendo, built 20 years ago are lot more advance and better train. Theses new train are designed by accountants and ran like Ryanair operation
Great watch JH