Journey Review by JPSB [1]

The unit left just a minute or so after the scheduled 09:21 departure, traveling via Solihull to Reading.

First impressions were pretty good. The legroom was better than expected, but after a while I realized I was sitting in a 'priority seat' which have better spacing.

Most of the seats are 'airline' style, with just a few bays of four. The seat bottom did seem rather short, and the armrests were quite narrow, but apart from that, the seats were OK. I cant help thinking though, that Virgin should have gone for all-out comfort to help make the journey experience a step change, but they don't seem to be able to get away from the 'cram-em-in' mentality.

The toilets were fine, but the provision of 3 huge toilets with access for the disabled does seem ludicrous on a 4-car train.

The shop was also quite good, but might get cramped when under siege from hungry and thirsty passengers.

A minor point was that the visual displays at the coach ends were in red, and not esy to read from the other end of the coach. The yellow or green used in most recent units would have been better.

Performance-wise, the acceleration of the units is certainly pretty nifty. There's no escaping the fact that there's 750hp throbbing away under the floor, but the ride was reasonably quiet.

There was a brief resonance each time the unit pulled away from a stand, otherwise it wasn't that obtrusive. There were a few minor rattles but nothing too bad. As with all new units, the noise and vibration of point work and jointed track is transmitted through the body work, giving them a rather 'flimsy' feel.

The outward run was pretty good, the only disappointment being that we were routed on to the slow lines at Didcot and so couldn't top 100. Arrival in Reading was just a couple of minutes late at 11:04 due to waiting access to the bay platform.

The train returned at 11:44. This time we were put onto the fast lines, with an early highlight the rapid acceleration to briefly reach 125 (as the train manager informed us). After that it was all downhill!.

We were brought to a stand well before Didcot, and on eventual arrival at the station told that because of a failed freight at Banbury the line was blocked and our service was being terminated. So it was everyone off and over to the adjacent platform to catch the late-running 09:20 ex-Brighton which was being held - only to see it start away just as we got there.

Back to the Voyager, which was reinstated and after a while departed north. The journey from there on was very stop start and I doubt if we topped 70 all the way back to New Street, which was reached 65 late at about 14:20 (the timings are somewhat tighter on the return journey - as given below).

All in all, the new train is impressive, and their replacement of the 47s and Mark II stock cant come soon enough. Weather Railtrack will ever manage to upgrade the CrossCountry network to enable the new accelerated timetable to be implemented from 2003 is another matter.

For anyone who wants to try the new trains, the 'Discovery' service I traveled on runs Mondays - Fridays until 21st July. Fares are a bargain £5 single, £10 return, pay on the train only.

Birmingham NS	d	0921
Solihull	a	0934
	d	0935
Leamington Spa	a	0952
	d	0953
Banbury	a	1010
	d	1011
Oxford	a	1031
	d	1032
Reading	a	1102

Reading	d	1144
Didcot	a	1159
	d	1200
Banbury	a	1226
	d	1227
Leamington Spa	a	1244
	d	1245
Solihull	a	1259
	d	1300
Birmingham NS	a	1316