Virgin Pendolino

[domino.99]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

[the trainbasher]

Anywhere with a table! Board with enough time to get a decent seat.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced will help with any advanced platform alterations/timing points.

[Tony]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

On the 11 car trains. Coaches F & U in the middle never have any reserved seats

[Isle of Stroma]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

If it's a '390 set (or a substitute '221 set for that matter) 'best' doesn't come into the equation. 'Least crap', 'least claustrophobic' or 'least disgusting smell' are your best hope - but then the constant inane & overlong p.a. announcements will flip you over the edge in any case.

[Trident 4194]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

If it's a '390 set (or a substitute '221 set for that matter) 'best' doesn't come into the equation. 'Least crap', 'least claustrophobic' or 'least disgusting smell' are your best hope - but then the constant inane & overlong p.a. announcements will flip you over the edge in any case.

Reminds me of being aboard an aeroplane. Virgin way too cramped, chiltern are amazing though I think

[windy miller]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

I came back from Euston on a (packed) Pendolino last week... usual probs..Only 9 cars instead of the 11 booked for the service >:(  which caused considerable overcrowding in standard class..  The on board seat reservation computers were out of service (again) resulting in a free for all scramble for seats. As the indicators were not lit, it was almost impossible to read the seat numbers in the display as the digits were so small. In most cases the First class coaches are almost always at the london end. pres so the 1st class passengers have the least distance to walk to the exit. Also, with a few exceptions, the seats in the the driven end of the set(s) normally face away from the direction of travel...ie Backwards, Unless you are travelling north.  Tables may be a good Idea, but if you have a stranger sitting opposite you, where do stretch your feet? >:( 

[Stuharris 6360]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

If it's a '390 set (or a substitute '221 set for that matter) 'best' doesn't come into the equation. 'Least crap', 'least claustrophobic' or 'least disgusting smell' are your best hope - but then the constant inane & overlong p.a. announcements will flip you over the edge in any case.

Reminds me of being aboard an aeroplane. Virgin way too cramped, chiltern are amazing though I think

Couldn't agree with you more and Virgin are way over priced, Chiltern very reasonable off peak, lovely journey especially if you get a push pull.

[windy miller]

 These chiltern 'push-pulls' .. with the refurb ex WCML coaches... do they have similar seating to the Anglia p/pulls? ie Liverpool st- norwich?.. :-\ I travelled on several last year between london and ipswich and I have to say they were extremely cumfy with loads of leg room! shame the ageing class 90 haulage braking system was a bit harsh to say the least! :)

[Stuharris 6360]

Can't comment on whether the seating is similar to Anglia, but i found the seats to be quite roomy and the ride very smooth.

Rumour has it that more push/pull sets may be formed when the class 68s take over.

[Sh4318]

Hi guys going out today and getting a virgin pendolino. What is the best car to sit in excluding 1st class.

Probably somewhere towards the middle.

[Sh4318]

These chiltern 'push-pulls' .. with the refurb ex WCML coaches... do they have similar seating to the Anglia p/pulls? ie Liverpool st- norwich?.. :-\ I travelled on several last year between london and ipswich and I have to say they were extremely cumfy with loads of leg room! shame the ageing class 90 haulage braking system was a bit harsh to say the least! :)

I hear the new Class 68s are replacing Class 67s on the Chiltern Mainline

[windy miller]

Did tony say coaches 'F' and 'U'.....? I thought all coaches were in alphabetic  order?  IE coach 'A' through to 'J, K,  on an 11 car set .  ... ???       did you mean coach 'G'?

[Tony]

Did tony say coaches 'F' and 'U'.....? I thought all coaches were in alphabetic  order?  IE coach 'A' through to 'J, K,  on an 11 car set .  ... ???       did you mean coach 'G'?

No, 11 cars go A B C D E F U G....

because they were planned to be 10 cars maximum only F was spare, so the two extras were named by a joker at Virgin. F U

[Kevin]

Travelled on one of their voyager "blockade buster" services to London the other weekend, and I have to say kudos for what they've done with the seats, maybe it was just that unit (didn't get the number) or even that carriage but all the seats were at tables, and all aligned with windows as well, was really strange to see cause obviously I'm used to pendolinos and thier crappy airline seating arrangement

[Cheese]

Travelled on one of their voyager "blockade buster" services to London the other weekend, and I have to say kudos for what they've done with the seats, maybe it was just that unit (didn't get the number) or even that carriage but all the seats were at tables, and all aligned with windows as well, was really strange to see cause obviously I'm used to pendolinos and thier crappy airline seating arrangement

Coach B on a Virgin Vomiter has had that seat layout for a while, have to say those seats are really comfy, always try to find a seat in that carriage if possible.  Don't know, but I had thought that Carriage B had been refurbished like that so that it could be used as Standard Class or as a First Class carriage.  May be talking rubbish though...