Since their introduction to the Great Western Main Line in October 2017, there have been many mixed reviews on the first class for the Class 800 / 802 trains.
So I travelled with Great Western Railway on 2 different services on a weekend and weekday. Please note this review is only for 1 journey.
Aboard 1A90 16:15 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington. Normally this train starts at Plymouth at 15:15 however due to scheduled engineering works it started at Exeter St Davids.
Our train was formed of 802106 a 9 Car Class 802 Hitachi Intercity Express Train (IET).
The train left Exeter St Davids on platform 5, the ‘up main' towards Tiverton Parkway the first station stop.
A selection of light refreshments was available around 5 minutes after departure. The train managers messages were clear throughout the journey with elements of humour as well. I was sat in Coach L, Seat 57 at the front of the train with the kitchen located behind me.
The ride was smooth leaving Exeter. With no engine underneath the carriage, it made for a quiet ride and felt like being in a Mk3 coach with no engine sounds below.
The announcements from the Train Manager gave lots of useful information about the next trains at Taunton. The service then ran non-stop to Reading via Castle Cary and Newbury where we switched to over-head electric power into London.
Despite claiming for faster wifi when sitting in first class, I found the wifi to be just as slow (40% in standard to 48% in first class) as standard class and ended up using mobile data for faster results. Sadly I was disappointed by this and I hope it isn't a feature on all of the IETs.
1 hour into the journey and we had just passed Westbury on the up avoid line. These new trains are quick and feel quick. Compared to the High-Speed Train (HST) these trains feel fast only when doing 75mph or more. In my opinion, the HSTs only felt fast when doing 125mph between London and Reading and visa versa.
I did feel disappointed by the lack of refreshments on route. By this time, only 1 set of refreshments and didn't get any before Reading in 45 minutes time. A trolley for alcohol did come round and a small bottle (around 200ml) was at a price. (I didn't buy any).
We pass through Pewsey 1 minute early and kept on time throughout our non-stop run.
Now, the seats.
Sadly they are just standard class seats with a first-class cover on that says First Class. The only positive is that you can slide it down a bit, I found this more comfortable for the journey into London. I would like to see the HST style seats implemented though I doubt this very much.
Passing through Newbury and Newbury Racecourse at 17:45. We pass now on overhead electric power. The changeover wasn't noticeable but passing through felt quick and looked quick when looking out the window. In quick succession, we pass through Thatcham, Midgham, Aldermaston and Theale before slowing down for Southcoate Junction and Reading West. We are slowed down by a delayed Reading train through Reading West arriving 1 minute late into Platform 11 at Reading.
Departing from Reading at 18:05 we ran non-stop to London Paddington completing the journey between the 2 stations in 25 minutes. Doing 125mph most of the way you certainly felt the points. Stations were a blur as you pass through as were other trains.
Arrival at London Paddington at 18:30. Bang on time. Arrival was smooth despite being held outside for a few moments.
Final thoughts?
The whole experience is different to the HST. It's impossible to compare them so I won't. Some big things I'd like to point out.
– Smooth Ride
– Fast Acceleration
– Friendly staff
– Seats are not comfy
– Lack of refreshments
Have you travelled with GWR on their Class 800 / 802 trains? Let us know in the comments below.
Where Next?
News Homepage
For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
Framed Prints, DVD's / Blu-Ray's and more
LocoStop Community
Come and share your railway pictures
Mainline Steam Info
Upcoming mainline steam tours/loco movements
The Hitachi train sets look cool but that is as far as it goes. The seats in First Class are uncomfortable and the ride quality of the carriages is poor. I have travelled on the Class 43 Intercity 125 trains many times and they are so much more comfortable with leather armchairs in First Class as opposed to the bus type seats on the Hitachis. The food was never brilliant in First but now it is actually worse. with a very limited selection.
Hi, The new Hitachi trains are absolutely Rubbish, ironing board seats, no Buffet, no fresh air, aile carpets are stinking dirty, first class is a Joke and you be lucky to get a bottle of water on a 5 HR service to Penzance from Paddington, if this is a replacement for the Robust Excellent Experience Inter City 125 God help us.
I hadn’t travelled first class on GWR for a few years but on our trip from Cardiff to London at the weekend decided to upgrade. What a huge disappointment. Gone are the large padded leather seats, instead we had to suffer rock hard seats with no padding, which forced one into a slumped position as there is absolutely no lumber support – in fact the opposite, the seats have a concave curve to them. I found it impossible to get comfortable and my lower back is still aching the following day.
The carriage itself was clean and quiet but by no means felt luxurious. I shan’t waste money on first class tickets again.
Most unacceptable. The trolleys on the 802s are narrow and can’t hold very much and can easily run out of sandwiches. The journey times can be very long so some sort of buffet car is essential.
The Class 80x design has to be my favourite modern (and modern high-speed) train. Travelling in these and the Class 387’s feel like you’re in a high-quality office on wheels :-).
I’m really pleased with the MTU diesel engines in the IET’s as well – GWR made the right choice in selecting this manufacturer 👍!
I have now returned to my car. The list of things wrong with these trains from ambience, decor and ride quality amongst other things would be too long to mention. Awful trains, no soundproofing, rough – anyway, a car is now far more confortable even if I have to sacrifice speed.
Seems that all we do now is complain these days! GWR put on more trains, include an electric part service to be more green efficient & give us new faster trains. Being English, we complain thereafter….
Being honest, I did just that to the MD of GWR when I felt that non first class paying customers were being catered for within the first class area and that tickets were not being checked regularly to counter this issue. In addition I also complained about the low level catering service.
Overall though GWR have invested and capital investment into their infrastructure and overall we have a better service.
Let’s try and be a tad more appreciative!
Progress is in the mind! Like many older well-seasoned travellers I mourn the space and comfort of HST & Mk1/2/3 coaches. When I realised that the 800s had no buffet I could see another deterioration in the service available; recent journeys to/from Bristol have been a poor substitute, 1 steward to do 1st class and also the standard trolley, which only entered the standard coaches after Chippenham. Lack of staff perhaps. Whilst running 5+5 sets may have been a good idea in someone’s mind, it causes no end of problems: A group of 12 with reservations got on the rear set with reserved seats in the front; sure enough, soon after leaving Paddington they all arrived with luggage at the pantry door looking to walk through to front set. Chaos and irritation all round, with GWR’s publicity already taking a knock. Two Conductors, 2 sets of catering staff per train? Unit performance a bit of a curate’s egg-nippy on electric, average on eco-unfriendly diesel; time for DfT to get their fingers out on electrification-fast! Not had a particularly bad experience with seat comfort, but having travelled in various parts of the world on wood benches and damp floors anything with upholstery is comfortable!
With the 800 series and it’s variants now set to dominate inter-city travel everywhere the pattern is set for the next 20/30 years. Fortunately the Railtour industry can offer a taste of the past with Pullman fine dining etc, but at a price not many will want to (or can) afford. RIP comfort and convenience.
Trains are not smooth. Working on a laptop gets difficult at points, the joy of taking a train? I am small the, seats are not really a problem but the lighting! At 8 in the morning, this is not a long distance train spec., woeful strip lighting, harsh and unadajustable I am told. Buses have reading lights, cheap train. A warning too, ticket inspectors are ruthless, I will not say more.
I agree entirely about the rough ride and uncomfortable First Class seats. I was nearly bent double after a five hour journey from Penzance to Reading last summer – and I’m pretty fit for my age. Also the lack of buffet car, when tbe trolley came round with sandwiches there was very little choice. The staff seem friendly and competent.
I have been traveling from Paddington to Penzance on a regular basis for over 45 years.
I have to say it was a far more comfortable and enjoyable journey 45 years ago than it is today.
In those days I could buy a cup of tea, a sandwich, a glass of wine or a beer.
The journey was a pleasure I always looked forward to, but sadly not any longer.
I now drive!!
Can’t agree with people who say the ride is smooth. I find it quite rough at times. That I believe is why you think you are going fast. With the smooth ride of the HST’s I agree they didn’t feel as if they were going that fast. Nothing wrong with that. Seats? Agree with several comments about uncomfortable – certainly not as comfortable as the GWR HST seats. The idea of new stock is surely to improve not retard to experience. GWR also claim faster journeys. If you examine their new time table and compare with earlier times I’m wondering whether they could be reported for telling us porky pies.
Living near Plymouth and traveling to Southampton a lot I use theses trains to either go via Westbury or even via reading. So a frequent user.
The seats are uncomfortable and a few have no windows! It is a failure of design not having the seats and windows lining up or having thin window pillars as on a class 165 Turbo DMU. The ride was I thought skittish: it is fine on plain track but becomes quite rough over points and crossings – not nearly as smooth as a Mk3 carriage. There is no buffet car which is a disappointment. The trolley service, when it is there, is no substitute. Splitting the train into two five car units is wasteful of space – two extra cabs and kitchens and inconvenient especially for people alighting at stations with short platforms – they have to get in the right portion or transfer to the right portion at an intermediate stop. Three good points: there is good leg room, the new trains are fast and service is more frequent. Overall these trains are mediocre and when you think of the money and effort in designing them they are a bodge, a disappointment.
Totaty agree with the comments on the seats, worst on a long distance service far too hard for a four hour journey, my main gripe is no buffet car this means you’re at the mercy of a trolley which sometimes does not appear, backward step the hsts were much better . The buffet car had a great selection of hot food , get some built please
There is a very simple fix for the lack of refreshments – ask for them – and keep asking for them. Don’t give in. This has become a problem with East Midland Railways since they took over. Lack of service on the train isn’t acceptable.
I have a feeling the seats are designed for Asian customers, who are on average shorter than us in the west. First and standard make my back hurt after journeys longer than an hour.
Travelled on the Orton 10th December from Par to London Paddington and being only 5 carriages it was extremely difficult to find a seat,the return on 22nd December was awful,had a reservation so got the seat ok but 9 carriage train was so full no refreshments came and to make things worse we arrived late at Plymouth and 30 minutes late at Par because of the tide was high, so much for modern technology, can’t stand up to salt water,HST sets had no problem with the tide.
Any Fainsa seat leaves me in pain after about an hours journey,and am unable to get comfortable for any part of the journey even with the adjustable seats in 1st class
A journey From Bristol TM to Paddington left my legs aching and it was about 15 minutes before the pain went
Those seats are not fit for purpose and shouldn’t even be in a short distance commuter train
But they are cheap and that’s all that seems to matter nowdays
The days of comfortable train travel appear to be over and I’m now seriously considering giving up rail travel
I haven’t been on the GWR Class 800 and Class 802. But I have heard that they are very fast, comfortable and quieter. Despite there has been complaints about the seats but mostly on the Class 387 trains. But this year I will take a trip on these trains and to experience what it feels like.
Hi
Yes I have in first class.
I have never been so uncomfortable traveling by train,ever.
Foe first class seats ,they are terrible,and if anyone is overweight,they will have great difficulty getting between table and seat.
I travelled Exeter to Paddington and return