This week, we take a ride on Britain’s (sort of) fastest train, travelling from London to Dover via HS1 and the Kent Coast!
Date of Travel: May 2023
Class of Travel: Standard Class (2nd Class)
Rolling Stock: Class 395 Javelin
Type of Service: Express Passenger
Operator: SE Trains Ltd
Train Number: 1L30
Origin: London St Pancras International, United Kingdom (England)
Destination: Dover Priory, Kent, United Kingdom (England)
Cost of ticket: £14.80 ($18.60, €16.95)
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#travel #southeastern #trains
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29 Comments
dylan -your experience and reporting matches my use of the line over the 10 or 11 years since i started living in folkestone west when i am not overseas – they are really good trains – rush hours prices are alot more than your experience/time so it would be good for you to provide a comparison for your subcribers-viewers to gain an idea of the range of ticket prices
The class 395 are very limited to there capablities…hs1 is there only line….lack of buffet…is that a south eastern thing???
Face reveal at 10:24
The rail company I was working for at the time the highspeed trainset was being tested had the misfortune to cause damage to it, very embarrassing. There was also a concern that these much heavier units would cause damage to the railhead, especially on suburban sections of the network. Lastly, I used the service quite regularly and in the early days there was no speed limit in the section after Ebbsfleet, going into tunnel to St. Pancras. Despite the aerodynamic bullet like shape, air could not escape easily and so a buffetting effect was set up, disconcertingly for passengers.
One thing we don't hear much about from train experts is the noise level in the train
The dutch (NS) recently got a new intercity trains (ICNG) you should definetely check it out!
Controversial to call it Britain's fastest train. Probably fair to call it "Britain's allowed to go fastest in service domestic train."
Notes: The Eurostars can travel at 186mph but one of the original units was pushed to 208mph on a test run, however they are international trains rather than domestic.
The Javelin is generally timetabled to run at 125mph and only exceeds this to 140mph to make up time if running late.
There are a number of 140mph capable trains in the Uk already, 91+Mk4 sets and Pendolinos, just they aren't allowed to run over 125mph due to lack of in-cab signalling on the lines they operate.
The class 91 + Mk4s specifically 91010 (now 91110) is technicaly the fastest domestic train in the UK having reached 162mph in testing.
Don’t worry Dylan the 395s are due to be refurbished between this year and next
Very interesting Dylan thank you, as usual I am a wiser person after watching one of your videos !
1:37 If only NYC could have done the same for the original Penn Station (1910-1963). 😢
Sorry für meine Direktheit: Aber das war eines deiner langweiligsten Videos ever. 🤷🏼♂️
That announcement chime at 5:27 sounds almost identical to the one on the Stockholm T-Bana
Southeastern are planning on refurbishing these trains fortunately, there are even photos released of how theyll look
This is my local route Dylan. HS1 has been a real godsend to us living in East Kent. I agree the 395s are beginning to show their age now. They are in fact set for an upcoming refurbishment. I just hope the seats don't get replaced with the dreaded ironing boards or even the hard Class 800 series seats! Not sure what you mean by the services being infamous for their lack of use. Try travelling early to mid morning on weekdays! Look forward to seeing your reviews of the slower classic services to and from Kent. Also the Ashford to Eastbourne coastway route via the Marsh link and Hastings is a very interesting and scenic line.
The 395's have seats far better than intervity services now that the dreaded ironing board seats have been fitted to the 800 family. so the Javelin is years ahead of them in terms of comfort. I travelled on one when they wer fairly new and was impressed by the speed and acceleration. but i thought the lighting made them look a bit like a branch of Debbenhams.
im afraid in many cases you have to blame the public who seem to think they have people who will clean up after them. services are cleaned each day. but it only takes one bad morning or even one service to make it look dirty. they cant sfford cleaning every service. if its age related issues. well that comes with older trains. they will be refurbiished soon so dont fret. try doing a report after they have been given the once over
We want these trains on the Manchester Victoria to Holyhead Route, which if for SailRail for the ferries to Dublin, needs to be direct – I’m so tired of coming from Manchester Metrolink trams onto platforms 13 & 14 at Manchester Piccadilly and having to change trains at Chester, Crewe and Lladnuo in the 20 years I’ve lived here and every time I go home to family in Ireland – and they should reopen Dun Laoire to make use of the DART trains into Dublin Pearse, Tara St & Connolly, rather than have ferries sail further up the Liffey at high tide nor extending the LUAS all the way to the Irish Ferries/Stena terminals, if not operating from Liverpool old port – both Liverpool (not Birkenhead) and Dublin Ports have been extended to take cruise ships, so there are no valid excuses for failure to do so with ferries and in fact, the Dublin Swift Fast Ferry could go further up along the River Liffey at high tide if converted to foot passenger only
Been using these trains since they first came in, they are a world away from the mk1 EMUs they replaced. The services are busy in the peaks, before Covid you'd frequently have to stand between London and Ashford. Reliability & punctuality is excellent, with the services even running on the rare occasions we get deep snow (albeit at a reduced speed). The only issue is the hunting in the tunnels, I think caused by wheel profiles needed for the sharp radii curves on the classic network being subject to a bit of instability at high speed when air pressure in tunnels sets up a sort of resonance. This has mostly been sorted, I'm not sure whether that's been through changing the wheel profiles or uprating the damping system.
You missed one of the best railway views in the country, as you cross over the Medway viaduct (also the site of the UK's 208mph rail speed record).
You should know before filming where south eastern other departing station's are
If you think that Southeastern's Javelin trains are looking tired, I'd love to know what you would make of the Networkers used on the routes out of London Bridge! They've been refurbished internally since they were first introduced into service way back in 1992! The smell of the toilets is especially unpleasant. When travelling to/from work I always avoid the carriage with the toilet cubicle in it.
I think the reason Stratford International was named that is because there is International buses to Paris (& maybe more) ,DLR to City Airport and of course Regional trains.
St. Pancras. Home of the best Wetherspoons in England
I live in north east kent (sadly) and one think 8 can say is if the opportunity rises to take southeastern over a car, HELL YEAH DUDE! ESPECIALLY THE 395 OR 375! 395s are amazing to go to London in, just so convenient, especially along my line which is an 80MPH line on the CML. The 375 have amazing and comfy seats, and the iconic electric humming
I agree with you Dylan. I think Southeastern should build extra time at end points to have cleaners come through from end to end for a quick wipe down. The Japanese are famous for this and never miss a beat. 😉👍🏻
You said 'gotten'. You're English and you said 'gotten'. How can a few years on the internet undo a lifetime of living in England and going through the entire English education system? Do you say ladybug, elevator and sidewalk? I bet you do.
As someone who lives in Kent its a great place but wait until you meet the people 😂
I love your videos and this one is great, but that thumnail is very stupid
We need these doing Transpennine & Cross-Country services.
Is the fastest train in UK a diesel train? Awesome.