National Express East Coast (National Express East Coast)

Member Name: Mrs-LT

Product:	National Express East Coast
Date:	16/02/09 (387 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very fast, free WiFi, good website with no fees

Disadvantages: Trains look a bit dated

Today I am travelling from Newcastle to Manchester for work and part of my journey involves a National Express train service. I booked my ticket through the National Express website because it does not charge a booking fee (see separate review).

My return fare cost £59.40 as I bought it in advance, which has increased quite a bit over the last couple of years but is still slightly cheaper than petrol and parking in the city centre and is a more relaxing experience than driving. The only downside is that any train journey to Manchester from Newcastle requires you to spend the other half of your journey on the awful First Transpennine trains but this cannot be helped, I just hope someday National Express or Virgin take over the service!

I chose to collect my tickets from the Fast Ticket machine in Newcastle Central Station and all I had to do was insert my debit card (the card I had used to purchase the tickets online) into the machine for identification purposes and my tickets were all printed very quickly for me. This was the free option so I would imagine it is the one most people would choose as it is also very hassle-free and means you have no worries about forgetting to pack your tickets.

I am actually writing some of this review from the train, as this is one of the best parts of the service - free WiFi which really helps to take my mind off being bored and feeling sick. It is the first time I have taken advantage of this as I have never travelled by train for work before (I am gradually easing myself back after being a SAHM) - normally my trips to York are just for some retail therapy and a girly day out! The WiFi is really easy to use; you just switch on your laptop, search for the network (which is unsecured) and open your internet browser. You will then be directed to the National Express East Coast WiFi site and all you need to do to get online is enter your email address. Now the cynic in me knows this is so they can contact you for marketing purposes, although there is a box you can un-tick if you don't want to be contacted with advertising media from the company and I chose this option. You are then all set and away you go with the surfing (and reviewing in my case!). It is slower than my home broadband, which I guess is because it is mobile and being accessed by a lot of people at once so it is a bit frustrating at times if you are trying to download anything but it is perfectly fit for purpose and a very popular extra as far as I am concerned.

The best thing for me is the fact that my seat has a table (as I requested) and on the wall is a power socket so I could plug in my laptop while I use it rather than running the battery flat. This would only really be any good if your seat was next to the window and you would have to have a table seat too as the other seats don't benefit from the power sockets so I guess I just got lucky really. This would also be ideal for charging mobile phones if you needed to.

The train was waiting on the platform ten minutes before it was due to depart which was excellent as it gave me a chance to get settled in my seat without rushing. I was pleased to find it left on time and arrived slightly earlier than expected, making the journey less than fifty minutes. While the journey to Manchester overall takes just under 2.5 hours (and you could drive it in this time) the National Express Newcastle to York part is extremely quick - that journey would take at least 1.5 hours.

The train itself is a little dated and not at all modern looking but the carriages are clean and litter free which is the most important thing. The seats are quite closely packed but you certainly get more space than on the First Transpennine service. The tables are fairly wide which is great as me and the man opposite are both using laptops.

The trolley service that is offered for refreshments is well priced but overpriced (as you would expect). They serve a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks and come round about halfway through the journey. I did not take advantage of this as I knew I will soon be departing and will have time to stop at Costa!

Overall I would highly recommend the National Express East Coast service and hope to travel all the way to London on their service at Easter with my family.

Summary: If I could choose to travel with any rail company it would be National Express every time!