Liverpool to experience rain

 This morning's forecast was 50% chance of rain in Liverpool, haven't seen that for weeks.

Just moving out of the station and the refreshment trolley arrives.

coffee

We've passed Huddersfield and travelling west. I'm on the north facing side of the carriage and for miles we've been along a valley with great views out of the other side of the carriage but only steep hillsides on this side.

Diggle canal, Saddleworth

Slaithwaite

While stopped at Manchester Victoria a hugely long freight train went through. All the wagons were attractively painted to look much like a passenger train. The logos on the side were Drax and Northern Powerhouse. Google it.

They don't seem to be serving lunch on this service although the menus were here on the tables, but they are serving alcohol, so red wine for me. 

These TP first-class carriages (class 802 train) tick all the boxes for me, not in order: 

• coathooks, 
• window blinds,  
• good size tables for all, 
• comfortable seating  , 
• air conditioned, 
• easy to read reservation signs that  update automatically,  
• GPS
• WiFi very good. 

Ticket was never checked on the train. 

Liverpool station, Wetherspoons at end

Encountered an unusual problem in the first-class lounge in Liverpool Lime Street. 

I was asked what train I was getting and replied Leeds showing my All Line Rover ticket, only to be told the lounge was for Avanti customers only. So I went to a neighbouring standard lounge and booked a seat on an Avanti service to Crewe. Returned to the lounge and entered easily, there's no one in here at all. 

No one came into the lounge for an hour and a quarter, not even staff. Helped myself to coffee and cakes. Eventually another staff member came in and challenged my ticket she also said Avanti only, I said I was and so was allowed to stay. I stayed there over an hour and a half and no other passengers arrived. The lounge was empty (not even any staff) when I left. 

Postscript: After the holiday I asked the Transport Watchdog about access to First Class Lounges.
A few days later they replied "... you held an All Line Rover, which should have been accepted."

View from first-class lounge

The Avanti I booked on is now cancelled , maybe I can claim delay repay.

Postscript: My Delay Repay claim was accepted and I received a £17.50 refund.
I wouldn't have had to claim if they'd allowed entrance to the lounge!

A named train

Class802 and it's wet outside

There has been rain here while I was in the lounge. But very little. 

Exactly the same seat on return so no different photos.

No meal, just snacks.

Great sign, shows how many steps

TP train cheeseboard

With only 20 minutes to my station I received a cheeseboard for a meal but no crackers. And red wine too but too late for photo. 

The two bars outside hotel are very busy 4:30pm

That was my last daytrip of the holiday, I'll have to go over this blog to decide which, if any, was outstanding.