DISAPPOINTED! Portugal's Tilting Pendolino Train: First class review.

Sadly I discover the hype about Portugal's high-speed Pendolino service isn't up to scratch. I catch the tilting train from Lisbon to Faro. I can't complain about the price, but the First Class experience was lacking. #portugueserailways

Filmed October 2023 | Lisbon, Portugal

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*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:00 Lisbon Oriente station
00:03:03 Oriente First Class Lounge
00:04:43 Lisbon Metro
00:05:13 Lisbon Entrecampos station
00:05:27 Readly
00:06:59 Back at Entrecampos
00:08:51 Pendolino arrives
00:14:15 Arrive Faro
00:14:30 Conclusion

[steve-marsh]

I’m amazed how busy first class is considering how awful it is 😅 great video as always though, super-interesting. Ahhh 20€ now I understand 😂

[GenialHarryGrout]

The first class lounge is now a first class stock room. I like the addition of a small bin in first class, somewhere you can deposit the hopes and dreams you had when you bought your first class ticket

[andybaker]

What a shame you didn't have a great experience. Seven or eight years ago I travelled from Lisbon Oriente to Porto in first class, and it was wonderful! Shortly after we left Lisbon, the "man in charge" personally welcomed me on board in English, he even addressed me by name! He managed to find an English language newspaper for me, and personally served me a tasty breakfast at my seat. I felt like a celebrity! 😁

[roadie]

The luggage racks onboard actually look useful unlike here in the UK where they don't expect anyone to be carrying luggage on a train.

[tinglestingles]

We travel on this train regularly as we live in Portugal, we haven't found any advantage to comfort class. The video actually is the story of life in Portugal - managing expectations and apart from the rain not a bad tale. The saving grace are the wonderful people we meet daily.

[Scot-land]

I always look forward to you uploading as I just love your content thank you 👍

[davidwelch]

As I watched your video and saw the relentless rain pouring down a flash of lightning illuminated my room followed by a clap of thunder. I don't know how you arranged this but it certainly added to my audio visual experience. An impressive first for Planes, Trains and Everything.

[Clivestravelandtrains]

I loved the way the end of the toilet roll was flapping in the slipstream of the hand-dryer.

[bganonimouse]

Its a pity that many rail companies don't make more effort for customers who pay extra, never mind the basics like wifi.
You looked a bit tired towards the end there so I wasn't surprised by what you said at the end. Look forward to seeing the blow by blow account of what happened!

[TheROLLER]

Top youtube travel man = nobody better, well done the paisley buddie. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[richardgoeman]

Hi Scott, first of all a nice video.
The reason the Pendular doesn't call at Santa Appolonia is because this is a terminal or dead-end station.
And what I could find on Google Maps there is no direct connection from Santa Appolonia to Entre Campos.

[harri]

You were lucky to have a decent window view. When we took this AP train recently (in 1st class), our seats did not line up with the window and had a restricted view because of the wide pillar. The tilt on this very twisting line made us feel nauseous, as we were unable to orient ourselves with an outside view. Because of the high backed seats and small windows, it was almost like being in a very turbulent aircraft. When I went to the buffet car (no hot drinks served from the trolley), one of the attendants had to carry the coffees for me so I could open the inter-carriage doors for her, and she spilled some because of the erratic ride. For our Lisbon to Porto leg, we opted for a traditional Inter-City train with large windows which lined up with the seats and, although slightly slower, was far more comfortable and enjoyable.

[eleanorheptinstall]

Just before the Pandemic in January/February 2020, I traveled from Aberdeen to Lisbon & Porto via Paris, Bordeaux & Donostia-San Sebastian by train, was very enjoyable. I arrived into Oriente station off the night train from Hendaye, the station (at platform level) is amazing with all the lights up at sunrise. Down below it looks quite grimy. But you should visit (if you didn't on this trip) Santa Apolonia station in Lisbon and Sao Bento station in Porto, two stunning rail termini.

[pbsteamatspeed]

I've done this journey in reverse this year (in sunny weather the journey is very scenic). But I prefer the ordinary intercity loco hauled trains, which have limited first class but a groovy 1970s buffet car which you must check out some time!!

[Michael-wryy]

Really informative and useful info. Thanks

[PenryMMJ]

A lot of first class travel on your channel recently Scott, that's not normally your kind of thing. But it does make a change, although from the looks of things not that big of a change. 😁

[kazzicup]

I am enjoying your videos, Scott. I hope you travel to Peru and other south American countries soon. A lot to see there. I want to see Peruvian trains. 💛

[kevanhubbard]

Maybe CP could open an unclosed First Class lounge in Huddersfield as it'd be about as useful as TPE's!

[jonsimpson]

Fantastic effort!!!! A great video, I have been to Lisboa many times and the metro and railway stations are usually pretty efficient.

[sntx]

You were correct on the post edit text. The Alfas that travel between Porto - Faro stop at Oriente and Entrecampos. And that’s the reason they don’t stop at Santa Apolonia because it’s out of the way. But if you leave to Porto from Lisbon you can get in Santa Apolonia since it’s their depart station. And final station on the ones from Porto to Lisbon (Lisbon being the final stop).