First class train (west coast main line)

First class train (west coast main line)

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Discussion

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Wednesday 7th August
quotequote all
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!

limpsfield

6,146 posts

260 months

Wednesday 7th August
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!
People considerably richer than yow?

Wacky Racer

38,927 posts

254 months

Wednesday 7th August
quotequote all
Will keep the riff raff and great unwashed out. Look on the bright side.

Seriously, just travelled from Manchester to London return with National Express for £32, nice coach with Wifi, obviously would rather have used the train, but the extra expense wasn't worth it to save a couple of hours.

Mercdriver

2,564 posts

40 months

Wednesday 7th August
quotequote all
Try Seatfrog to get a cheap deal on first class, if you can get it cheap, well worth the cost.

Comfier, quieter and free food and drinks.

We travelled to York from Dundee Azuma seats are not the comfiest, poor padding, ok for three hours after that I think they would be uncomfortable

TownIdiot

1,463 posts

6 months

Wednesday 7th August
quotequote all
They also have standard premium which is a first class seat without any service

30 quid upgrade each way over your standard ticket.


A standard any time return ticket is a bargain 369.40 Manchester to Euston

Which is why I only ever travel off peak. (105 return, which is almost not bad)




Vasco

17,308 posts

112 months

Thursday 8th August
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It's hardly surprising that the main coach operator, National Express, is doing rather well out of expensive train fares and possible rail issues, ASLEF etc.

dave123456

2,746 posts

154 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Mercdriver said:
Try Seatfrog to get a cheap deal on first class, if you can get it cheap, well worth the cost.

Comfier, quieter and free food and drinks.

We travelled to York from Dundee Azuma seats are not the comfiest, poor padding, ok for three hours after that I think they would be uncomfortable
This works well, often not as cheap as they would have you believe but nonetheless it is worth it when the trains are full in standard.

Particularly this time of year when a couple of Karen’s decide to take their flock out and decide they own the carriage in standard.

Hol

8,666 posts

207 months

Thursday 8th August
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Southeastern got rid of their segregated first class zones a couple years back, to create more seats for standard passengers. It achieved nothing as everyone was using them anyway as the guards rarely checked tickets or left their little room.

It’s made little difference to anyone, as the same seats are there, but I can now sit in the same section for less money than before.
Except, the guards no longer have a reason to leave their room.

Lefty

16,604 posts

209 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Quite.

I have to go from Aberdeenshire to West Cheshire every few months.

First class rail £550, about 5 changes and 12 hours door to door
Business class Flight and taxis £500, 5 hours door to door.

Client pays expenses but I actually usually end up driving instead, 8 hours each way and £200 for two tanks of diesel. More important is the flexibility with my time. And avoiding Manchester airport!

Flying economy would save about £200.

2 GKC

2,051 posts

112 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!
The public sector probably

Puggit

48,781 posts

255 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
2 GKC said:
Blown2CV said:
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!
The public sector probably
BBC shuttling staff to their Salford offices, most certainly (seen it with my own eyes)

Countdown

41,839 posts

203 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!
I used to when it was about £350 return. However it was such a rip-off that, even thought it wasn't me paying, I stopped. The extra £200 bought you a slightly wider seat and an unbelievably basic meal with unlimited small cans of drink (Yea!!)

Standard class on Avanti is fine for me. If you get to carriage C or U you can usually get a table seat. Also since Avanti took over all the seats have been refurbished.

All that being said if two people are travelling it's probably cheaper to drive down.

gotoPzero

18,094 posts

196 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
We go to London from Manchester Piccadilly maybe once or twice a year.

Seen a bit of a drop off in quality since Virgin ceased the operations.
Cost wise we normally get it for about £350 for 2 people, return, maybe a bit less.

I don't think its gone up much in the last couple of years?

For me first class is worth it for the lounge and for the nicer seats and less crowded.

It only takes a group of lads to get on "innit bruv" types and it turns standard from a fun day trip to biting your tongue for 2 hours.





Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
limpsfield said:
Blown2CV said:
Peak trains have only standard and first now, with the latter comprising 3 carriages. The seats cost £450-500 now. Who is actually using this?!
People considerably richer than yow?
considerably more idiotic you mean, or rather their employers must be as no one would paid with their own money would they?

I certainly never used to, but then that was when the price difference was maybe £50, not £200

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Mercdriver said:
Try Seatfrog to get a cheap deal on first class, if you can get it cheap, well worth the cost.

Comfier, quieter and free food and drinks.

We travelled to York from Dundee Azuma seats are not the comfiest, poor padding, ok for three hours after that I think they would be uncomfortable
they don't list auctions for peak trains. It's a flat fee of £90 to upgrade.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
TownIdiot said:
They also have standard premium which is a first class seat without any service

30 quid upgrade each way over your standard ticket.


A standard any time return ticket is a bargain 369.40 Manchester to Euston

Which is why I only ever travel off peak. (105 return, which is almost not bad)
they don't do SP on peak trains, which is part of the reason for my post.

TownIdiot

1,463 posts

6 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
they don't do SP on peak trains, which is part of the reason for my post.
They definitely do.
It sells out pretty quickly on the app but you can definitely buy Standard Premium Advanced tickets on the Manchester to London line at peak times.

You can also pay the upgrade on the train if you get a seat.


Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
TownIdiot said:
Blown2CV said:
they don't do SP on peak trains, which is part of the reason for my post.
They definitely do.
It sells out pretty quickly on the app but you can definitely buy Standard Premium Advanced tickets on the Manchester to London line at peak times.

You can also pay the upgrade on the train if you get a seat.
no they don't. I literally asked the staff yesterday why it was never available.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

29,511 posts

210 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
gotoPzero said:
We go to London from Manchester Piccadilly maybe once or twice a year.

Seen a bit of a drop off in quality since Virgin ceased the operations.
Cost wise we normally get it for about £350 for 2 people, return, maybe a bit less.

I don't think its gone up much in the last couple of years?

For me first class is worth it for the lounge and for the nicer seats and less crowded.

It only takes a group of lads to get on "innit bruv" types and it turns standard from a fun day trip to biting your tongue for 2 hours.
next wednesday, travel down 7:23am (warrington bank quay to euston) and travel back next day 4:30pm. First class is £517.80.

That has risen a vast amount since avanti took over. It used to be like £350 or cheaper.

TownIdiot

1,463 posts

6 months

Thursday 8th August
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
no they don't. I literally asked the staff yesterday why it was never available.
Don't want to get into a ding dong but they absolutely do
They are on the Avanti app now - both for specific advanced trains and "Anytime singles" - £30 more than the equivalent standard class in each direction.

And you can upgrade on a peak train as well.