First class Rail..

Cross Country First is quite poor but probably worth it because Cross Country standard class is exceptionally poor by virtue of the fact the pathetic Class 220 Voyager trains they replaced 7-8 coach HST and Loco hauled trains with have just 4 coaches.

Nice one.
 
Hedge said:
Hi people,

Is paying £40 extra for first class worth it in your eyes?
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If it's a Virgin service yes, most definitely. I go 1st class 80% of the time (often the cost difference is negligible - 25% extra - except at peak hours).

If it's cross country, not so much so unless it's on a few quid extra - then it's worth it simply for the peace and quiet.
 
Trains are a ridiculous price as it is, and there's certainly not £40 worth of difference between First Class and standard. Just book your tickets online and you can reserve a table seat in the quiet carriage anyway.

Or better yet just fly there, I went from Somerset to Newcastle earlier this year for a weekend, even with the cost of parking at Bristol it was half the price to Fly up (and that's taking into account a young persons railcard!), and 1/4 the total journey time.
 
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How much was the flight? And when did you book it?

Also it took you 1 hour to get from your house to your final stop in Newcastle? Doubt it;)

EDIT: Just looked up Bristol to Newcastle and WTF why is it so expensive?:confused: Way more than any of the similar length journeys I've taken. Having said that it could be because it's getting near christmas and everyone is moving around the country? It costs the same amount to get from London to Aberdeen, which is about a half again in time/distance!
 
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[TW]Fox;17929598 said:
How is it the TOC's fault if there are no seats, what did he expect if he didnt book :confused:

Reservations are compulsory with advance tickets anyway.
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Oh gee I don't know, a first class service for a first class ticket :rolleyes: If there aren't any seats they shouldn't have sold that ticket.
 
Depends on the length of journey and what extras you get. If it's a long journey and it's going to get you a lot of extra room and meals included, then it can certainly be worth it.
 
scorza said:
Oh gee I don't know, a first class service for a first class ticket :rolleyes: If there aren't any seats they shouldn't have sold that ticket.
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Most tickets sold will be at best valid for any train that day on that trip and at worst valid for an entire month. How the heck do you think the train companies would know exactly what train the people with those sorts of tickets would travel on?

I regularly buy tickets that have clauses like that on. For example an advance return ticket: outward bound is valid on any train for the day you pick and back is valid for any time within a month of your outward trip. Any single picked up at a station will just be valid for that day too...

EDIT: As for Foxes point, reservations are compulsary for singles however returns are very flexible (technically you can get off a train half way through your journey and get back on a later one after going shopping or something. I've even spend a night somewhere and finished the rest of the journey the next day (after finding out that was also valid from a number of members of staf)). That's why trains are so good, the ultimate flexibility.:D
 
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scorza said:
Oh gee I don't know, a first class service for a first class ticket :rolleyes: If there aren't any seats they shouldn't have sold that ticket.
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If you don't book a seat on a particular train how can they possibly know when you intend to travel?
 
vonhelmet said:
Depends on the length of journey and what extras you get. If it's a long journey and it's going to get you a lot of extra room and meals included, then it can certainly be worth it.
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AFAIK none of the first class tickets allow you a free meal, best you will get is a free newspaper and a free item from the restaurant (drink or packet of crisps).
 
I'm not one for taking First Class normally but on the trains I find it's always usually better, especially going from Cornwall to London, the main benefit I find is that the First Class carriages are much quieter and usually less full, I hate being forced to sit next to some smelly heffa for 4 hours on standard class.
 
Amp34 said:
AFAIK none of the first class tickets allow you a free meal, best you will get is a free newspaper and a free item from the restaurant (drink or packet of crisps).
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I've had free meals on Virgin in the past few years... Maybe I just got lucky.
 
beh said:
If you don't book a seat on a particular train how can they possibly know when you intend to travel?
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That's their problem. What do you think a first class ticket should entitle you to? standing room in first class carriages. It would seem obvious that a first class ticket should include a reserved seat, FYI the ticket was for a specific train from Preston to London.
 
He probably could have asked to reserve a seat when he got the ticket. However making all first class tickets seat reseved would be impossible, considering a large number are open returns, designed specifically for those that want a flexible ticket.
 
beh said:
Perhaps should be compulsory seat reservations for tickets then? As they do on the TGV.
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I agree, this should have been done a long time ago. Standing on trains is dangerous and an abuse of monopoly. Compulsory seat reservations would have encouraged investment in our raid infrastructure instead of merely using it as a cash cow.
 
Amp34 said:
EDIT: As for Foxes point, reservations are compulsary for singles however returns are very flexible (technically you can get off a train half way through your journey and get back on a later one after going shopping or something.
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Not with an advance purchase ticket you cannot.

Don't confuse an advance purchase ticket with a normal ticket purchased in advance :p
 
From a completely neutral standpoint since I don't pay to use the trains as I have an employee's pass, I avoid to travel in the First Class coaches unless there is no room sitting in standard class.

Why? Unlike most ignorant people on this earth if I am travelling for leisure not business I like to get to know people, and especially around this time of year when more are getting in to a jolly and festive mood. If I sit next to a freaking miserable git, I'll just move. Or go and talk to one of the good looking trolley dolly's of they are on the train, and usually end up with a free beverage and a cake :p

I think that paying £40 is not an unreasonable amount if you like your own space and have to be a little more comfortable to relax. If you are just going to stick in your headphones and read then it makes little or no difference since your attention will be focused else where, the only bit that will feel better is your arse, assuming it's not well padded :)
 
scorza said:
If there aren't any seats they shouldn't have sold that ticket.
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What is it with you and daft comments?

How can they possibly know how many seats are on the train when you arrive at the ticket office 10 minutes before it arrives - as you are perfectly entitled to do - and purchase a walk on fair valid on ANY train you wish?

They don't know which train you may choose to catch any more than they know who has sat in what unreserved seat on the train and exactly how many are left once the train is on the move.

I honestly cant beleive you suggested that.

Where the TOC does know the train the person will catch, a reservation is required - ie, advance purchase tickets valid only on the booked train.
 
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