First class Rail..

Hedge

Hedge

Hedge

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Hi people,

Im gonna be getting the train home this christmas because I dont really fancy the hassle of driving in crap conditions for at least 6 hours, so Ive been looking at rail fares.

The train will be from Elgin to Newcastle and will take around 5-6hrs , so Ill be sat there with a dead arse most of the time.

Is paying £40 extra for first class worth it in your eyes?
 
Any reason behind that Nitefly?

By £40 I mean thats for the full return journey. £101 quid return first class, or £60 standard.
 
It depends entirely on what trains you will be using.

I always travel First Class when travelling to London - the coaches are spacious, quiet, there is no noise, there are no kids running around, there are no people listening to ipods at loud volume, the seats are comfortable and all seating has proper tables. On FGW, the seats are also leather.

It makes the journey a pleasure.

However on some other TOC's the First Class accomodation is barely any better than Standard and is thus not worth the extra money.

Looking at the journey you'll be making, only the section from Edinburgh to Newcastle will have full service First Class accomodation. Some of the trains from Dundee to Edinburgh don't even have any First Class seating at all. For the sake of 40 quid I'd probably still do it - but make sure you don't pick a trip which includes one of the non First Class equipped units from Dundee, and bear in mind you'll probably only get the excellent First Class facilities from Edinburgh to Newcastle.
 
Hedge said:
Any reason behind that Nitefly?

By £40 I mean thats for the full return journey. £101 quid return first class, or £60 standard.
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Because the increase in comfort is pretty minimal and you can just spend that £40 on something else. Put in some headphones or buy a book for the trip.

I don't have large amounts of disposable income though.
 
Nitefly said:
Because the increase in comfort is pretty minimal and you can just spend that £40 on something else. Put in some headphones or put a book for the trip.
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The increase is not minimal at all, depending on the train. It can be a significant improvement over standard class - crucially because it's often far less busy. I've been on numerous services where announcements are made apologising for the extreme overcrowding. I've then looked up from my laptop only to find only one other person sharing the coach :D

The other week I went as far as Cheltenham on a Cross Country service in standard and suddenly realised why everyone hates trains. Absolutely rammed, sat beside some guy who didnt know how the volume control worked on his ipod, with people stood everywhere. Great. Nothing like the experience you get in First with somebody like FGW.
 
I always upgrade to 1st class if the carriage is there.

The leg room and freedom is worth the money, commuter carriages are a disgrace, dirty and overcrowded.

I'm not a fan of children shouting around or idiots playing music from their phone.
 
Thanks for that post Fox,

The train ill be getting will be running from Elgin to Inverness then direct from Inverness to Newcastle, Im assuming it will be East Coast trains, I dunno how their first class services will be.

I dont have a great deal of disposable cash either, but my journey costs me £55-60 in petrol for my car each way, so even first class is a cheaper option.
 
Found...

"The First Class service on East Coast trains is ideal for both business and leisure travel, providing a perfect environment to focus on the day ahead, discuss your plans, or simply unwind. The pleasant and relaxing environment of First Class also benefits from larger, more comfortable reclining seats each with its own table.
Complimentary WiFi is available throughout First Class should you wish to continue to work and check messages while on board, with most seats benefiting from mobile phone/personal computer plug sockets."

think ill google a pic of what to expect..
 
[TW]Fox;17929296 said:
The increase is not minimal at all, depending on the train. It can be a significant improvement over standard class - crucially because it's often far less busy. I've been on numerous services where announcements are made apologising for the extreme overcrowding. I've then looked up from my laptop only to find only one other person sharing the coach :D

The other week I went as far as Cheltenham on a Cross Country service in standard and suddenly realised why everyone hates trains. Absolutely rammed, sat beside some guy who didnt know how the volume control worked on his ipod, with people stood everywhere. Great. Nothing like the experience you get in First with somebody like FGW.
Click to expand...

Well, it's all down to preference. I'm not one to mind mild nuisance to the point I will pay what I consider quite a significant fee to avoid it. Each to their own.

I'd quite like your wallet though.
 
Nitefly said:
Well, it's all down to preference. I'm not one to mind mild nuisance to the point I will pay what I consider quite a significant fee to avoid it. Each to their own.
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Have you ever tried it?

I'd quite like your wallet though.
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It's not even that expensive if you book in Advance. I'd never pay a Walk-on First Class fare as they are astronomical, but an Advance Purchase Plymouth to London First Class return, for example, costs between £60 and £80. Given the same journey, in fuel cost ALONE, before I'd even paid for parking, would cost me almost £70 in my 5 Series, it's far from bad value. The journey is also quicker.

I won't pay massively over the odds for it - which is why my last trip to Great Malvern was in Standard - but when it's 40 quid or so more, it's well worth it for a longer trip. You can relax and unwind on a quiet, comfortable train whilst watching films, surfing the web, etc etc.
 
[TW]Fox;17929335 said:
Direct from Inverness to Newcastle will be an East Coast Trains HST.

£40 well spent, in my opinion.
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Think ill treat myself for christmas then :)

Sitting in one comfy spot for 5 hours from Inverness to Newcastle without having to worry about changes will be a nice experience.
 
[TW]Fox;17929344 said:
Have you ever tried it?
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Yes, I certainly didn't pay though!

It's not even that expensive if you book in Advance. I'd never pay a Walk-on First Class fare as they are astronomical, but an Advance Purchase Plymouth to London First Class return costs between £60 and £80. Given the same journey, in fuel cost ALONE, before I'd even paid for parking, would cost me almost £70 in my 5 Series, it's far from bad value.
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Haha, I still want your wallet ;)

The journey is also quicker.
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I didn't realise they put flux capacitors in first class these days :eek:
 
Any journery which will take me more than an hour I go First Class. That's normally only when I go to London, everywhere else I just drive to.

Worth it just for the extra comfort, space and quiet. Free papers, tea and croissants add to the pleasantness (well, not free really :p)
 
beh said:
£40 extra? No advance tickets available?
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That is advance I think mate. £50.50 each way.

07:00 Elgin [ELG]
Newcastle [NCL]
12:59 5:59
1 Details
£50.50 (Cheapest fare) First Class Advance

thats from the National rail enquiries site.
 
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