TPE to add First Class Lounge to Huddersfield

[wellhouse]

First Transpennine Express have submitted a Planning Application for works at Huddersfield station, the principal elements being construction of three new enclosed passenger waiting shelters (one behind the steps between Platforms 4 & 8, and two on Platform 1) and the conversion of their existing Training Room on Platform 1 into a First Class Lounge.

Full details and plans are available through the Kirklees Council Planning Portal:

http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/detail.aspx?id=2015/91272

As far as I am aware, this will be the first First TPE First Class Lounge (do you see what I did there?)

Do FTPE have any proposals either for further First Class Lounges, or for FTPE passenger access to other operators' Lounges (VWC/VTEC/EMT)?

 

[ainsworth74]

Interesting. Can TPE passengers access the first class lounges at Leeds or Manchester? If not I would have thought spending some money on gaining access for their passengers to those lounges would have had a bigger impact?

 

[telstarbox]

It would be good if TPE passengers could use the lounge at Manchester Piccadilly, for example. At the moment a FC passenger to Euston can use it but one going to Newcastle can't even though it's a longer journey.

 

[pemma]

I wonder if this relates to DfT having asked TPE to do it because the next franchise will offer access to First Class lounges?

 

[Starmill]

So Huddersfield will be the first and only station passengers travelling in First Class on TPE can use a First Class lounge at? Okaaay then.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting. Can TPE passengers access the first class lounges at Leeds or Manchester? If not I would have thought spending some money on gaining access for their passengers to those lounges would have had a bigger impact?

Virgin wouldn't let them at Manchester Piccadilly (not without lots of money) because it's very small and has abundant and very high quality refreshments and facilities. It's quite premium. The one at Leeds wouldn't be worth any of TPE's money spending on getting access to; it's a complete waste of time even going in there really.

 

[pemma]

Virgin wouldn't let them at Manchester Piccadilly (not without lots of money) because it's very small and has abundant and very high quality refreshments and facilities.

What if you had a VTEC + Connections ticket where the connection was on TPE?

 

[Starmill]

I take it you mean a VTWC & Connections? Obviously fine, regardless of who the connection is.

Stockport to Newcastle TPE & Connections would probably be OK too, as long as you're traveling with Virgin.

 

[55z]

The listed building application at Huddersfield includes better lighting in the car park, conversion of the top floor of the main building into offices, a first class lounge on platform 1, the building of waiting rooms/shelters (three of) one of which is on the site of the old gents toilets platforms 4 & 8 whilst the other 2 are site unspecified and site details are to be forwarded when a survey has been done. Waiting for TPEXP to send me the details of these.

 

[All Line Rover]

Virgin wouldn't let them at Manchester Piccadilly (not without lots of money) because it's very small and has abundant and very high quality refreshments and facilities. It's quite premium.

Quite. Although a Manchester to Wilmslow FDS (£6.60) will easily grant access for up to 1 hour. In which case one wonders why Virgin would be happy to let that slide while refusing to grant access to a customer travelling from Manchester to Newcastle if, say, FTPE paid £5 to VT for the privilege.

Irrespective of the oddities of First Class lounge access*, I think it is a welcome improvement for FTPE to be providing its customers with a dedicated First Class lounge for the first time. Hopefully it will be of a reasonably high standard.

*I'm not even sure if Virgin West Coast passengers can access the Virgin East Coast lounge at Edinburgh Waverly! It isn't listed on Virgin West Coast's website.

 

[oldman]

I'm not even sure if Virgin West Coast passengers can access the Virgin East Coast lounge at Edinburgh Waverly! It isn't listed on Virgin West Coast's website.

I did last month with a West Coast Advance ticket.

 

[Starmill]

I think officially the answer is no - the sign outside it says you can only use it if your ticket is valid to travel on an East Coast service. They probably misread the route on your ticket - it's only 1 letter out

 

[TheEscapist_]

You can use the Edinburgh lounge with west coast tickets, same at Glasgow Central east coast can use the west coast lounge.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Presumably these plans will fall by the wayside if Stagecoach or Keolis/GoAhead win the franchise.
Electioneering?

 

[MrCub]

The one at Leeds wouldn't be worth any of TPE's money spending on getting access to; it's a complete waste of time even going in there really.

^^ This. I was in there earlier this week. It's so wonderfully Intercity from the late 80s, I felt it should be preserved on a heritage line somewhere.

 

[pemma]

I take it you mean a VTWC & Connections? Obviously fine, regardless of who the connection is.

No I meant VTEC. Something like this ticket: http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=MAN&dest=SVG&grpo=0438&rte=422&tkt=OBZ

 

[Starmill]

No I meant VTEC. Something like this ticket: http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=MAN&dest=SVG&grpo=0438&rte=422&tkt=OBZ

I would presume no.

 

[HowardGWR]

You can use the Edinburgh lounge with west coast tickets, same at Glasgow Central east coast can use the west coast lounge.

I've just looked at their advert.
https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.c...ass/first-class-lounges/#Startasyoumeantogoon

Under Edinburgh, you don't get free refreshments, you just get

f

 

[wensley]

As far as I am aware, this will be the first First TPE First Class Lounge (do you see what I did there?)

Should that not be the first First FTPE First Class lounge??

 

[JaJaWa]

*I'm not even sure if Virgin West Coast passengers can access the Virgin East Coast lounge at Edinburgh Waverly! It isn't listed on Virgin West Coast's website.

Yes you can. The ScotRail lounge took any 1st class ticket, and their lounge closed with customers told to use the VTEC lounge so the validity should carry over.

Plus:

Virgin Trains EC
@VirginTrains @NRManc Yes, all First Class ticket holders have access to the Edinburgh First Class lounge.
3:17 PM - 11 Apr 2015

 

[Starmill]

They clearly haven't read their own sign displayed outside then! I wonder if they would actually let you in with an XC ONLY FDs to Haymarket?