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RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

Butts

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Been in Doncaster today for the first time since they did the ......refurbishment. I went more or less straight back out again given the coffee machine was out of order and there were no bottles of water to be seen. I’m aware of the discontinuing biscuit ordeal already but unless you wanted 47 uht milk pots you will be going thirsty today.

Pray good sir explain please.
 
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robbeech

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I have read on here that biscuits are now not a thing in there and they certainly have been absent every time I’ve been in recently, with no empty packets in tables or in bins as evidence of existence either.
There is a comment in another thread about lack of biscuits too.
 

robbeech

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There were about 10 weeks ago when I used them. I appreciate a lot can change in 10 weeks though.
 

b0b

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My wife was just declined access to the lounge at Euston with a Caledonian Std Berth reservation, contrary to what I see on post 1 here, but seems to line up with what sleeper.scot has.... is that right?

edit: to clarify, she has a Britrail pass + a std berth supplement

edit 2: I think the graphic is unclear on page 1, it suggests (to me) that a std berth has access to the lounge?//
 
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SaveECRewards

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My wife was just declined access to the lounge at Euston with a Caledonian Std Berth reservation, contrary to what I see on post 1 here, but seems to line up with what sleeper.scot has.... is that right?

edit: to clarify, she has a Britrail pass + a std berth supplement

edit 2: I think the graphic is unclear on page 1, it suggests (to me) that a std berth has access to the lounge?//
It looks like the front page hasn't been edited for a while. I'm pretty sure though that the Caledonian Sleeper only allows 1st class tickets into the lounge at Euston.
 

robbeech

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If it is advertised somewhere like that then surely they should allow access and deal with it internally afterwards. If this was a ticketing issue then we would be quoting consumer rights and such.
 

Mag_seven

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I'm pretty sure though that the Caledonian Sleeper only allows 1st class tickets into the lounge at Euston.

That's what the CS Website states:

https://www.sleeper.scot/station/london-euston-station

First Class guests can relax in the First Class Lounge that we share with Virgin Trains. Complimentary light snacks and refreshments are available, while something stronger is available to purchase while you enjoy comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and a business zone if meeting a deadline is critical.
 

vlad

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The first-class lounge at Stoke has now been permanently closed and will be turned into a bar.

They've put posters up to say first-class passengers can flash their tickets at the café for light refreshments - this is something I can see being withdrawn fairly quickly.
 

SaveECRewards

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The first-class lounge at Stoke has now been permanently closed and will be turned into a bar.

They've put posters up to say first-class passengers can flash their tickets at the café for light refreshments - this is something I can see being withdrawn fairly quickly.

VTEC did something similar with the Great Northern Hotel in Peterborough. Does LNER still do this? The lack of promotion will probably mean it’s withdrawn due to lack of demand. I can see the same at Stoke.
 

All Line Rover

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The first-class lounge at Stoke has now been permanently closed and will be turned into a bar.

They've put posters up to say first-class passengers can flash their tickets at the café for light refreshments - this is something I can see being withdrawn fairly quickly.

Virgin sent a survey to a few customers a few weeks ago asking for feedback on an idea to turn the lounges at International, Coventry, Crewe and Runcorn into cafes (with one free drink and snack for customers holding first class tickets), while "upgrading" the lounges at New Street, Lime Street, Piccadilly, Euston and Glasgow Central.

I'm not convinced. Euston, Piccadilly and New Street already struggle to cope with demand at peak times. I bet Virgin don't intend to extend them as part of any "upgrade". Crewe is in an awkward part of the station for a cafe. Coventry, to a lesser extent, also.

It seems Virgin had already decided about Stoke, having struck a deal with a local brewery. Stoke was one of the quieter and less well maintained lounges. Like Coventry.
 

Butts

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Does anyone have an update on the Lounge Policy at Edinburgh since LNER took over?

I have a Virgin Advanced 1st Class Ticket from Birmingham to Aberdeen that utilises LNER for the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Section.

Should be okay for entry?
 

Butts

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Virgin sent a survey to a few customers a few weeks ago asking for feedback on an idea to turn the lounges at International, Coventry, Crewe and Runcorn into cafes (with one free drink and snack for customers holding first class tickets), while "upgrading" the lounges at New Street, Lime Street, Piccadilly, Euston and Glasgow Central.

I'm not convinced. Euston, Piccadilly and New Street already struggle to cope with demand at peak times. I bet Virgin don't intend to extend them as part of any "upgrade". Crewe is in an awkward part of the station for a cafe. Coventry, to a lesser extent, also.

It seems Virgin had already decided about Stoke, having struck a deal with a local brewery. Stoke was one of the quieter and less well maintained lounges. Like Coventry.

Eh, end of the Virgin Supplied Picnic then !!!
 

vlad

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It seems Virgin had already decided about Stoke, having struck a deal with a local brewery. Stoke was one of the quieter and less well maintained lounges. Like Coventry.

I quite liked it - it always seemed to be fairly well used. I'll have to start travelling from Crewe on the few occasions I'm willing to fork out for 1st.

It's not as though this has been advertised. I spotted an article in the local paper this year saying the lounge would be closed - I queried this with VT Twitter who denied it - but now the lounge is closed all I can find is that it's been removed from the VT website.
 

Butts

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Does anyone have an update on the Lounge Policy at Edinburgh since LNER took over?

I have a Virgin Advanced 1st Class Ticket from Birmingham to Aberdeen that utilises LNER for the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Section.

Should be okay for entry?

Anyone got an update since LNER took over ?
 

gord

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How are the new sleeper lounges at Truro and Penzance coming along? Taking the sleeper down to Penzance in mid-October and wondering if it'll be possible to pop in for a shower and a coffee when we arrive.
 

Bungle965

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This is what you are faced with at the old first class lounge at Stoke. Obviously a building site but any sort of information about alternative arrangements are not to be found (note the sign saying see below, with nothing existing below)
Sam
 

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All Line Rover

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I'm ambivalent about the closure of the Stoke lounge because, although it is unfortunate for any useful facility to close, Stoke station...
* is a small station which cannot easily be expanded, in any direction
* is located in a suburban area, with limited facilities in its vicinity
* has a single cafe and a single standard class waiting room
* is served by, at most, 2 VT services each hour both ways​
...and the first class lounge conveniently faces one of the station's two main platforms. Converting the lounge into a pub benefits the majority of passengers - existing and potential - making rail travel more attractive overall. Runcorn station is similar (and is anomalous in having a lounge with just 1 VT service each hour both ways).

The same cannot be said of International, Crewe and Coventry. International has multiple standard class waiting rooms, multiple cafes, is attached to an airport (!), is served by 3 VT services each hour both ways used by a large number of business travellers, and has an excessively large first class lounge which could easily be halved, creating space for an additional facility open to all passengers without needing to close the lounge. Crewe has at least three standard class waiting rooms, three WHSmith branches, numerous cafes, a pub, a big empty space at the entrance to the station where the old travel centre (for advance and international travel bookings) used to be, and is served by 4 VT services each hour both ways with many passengers waiting for connections. It also, as Bungle965 highlights below, serves sleeper passengers. Coventry shares a number of these qualities. At these stations, closing the first class lounges would not create any meaningful benefit for the majority of passengers, but would remove valuable facilities used by many of VT's first class passengers. It would smack of miserliness - the sole desire to eliminate the small day-to-day running costs of these unstaffed lounges.

---

I notice that the Edinburgh lounge has been removed from VT's (West Coast) website. It's a pity VT couldn't reach an agreement with LNER.

---

Attached is some VT market research about their lounges.

I'm surprised opening times are generally "rated highly".

Given the extent of concern about "availability of snacks", did Butts send VT multiple responses!?
 

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4-SUB 4732

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Used the shower facilities available to Sleeper passengers yesterday morning and was very impressed.

Used the Virgin lounge, however, at Glasgow on the way home last night and it is in no way fit for purpose. No toilet meaning you have to go to use the public ones; tiny lounge with all the noise from the ticket hall; generally just rubbish. Plug sockets only on the 'high' table along the back wall so if you, like me, want to kick back on the nice armchairs you can't use your laptop. Shame.
 

ScotTrains

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I notice that the Edinburgh lounge has been removed from VT's (West Coast) website. It's a pity VT couldn't reach an agreement with LNER.
If you have a Virgin train from Haymarket but use an LNER service as the +connections part from Waverley would this allow lounge access?

Given the concern about "availability of snacks", did Butts send VT multiple responses!?
The snacks can be hit and miss. Glasgow and Manchester usually have a good selection. The last time I was at Crewe all they had was a bowl of rotten apples. I took a picture and complained, naturally!
Used the Virgin lounge, however, at Glasgow on the way home last night and it is in no way fit for purpose. No toilet meaning you have to go to use the public ones; tiny lounge with all the noise from the ticket hall; generally just rubbish. Plug sockets only on the 'high' table along the back wall so if you, like me, want to kick back on the nice armchairs you can't use your laptop. Shame.
I agree. The Glasgow lounge has already been improved and enlarged since it opened a few years ago. I think they underestimated how popular it would be. I've struggled to get a seat on a Friday afternoon. It would have been nice if the derlect bar area above Costa could have been made into a nice lounge, similar in style to Manchester. I've heard that area is to be a Weatherspoons though it's been empty for ages.
 

Bungle965

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Crewe is normally useful, especially in comparison to the Pumpkins coffee shop and bar or whatever it is. At least it is somewhere that is somewhat warm!
Has anyone used it to wait for the sleeper I know that the last time I visited there was a sign outside stating that you should let them know if you were waiting for the sleeper as they would not close up the lounge and leave it open instead.
Sam
 

Butts

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---

I notice that the Edinburgh lounge has been removed from VT's (West Coast) website. It's a pity VT couldn't reach an agreement with LNER.

---

Attached is some VT market research about their lounges.

I'm surprised opening times are generally "rated highly".

Given the concern about "availability of snacks", did Butts send VT multiple responses!?

No, I pinched them all for my picnics !!!

Seriously I'm not on social media t or fb so not guilty.

As other people have said availability is hit and miss - Staffed ones such as Birmingham N St seem to be a lot better (or contrary if trying to secure a picnic)
 

Butts

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If you have a Virgin train from Haymarket but use an LNER service as the +connections part from Waverley would this allow lounge access?

Indeed my ticket from SAD to Aberdeen advises changing at Haymarket but I normally blag to main station to use the Lounge.

My ticket does not say and connections merely Adavanced Single 1st from SAD to Aberdeen specifying the Virgin and LNER Services to be used.

As an aside has anyone used the Liverpool St 1st Class Lounge recently - understand it's a cuppa only job ?
 

vlad

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I'm ambivalent about the closure of the Stoke lounge because, although it is unfortunate for any useful facility to close, Stoke station...
* has a single cafe and a single standard class waiting room​

Stoke station has 2 waiting rooms - one on each through platform.

It's currently got 2 cafés, both on platform 1 - this new one will be the third. It might provide extra room for waiting but I doubt they'd let you in if you're a customer.
 

Journeyman

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Does anyone know if the Kettering lounge is still open? Seems to be a bit unclear. I travelled from there on Tuesday. As my train was leaving from Platform 1 and I had a lot of heavy luggage, I didn't bother going over to it as it wasn't clear if it was open, but there's still "first class lounge" glass fitted in the windows. References to it seem to have been removed from all websites, though.
 

Metroman62

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If you have a Cross Country first class ticket, can you use the first class lounge at Birmingham New St? I will have an hours wait at New St and wondered if I can use the lounge, if so is it any good and where is it?!
 

vlad

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If you have a Cross Country first class ticket, can you use the first class lounge at Birmingham New St? I will have an hours wait at New St and wondered if I can use the lounge, if so is it any good and where is it?!

Depends what your ticket is.

If it gives any overlap with Virgin services (in other words if you could use VT rather than XC from Brum to, say, Wolves or Coventry) then you should be allowed in.

If Virgin don't serve the route (say you're going from Bristol to Sheffield) then you'll have to buy a sandwich and sit in the red lounge.
 

BlueFox

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If Virgin don't serve the route (say you're going from Bristol to Sheffield) then you'll have to buy a sandwich and sit in the red lounge.

Or pay £5 for a first class ticket to Birmingham International, and use that to get into the lounge.
 

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