Best First Class Seat on Pendolino

[lewisdicks]

Hello

Travelling first class on business next month travelling from Euston to Glasgow, but I am wondering which seat is best in first class from a comfort/noise perspective? Would look to travel in one of the single seats (i.e. nobody opposite) and ideally in the direction of travel.

Thanks

 

[Journeyman]

Hello

Travelling first class on business next month travelling from Euston to Glasgow, but I am wondering which seat is best in first class from a comfort/noise perspective? Would look to travel in one of the single seats (i.e. nobody opposite) and ideally in the direction of travel.

Thanks

The first class driving car has mostly single seats, but it's terrible for noise from the galley. Staff tend to congregate around the door and chat noisily.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The first class driving car has mostly single seats, but it's terrible for noise from the galley. Staff tend to congregate around the door and chat noisily.

And they don't like you there and will do anything they can to stop you sitting there.

If you can get one of the ones in the other coaches (they book up very quickly as there's only one per coach) that is preferable.

 

[lewisdicks]

And they don't like you there and will do anything they can to stop you sitting there.

If you can get one of the ones in the other coaches (they book up very quickly as there's only one per coach) that is preferable.

I ended up getting K12 allocated on the booking system my company uses, it's on the 17:30, also I can't imagine they'll forcibly kick me out of a reserved seat surely?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I ended up getting K12 allocated on the booking system my company uses, it's on the 17:30, also I can't imagine they'll forcibly kick me out of a reserved seat surely?

That one isn't *too* close to the kitchen so you might be OK, but if the train is reasonably quiet they are very likely to try. They like having coach K as a private messroom.

Common excuses:
"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads"
"We haven't set up in here"
"There won't be any service in here"

Etc.

 

[Class455]

I was sitting in Coach J when I travelled first class both ways when I was home from Uni, no complaints there. If you want a seat just for yourself without anyone opposite you, then your best bet is Coach J seat 14, although there is a microwave/mini fridge behind but during my journeys it was hardly used. I don't think there are many solo seats available which face towards Glasgow though, they're only in Coach K I believe

 

[lewisdicks]

That one isn't *too* close to the kitchen so you might be OK, but if the train is reasonably quiet they are very likely to try. They like having coach K as a private messroom.

Common excuses:
"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads"
"We haven't set up in here"
"There won't be any service in here"

Etc.

"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads" - might be possible but that's not an issue
"We haven't set up in here" - surely that's a requirement for every journey to set up where there is evidence of reserved seats in that coach?
"There won't be any service in here" - again how can you deny service when there is a valid reservation in that coach?

 

[Class455]

That one isn't *too* close to the kitchen so you might be OK, but if the train is reasonably quiet they are very likely to try. They like having coach K as a private messroom.

Common excuses:
"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads"
"We haven't set up in here"
"There won't be any service in here"

Etc.

Coach K was locked out of use on my train on Monday apparently due to a flood in the kitchen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads" - might be possible but that's not an issue
"We haven't set up in here" - surely that's a requirement for every journey to set up where there is evidence of reserved seats in that coach?
"There won't be any service in here" - again how can you deny service when there is a valid reservation in that coach?

I have stayed in there once, as I wasn't bothered about service and basically told them "if you want me to move out of this unreserved seat, get the guard to instruct me to do so and I will, but it is not within your power to do so yourself". They didn't get the guard, presumably on the principle that he wouldn't have supported them, but ignored me for the rest of the journey barring dirty looks. I put a formal complaint in about their conduct and got nothing more than an empty apology.

However, don't underestimate just how much hassle some of them will try to cause, and VTWC themselves tacitly accept it by doing nothing about it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Coach K was locked out of use on my train on Monday apparently due to a flood in the kitchen.

If you believe that...

(It's possible, I suppose)

 

[dk1]

I would feel very uncomfortable in coach K to be honest & if lightly loaded would always choose a seat elsewhere. This subject has come up many many times on this forum.

 

[Muenchener]

My seat of choice is either J8 or J11 dependant on direction of travel. From my experience the opposite seat from Euston is rarely occupied but it may be different at peak times.

Only done coach K the once which was... unremarkable.

 

[route101]

Once got allocated single seat facing direction in Coach H , chances of that 8am Glasgow to Preston. Think there should of been more single seats , must be kinda awkward sitting across from the stranger . In a bay of 4 not nearly as awkward . The fixed tables on the airline 2s are a bit tacky .

Back in 2014 was in K and there was plenty of other people in the coach , southbound feels cramped , especially going backwards .

 

[route101]

I suppose if you a bay of 2 and somebody was across from , common sense if the train was not busy is to move .

 

[Bletchleyite]

Back in 2014 was in K and there was plenty of other people in the coach , southbound feels cramped , especially going backwards .

The coach K airline seats are misaligned and have a bit less legroom than the single ones in the other coaches which have half a window space.

TBH I think they should turn half the tables-for-two seats in the other coaches around and create some more single airline seats - they are very popular.

 

[route101]

More airline seats would be great . I suppose the idea of 2 facing seats is for people to have lunch together . The lner 91s have more singles .

 

[LOL The Irony]

I usually go for Coach H

 

[GrimShady]

That one isn't *too* close to the kitchen so you might be OK, but if the train is reasonably quiet they are very likely to try. They like having coach K as a private messroom.

Common excuses:
"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads"
"We haven't set up in here"
"There won't be any service in here"

Etc.

You know I've had a number of very similar experiences in coach K. The excuses I've heard have been ludicrous! Once I even had two different stories from the same train crew, when I called them out on this and the fact I knew what their game was they left me alone for the rest of the journey.

 

[morrisobrien]

Coach J, Seat 14.

 

[morrisobrien]

This Coach K business...….what are the replies from Virgin HQ when you complain?

 

[Bletchleyite]

This Coach K business...….what are the replies from Virgin HQ when you complain?

ISTR I got something suggesting they would look into it, but they never do. Well, sort-of - they have done one thing - marked the back row as "Reserved Staff", but that doesn't stop them trying to hog the whole coach. I don't think that was a particularly good thing to do on VTWC's part as the rearmost single seat is quite prized (just as I am a big fan of coach A seat 45 in Standard), they should have instead reserved two rows of double airline seats for staff as nobody wants those.

I wonder if industrial relations are poor so they fear the staff might get awkward on other things if they come down on it hard, which is what they should do - to me in principle staff should not be occupying any seat a passenger wishes to occupy (regardless of the occupation of others) when on duty. There are staff dedicated areas (e.g. the galley) in which staff can chat in private if necessary, but really they shouldn't be sat around socialising at all, they should be providing service during the journey.

 

[Mag_seven]

If it's an 11 car, head for coach G the unreservable first class vehicle. I've often had a bay of four to myself in that coach, let alone a bay of two.

 

[47271]

If it's an 11 car, head for coach G the unreservable first class vehicle. I've often had a bay of four to myself in that coach, let alone a bay of two.

Exactly this, and there's also a single seat (G23 if memory serves) if that's what you want. I don't think that I've ever seen it occupied.

Otherwise I avoid H because it's a pantograph car and can be a bit rougher and noisier.

I've never set foot in Coach K and have no intention of because of hell's kitchen and the yittering staff.

So I generally book into J and then head to G if it's there.

Sit mid coach for the smoothest ride of course.

 

[Journeyman]

Yeah, Coach K seems to be commandeered as a staff lounge, which is highly annoying as it's great for single seats, and the one with the best view is the one nearest the galley door! Sounds like things have got really bad.

 

[Journeyman]

I've never set foot in Coach K and have no intention of because of hell's kitchen and the yittering staff.

Virgin only seem to employ fake-smiley loudmouths who can never shut up as well.

 

[Bald Rick]

That one isn't *too* close to the kitchen so you might be OK, but if the train is reasonably quiet they are very likely to try. They like having coach K as a private messroom.

Common excuses:
"But you can have a table to yourself in another coach, there are loads"
"We haven't set up in here"
"There won't be any service in here"

Etc.

I have used Virgin Pendolinos hundreds of times, roughly half the time in Coach K. Usually on West Mids or Scotland services, but on Liverpool and Manchesters too. All times of day, week and year. Most recently this week, and again two weeks previously.

I have never experienced or seen any onboard staff try to shift people out of K.

Have I been lucky? Or is the statement “very likely” an exaggeration?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have I been lucky? Or is the statement “very likely” an exaggeration?

It has happened every single time I have attempted to sit in coach K (which I'll admit is nowhere near as often as you). But maybe some specific depots are worse for it than others, or perhaps they rein it in when the rest of the train is busier, if your First Class travel has tended to be peak-time whereas mine hasn't?

It's also not just me, there has been plenty of talk of it on here from others. So maybe you have been lucky.

 

[Bald Rick]

It has happened every single time I have attempted to sit in coach K (which I'll admit is nowhere near as often as you). But maybe some specific depots are worse for it than others, or perhaps they rein it in when the rest of the train is busier, if your First Class travel has tended to be peak-time whereas mine hasn't?

It's also not just me, there has been plenty of talk of it on here from others. So maybe you have been lucky.

Very rarely peak time / peak direction. Usually off peak (inc weekends) and contra peak.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I very often find First Class on 9-car Pendos to be very busy, even on off peak trains 12:00-16:00 ish. (Preston to Birmingham/Euston and v.v)

I was on the 15:30 Euston to Glasgow a few months ago (9-car) in coach H, closest to Standard, thinking it wouldn't fill up, but it did. Quite disappointed with the First Class food options (just cold sandwich or nachos) but that's off topic.

If I'm on a 11-car, I always head to coach G.

 

[sprinterguy]

Exactly this, and there's also a single seat (G23 if memory serves) if that's what you want. I don't think that I've ever seen it occupied.

It's sometimes occupied by me, and I've seen it occupied by others, such as on the train I'm currently traveling on.