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Shortest timetabled standard class only service to include a first claas section?

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AM9

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infobleep said:
What is the shortest timetabled standard class only service to include a first claas section?

I don't mean short formed trains but regular trains.

This query follows the post here by gsnedders here.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rtt-incorrect-train-information.183214/#post-4024459
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Probably one of the shortest regular service that is advertised as standard class only but frequently has a first class area is the LNR St Albans Abbey flyer. Frequently comprising a 319/2 EMU that has a good 2+1 seated first class area.
Edit: It is just 6 miles 30 chains for the entire journey.
 
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mm333

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LNER's Hull-Doncaster is 49 miles. Thameslink from Kings Cross-Letchworth is 34 miles.

TPX Leeds-Huddersfield stopper is 17 miles.
 
Clansman

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In terms of an actual first class, it surely has to be Aberdeen to Dyce, which is around 5 miles by train.

Prior to the timetable change, there was a diagram in which one of the refurbished HSTs would work this Class 2 service during peak time with first class advertised and the buffet open.
 
trainmania100

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Brighton to Hove usually a 313 but sometimes a 377 that has a first class section and is only a mile or two?
 
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bionic

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I was also thinking Heathrow Central to Heathrow T4 shuttle but not sure if that has first class. HEX definitely does but think the shuttle is crossrail these days.
 
class387

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Romford to Upminster is 3 miles 30 chains and can be operated with a 317.
 
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2-car 165s that still have a 1st class area that do the Greenford Branch surely must be a contender? 2.75 miles, 10 minute journey.

class387 said:
Romford to Upminster is 3 miles 30 chains and can be operated with a 317.
Click to expand...
Usually isn't these days as a 315 tends to be favoured as it is MTR Crossrail that partially operates the line internally, even if it is branded as Overground.
 
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I think the deciding factors here must be:

Can you buy a first class ticket for this point to point journey?

And

Is first class provided on the train?

Using the above criteria Brighton to Hove seems to be in top spot. Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay, Heathrow Central to T4, Exeter Central to Exeter St David's and Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction, Bromley North to Grove Park etc all seem to fall foul.
 
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You can buy Anytime 1s and 1r from Smethwick Rolfe Street to Smethwick Galton Bridge... the 350s are not formally declassified when working the Walsall-Wolverhampton locals!
 
Marton

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Darlington Thornaby. One TPE daily with first but no fare shown.
 
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Salford Crescent to Deansgate is possible with a First Class ticket and the journey is just over a mile. Since the electrification has now been completed however I don't think the Class 185s are used on services to Blackpool.
 
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thenorthern said:
Salford Crescent to Deansgate is possible with a First Class ticket and the journey is just over a mile. Since the electrification has now been completed however I don't think the Class 185s are used on services to Blackpool.
Click to expand...

Deansgate, I don't believe, is served by any rolling stock with first class accommodation any longer - apart from maybe 319/4's which I know Northern have a few of.
 
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bionic said:
I think the deciding factors here must be:

Can you buy a first class ticket for this point to point journey?

And

Is first class provided on the train?

Using the above criteria Brighton to Hove seems to be in top spot. Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay, Heathrow Central to T4, Exeter Central to Exeter St David's and Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction, Bromley North to Grove Park etc all seem to fall foul.
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Thanks for all the replies. I was actually interested in only those services which are not shown in the timetable to have first class but actually use first class rolling stock on the service.

In terms of shortest I had meant in terms of carriage numbers and didn't make that clear enough. However I'm finding this actually rather interesting in itself.

Ans extending it to the shortest journey with advertised first class would also be interesting
 
Peter C

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I saw that a GWR 165 at Oxford (just finished a service from Didcot Parkway) had a 1st class area. Surely a 165 with a 1st class area on a DID - OXF service would be the shortest distance between, say, DID and the next stop, e.g. Appleford?

-Peter
 
Kite159

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Peter C said:
I saw that a GWR 165 at Oxford (just finished a service from Didcot Parkway) had a 1st class area. Surely a 165 with a 1st class area on a DID - OXF service would be the shortest distance between, say, DID and the next stop, e.g. Appleford?

-Peter
Click to expand...

When those units work local stoppers between Didcot & Oxford, the first class area is declassified.
 
53703

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Do TPE still do a jounery on Cleethorpes to Barton line? Might be in with a shout something like Grimsby Docks to Grimsby Town
 
Wilts Wanderer

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There’s a Frome-Westbury service late evening which regularly produces a 166 with declassified First. Journey time about 7 mins. In the past there was a similar working (advertising First Class) utilising a full HST...

Elsewhere there have been Paignton-Newton Abbot services using intercity rolling stock.
 
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mm333 said:
LNER's Hull-Doncaster is 49 miles.
Click to expand...

This service isn't advertised as standard class only as far as I can tell. I recently took this on a First Advance as part of a Hull-London journey and there were several first class ticket holders sitting in first class; there were even some complimentary refreshments offered!
 
Dr Hoo

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Back in BR days, when there was a degree of portion working between Carstairs and Edinburgh and a few odd ‘connections’ at peculiar times it wasn’t unknown for specials to be rustled up at short notice when things got out of kilter. A shabby Mark I ‘brake composite’, with four compartments - standard smoking and non-smoking plus first smoking and non smoking - was kept at Carstairs and was occasionally run on its own with any locomotive that happened to be around. This wasn’t very popular for brake force reasons but did happen apparently. (Not strictly relevant to this thread as on an ‘InterCity’ connection passengers might have either class of ticket.)
 
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