Over the last twelve months I have become a regular train user commuting between work places in Bristol, London and Glasgow. With the extent of roadworks these days driving is miserable and flying often takes 5 hours door-to-door - in any event both means of transport are dead time where it is impossible to do any work. Mid-Winter I was using the Caledonian Sleeper service as my main means of transport which was okay albeit the "glide through the night" description on the website is, in my experience, not quite the reality. More recently I have been using Avanti where their First Class compartments has provided the opportunity to get work done on the train and seemed to be the optimum solution. The First Class carriages are reasonably well staffed and whenever there has been an issue (crying children), the staff have always offered to move me to a quieter seat. However, having done the London-Glasgow journey about 20 times times now, I have had First declassified twice - a 10% hit rate. One occasion was okay - the carriage filled up but remained reasonably quiet - but the second occasion it effectively became a party carriage as some very loud and drunk individuals came onboard.
So, first, a few quick question for the regular rail users.
1. Is the 10% declassified rate I have witnessed typical on Avanti?
2. Has anyone any experience of Cross Country First Class? Does it get declassified much? The Bristol to Glasgow journey is long (8+hrs) and slower than train hopping but could provide a better option rather than risking the Avanti?
Second, is a more general question, who is First Class actually aimed at? I normally travel in Standard when commuting for leisure but opt for First for business travel as I can work. I sort of assumed it was the same for most mid-week First travelers but this seems entirely at odds with declassifying. If the First Class service - and by that I mean table, power sockets, quieter coach, basic refreshments - isn't offered in a reliable form, what value is it for it business users? If there is a likelihood of dead time where no work can be done, flying is probably the better option in order to minimise it.
So, first, a few quick question for the regular rail users.
1. Is the 10% declassified rate I have witnessed typical on Avanti?
2. Has anyone any experience of Cross Country First Class? Does it get declassified much? The Bristol to Glasgow journey is long (8+hrs) and slower than train hopping but could provide a better option rather than risking the Avanti?
Second, is a more general question, who is First Class actually aimed at? I normally travel in Standard when commuting for leisure but opt for First for business travel as I can work. I sort of assumed it was the same for most mid-week First travelers but this seems entirely at odds with declassifying. If the First Class service - and by that I mean table, power sockets, quieter coach, basic refreshments - isn't offered in a reliable form, what value is it for it business users? If there is a likelihood of dead time where no work can be done, flying is probably the better option in order to minimise it.