Butts
Veteran Member
Blimey, have you had a T-Shirt printed
Mind you I was the Virgin Euston Lounge last night (late on) and they only had shortbread, crisps, cans of pop - poor for them but a bonus at an EC venue (if you got that much)
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
RailUK First Class Lounge Guide
- Thread starter Ascot
- Start date
Blimey, have you had a T-Shirt printed
Mind you I was the Virgin Euston Lounge last night (late on) and they only had shortbread, crisps, cans of pop - poor for them but a bonus at an EC venue (if you got that much)
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
If you come across drunken children, surely the appropriate course of action would be to call the police...?
Blimey, have you had a T-Shirt printed
I was making the most of a one day pass
All of the lounges had water (usually from a dispenser) and the usual hot drinks available, so I'll just mention what else was available.
I was in Edinburgh at 8:40. They had a couple of packets of corkers crisps - I'd only ever seen them in the Kings Cross lounge and on trains before. Plus the usual Border biscuits.
Next up was Berwick at 9:50. Biscuits and bottled water.
Newcastle at 11:00. Biscuits, bottled water and a jug of orange juice.
Darlington (11:40), biscuits, no newspapers.
Doncaster (12:55), biscuits, didn't notice any newspapers.
Wakefield (13:35), No newspapers or biscuits. There were empty biscuit packets in the bin so I must have missed them. I'd already overdosed on biscuits by then so it was probably a good thing.
It was my first visit to the Wakefield lounge and I was a little disappointed. There were five other people in there and it felt very crowded.
Leeds (14:15). Plenty of newspapers and magazines. No biscuits when I arrived but they replenished them while I was there.
I also went to Darlington and Newcastle again on my way home, and the situation was the same as it had been earlier.
The only places I needed to show my pass were on the way in at Edinburgh and Leeds. Even when there were staff members in the other lounges they didn't ask to see my ticket/pass.
Not seen them for a long time.
That would have been crowded at Wakefield. I found it busy with 3 people (one of whom stared at me as if they didn't think I should be there.
I've not been checked there - the old one they had to unlock for you (but was just a push door to get out)
You weren't checked at London? That is unusual - though sometimes not until after you've sat down.
That's an impressive list - I've still only managed London, Leeds, Wakefield and Edinburgh and I'm on my second Annual Pass.
I was at Newcastle on the first day of VTEC operation and there were staff in there who, when asked if they wanted to see tickets, kinda shrugged and told us to just go and take a seat
I think the poster means of all the ones he had been to that day - this didn't extend to London
Of the EC ones I have only done Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh so far, all of which are a much of a muchness
I didn't go to London yesterday, just the other seven EC lounges. When I have been to the Kings Cross lounges in the past my ticket has been checked on the way in.
Sorry about that - I saw your throwaway comment about crisps at Kings Cross and missed that fact that was not the same day.
On the very first day of Virgin's takeover of East Coast I used a First Class Anytime Single from Edinburgh to Haymarket to enter the first class lounge at Leeds (at which the ticket was checked, three times as it happens as I went in three times) and Wakefield Westgate (in which it was not). So, unless the staff were just perplexed and let me in without thinking I would say as things stand in my experience you can get into any East Coast lounge with a first class ticket of this sort and it does not have to be on a route via the station you are using the lounge in. Will not work in London King's Cross though I think.
Butts
Veteran Member
Is anyone going to finally respond to my query as to why East Coast Lounges were and seemingly still are so parsimonious compared to the Virgin offering ?
Are their any plans for a "fayre rise" of the catering variety ?
Are their any plans for a "fayre rise" of the catering variety ?
Think we'll need to go back further than East Coast for the answer to that. Probably to at least National Express days if not all the way back to GNER days!
Ascot
Established Member
It is early days for a "Virginisation" as they probably have 1. Loads of stock to go through first 2. Same staff different wrapper 3. Not had chance to implement any catering changes.
I'd expect the onboard service to change first before the lounges change, if they even do this year.
West Coast will always be the pinnacle operator as they have had just short of 20 years to put Richards Taste all over it "aka Virgin Atlantic charm".
As per this post. Full drinks menu for the (Virgin) 1st class lounge at London Euston:
Ale/Lager/Cider
Tilting Ale (500ml) £4.00
Tilting Cider (500ml) £4.00
Sleeman Original Draught (341ml) £3.50
Peroni Nastro Azzurro (330ml) £3.50
Rekorderlig Premium Cider (500ml) £4.00
Spirits
Absolut Vodka (25ml) £2.50
Cazcabel Tequilla (25ml) £2.50
Bacardi Rum (25ml) £2.50
Beefeater Gin (25ml) £2.50
Courvoisier Cognac (25ml) £2.50
Famous Grouse Whiskey (25ml) £2.50
Jack Daniels Whiskey (25ml) £2.50
Wine/Sparkling
Chardonnay (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Sauvignon Blanc (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Syrah Rosé (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Malbec (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Prosecco (200ml) £5.50
Ale/Lager/Cider
Tilting Ale (500ml) £4.00
Tilting Cider (500ml) £4.00
Sleeman Original Draught (341ml) £3.50
Peroni Nastro Azzurro (330ml) £3.50
Rekorderlig Premium Cider (500ml) £4.00
Spirits
Absolut Vodka (25ml) £2.50
Cazcabel Tequilla (25ml) £2.50
Bacardi Rum (25ml) £2.50
Beefeater Gin (25ml) £2.50
Courvoisier Cognac (25ml) £2.50
Famous Grouse Whiskey (25ml) £2.50
Jack Daniels Whiskey (25ml) £2.50
Wine/Sparkling
Chardonnay (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Sauvignon Blanc (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Syrah Rosé (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Malbec (125ml/250ml) £3.00/£6.00
Prosecco (200ml) £5.50
Ascot
Established Member
Excellent! I shall edit the lounge guide accordingly.
EDIT2: Having difficulty with the Sleeper amendments uploading. As soon as this is done the guide will be updated.
Last edited:
Well I've got an annual pass valid until next February but other than that I don't think so.
trainophile
Established Member
I was going to get some KGX Lounge passes with my remaining Reward points, for a 1st Advance trip in October. Will they still be valid after the end of
September if I buy them now?
I thought you could pay £5 to use the Lounge, am I thinking of somewhere else?
September if I buy them now?
I thought you could pay £5 to use the Lounge, am I thinking of somewhere else?
They should be valid - but you'll have to specify the date you'll use them.
You can pay £5 if you hold a 1st Advance ticket valid from KGX.
davetheguard
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,811
I took the opportunity to visit a railway 1st class lounge for the first time ever last week; mainly as a result of reading this handy thread.
I notice there isn't a picture of the VTWC London Euston lounge at the start of this thread, so I attach the one I took there last week, in case it is suitable.
One observation: would it be better to refer to first "Advance" tickets rather than first "APEX" tickets when listing lounge availability in the individual TOC access arrangements section; this is how most people seem to refer to them these days? Just a thought.
I notice there isn't a picture of the VTWC London Euston lounge at the start of this thread, so I attach the one I took there last week, in case it is suitable.
One observation: would it be better to refer to first "Advance" tickets rather than first "APEX" tickets when listing lounge availability in the individual TOC access arrangements section; this is how most people seem to refer to them these days? Just a thought.
Attachments
deltic
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 3,224
Is Glasgow Central lounge available to arriving sleeper passengers and does it offer anything more than hot drinks and biscuits? Serco states its available for waiting passengers implying that it is available at night although OP states it shuts at 19.00!
Last edited:
Ascot
Established Member
Apologies for the delay in replying. The use of APEX stems back from when there was limited space on the lounge guide to use the longer "Advance", also on ScotRail there use to be a loyalty club called "Advance" which offered free lounge access.
Yes you can use the Virgin lounge at Glasgow. The offerings are basic hot and soft drinks, nibbles (biscuits and crisps). The times stated in the guide are for Virgin Trains customers. The lounge will close at 19:00 and then open for Caledonian Sleeper customers. I am currently in the process of a new Sleeper section.
Last edited:
trainophile
Established Member
Is this true? I have 481 points left, and obviously need to do something with them in the next seven days. Having considered all my options for a 1st Class ticket, and decided that the cost of getting to the EC line in the first place (I live on the other side of the country), plus a hotel, plus a ticket back again from wherever I might go, it simply isn't worth it.
So the sensible option would be to exchange the points for nine Lounge passes, which would only be of use at KGX as we tend to go 1st Advance when we go anywhere on VTEC.
However I'd hoped the passes would remain valid indefinitely, as at this point I have no idea when I might wish to use them.
Not so? In which case, is there anything I can do with my points that might benefit the forum?
Anyone know what the PAD lounge is like on a Saturday, and whether I could access it on a GWR Weekend First? I have a trip to London in a few weeks with the option of booking a STD Advance to arrive for the time I need, a FC Advance for the first train of the day (and with 4 hours extra exploring time) or just buying a STD Advance for the first train and getting a Weekend First on the day. They all work out at pretty much the same price. Could I buy a Weekend First upgrade in the lounge for access before my return trip?
Wakefield Westgate first class lounge.
Sam
Apologies if this has been mentioned before, i had a quick scan through the bit where it was first mentioned. KGX Doesn't ALWAYS charge you for entry on an advanced ticket. I have been a few times on an 1st open return though a couple of weeks back i was travelling on a 1st advance, i arrived hugely early so had about 90 minutes to kill. I thought it worth the £5 to be able to sit down somewhere as the rest of the station was quite busy. The very nice lady on the door said they weren't charging on that day. Maybe they don't bother unless its a particularly busy time?
Rob
Rob
trainophile
Established Member
What's so difficult about just stopping charging? Like they did recently with the toilets at Birmingham New Street, and the station didn't grind to a halt!
I suspect they'll be thinking that at peak time the lounge is already very well used by people either paying the upgrade or with those who don't need to. So if they opened it up for all then would the lounge be able to accommodate everyone? I've used Euston lounge at the tail end of the peak at it was horribly over crowded. If hadn't had about an hour to wait I'd have just waited on the concourse!
Butts
Veteran Member
Does anyone know if the Virgin 1st Class Lounge is open at Birmingham International on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve ?
I am flying in and out of BHX from Glasgow on those two days and just wondering whether it worth getting a 1st Class Single to and from Sandwell & Dudley.
A search of the website has not provided an answer.
I am flying in and out of BHX from Glasgow on those two days and just wondering whether it worth getting a 1st Class Single to and from Sandwell & Dudley.
A search of the website has not provided an answer.