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Which TOC offers the best First Class?

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leightonbd

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Yes they do, and it's quite popular! A full service is available and the load factors in First were very healthy when I used it quite regularly. Good standard of service normally North of Edinburgh, and far exceeding the FC offering on Scotrail. I'd wager a lot of people (like myself) went out their way to travel VTEC FC.

I do exactly that on my trips to Aberdeen; and I know colleagues going the opposite way do the same. Scotrail FC is worthless - staff are pleasant but the extra offering is a hot/cold drink once a hour and a snack the size of an Oxo cube.

In VTEC you don't get the evening meal but the all-day, which at least gives you a hot something, plus the option of beer/ wine/ G&T which is always welcome after a long day in the granite city.
 
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me123

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I should also state that, at least until last year, the All Day Menu was actually the "All Day Plus" menu - it featured that weeks rotation plus either the week before or the week after (I can't remember which). IIRC, it allowed people who were traveling the full length of the journey (who are entitled to two meals) to have a greater choice for their second offering.

Scotrail's FC is essentially pointless. I would imagine that most FC holders will be people connecting to other services, for example a Dundee-London FC ticket, where the most convenient choice of travel for the individual might be to get the Scotrail service to Edinburgh and change to an EC train there. A small number of people with a lot of money perhaps want away from the riffraff, but I've never seen any benefit. On 158s, the seats aren't even that much better!
 

47271

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Scotrail's FC is essentially pointless. I would imagine that most FC holders will be people connecting to other services, for example a Dundee-London FC ticket, where the most convenient choice of travel for the individual might be to get the Scotrail service to Edinburgh and change to an EC train there. A small number of people with a lot of money perhaps want away from the riffraff, but I've never seen any benefit. On 158s, the seats aren't even that much better!

I agree that Scotrail First is a dead loss, I have a particular dislike of lurching around over the wheels on the 170s.

Connecting passengers may keep it busy like you say but FC Advance prices - if Advances exist at all - Scotrail onto East or West Coast are hair raisingly high nine times out of ten, I can often take £80 off a Perth to York or Perth to Liverpool single by splitting at Edinburgh or Glasgow. Needless to say I undertake the Scotrail section in Standard. Then once in a blue moon something doable like £42 Perth to Liverpool appears, the allocations must be tiny.

On the 158s the only difference in seats is the antimacassar on the headrest, there isn't even a partition between First and Standard.

Here's hoping all of the above is perked up a bit by the HSTs...
 

HST43277

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Hello all, just a Question about the GWR pullman breakfast, is this only for first class ticket holders or can you sit in there and purchase a breakfast? Many thanks.
 

Bungle965

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Hello all, just a Question about the GWR pullman breakfast, is this only for first class ticket holders or can you sit in there and purchase a breakfast? Many thanks.

I believe that even if you are in standard you can sample the Pullman, however priority will be given to customers with first class tickets.
Sam
 

185143

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You should try the WAG Express. Has anyone seen the blonde girl who is one of the hosts on there. She is so friendly and a lovely person.
I'd second that anyday! Tweeted into ATW about her and doubt I was the first person. Literally nothing was too much trouble! (Including bringing toast I had ordered with my breakfast to my seat as I had forgotten to pick it up! And I was in the front coach too.)

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

broadgage

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Hello all, just a Question about the GWR pullman breakfast, is this only for first class ticket holders or can you sit in there and purchase a breakfast? Many thanks.

Standard class may partake of breakfast or any other Pullman meal, subject to space being available. First class receive priority.

Standard ticket holders are meant to return to standard after eating, enforcement of this is a bit variable and depends on how busy the service is, and perhaps on the size of gratuity offered.

On the evening services, first class ticket holders may book a seat in the Pullman by telephone, but AFAIK this is not available for breakfast.
 

Mojo

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Here's my views on First class travel:

Best lounge: Great Western
They might only have two, but without a doubt they offer the best service. I can't speak too much for the Cardiff lounge as I've only been in there maybe 2 or 3 times in the last 10 years, but the lounge at Paddington is excellent; offering sandwiches at lunchtime and delicious cakes throughout the afternoon. There is also complimentary wine and cocktails at certain times.

Best (inclusive) breakfast: East Midlands
There are a handful of trains in the morning that offer a "Full Breakfast." Freshly cooked onboard the train I would say it is the biggest and best breakfast, with the exception of Pullman on Great Western.

Best lunch: East Coast
I know it gets a bit of criticism, but I quite like East Coast's All Day Menu. It rotates often enough and always has something on there that I like, and in more recent times they are a lot less "stingy" with the portion sizes, in my opinion. Complimentary alcohol, including spirits, is also available.

Best dinner: Trains Wales "Wag Express"
Three course meal, very filling, and very attentive service.
If there had to be a second place because of the limited service, then I would award it to East Coast, for either the All Day Menu or Evening Meal Menu, as I think both are perfectly acceptable.

Best weekend service: East Coast
The only Toc that gives you something decent to eat on a weekend. It might only be sandwiches, but it's better than what other Tocs give you.

Best staff: Hull Trains
I've only done the (Love) Hull Trains First class on a weekdays and had an enjoyable lamb hotpot on both occasions, served with warm bread roll. Food was microwaved but very high quality so this was not an issue. Onboard ambience was good for a DMU, but the seats didn't align with the windows very well. Having a dedicated First class host for only one coach meant that it was always easy to get a top-up, or anything else that I wanted.

Nicest ambience: Great Western
I really enjoy travelling on the Great Western refurbished HSTs. Nice, luxurious and comfortable seats, and also a good amount of privacy.

Not as bad as everyone says: CrossCountry
The offer onboard CrossCountry is much improved compared to Virgin days, with the availability of the First class host extended, and also the quantity and quality of onboard offer much better. However it's by no means the best, and also the limited operating hours (no catering at all after 8pm on most routes) means I can't rate them too highly.

Best hot drinks: Hull Trains
Before departure, a large mug and saucer with biscuit, and a milk jug is placed on your table. The host leaves you a few teabags (Yorkshire Gold) and is often popping back and forth offering refills.

Best cold/ambient drinks: Tie between East Coast and West Coast
I think the offer during the week is pretty much the same, they all include apple juice and orange juice, coke, spirits and wines.

Overall best: East Coast
All round, taking in their lounges (especially now they have been refurbished), and the offer available throughout the week, including weekends, I think East Coast offer the best service. The breakfast isn't bad, and drinks are usually served in china cups/glasses rather than disposables. They offer an excellent lunchtime menu and are the only ones to offer you anything decent on a weekend.

Overhyped: West Coast
I enjoy travelling West Coast, and I think their breakfast is decent, but overall I don't think they are as great as everyone makes out. The Euston lounge in particular is very tatty and doesn't have a great ambience. They don't rotate their menu very often which means you can be eating the same stuff for months on end, and the portion sizes are also very small. Their weekend offer is terrible. There are a few gems though, I think some of their lounges are quite decent, and I would probably rate New Street's lounge as 2nd after Paddington.
 

basfordlad

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The worst is probably TransPennineExpress where first class consists of 2+2 seating almost identical to second. All you are paying for is separation from the hoi polloi and a better chance of getting a seat. I have noticed similar so-called first class sections around London. There needs to be another name for first class carriages which are anything but.

I disagree about TPX,i went from Manchester to Leeds a few weeks ago on an advance and it thought first class was very pleasant. Got served cup of tea and a croissant, it was very civilized and comfortable
 

ChiefPlanner

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No mention of EMT ? - decent WiFi and a superlative bacon roll for £4 , OK I know a lot of people do not like the 222 class , the staff are always friendly and helpfull.
 

Master29

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I think there are too many variables at work here. i.e crew changes, time of day etc. I couldn`t nail one TOC over any other but given comfort, food and journey quality I would have to go VTWC for breakfast, GWR for food and I have to say with their recent refurbishments VTEC for comfort, at least on the journeys I`ve travelled on. The Fort William Caledonian Sleeper did a very nice breakfast as well but you didn`t get much.
 

cactustwirly

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I think GWR, the comfort and ambience (which is what FC is for) is miles better than everyone else.

I don't see the point of First class anyway, because it's way too expensive for what you get.
 
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SaveECRewards

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Best lunch: East Coast
I know it gets a bit of criticism, but I quite like East Coast's All Day Menu. It rotates often enough and always has something on there that I like, and in more recent times they are a lot less "stingy" with the portion sizes, in my opinion. Complimentary alcohol, including spirits, is also available.

For a long time East Coast had a four different menu rotations. Now they've partnered with James Martin they've only got two. So it means if you travel once a fortnight you'll get the same menu each week.

If the menus change frequently it can work but I thought 3/4 rotations is optimal.
 

woody505

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Had a chicken curry on Friday on a VTEC portion size looked more suitable for a kids menu never seen a naan bread that small
 

devon_metro

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I like the East Coast catering/booze offering and find the Mk4s quite pleasant. They're certainly more pro-active with the soft drinks/booze trolley than on the West Coast who seem quite intent on serving hundreds of cups of coffee instead! GWR probably the best interior though.
 

Mark62

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The first in Stagecoauch east coast is currently suoerb. But it will all get worse when the new trains start running. I'll enjoy it whilst I can.
 

bb21

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As free breakfast goes, WAG simply has to be the best, closely followed by EMT.

Daytime complimentary offerings table is topped by Hull Trains, with VEC in second place imo.

Evening meal again WAG Express comes out on top by a long way, with VWC marginally ahead of others in second I think, when it is available. I have not sampled recent VEC offerings since they made big changes so can only go by past experience.
 

Iskra

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I don't wish to start a new thread, but can someone please clarify what's going on with XC's 1st offer? In Feb I got an XC service in 1st and was charged for a Bacon Roll, yet today I used XC in 1st on a much shorter morning journey and was given a sausage/egg/bacon sandwich free?

My ratings of TOC's first class offering:

1) WAG, hands down.
2) VTEC
3) VTWC (breakfast is very good)
4) EMT (They'd be 2nd on breakfast trains though)
5) GWR (Pullman Dining is the 2nd best evening meal after WAG and the best lunch even though it's not complimentary)

6) Most improved offering: XC, now doing some form of hot food and Starbucks drinks. Also worth it because STD is awful and you have a chance of getting a seat.
7) TPE. Worth it on a longer journey for the chance of getting a seat.
8) Scotrail. I wouldn't pay for 1st but when I've had it on a connecting service, the staff are always very friendly and I quite like 1st on the 170's.

1st on any other TOC isn't really worth it IMO.
 

Jonfun

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On XC bacon rolls (now bacon and hash brown panini) are available to purchase whether first class or standard. The current first class complimentary offer is an egg/bacon/sausage muffin, previously it alternated between a breakfast wrap and an egg ciabatta.
 

Mag_seven

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Still prefer the old fashioned restaurant car where you take an available seat and order something from a menu.
 

Hellfire

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Do VTWC offer complimentary alcohol in First Class, and if so, when?

Trolley always comes round twice for the evening meal. Once before the food is served and again after the cheese course. Time they changed the wine offering though. Chilean wine is way ahead of the South African Parrotfish brand they have on offer. The guy on the trolley last night thought VT might have bought the vineyard because no one else would.
 

47271

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The first in Stagecoauch east coast is currently suoerb. But it will all get worse when the new trains start running. I'll enjoy it whilst I can.
That very much depends on you getting a refurbed coach. Most of the electric set First Class coaches are still untouched and are in terrible condition: grubby upholstery, busted recline mechanisms and, for me the other day, a toilet pong strong enough to make a Voyager blush.

I can't see how the new trains could be any worse than this current state of decreptitude.
 

Class90 Fan1!

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I have only been in first class on two different TOCs. EMT and VTEC. EMTs weekend service is rather poor with the buffet car shut both ways of my journey between Leicester and Nottingham and no trolley at all. I have to say the seats were nice and comfy but that's the only good point. However VTECs weekend service is way better with complimentary coffee or tea and a showering of crossiants. Later in the day they serve sandwiches and other little treats. The seats are pretty comfy especially the new refurb ones. Would totally say VTEC is the best.
 
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