IceAgeComing
Member
- Joined
- 31 Jul 2018
- Messages
- 74
It doesn’t help that the CIS on the front section still states that this is reserved for 1st class ticket holders - even when the train doesn’t advertise first in the timetable.
Same goes for the Rainham Thameslink trains which I'm 99% sure are entirely declassified - at least last time I looked the only trains with First Class on the line from London Bridge to Dartford via Greenwich is like one random Southeastern train on a Saturday morning going into London - which you can't even buy a first class ticket for. Not great but generally its a nice secret to have not be a very known one - although a lot of people sit or stand there anyway so it doesn't really help during the peaks!
My rule for first class is that when its like that Southern thing where its the same as standard class (the old Scotrail first class that they had used to be similar; I've not had a chance to have a look on the 385s or the HSTs so that might have changed) then I'd never pay the premium unless it was like £1.50 extra on an advance ticket without reservations or something - I paid First Class on Waterloo-Portsmouth for that much extra and felt that it was entirely worth the small premium: nicer seat, was segregated off with a door and it was very quiet and I had a nice journey. It was a train that they've done up though and on the non-refurbished ones I don't think that its quite as big an upgrade. Wouldn't pay the walk-up premium for it though; far too much more! Its something that I always look up the prices for when I book trips since if the premium is very little or even non-existent (had first class come up as cheaper than standard before!) then even in a situation where its not much of an upgrade its worthwhile, just in case.