I am contemplating doing an ALR Rover soon when the evenings get lighter in April . I am a new user of a senior railcard ( that gives my age away) and am wondering about doing a First Class ALR .I know from experience, using the WCML to / from Preston , having used a advance First Class ticket from London that Virgin do offer food, free coffee, and alcohol (within limits). What do other TOCS offer for First Class? I assume Virgin East Coast also do food coffee etc.
TPE just seem to offer better seating with no add-ons. I would appreciate info on the southern based TOCS such as FGW, South West trains, Cross Country.
Also tempted to do the sleeper up to Inverness/ Fort William as it picks up in Preston. So what do Scotrail offer in First Class ?
Complimentary Food Offering:
VTEC
VTWC
ATW Premier Service- one return journey from Holyhead to Cardiff. Only those two services per day have such a chef-cooked offering.
EMT- specific trains to London in the morning have a very nice complimentary breakfast- see their website.
Better Seat, plus tea/coffee/water/juice and snacks:
TPE
EMT (apart from aforementioned breakfast trains)
Scotrail
GWR HST services (some services have Pullmann dining which is a proper dining car with very good food but is at a surcharge and isn't cheap.
XC- additionally it does have a small onboard catering offering for long distance services, and they are trialling full meals on certain trains. See website for more details.
Grand Central
Hull trains
Better Seat Only:
London Midland
Gatwick Express
Chiltern- I believe they have a chargeable espresso bar onboard
As for the sleeper, it is no longer run by Scotrail. 1st class gets you a private berth rather than the possibility of sharing one, access to a station 1st class lounge with complimentary refreshments and showers. The train also has a lounge car with a chargeable bar and food service.
Those are my experiences on the above operators, if I haven't mentioned them, then I haven't travelled on that TOC so can't comment.
In my trip report thread you will find more details of some the above 1st class offerings, plus photo's:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=108357