Leeds to Birmingham

[badger1badger]

Hi everyone

We are planning to go to Birmingham on the 30th June

Starting Leeds - first class one way standard back - we want to use the first class lounge in Leeds and try to get inclusive drinks / food ?

Loco hauled ?

Possibly asking too much but any help would be great

Cheers

Paul

 

[ainsworth74]

You won't be able to use the first class lounge unless you're holding a ticket that is also valid on EC. So if you were on an XC advance you would not be able to use the EC lounge.

As for loco hauled the only thing you'll get on that route are XC HSTs (or EC 91s and HSTs if you travel to Wakefield/Doncaster and change there onto XC). XC HSTs travel southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening at the following times on Saturdays 0600 Leeds-Plymouth, 0632 Dundee-Plymouth, 1223 Plymouth-Glasgow, 1723 Plymouth-Leeds. Otherwise it's units only on this journey.

So I guess the first question is can you fit your travel around the HSTs or would you rather travel at other times? Secondly what times do you want to travel? Thirdly do you have any railcards? Fourthly you want to travel first class from Leeds to Birmingham and standard class return? And just to confirm this journey is for two people (you say we but you could be using the royal we )?

 

[sonic2009]

If you wanted to use the lounge at Leeds on your way out purchase a Leeds - Wakefield FDS ANY PERMITTED priced at £3.60.

 

[badger1badger]

Hi what do you mean with FDS ?

If you wanted to use the lounge at Leeds on your way out purchase a Leeds - Wakefield FDS ANY PERMITTED priced at £3.60.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

FDS - First day single iirc

 

[badger1badger]

Great response thank you

To clarify further - yes we is 2 of us and not the royal we !!

The 6.32 Dundee train sounds good possibly Leeds at 8.30 am ?

We will be travelling back with a friend so they will be traveling standard we just wanted a bit of comfort on the way down

Cheers

Paul

You won't be able to use the first class lounge unless you're holding a ticket that is also valid on EC. So if you were on an XC advance you would not be able to use the EC lounge.

As for loco hauled the only thing you'll get on that route are XC HSTs (or EC 91s and HSTs if you travel to Wakefield/Doncaster and change there onto XC). XC HSTs travel southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening at the following times on Saturdays 0600 Leeds-Plymouth, 0632 Dundee-Plymouth, 1223 Plymouth-Glasgow, 1723 Plymouth-Leeds. Otherwise it's units only on this journey.

So I guess the first question is can you fit your travel around the HSTs or would you rather travel at other times? Secondly what times do you want to travel? Thirdly do you have any railcards? Fourthly you want to travel first class from Leeds to Birmingham and standard class return? And just to confirm this journey is for two people (you say we but you could be using the royal we )?

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Great so 3.60 each for a ticket also entry to lounge - does that entitle you to drinks ?

Cheers

Paul

FDS - First day single iirc

 

[dvboy]

I'm not going to look into the specific fare details, but rather than a First single and a Standard single would it be better to get a Standard return and pay for the upgrade on the outward leg?

The 30th is a Saturday so the only difference will be in comfort.

 

[badger1badger]

Hi can you pay inboard xc trains for the upgrade -- do you take a chance on if there is a seat ?

How much Is the upgrade

Cheers

Paul

I'm not going to look into the specific fare details, but rather than a First single and a Standard single would it be better to get a Standard return and pay for the upgrade on the outward leg?

The 30th is a Saturday so the only difference will be in comfort.

 

[YorkshireRider]

The 06:32 from Dundee will not arrive into Leeds until 11:11

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Would buying

Leeds - Sheffield
Sheffield - Derby
Derby - Birmingham New Street

CDRs not work?

 

[All Line Rover]

Hi can you pay inboard xc trains for the upgrade -- do you take a chance on if there is a seat ?

How much Is the upgrade

Cheers

Paul

Hi.

A Leeds to Birmingham Weekend Upgrade is £15 per person, per journey. This is not available with Advance tickets (the ones that tie you with a specific train), so you would have to purchase flexible "Off-Peak" tickets if you want to use the Weekend Upgrade. The tickets suggested above by Tomonthetrain would qualify, as they are Off-Peak tickets. I doubt the guard would take issue with selling a single Leeds to Birmingham upgrade even though you'll be using three separate tickets. On the day of travel, the weekend upgrade can only be purchased on board the train, so it is of course subject to space being available.

To be quite honest, though, if you want minimal hassle, your best bet would be to just purchase a normal Leeds to Birmingham Off-Peak Return from the CrossCountry website, selecting a Weekend Upgrade on the outward leg only. This would guarantee you a seat in First Class and would cost £71.10 per person.

It's worth noting that the First Class offering is very limited at weekends. I've only used the Leeds First Class lounge on weekdays, so cannot comment on whether the soft drinks and biscuits are available on a Saturday. CrossCountry will serve tea/coffee/water/soft drinks and biscuits only.

 

[Simon11]

If you split your ticket, you would have to purchase a first class upgrade for each ticket.

Therefore if you wish to upgrade it would be better to purchase one off peak ticket for the whole route and get an upgrade for only £15

Additonally, You may get a better deal with first class advance products.

 

[John @ home]

If you split your ticket, you would have to purchase a first class upgrade for each ticket.

Do you have a source for this statement?

It has previously been reported here that on-train staff are happy to sell one weekend upgrade for one journey when the passenger is combining several tickets in accordance with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

 

[bb21]

If you split your ticket, you would have to purchase a first class upgrade for each ticket.

Therefore if you wish to upgrade it would be better to purchase one off peak ticket for the whole route and get an upgrade for only £15

Additonally, You may get a better deal with first class advance products.

The upgrade applies per journey, which can be made up of more than one ticket.

I have had personal experience of being sold one Weekend Upgrade supplement with a string of local tickets for one journey.