Virgin Trains first class

[P156KWJ]

Basically, I'm booked on the 1010 Birmingham New Street - Esuston pendolino service on Tuesday 23rd December, and the 1623 London Euston-Birmingham New Street back again, both advertised in the timetable as being meal services (complimentary). After what Mark (Ascot) said, I'm slightly worried that after all this, there's no first class service on the 23rd December, is this true? Considering that child rate I paid £41 return, I wouldn't be very happy if this was true as it is advertised on their website and printed press.
Can someone shed some light on this?

 

[devon_metro]

Cross Country still run a food service on the 23rd so can't see why Virmin wouldn't.

 

[P156KWJ]

I'd hope so, if not I'd be expecting lower prices

 

[Ascot]

Best bet is to pick up a leaflet and have a look as they always do a "Holiday Alterations style" leaflet and tell what restrictions and what not on. If you can get a weekend first then don't expect a meal.

 

[P156KWJ]

Well according to the calendar, the 23rd is not a public holiday so I assume you can't get WF upgrade

 

[Ascot]

Neither is the 27th but there's no Saver restrictions.

 

[rail-britain]

Virgin Trains shows that Tuesday 23 is a normal service
http://nrekb.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/Christmas_2008/virgin.html
http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/img/timetables/200812/Virgin_Trains_A.pdf

The 10:10 Birmingham - London is the last service on which primo is served
If you are in any doubt, contact VT by email and they will confirm if the normal kitchen service is available

£41 seems quite expensive for a child 1st advance return, considering Crewe - Euston is £39 full fare 1st advance return

However, the breakfast was well worth the extra £8

 

[P156KWJ]

Thanks, as I said in the christmas bash thread, I've dropped em an email, so hopefully I'll get a reply soon

 

[Coradia]

Just looking at the new timetable there are some interesting changes to the catering stuff there. Looks like VT have done away with specialised peak morning menu and added evening one to London bound trains. Breakfast is definitely worth the extra for .

 

[Pumbaa]

Oh good - they've added Primo meals to Up services in the evening? That's always been my only criticism of VT FC; Primo was only available on down services, which I was never on!

 

[First class]

The £41 fare quoted doesn't exist for a Child in 1st class, advance or not.

BFO - ADVANCE 1ST VWC
00474 - VIRGIN TRNS ONLY

1 Child @£ 44.75 = £ 44.75
__________
£ 44.75

First Class Single

or

FAS - ADVANCE 1ST VWC
00474 - VIRGIN TRNS ONLY

1 Child @£ 20.50 = £ 20.50
__________
£ 20.50

First Class Single

are the advance fares for Virgin 1st class- not one £41 fare at all. would check your tickets.

As for 1st class- that service is known for running out of a lot of supplies, as it has done several runs as a Primo service, (i would assume 2 before this one). It isn't stocked up as the stuff is supposedly fresh and 'subject to availability'.

As a child in 1st class you may find you were better off getting a CDR for £11.50 or a SVR for £19.50 which is valid and buying food on board.

 

[P156KWJ]

are you just pedantic? £41 return - i.e. 2x Adavnce tickets :roll:

 

[voyagerdude220]

Oh good - they've added Primo meals to Up services in the evening? That's always been my only criticism of VT FC; Primo was only available on down services, which I was never on!

Nope, Pendolino Primo is being dropped at the start of the timetable change, with the far simple hot evening food option being available, as per the FC menus before Pendolino Primo was invented/introduced.

This is because Virgin Trains will require alot more flexibility, with sets stepped up alot more often during the VHF timetable, because of the far shorter turn-around times at terminous stations, consquently meaning that the same FC offer needs to be loaded onto every Pendo, for ease, and simplicity.

 

[richa2002]

So will the standard of service drop?

 

[Pumbaa]

Gotcha - makes me happy eitherway!

 

[voyagerdude220]

So will the standard of service drop?

If you use a service within the time frame which used house Primo services, i assume it will drop.

However, I think it will definately improve on all other routes, especially to/from the West Midlands, which didn't used to offer any speciality hot snacks what so ever during the evening.

And of course, the southbound Pendolino trains into Euston, and also some Super Voyagers into Euston, as previously stated in this thread, will gain hot food.

 

[dan_atki]

As a child in 1st class you may find you were better off getting a CDR for £11.50 or a SVR for £19.50 which is valid and buying food on board.

Just to point out that the £11.50 CDR is route London Midland only though so is not valid on Virgin services. The Any Permitted SVR is also £19.75, with the London Midland only at £13.50.

 

[martyn29]

does anyone know of any cheap first class advance tickets on virgin I dont mind where to (i am based at leicester with an EMT pass) I want to sample their wares lol!

 

[87015]

So will the standard of service drop?

Hmm, can you turn a Glasgow-Euston into a Euston-Liverpool on a booked 11 minute turnaround and do everything you usually would?
Whats that, no food on the next working due to late inward stock...?

 

[Coradia]

does anyone know of any cheap first class advance tickets on virgin I dont mind where to (i am based at leicester with an EMT pass) I want to sample their wares lol!

Nuneaton-Manchester £28 FC on the 11:00 (found for 12th Dec)
Nuneaton-Liverpool £28 FC on the 11:20 (same date)

These were the cheapest I could find, Nun not being that far from Leicester either.

 

[AlexS]

Stethompson90 - please stop posting ticket jibber

You might have downloaded the Avantix traveller thing but this is at least the second time in a row you've told someone to buy a London Midland only Saver to travel on a Virgin service.

I'm sure you're only trying to be helpful but when you land someone with a £100 plus bill for an SO ticket I'm sure they probably won't have you in a benevolent position in their minds.

 

[martyn29]

Nuneaton-Manchester £28 FC on the 11:00 (found for 12th Dec)
Nuneaton-Liverpool £28 FC on the 11:20 (same date)

These were the cheapest I could find, Nun not being that far from Leicester either.

thanks matey!!!!!!

 

[dan_atki]

Thread tidied - the £11.50 CDR mentioned as 'valid' in the last sentence of the post is a London Midland Only ticket NOT valid on Virgin services as I've already stated above.

As a child in 1st class you may find you were better off getting a CDR for £11.50 or a SVR for £19.50 which is valid and buying food on board.

Even in Avantix, the header of the column for that range of tickets says route 'LDN MIDLAND ONLY' (valid only on London Midland) - other available routes are
'HIGH WYCOMBE' (valid only via High Wycombe),
'ANY PERMITTED' (valid by any permitted route as in the routeing guide),
'VIRGIN TRNS ONLY' (valid only on Virgin),
'VWC & CONNECTNS' (valid on Virgin and any necessary connecting service - in this case no connections are necessary), and
'AP LDN MID ONLY' (valid only on London Midland).

 

[Pumbaa]

Hmm, can you turn a Glasgow-Euston into a Euston-Liverpool on a booked 11 minute turnaround and do everything you usually would?
Whats that, no food on the next working due to late inward stock...?

WHAT? That's freaking ridiculous. I have no idea how much recovery is now booked into VHF, but the Anglo-Scottish trains are usually a few minutes late anyway, as something is bound to happen, just because of the length of the route. Whether its a late service across the roads at Preston or Lancaster, or a late SPT coming out of/into Glasgow!

11 mins is crazy! is the info regarding timetabling patterns available in public yet?

 

[rail-britain]

From what I can see from the diagrams Glasgow - Euston services have more than 11 minutes turnaround on arrival
The on-board crews are quite efficient anyway, a Glasgow - Euston service is typically loaded at Glasgow Central, topped up at Preston
Rather than off-loading everything at London Euston it is easier to top-up again, and off-load only the trollies with dirty items
This shouldn't take more than 10 minutes

 

[P156KWJ]

emailed Virgin Trains and they confirmed business as usual