What About Mega-Train First Class ?

[bengolding]

My major complaint with Virgin is that they don't have any First Class Off Peak return fares on their route, in sharp contrast to XC, EMT and FGW - both have had First Saver returns for years. If I want flexibility and choose to travel First off peak, my only option is to buy the full peak First Anytime fare, which interestingly Virgin don't seem to have increased in the January fare rises. Yes, they apparently have had a long-running trial on the Liverpool-Euston route but that's no good to me.

As a result, I often get exclusivity of a First Class coach on a Pendolino to myself, as I did on a weekday Euston-Glasgow service recently. On some Virgin routes, I now use a XC priced First Off Peak return, e.g. Oxford-Edinburgh route not London £271.80 instead of £473 and I can use the faster VT from New St.

I just hope that the new West Coast franchise introduces First Off Peak fares across the network, which would certainly help to improve First loadings over the current debacle.

 

[GarethW]

Two Ciders
Three Double scotches
Two Sandwiches
Two Packets Crisps
Two Coffees
Two Packets Pretzels
Oh and a Bannana

1852 Edinburgh-Wolverhampton

and Two Alka-Seltzers no doubt

No freeebies on SWT but their Weekend First Upgrades are worth their weight in gold, especially leaving London early evening on Saturdays.

What I'd like to see is the scheme extended to weekday off-peak as well, just like in the early NSE days, First is usually totally empty then whilst standard can be pretty full, more so on the Pmth-Havnt-Waterloo line than the Pmth-Eastleigh-Waterloo.

 

[Butts]

and Two Alka-Seltzers no doubt

No freeebies on SWT but their Weekend First Upgrades are worth their weight in gold, especially leaving London early evening on Saturdays.

What I'd like to see is the scheme extended to weekday off-peak as well, just like in the early NSE days, First is usually totally empty then whilst standard can be pretty full, more so on the Pmth-Havnt-Waterloo line than the Pmth-Eastleigh-Waterloo.

Around 1997/98 I was doing some work in London and used to stay with my Mum who lived in Eastleigh.

I used a Network Card and if I remember correctly you used to get a Fare from Southampton Parkway to Waterloo at a discount plus you could upgrade to 1st class for a small extra payment. I think outward travel was restricted but you could come back anytime of day.Think it was valid on LT as well.

Despite using this 1st class Service the carriage or compartment I used was nearly always full - it was the only Smoking One in 1st Class-ah those were the days!!
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My major complaint with Virgin is that they don't have any First Class Off Peak return fares on their route, in sharp contrast to XC, EMT and FGW - both have had First Saver returns for years. If I want flexibility and choose to travel First off peak, my only option is to buy the full peak First Anytime fare, which interestingly Virgin don't seem to have increased in the January fare rises. Yes, they apparently have had a long-running trial on the Liverpool-Euston route but that's no good to me.

As a result, I often get exclusivity of a First Class coach on a Pendolino to myself, as I did on a weekday Euston-Glasgow service recently. On some Virgin routes, I now use a XC priced First Off Peak return, e.g. Oxford-Edinburgh route not London £271.80 instead of £473 and I can use the faster VT from New St.

I just hope that the new West Coast franchise introduces First Off Peak fares across the network, which would certainly help to improve First loadings over the current debacle.

Have Virgin lost the contract or is some competition afoot ?

Not suprised they have not increased the Anytime Return - you need an overdraft to buy one !!

 

[MCR247]

Rail companies are franchises, which only last for a certain amount of time. The West Coast franchise is due for renewal in a couple of years

 

[Butts]

Rail companies are franchises, which only last for a certain amount of time. The West Coast franchise is due for renewal in a couple of years

You don't think Virgin will lose it do you ?

 

[MCR247]

Probably, to be honest. Don't want them to, but trying blackmailing the DfT probably didn't win the brownie points...

 

[amcluesent]

My observations is that 1st on EC at prime time is slowly getting busier, but still nothing like the heyday when Leeds/London was chocka with management consultants billing 1st class to the NHS.

Discounted 1st on EC is definitely busy, just recently there wasn't an unoccupied seat on a Sat departure from KGX

I travel London/Glasgow often enough and have a preference for EC. 1st advance on Virgin are never less than £130, the supposed £90 is impossible to find. EC at <£100 is easy to get hold of at sensible times. Plus EC, IMHO, provides a superior service in terms of on-train comfort and staff service and the ticket price difference more than pays for a meal.

EC freebies in 1st vary by time, but you can expect tea/coffee, waters, crisps, yoghurt bars, lemon/fruit cake, shortbread, cookies

 

[Butts]

I think the problem is once you've travelled First Class especially on a TOC where you don't just get the same seat with white cloth on the headrest it becomes very hard to settle for Standard Class.

It's a bit like "turning left on a plane"

Irrational I know but a fact of life.

 

[amcluesent]

>It's a bit like "turning left on a plane"<

And like, 1st/Club flying, the access to the lounge is welcome when things are going pear shaped and you can escape from the crush and bawling wains.

 

[route:oxford]

The way it works at the moment if you are lucky enough to get a £60 ADV 1st from Edinburgh to Birmingham (1852 Mon-Thurs is best bet) the carriage is normally so empty all the steward has time to do is ply you with free food and ale

With or without steward, I rather wish that the 18:52 (or even 16:52 from Edinburgh or 17:52 from Glasgow) continued on further South to Oxford, Reading or even Hayes & Harlington.

I've read it is an eventual aspiration of Virgin WC to operate an Hybid-Voyager to Heathrow, but why not start as you mean to go on?

 

[MCR247]

Lack of trains? Lack of demand?

 

[Pumbaa]

I've read it is an eventual aspiration of Virgin WC to operate an Hybid-Voyager to Heathrow, but why not start as you mean to go on?

They never really wanted to do it, they were just desperate to get an extension of their franchise while they've got it easy going. They are raking it in and have been for the last 4 years. Getting an extension without a change in franchise terms would be heaven for them.

Throwing that stick at DfT was just a stick. Because they didn't get the extension, its been obliterated under the carpet already.

 

[wibble]

What I'd wish for is weekend first on train upgrades as I only use 1st if I cannot find a seat in standard.

EMT offer a weekend first upgrade on megatrain but SWT and Virgin don't.
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Does anyone think a logical extension to the Mega-Train "modus operandi" would be to extend the availablility to 1st Class.

I don't think this will happen, especially given the variations in First Class service offered by SWT, EMT and Virgin Trains. Although this would fill empty seats, the cost of providing the complimentary drinks etc. would be a loss to the TOC.

Megatrain was set up as a very simple product - from getting people from A to B at the lowest possible price. When you start to throw in a second class of travel, it starts to make things a little more complicated.

 

[Flamingo]

The thing nobody mentions about the off-peak trains where first class is empty is that Standard Class has got plenty of space available in it as well.

Which is the first thing I point out to STD class ticket holders who say "It's quiet and we need a table, we want to stay here".

First Class is a premium product. If you want to travel in it, you have to be prepared to pay for it. If it's not that much different (the other whinge I hear), then you won't mind moving to what you paid for.

 

[Pumbaa]

EMT offer a weekend first upgrade on megatrain but SWT and Virgin don't.
.

Really? I can't remember how many times I've upgraded on a megatrain ticket with VT!