First Class-Stafford to Scarborough (Weekend)

[Masbroughlad]

Other half and I booked First Class - Stafford to Manchester (XC), Manchester to Scarborough (TPE). Out on a Saturday, return Sunday.

What drinks/refreshments will we get on both legs? Just wondering whether to buy coffee and bacon sarnie to take on board?!

Any info gratefully received.

 

[1E05]

On the XC Stafford - Manchester id very much doubt you'll be provided with anything since it's such a short distance. Not too sure about the TPE bit though.

 

[Crossover]

TPE don't have catering on the weekend services on Leeds route if I remember correctly

 

[BantamMenace]

I regularly travel leeds to stafford first class exactly the same route, both legs are usually exactly an hour to the minute. On TPE ive had a drink and pain au chocolate/muffin maybe 1 in 10 journeys and on XC i always get a choice of tea, coffee, coke, water, etc near on everytime. XC out of manchester are a joy to travel with. As soon as you board the first class attendant will check your ticket and then i believe they prioritise service to those alighting first (people only going as far as stoke normally get a drink and a muffin or crisps). On a couple of occasions ive had my drink refilled in the hour as well.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Does that apply at weekends though Robbo?

 

[jimm]

At weekends there is no first class host on XC, you will usually have to wait until the trolley person has got through standard before you get offered anything - unless the train manager takes pity, which has happened now and again when there were just a couple of us in first. In any case, all you get will be tea/coffee/water and biscuits.

 

[BantamMenace]

I'm pretty sure there is a first class host on Saturdays, maybe not Sundays though. My most frequent day of travel for this route is a saturday.

 

[34D]

TPE don't have catering on the weekend services on Leeds route if I remember correctly

This is incorrect. Some services (not many) do have provision on a Saturday.

 

[jimm]

I'm pretty sure there is a first class host on Saturdays, maybe not Sundays though. My most frequent day of travel for this route is a saturday.

I'm 100 per cent sure there isn't a host between Manchester and Stafford, because Leamington-Manchester is about the only XC route I ever travel first class on, and usually on Saturdays. There is a host on weekdays because first class gets a far wider range of complimentary items then, as most passengers are paying full fares, whereas at the weekend most are paying an extra tenner for a weekend first or have heavily discounted advance tickets. Why on earth would you bother providing an expensive member of staff to serve tea, biscuits and crisps for a couple of dozen passengers who probably aren't even paying enough to cover their wages?

 

[yorkie]

This is incorrect. Some services (not many) do have provision on a Saturday.

But I've never seen one on a Saturday train I've caught, so they must be very rare indeed!

 

[Jonfun]

I'm pretty sure there is a first class host on Saturdays, maybe not Sundays though. My most frequent day of travel for this route is a saturday.

XC First Class Hosts don't work weekends. If you've seen someone around on a Saturday, it'll either be an assisting Retail Service Manager (travelling between duties) who's helping out by looking after First, or, if the Train Manager's not busy - and gets on well with the RSM - then they'll sometimes help out too.

 

[Crossover]

But I've never seen one on a Saturday train I've caught, so they must be very rare indeed!

Indeed! The only time I saw a trolley on a Saturday was on that Edinburgh - Manchester via Newcastle diversion last year, and I remarked at the time that "it'll be the only time a trolley goes past you at 8pm passing Dewsbury!"

 

[Masbroughlad]

We got a cup of weak coffee (not the Starbucks standard you pay for) and a piece of cake (prepacked, processed type) on XC to Manchester and that seemed begrudgingly!

TPE from Manchester to Scarborough-nothing at all. Not even a trolley in sight. A coffee would have been good on the 2.5 hour journey.

See what we get on the way home today. I am guessing at not a lot!

 

[Crossover]

Very much doubt you'll get anything on TPE at all so take some supplies! As an aside hope you're enjoying Scarborough

 

[Masbroughlad]

Scarborough was fab, thanks Crossover. Love it. Beaches, speedboats, excellent seafood, a few bevvies, slot machines and a model railway shop to boot...a great resort!

(Seafood lovers - Cafe Fish is a true hidden gem)

Back to the point....

I see the only advantage of weekend first class is to get a seat. TPE and XC still hideously overcrowded.....

We need to get back to the times of everyone getting a seat, decent catering for all passengers and first class being first class at weekends.....

 

[Crossover]

Scarborough was fab, thanks Crossover. Love it. Beaches, speedboats, excellent seafood, a few bevvies, slot machines and a model railway shop to boot...a great resort!

(Seafood lovers - Cafe Fish is a true hidden gem)

Back to the point....

I see the only advantage of weekend first class is to get a seat. TPE and XC still hideously overcrowded.....

We need to get back to the times of everyone getting a seat, decent catering for all passengers and first class being first class at weekends.....

Oooo, where is the model railway shop? Don't think I have come across that one. Don't forget the North Bay Railway too - lovely little railway

I can only also endorse your comment about Cafe Fish - most definitely a hidden gem! Great staff too - I guess you would have been served at some point by William (you'll know if you have ) and probably Angelika too

I would agree that it has the advantage of getting a seat (provided it doesn't get invaded by standard pax as I saw on a Newcastle service yesterday!) but aside from the main IC TOC's, you're lucky to get much more