I'll be travelling from East Croydon up to London Victoria/London Bridge for a week at the beginning of January during rush hour. Since I rarely travel during rush hour I was thinking if it be worth getting a 1st class 7 day travelcard so I can get a seat?
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Not sure whether to go 1st class
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There is quite a difference in price (£47.60 Std, £71.40 1st) and it wouldn't guarantee a seat. Perhaps someone local to the area can advise. It's a fairly quick journey and 1st class seating is a bit rubbish on those trains so I am unsure it's worth it.
Helvellyn
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If you don't get a seat you can apply for a refund (difference between First Class single and Standard Class single) on each journey that happens.
How would I apply for a refund?
ChrisTheRef
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Why would you get a refund? If the first class carriage is full?
Does that entitle me to a refund on LUL everytime I can't sit down?
Does that entitle me to a refund on LUL everytime I can't sit down?
moonrakerz
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Not sure that applies across the board.
"Unless you have a seat reservation, the Train Companies do not guarantee to provide a seat for your journey" (NRCoC)
However some ToCs do offer some sort of compensation for First Class ticket holders who cannot get a seat.
You would need to plough through Southern's Ts & Cs to see what they offer.
FGW say this:- "If you hold a First Class ticket for a high speed service and have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one stop where this is longer than 20 minutes), we will refund you in National Rail vouchers the difference between the cost of your First Class ticket for the affected leg of your journey and the corresponding Standard Class ticket. To claim your refund, you must contact a member of the on-board staff at the time of travel for verification, then make your claim by contacting our Customer Services Team."
If it was me I wouldn't bother. Southern's first class accommodation is a very small number of seats at the end of the carriage. Whenever I have seen them I have wondered why anyone would want to travel first class. You get a little bit more room and an antimacassar and that's about it. I've never travelled at rush hour but can imagine you would have difficulty getting a first class seat from East Croydon on any incoming service at those times as I have seen how crowded they are coming through Clapham Junction. Unless you need a seat I would grin and bear it, travel second class and ensure I got one of the fast trains that cover those routes then it's less than twenty mnutes' standing. And there's always a chance you might get a second class seat.
Failed Unit
Established Member
Yep they are exactly the same seats as standard, they don't have any freebies so unless you are confident that you won't get a seat in standard I wouldn't bother. South Easterns Electrostars are the same in the sense it isn't real first class, unlike say FCC when you get better seats.
Broadly speaking up to town Southerns services will be standing room only in the morning peak from around Horsham/Hove/Haywards Heath. 1st class will be full from Three bridges/Haywards heath.
However many people change at East croydon so if you are quick you can still get a seat in either class but expect to stand at least some days.
Thameslink are certainly standing East Croydon to london bridge when they are running.
I think 1st class is only worth it if you are commuting in from Three Bridges or further out to be honest.
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