What do you want from a premium service?

[Purple Orange]

Exactly the same but drab grey seats and a manky lime green stripe along the reservation displays.

Perhaps I’d like the GWR ones too then! Although I do like the colour of TPE - if only they had an on-board shop!

 

[greyman42]

One of my votes was for 2+1 seating, but with the provision that it lined up with the windows and was of superior comfort, unlike the uncomfortable seats on the 800s.

 

[JamesT]

My main use of First Class has been the convenience of the included catering for trips to Scotland. If equivalent at seat catering was available for a fee rather than bundled it would be an interesting offer.

 

[xotGD]

None of the above.

Unless I'm on expenses. Then all of the above.

 

[busesrusuk]

If you are paying a premium fare for a journey, then if that service is disrupted I would like some thought/priority given to those who have paid a premium when it comes to arranging onward travel.

Case in point, some while ago got turfed off a Swansea train at Bristol Parkway due to closure of Severn tunnel - staff generally hopeless at considering options (bloke in charge didn't even know that First run the buses in Bristol and couldn't see why he should call them up to see if they could provide a replacement bus). After more than an hour one 49 seat coach turned up to deal with a crowd that by then was a few hundred. No attempt to prioritise passengers resulting in many p***d off passengers.

Thankfully I know my way around our transport system and extricated myself from the chaos and got myself into Bristol and caught a Nat Ex coach. Missed my evening appointments and a meal but at least I got to Swansea before it closed.

If you pay the sky high prices that are charged for First Class then some sort of priority should be given to those that have paid.

Try that kind of "customer service" on an airline and they wont come back a second time

 

[Non Multi]

Having had the misfortune of being trapped in standard for over an hour between a family with rambunctious, misbehaving children on a day out to the seaside, I will willingly pay the 1st class premium on that route to never endure that again!

 

[Purple Orange]

Having had the misfortune of being trapped in standard for over an hour between a family with rambunctious, misbehaving children on a day out to the seaside, I will willingly pay the 1st class premium on that route to never endure that again!

Careful what you wish for. Last time I was in 1st travelling back from London, I had the displeasure of having to sit near a bloke who had had a few after work, was overly loud and being very condescending to the on-board staff. 2 hours later, I was more than glad to get off the train.

 

[PauloDavesi]

2+1 seating, so the journey is more comfortable, with space to work or relax. Coffee & soft drinks would be good, but not essential.
Not bothered about alcohol or food. I'd much rather have a lower priced ticket and get the food I want before the journey.

 

[nathanclass323]

I think something similar to Prima on Italo would be good for a product positioned in between standard and first class.
https://www.italotreno.it/en/the-train

Our onboard staff is ready to welcome you with a selection of sweets, snacks, warm drinks and cold beverages.

Our reclining Frau leather seats are equipped with soft individual armrests, and they ensure a wide personal space and freedom of movement. And if you select the single-seat option, your trip can be even more comfortable. When you need to stretch your legs, the Break Area is equipped with vending machines with espresso coffee, cold drinks and snacks.

Also, a number of small utilities is available for each passenger: a power socket, a reading light control, a glove compartment placed between double seats. Plus, a free Wi-Fi connection is always available.

 

[nlogax]

The bare essentials for any premium service should be decent 2+1 seating and coffee / tea / snacks, with lounge access thrown in. Effectively what you would get on any long distance weekend service.

 

[davetheguard]

Interesting that as I write this, the largest score at over 85% is for 2 + 1 seating. I cannot understand why a company like SWR is completely ruining their first class offer by squeezing in 2 + 2 seating and getting rid of trolley service of drinks. Unless of course, they want to kill it.

To the OP I would say: great idea for a thread, thank you. But shame I can't vote for a comfortable seat!

 

[Rhydgaled]

On the few occasions I've travelled in First Class the plus points have been:

1. Seats that line up with windows
2. More space

I think these things should be available in general anyway - at least on long distances. With the population getting taller on average, the fact that cars (the main competing mode in most cases) and the need for modal shift the rail industry should really be rewarding passengers with a comfortable journey - a 'thank you for choosing rail' not 'have a hard seat and inadequate legroom maybe you'll pay extra for first next time' attitude.

I resent having to upgrade to get a seat because inadequate capacity is provided (yes, you, pre-80x TPE), it is supposed to be a free choice to upgrade to a higher quality environment.

I don't agree with the provision of First Class on overcrowded commuter services. It would be better to abolish it and have that space to allow everyone to spread out, as Chiltern mostly did years ago, and Greater Anglia now have.

I agree with the most of quoted section - standard class should be adequate and first class should be an optional 'icing on the cake'. Thus I would give everyone ample legroom (with all long distance services having the same seat pitch as on a 175/180 which I think are the best at the moment) and seats aligned with windows with the main differential between 1st and standard being 2+1 rather than 2+2 seating and possibly ratio of bays to airline. I suppose, given that it is to be expected that every other row in airline seating has the view partially blocked by a window pillar, you could have a USP in first class where the windows/pillars are actually different sizes to ensure that EVERY seat (even airline ones) has a completely unobstructed view.

Hot food is also something I think should be available to all passengers on a sufficiently busy long-distance route, but at an additional cost (ie. not included in the fare, but purchased from the buffet or other means). In first class, this should be served at your seat on proper plates; in standard take-away packaging is acceptable. Non-alcoholic drinks are the only consumables I would suggest be included in the first class fare.

For me it's primarily 2+1 seating (or more specifically the 1 side, though even the 2 side will be better than Standard as it's wider). I also voted "tea, coffee etc" because the cost of providing it is negligible (a very large number of employers provide it too).

The 2+1 thing is a bit of a conundrum; the 1 side is certainly a big improvement over standard but the 2 side not so much, and 1+1 reduces capacity and removes the possibility of family groups sitting together. Perhaps you could do aware with the idea of a 'first class carriage' altogether and have 'first class seats' instead (the '1 side' seats) with the '2 side' seats being available to standard class passengers.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 2+1 thing is a bit of a conundrum; the 1 side is certainly a big improvement over standard but the 2 side not so much, and 1+1 reduces capacity and removes the possibility of family groups sitting together. Perhaps you could do aware with the idea of a 'first class carriage' altogether and have 'first class seats' instead (the '1 side' seats) with the '2 side' seats being available to standard class passengers.

While I prefer the 1 side, the 2 side still has extra legroom, a larger table and means I'm not pushed up against the person next to me.

I suppose you could charge a bit of an uplift for reserving on the 1 side.

 

[davetheguard]

I suppose you could charge a bit of an uplift for reserving on the 1 side.

I think there's at least one premium railtour operator that does just that.

 

[Rhydgaled]

While I prefer the 1 side, the 2 side still has extra legroom, a larger table and means I'm not pushed up against the person next to me.

I suppose you could charge a bit of an uplift for reserving on the 1 side.

But if you gave standard decent legroom as I suggested in the earlier part of my post, legroom would no longer be a benefit of 1st. I suppose the seats in first would still be wider than in standard, unless you made the whole train 2+1 with the single seats being for first class ticket holders only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But if you gave standard decent legroom as I suggested in the earlier part of my post, legroom would no longer be a benefit of 1st.

It still would be. Standard gets acceptable legroom (e.g. in 80x I fit all seats despite being quite tall), but First should have luxury legroom, i.e. plenty of room for even the tallest person to stretch out.

Typically in a 23m coach that means 9 "bays" in Standard but only 8 in First.

I suppose the seats in first would still be wider than in standard, unless you made the whole train 2+1 with the single seats being for first class ticket holders only.

Indeed so, and because I'm wide too that makes a difference.

 

[DJ_K666]

All that stuff should come as standard really. Fares are high enough already and for what? Scum class service, which subsidises cheap travel across the channel. And don't get me started on First class. I'd abolish that, certainly on Commuter runs.

 

[xotGD]

Would people pay extra for 2+1 seating if they were then put in a 2 rather than a 1?

Do folk mean they'd pay extra for a single seat?

 

[py_megapixel]

Would people pay extra for 2+1 seating if they were then put in a 2 rather than a 1?

Do folk mean they'd pay extra for a single seat?

I've long thought that rather than 2+1 seats, it would make sense for first class to be sold as 2+2 but with an option to book the seat next to you as well for a nominal charge. Maximum versatility.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Would people pay extra for 2+1 seating if they were then put in a 2 rather than a 1?

Do folk mean they'd pay extra for a single seat?

Yes, I would.

I've long thought that rather than 2+1 seats, it would make sense for first class to be sold as 2+2 but with an option to book the seat next to you as well for a nominal charge. Maximum versatility.

MTR Express does that. It only really works with (thread crossover) compulsory reservations, though!

Without CR you'd just get everyone claiming they had done it.

 

[Trackman]

A nice smooth, quiet ride (This may not applicable as it might be the train as a whole).
Big seats because of my height (MK3's are a big no for me, I'd rather stand up or kneel on a seat in standard).
Tea and Coffee (must), Newspapers, Hot food. The last two I could live without I guess.
Wi-Fi - No. I just tether my iPhone to my ipad in case I want to watch the footy or something streaming.