1st class on TER Belfort - Paris Est, worth it?

[lightning76]

Hi all

I'm after some information regarding 1st class on the above route, specifically the 1311 departure from Belfort Ville. Is it worth the extra cost compared to 2nd class?

For me this would mean either 2+1 seating as opposed to 2+2, or the seats aligning with windows better than in 2nd.

Having wasted money on a Luxembourg to Liege journey last year, where the two were just the same except 2nd class aligned with the windows whereas 1st class didn't, I'm keen not to repeat the same mistake!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[signed]

First class on TER is usually in 2-1 config and with roomier seat, and it's usually very expensive.

I have no experience of that region in particular but I would just pass

 

[lightning76]

First class on TER is usually in 2-1 config and with roomier seat, and it's usually very expensive.

I have no experience of that region in particular but I would just pass

Thanks for the reply. It is a good bit more expensive. I'll put that down as 1-0 to second!

 

[rvdborgt]

According to the SNCF website, it's a Coradia Liner, aka Régiolis. I've seen in other regions that these units used for TERs either don't have 1st class or have 2+2 config. I'm not sure what they have in Grand Est but it's not necessarily 2+1.

 

[SHD]

Coradia Liners have more upscale interior fittings than Regiolis trainsets (and a slightly different nose, for that matter) with 2+1 seating in 1st class. This page has pictures of the interior: https://spirit-track.overblog.com/2017/03/travail-mon-1er-train-en-coradia-liner.html

I personally find these seats (reminiscent of TGV Duplex seats), to be very comfortable, and the Regiolis / Coradia Liner has scores high on dynamic comfort, with a smooth ride. However, seat-to-window alignment is hardly perfect, as is unfortunately typical on French trains.

 

[lightning76]

Thanks all for the info.

 

[peteb]

I've travelled first class on these trains. Whilst your seat may align with a window there's a strange staggered arrangement which could set your seat away from the window with a gap between it and the window for luggage etc. The same configuration exists on some executive first class seats on other European trains and on some airlines. Presumably they assume paying that much you'll not be wanting to merely gaze out of the window but work during the journey. Apparently setting the seat away from the window can help reduce glare on a laptop screen..........

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Feb 2025 ==

However this was on an Intercities between Lyon and Nevers, having just looked at various TER interior photos it seems that the 2+1 seats are more conventionally set out on the Belfort-Paris route.