Anytime STD class tickets in 1ST on VT?

[Urban Gateline]

Hello all, I'm sure this has been asked but longer ago and I'm not sure if anyone came to a consensus over whether the agreement still exists!

Can "Anytime" standard class tickets be used in First Class on Virgin Trains? I remember reading about such an easement but it might be well outdated now! Does/Did it apply to Weekends only?

Many thanks to anyone who can provide a response, especially if the answer is officially documented somewhere!

 

[ainsworth74]

NRE states that this is still the case see here under Virgin Trains.

 

[Urban Gateline]

NRE states that this is still the case see here under Virgin Trains.

Thank you! That's the first place I've seen it documented! I did get a positive response on Twitter from Virgin Trains within a few minutes of asking which was quite impressive too!

 

[ainsworth74]

I know a number of people have used STD Anytime tickets in First with no issue. So whilst it might not be well publicised it seems VT staff know about it.

 

[island]

I know a number of people have used STD Anytime tickets in First with no issue. So whilst it might not be well publicised it seems VT staff know about it.

We did so on a forum meet several months ago.

 

[Urban Gateline]

Glad to hear it chaps! I'll probably still check with the TM as my trip would be on a Voyager, potentially only 1 First Class coach so I guess it depends how much of that is unreserved at the time!

 

[boyaloud]

I wonder if this extends to 1st class lounges too? If so you could get into Manchester lounge for £2.10 or £1.40 with a railcard on a MAN-Stockport Virgin only anytime single ticket at weekends! It's a good deal for journeys like Manchester to Crewe and Stoke too.

 

[grid56126]

Priv second class PAID FARE (not boxes) also valid I assume then ?

 

[gordonthemoron]

does Sail Rail Standby (i.e. not Advance) count as Anytime?

 

[brompton rail]

Note that travel using Standard Anytime Single (or return) on Virgin applies only to weekends and Bank Holidays. Just saying!

 

[tony_mac]

Glad to hear it chaps! I'll probably still check with the TM

The instructions are that you should always check with the TM first. Although whenever I have done this, they seem genuinely surprised!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Priv second class PAID FARE (not boxes) also valid I assume then ?

I've only ever asked once, it was a Voyager service and my ticket was, well, it was an unusual route to say the least, but the TM seemed a bit apprehensive because there was only one first class coach (I didn't mind really, I found a seat in coach D anyway).

 

[bb21]

I wonder if this extends to 1st class lounges too? If so you could get into Manchester lounge for £2.10 or £1.40 with a railcard on a MAN-Stockport Virgin only anytime single ticket at weekends! It's a good deal for journeys like Manchester to Crewe and Stoke too.

No, it doesn't.

 

[bnm]

Does this apply to Anytime Day tickets as well? Some flows only have these for Single (SDS) journeys, with no SOS.

 

[andythebrave]

Does this apply to Anytime Day tickets as well? Some flows only have these for Single (SDS) journeys, with no SOS.

National Rail would appear to say yes.

What are Anytime tickets?
Anytime fares are fully flexible tickets, with no time restrictions on when you can travel. Perfect for people who need complete flexibility.
You can buy Anytime tickets any time before you travel and you can use your ticket to travel on any train. With an Anytime ticket you can also break your journey at stations along the route of travel.

When can I use an Anytime ticket?
Anytime Day (Single and Return) tickets must be used on the date shown on your ticket and up to 04:29 the following day.
Anytime Single must be used within 2 days of the date shown on the ticket and up until 04:29 after the last day of validity.
For Anytime Return tickets, the outward journey must be made within 5 days and up until 04:29 after the last day of validity; the return portion must be used within one calendar month and up until 04:29 after the last day of validity.
You can reserve a seat on many longer distance services and reservations are recommended on busy services.

 

[MichaelAMW]

I recently used the return half of a Beeston to Dent Anytime return between Preston and Crewe in first, and had no trouble - the old timer guard, whom I vaguely remember from BR days, simply remarked that "We're not bloody going to get much from that, are we?"!!

 

[Hazlehead]

Technically these are not valid on local tickets. It's meant for anyone holding the Anytime tickets from say Manchester to London £362. But as usual this easement thought of by marketing who have know idea what tickets actually exist.
Same thing with railcard easement aimed at students going to uni and to ease overcrowding at the time when off peak services suffered from overcrowding and less train services ran than since vhf timetable. Now majority of users are those travelling London to work.

 

[island]

The rule used to refer to Standard Open tickets (thereby excluding Standard Day tickets) but as of "simplification" it seems to have just become "anytime".

 

[boyaloud]

Well it was great on Saturday, got in Manchester, Crewe and Birmingham NS lounges all with no problems on my anytime tickets! A real bargain! Had mostly pleasant journeys in First Class (apart from 1 with some noisy middle-aged women in quiet zone!). Glad to have finally visited the Crewe lounge where I enjoyed lots of freebies, seeing the war memorial and photos of local attractions!