Corby to Derby EMT service

[ScottMathew]

Does anybody know if the 09:30 weekday service from Corby to Derby, worked by a Class 222 Meridian, has the First Class breakfast available? The timetable says there is not even a trolley service on that train; I did the journey a few weeks back and cannot remember if there was or not, so can't say if it's wrong or not.
Thinking about doing it again but in FC. I don't want to travel potentially in FC if I'm not going to get offered a proper FC service!

 

[SteamPower]

There is no Rail Gourmet trolley or First Class Host provided on this service.

 

[ScottMathew]

That's rubbish then, I'm not doing it.

 

[pjnathanail]

I did in FC from East Mids Parkway (having been mis-sold a very expensive and unnecessary ticket that I really didn't need ) and got absolutely nothing.

According to NRE I believe this service is declassified although the conductor did ask for a FC ticket when I used it, but I received nothing in the way of goodies let alone a breakfast!

 

[grid56126]

I did this train a few weeks back and by use of the magical resources available to us all (timetables / Internet) I was fully aware the train had no catering. Now I like my food and sometimes more so than others but despite this I decided to take my life into my own hands and risked starvation and dehydration by still catching the train anyway. When I got to Nottingham a few hours later I was fortunate to find a Pumpkin offering a life saving tea but I foolishly went forward on a class 158 to Sheffield, another to Huddersfield and a 155 to Bradford. None of these had buffets or first class complimentary drinks. How on earth I survived that journey is beyond me.

Sorry, but not doing a train because it has no freebies - PLEASE !

 

[ScottMathew]

pjnathanail, that is ridiculous. You may as well just buy a Standard ticket and be able to sit in FC, if buying a FC ticket isn't going to get you anything different from Standard other than what part of the train you sit in.

Did you do the 09:30 Corby to Derby train or the 16:35 Derby to St Pancras train via Oakham, Melton and Corby?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
grid56126 - nobody is here is saying they wouldn't do a train because there is no freebies. That is a stupid thing to say, and how on earth could any such person making such a statement call themselves a rail enthusiast?

The issue raised here (which you've missed) is that we won't travel First Class on this service. Not that we won't travel on it at all. I have only ever travelled in FC once in my entire life so far, and very rarely get anything to eat when I am on a train. It doesn't bother me. I go on trains because I love trains, not because I expect "freebies" from them.

The issue being discussed here is First Class travel not travel in general.

 

[pjnathanail]

pjnathanail, that is ridiculous. You may as well just buy a Standard ticket and be able to sit in FC, if buying a FC ticket isn't going to get you anything different from Standard other than what part of the train you sit in.

Did you do the 09:30 Corby to Derby train or the 16:35 Derby to St Pancras train via Oakham, Melton and Corby?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
grid56126 - nobody is here is saying they wouldn't do a train because there is no freebies. That is a stupid thing to say, and how on earth could any such person making such a statement call themselves a rail enthusiast?
The issue raised here (which you've missed) is that we won't travel First Class on this service. Not that we won't travel on it at all.

Quite-I still travelled on the train (0930 but from EMD to DBY not from Corby), although only because it was the only train that worked for my itinerary, not to travel over the strange route-I discovered it by accident!) As I had an FC ticket for a longer journey I expected a comparable service to other EM trains on the same day. What is ridiculous, the lack of service? I assume this is the reason for the declassification although this is not shown in the timetable and the conductor didn't seem to realise.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I did this train a few weeks back and by use of the magical resources available to us all (timetables / Internet) I was fully aware the train had no catering. Now I like my food and sometimes more so than others but despite this I decided to take my life into my own hands and risked starvation and dehydration by still catching the train anyway. When I got to Nottingham a few hours later I was fortunate to find a Pumpkin offering a life saving tea but I foolishly went forward on a class 158 to Sheffield, another to Huddersfield and a 155 to Bradford. None of these had buffets or first class complimentary drinks. How on earth I survived that journey is beyond me.

Sorry, but not doing a train because it has no freebies - PLEASE !

See above response, but just to clarify the ticket was not unnecessary due to the lack of FC service but because the ticket I already had was valid for my journey and the ticket office didn't realise this.

 

[ScottMathew]

pjnathanail, Yes the lack of service. Well not the lack of service in itself, but the fact that somebody could unknowingly buy a FC ticket for the train thinking they will get the FC service and all they have actually paid extra for is to sit in a different part of the train...and that's it. EMT should take the FC option for tickets for this train off of their website.

 

[pjnathanail]

pjnathanail, Yes the lack of service. Well not the lack of service in itself, but the fact that somebody could unknowingly buy a FC ticket for the train thinking they will get the FC service and all they have actually paid extra for is to sit in a different part of the train...and that's it. EMT should take the FC option for tickets for this train off of their website.

I agree, especially as their own booking office at EMD sold me an FC ticket for this train, knowing full well what I would get!

 

[PHILIPE]

Hardly expect catering for a comparatively short distance. It is little miore than a local service.

 

[pjnathanail]

Hardly expect catering for a comparatively short distance. It is little miore than a local service.

It is run with a 222 though and shown in their flagship London timetable
I believe it is just a positioning move

 

[grid56126]

Thanks for the PM (you will remain anonymous). Just so you are aware I NEVER respond to PM's when they are sent to me to discuss an ongoing forum thread. I will never ever send a PM to anyone to discuss anything I wouldn't in the thread, publicly. So, if you want to have a natter with me generally, fine, but if you want to call me a bully then have the bottle to do so on the forum.



So moving on and replying to the thread and not the PM

Yes my comments are sarcastic, yes they are arrogant, but I stand by my statement. If anyone does not wish to travel on a train simply because there are no freebies, then I find that an unusual life choice to make. If you did it in Standard class instead then I suppose that's a choice for you, for me the whole point of doing first class is the room, the ambience, fellow travellers and if there's a cuppa thrown in, hey ho I will accept it.

To suggest that the EMT staff should not sell a ticket on this train as a free cuppa is not on offer is quite frankly alarming. You can find the information for yourself, you are on the internet now, you probably have a higher level of access than the staff do in their office. Did you specifically say that you wanted to get a free cup of tea? Do you seriously expect every ticket office in the UK to check if there is a complimentary service available for the leg of the journey you are booking ? Not sure I have seen that particular requirement written in any T&Cs - not sure any online services offer that level of advice either.

PS and this is genuine advice. The lady who sells tea in the shop on the station has no understanding of how to make tea, it was vile.

Just what I deserve I suppose!

Grid

 

[Darandio]

The issue being discussed here is First Class travel not travel in general.

And the issue seems to be frankly ridiculous.

If you bought a first class ticket and then sit in first class, you are getting "first class travel".

You may as well just buy a Standard ticket and be able to sit in FC, if buying a FC ticket isn't going to get you anything different from Standard other than what part of the train you sit in.

Nonsense

all they have actually paid extra for is to sit in a different part of the train

9 times out of 10, that is the whole point in buying a first class ticket.

 

[Kettledrum]

And the issue seems to be frankly ridiculous.

If you bought a first class ticket and then sit in first class, you are getting "first class travel".

..... but on some routes you're not getting a First Class service and there is no rational reason for paying more and going first class because the first class offering is so poor.

 

[grid56126]

..... but on some routes you're not getting a First Class service and there is no rational reason for paying more and going first class because the first class offering is so poor.

Absolutely, so if you are the sort of person who worries about such things then you check before you buy and take up your right to pay the cheaper fare in Standard and buy you grub from Greggs (or where ever).

I have travelled on the Up and Down versions of this service and had a coach to myself both times THROUGHOUT. I wouldn't pay for first class either, but not because I couldn't get a cuppa.

 

[Bedpan]

..... but on some routes you're not getting a First Class service and there is no rational reason for paying more and going first class because the first class offering is so poor.

Well, if you don't want to sit in first class, don't and if you do, buy a first class ticket and do.

I'd never buy a first class ticket from Harpenden to Brighton for instance, but I can understand that some people might want to and I wouldn't criticise them for doing so.

 

[47513 Severn]

I believe this is why the operators that provide food and drink in first class are always careful to describe them as 'complimentary' offerings ie. not actually a part of the fare. That way if the extras are not provided for whatever reason, planned or unplanned, there is no liability in regard to what the customer has paid for.

NRE is showing that train as having first and standard seating when I look it up. Perhaps if it didn't we could kick off the old favourite about first being automatically declassified if it isn't advertised. For what it's worth I disagree with that viewpoint and I've never been able to find anything in the NRCOC to support it.

47513