Cross country 1st class

[ValleyLines142]

The trolley doesn't vent to First Class anyway - it's done seperately (often by the same person operating the trolley).

So I'd have to go and find it and show them my ticket? Or do they stop serving by the time it leaves Parkway?

 

[dk1]

I'm doing First Class from Peterborough-Cambridge in a few months. It's only a fifty minute journey. Will there be any tea/coffee or food available?

The earlier reply is sadly correct. Catering is provided only between Peterborough/Birmingham. Certain trains where covered Eastbound to Stansted but where dis-continued during 2011. I do hear that the current set up is reliable though.

On the South West front i feel the non-availability of catering Plymouth-Penzance is very poor indeed. As i have stated before, on morning services from Cornwall which are very well loaded the trolley boards Plymouth & is so popular due to many already being onboard 2hrs & it can be Taunton before it finally arrives.

 

[SeanG]

I never travel 1st class but managed to find some £12 singles from NCL-EDB and back for June. Its around breakfast going, and tea coming back, so the complimentary food justifies the extra ticket price

 

[Goatboy]

So I'd have to go and find it and show them my ticket? Or do they stop serving by the time it leaves Parkway?

No, they come back through with the trolley, confusingly try and sell you things from it, put it away, come back through into First with comp items, then go and take the trolley back through Standard again.

 

[Hellfire]

On the South West front i feel the non-availability of catering Plymouth-Penzance is very poor indeed. As i have stated before, on morning services from Cornwall which are very well loaded the trolley boards Plymouth & is so popular due to many already being onboard 2hrs & it can be Taunton before it finally arrives.

The failure to provide adequate catering between Plymouth and Penzance goes back years, well before privatisation. I regularly travelled on the BR Golden Hind so called Pullman service. Services used to take the best part of two hours between Penzance & Plymouth and all that was offered in 1st was orange juice and tea. Breakfast never appeared until Newton Abbot. Same on the reverse trip where the catering staff all got off at Plymouth so another two hours with no refreshments at all.

 

[ValleyLines142]

No, they come back through with the trolley, confusingly try and sell you things from it, put it away, come back through into First with comp items, then go and take the trolley back through Standard again.

Ah, I see. Next time I do the journey I'll see if I can get a free coffee!

 

[Butts]

The problem with XC catering is also apparent at the other end of the country...ie nothing after Edinburgh travelling Northwards.

 

[GearJammer]

I've only ever traveled in first class once, it was on a FGW HST on the Reading diverts to Waterloo, never had any free extras or anything but the big leather seats were so comfortable that if i ever have to do a long distance trip on FGW i will now seriously consider booking first class.

 

[jimm]

I've only ever traveled in first class once, it was on a FGW HST on the Reading diverts to Waterloo, never had any free extras or anything but the big leather seats were so comfortable that if i ever have to do a long distance trip on FGW i will now seriously consider booking first class.

The diversions were at weekends/bank holidays when there is no at-seat service in FGW first class, so you have to go to the buffet and show your ticket, then they will give you free drinks and snacks. This should be announced by the buffet steward.

 

[323235]

Astonishingly the train manager only asked him to turn it down a bit rather than off!

Unless its a First Class Quiet Coach then it is technically permitted to use mobiles and listen to music as long as it isn't causing excessive annoyance as in a normal Standard Class carriage, although frowned upon by other passengers.

 

[Goatboy]

Unless its a First Class Quiet Coach then it is technically permitted to use mobiles and listen to music as long as it isn't causing excessive annoyance as in a normal Standard Class carriage, although frowned upon by other passengers.

I can't see how it's ever not an annoyance to listen to music through speakers in a public place.

 

[TEW]

The failure to provide adequate catering between Plymouth and Penzance goes back years, well before privatisation. I regularly travelled on the BR Golden Hind so called Pullman service. Services used to take the best part of two hours between Penzance & Plymouth and all that was offered in 1st was orange juice and tea. Breakfast never appeared until Newton Abbot. Same on the reverse trip where the catering staff all got off at Plymouth so another two hours with no refreshments at all.

FGW have a buffet on all services in Cornwall and have now started to offer at seat refreshments between Plymouth and Penzance on certain daytime services, previously there was never an at seat service in Cornwall. The chefs for the Travelling Chef and Pullman service don't board until Plymouth though so and freshly prepared option won't be available until then. Virgin provided a shop through Cornwall, but XC stopped it soon after they took over the franchise.