First Class Food on WSMR

[ChrisTheRef]

Hi.

Got a day off tomorrow, and considering a trip on WSMR.

I've done the entire route a few times, but, considering I'll save myself £39, I was thinking of jumping off at Leamington Spa, instead of staying on to London.

Will I still get all of the food and drink if I board/alight at Leamington Spa?

Edit: Journey starts at Wrexham General

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think the 'boundaries' for food are Tame Bridge P-Leamington Spa, I think anything crossing that divide ensures food. I would ahve thought that being onboard from the origin would make you almost a dead cert to get food anyway

 

[Polarbear]

I don't think you do.

As I recall, I think you have to travel across either Leamington (southbound) or Tame Bridge Parkway (Northbound) to get the full 2 course meal in 1st.

You should still receive complementary non alcoholic drinks.

 

[Railjet]

I don't think you do.

As I recall, I think you have to travel across either Leamington (southbound) or Tame Bridge Parkway (Northbound) to get the full 2 course meal in 1st.

You should still receive complementary non alcoholic drinks.

Not what the website says.

WSMR website: If you are making a long distance journey (crossing either Leamington Spa or Tame Bridge Parkway), your steward will be delighted to offer you a two course meal with our compliments.

No direction of travel specified. I have travelled from Tame Bridge to Marylebone and got a meal both ways.

 

[TomJ93]

So Tame Bridge Parkway to Leamington would not qualify for food.
Cosford to Banbury would.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Whilst I appreciate the OP may not see my post with it being so late in the day, I can state that I was served the full Welsh breakfast as my WSMR service passed Wolverhampton southbound, with toast around 15-20 minutes before hand.

I only board that particular service at Shrewsbury, and think I could've only used it Shrewsbury to Leamington, and still enjoyed the breakfast.

The breakfast is definately the best i've had on any UK train service before!

 

[daikilo]

Whilst I appreciate the OP may not see my post with it being so late in the day, I can state that I was served the full Welsh breakfast as my WSMR service passed Wolverhampton southbound, with toast around 15-20 minutes before hand.

I only board that particular service at Shrewsbury, and think I could've only used it Shrewsbury to Leamington, and still enjoyed the breakfast.

The breakfast is definately the best i've had on any UK train service before!

Don't be ashamed. If I ever wanted to travel that journey I would probably take WSMR (and I might, from SHR). We are delighted by your experience even if you joined at SHR and not Wrexham as originally suggested and toast 15-20 minutes before the welsh plate may be a little excessive.

Did you alight at Lemington Spa?

 

[EWS 58038]

Why ask here and not on Twitter? They have a good support via Twitter, It will only take minutes before you get the answer to your question.

 

[xtradj]

it amazes me why people would upgrade to first class for a breakfast?

if you consider the cost involved it would be cheaper to go to a restauraunt!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

it amazes me why people would upgrade to first class for a breakfast?

if you consider the cost involved it would be cheaper to go to a restauraunt!

It's the whole experience. Until you've tried it, you can't really compare.

I agree, in general, first class is a rip off, but you only pay £60 more for a return First ticket as you do with Standard and, as anyone else who's done it will testify, it's worth every penny.

 

[sprinterguy]

it amazes me why people would upgrade to first class for a breakfast?

Because the WSMR Welsh breakfast is awesome!

And as a more practical consideration, in some cases there isn't time to go somewhere to get breakfast either at an origin or destination.

On the subject of Wrexham and Shropshire first class food generally (which is flippin' fantastic, by the way), I travel from Tame Bridge Parkway to Banbury periodically (as well as doing other bits of the WSMR route at other times) and I am served the full two course meal in first class despite the journey only being about an hour.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's the whole experience. Until you've tried it, you can't really compare.

I agree, in general, first class is a rip off, but you only pay £60 more for a return First ticket as you do with Standard and, as anyone else who's done it will testify, it's worth every penny.

I agree absolutely. It's all about the experience.

 

[telstarbox]

This is not just a breakfast, it's a W&S breakfast!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Precisely!!!

I used to like Virgin First Class..

I still like the atmosphere of Pendo First Class, Super Voyager slightly less so (simply down to the fewer seats, although I stragely prefer it in many ways), however the food isn't a patch on both what it used to be like and also isn't compared to what WSMR offer.

 

[barrykas]

I agree, in general, first class is a rip off, but you only pay £60 more for a return First ticket as you do with Standard and, as anyone else who's done it will testify, it's worth every penny.

Compare it to Virgin's fares and it looks even better:

Wrexham - London Off-Peak Return: £70.00 (Valid on trains scheduled to arrive into Euston before 0720 or at or after 1130, returning between 0926 and 1500 inclusive, and at or after 1845; arriving Marylebone at or after 1005, returning at any time, but not on W&S services timed to depart before 0800, or between 1600 and 1900)
Wrexham and Shropshire Super Off-Peak Return: £50.00 (Not valid on 0510 from Wrexham or 1630 from Marylebone)

Standard Anytime Return: £227.00
Wrexham and Shropshire Off-Peak Return: £60.00 (Valid by any train)

First Class Anytime Return: £348.00
Wrexham and Shropshire First Class Off-Peak Return: £120.00 (Valid by any train)

Cheers,

Barry

 

[xtradj]

i travelled first class lime st to gatwick in summer 09 and it was something stupid like £45 return, as i was travelling down to go on holiday. as a student the extra couple of quid it cost me to go first over standard was well worth it, as it was an unlimited bar. however if your travelling in peak time first class is not justifiable unless you want a guaranteed seat and some quiet

 

[merlodlliw]

i travelled first class lime st to gatwick in summer 09 and it was something stupid like £45 return, as i was travelling down to go on holiday. as a student the extra couple of quid it cost me to go first over standard was well worth it, as it was an unlimited bar. however if your travelling in peak time first class is not justifiable unless you want a guaranteed seat and some quiet

W/S quite correctly make you pay for booze,I recall this from market research they did a few years ago.

 

[strange6]

Compare it to Virgin's fares and it looks even better:

Wrexham - London Off-Peak Return: £70.00 (Valid on trains scheduled to arrive into Euston before 0720 or at or after 1130, returning between 0926 and 1500 inclusive, and at or after 1845; arriving Marylebone at or after 1005, returning at any time, but not on W&S services timed to depart before 0800, or between 1600 and 1900)
Wrexham and Shropshire Super Off-Peak Return: £50.00 (Not valid on 0510 from Wrexham or 1630 from Marylebone)

Standard Anytime Return: £227.00
Wrexham and Shropshire Off-Peak Return: £60.00 (Valid by any train)

First Class Anytime Return: £348.00
Wrexham and Shropshire First Class Off-Peak Return: £120.00 (Valid by any train)

Cheers,

Barry

Hoe can anybody justify those prices! Talk about rip-off Britain!

 

[EltonRoad]

One assumes they can justify them by virtue of the fact some will pay them. Presumably those who will claim it back on expenses. Whether mere mortals pay those fares out of their own pocket is another matter.

 

[strange6]

Yes, you're right. Big business and those that work in big business will pay those rip-off prices no doubt

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Pleased to see WSR Still offering a very good food service in First Class, do you still get a full food service now in Virgin first from Euston to the Northwest and also on Hull Trains whom I travelled with some years ago and got quite a good ploughmans included in the fare, but no wine/beer which I think they on do on Virgin? Just a shame the WSR trains don't seem to be a frequent as they were a couple of years ago. There were a pleasure to travel on, nice coaches and staff. Rgds.

 

[Butts]

W/S quite correctly make you pay for booze,I recall this from market research they did a few years ago.

This must have been strange research.....

Did they ask people if they would like free booze or pay for it and the result was the paid option ???????