London to Maidstone - 1ST or STD?

[OLJR]

I am going to travel from London to Maidstone. Does 1ST on this route have a separate carriage, a separate compartment or is it just one of those ends of the carriage without even a door? If the latter I will travel STD but otherwise might pay for 1ST.

Can anybody highlight a picture of what is on offer?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[hexagon789]

I am going to travel from London to Maidstone. Does 1ST on this route have a separate carriage, a separate compartment or is it just one of those ends of the carriage without even a door? If the latter I will travel STD but otherwise might pay for 1ST.

Can anybody highlight a picture of what is on offer?

Many thanks in advance.

I believe these services are operated by Class 375s, these used to have First Class sections in each end car (12 + 12 seats); they now have a section in an intermediate car of 18 seats. This is 2+2 and the only difference to Standard is antimacassars on the seat backs, I don't believe there are even any partitions to separate First from Standard either.

 

[class387]

I am going to travel from London to Maidstone. Does 1ST on this route have a separate carriage, a separate compartment or is it just one of those ends of the carriage without even a door? If the latter I will travel STD but otherwise might pay for 1ST.

Can anybody highlight a picture of what is on offer?

Many thanks in advance.

No point. It will be identical to standard.

 

[hexagon789]

No point. It will be identical to standard.

I agree with that, unless the OP is travelling at Peak time and wishes a greater chance of a seat, it's not worth it really.

 

[Antman]

Mostly 377's from Victoria to Maidstone East and the odd 465, as others have said not much point paying for first class.

 

[goblinuser]

The 'first class' experience on this route would be to use the HS1 class 395 from St Pancras instead of a class 375 from Victoria.

 

[hexagon789]

The 'first class' experience on this route would be to use the HS1 class 395 from St Pancras instead of a class 375 from Victoria.

Definitely more "First Class"-esque going by Javelin than what passes for First Class on an Electrostar.

 

[Bromley boy]

The 'first class' experience on this route would be to use the HS1 class 395 from St Pancras instead of a class 375 from Victoria.

Perhaps not much (or any) quicker, though, when travel time to St Panc is factored in, depending on the OP’s start point of course.

 

[farci]

For a journey of about an hour, is this dancing on the head of a pin?

 

[Kite159]

The only benefit of First Class is the chance of a plug socket if you get a 377/5

 

[hexagon789]

The only benefit of First Class is the chance of a plug socket if you get a 377/5

I didn't realise there were no plugs in Standard on those.

 

[Kite159]

I didn't realise there were no plugs in Standard on those.

The only 377s which have plug sockets in standard class are the 5-coach 6s & 7s.

375s don't have plug sockets, even in first class, neither do the 377/1s, 377/2s & 377/3s.

 

[hexagon789]

The only 377s which have plug sockets in standard class are the 5-coach 6s & 7s.

375s don't have plug sockets, even in first class, neither do the 377/1s, 377/2s & 377/3s.

Seems a bit strange that some do and some don't.