snuk
Member
Hi all,
Just thought I'd let everyone know how I got on today.
I spent far too much money - days out are a very rare treat for me as I am pretty much housebound due to health problems so I don't worry too much about spending a bit more - I probably didn't need to spend half the money I did on tickets today but like I say days out on the trains are rare and it's about the only thing I enjoy about life at the moment.
Anyway back on topic - I bought (three, I think) First Anytime Day Singles as I've never travelled in first before and really wanted a trip on a Pendolino in first. I bought singles because I also had a West Mids Day Ranger and I wasn't sure were I was going - everything was very much unplanned except that I had in my head that I wanted a first class trip on a Pendolino and to experience the virgin first class lounges. I also had in my head that I wanted to have a look at the new (to me) Wrexham & Shropshire's as I still have a bit of soft spot for the old HST's.
Day Ranger bought at Nuneaton. Chap in ticket office didn't seem very happy that I was buying a WMDR?
Nuneaton to Coventry - LM - don't like these trains much - not enough leg room for me if you can't get a table seat.
Coventry to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street - 1st Anytime Day Single £7.50 - 2 x Virgin Pendolinos in First Class - on the first one - Virgin Knight - I had a whole coach to myself and the second - Virgin Pioneer - there were only a couple of other people in there. Didn't get any complimentary drinks or anything though - I suspect it was because they were coming to the end of a run - there seemed to be a lot of cleaning and preparing going on. Visited lounge at BHM - they have a reception/concierge rather than remote access - very nice, but preferred Wolverhampton as more modern. Visited Wolverhampton shops for the first time - would normally visit Bull Ring but I've heard they're having a few major problems at the moment - hope everything is okay for them and that there is nothing sinister going on and that everyone affected is okay.
Also found out at Coventry (a poster) that VT have temporarily replaced several Pendolino runs with loco hauled HST's for which they sincerely apologise lol since April - does this refer to the Pendolino we lost due to the tragic incident at Grayrigg?
Wolverhampton to Telford on Wrexham and Shrops - service to Shrewsbury but left at Telford as I was standing. Steward seemed a bit grumpy as well - perhaps they don't like picking up short-trip passengers, I don't know. A bit disappointed really. Left train at Telford thinking it would be a big station with lots of connections back towards Wolves and BHS - waited about 45 minutes for a packed Arriva Wales service back to Wolves.
Wolverhampton to New Street Wolverhampton to New Street VT 221 103 Super Voyager. 1st Anytime Day Single £5.90 (used lounge at Wolves - very, very nice - had the whole lounge to myself for about 45 minutes as I missed one connection whilst enjoying my complimentary coffee. Surprised to see a Voyager - I was only expecting to see Pendolinos - must be on a different route - it terminated at New Street and went back to Edinburgh.
Last second platform change at Wolves as an empty Wrexham & Shrops was parked up on our platform lol - I think he was on his way home to Wrexham or wherever it is they are based.
New Street to Nuneaton - I thought this was expensive - £16.00 - but I expected the 1822? BHM-Stansted to be packed - it was - very - which is why I bought this ticket and didn't use the WMDR - and wanted to try XC in First. There was three of us in there - I suspect all 1st ticket holders - and a group of young people came in with standard tickets - the tickets weren't checked. I wouldn't mind really but I'd specifically paid the extra and didn't need to in the end. And the lads were a bit noisy.
Loved the Pendolinos in First - I think I will try Coventry or New Street to Euston next if I can get a reasonable ticket. I thought I was a Virgin fan before but even more so now lol :roll:
I also noted that the only time today that any of my tickets were checked were at the barriers at New Street and even then - please correct me if I am wrong - but all they want to see is that you have a ticket not the what's printed on it?
Can someone please advise me when you are given the complimentary drinks, etc. in first class?
I'm really not complaining because I was able to use the lounges no problem - we thought I might not be able to on the cheaper ticket - just curious as to how these things work for future reference - do you have to collect a drink, etc from the buffet? I don't fancy carrying a hot coffee along the train.
What I would dearly love to do next - is West Mids to or through the Lake District - my local station is Nuneaton and I appriciate not many VT's stop here these days - originally I was thinking Coventry or New Street to Glasgow but in first class this is far beyond my means - so I was thinking is Carlisle a main station and do you see most of the Lake District before you get there? Any ideas greatfully appreciated. Alternatively, I might just go Nuneaton or Coventry/New St to Euston on a First Advance Single one Saturday - there is one I think that leaves Nuneaton like 7am I think and I think is priced at £26.50 for the single and then come back on anything - like London Midland Class 350 to Nuneaton for £5 - providing they are not too busy in standard.
Cheers,
Steve.
Just thought I'd let everyone know how I got on today.
I spent far too much money - days out are a very rare treat for me as I am pretty much housebound due to health problems so I don't worry too much about spending a bit more - I probably didn't need to spend half the money I did on tickets today but like I say days out on the trains are rare and it's about the only thing I enjoy about life at the moment.
Anyway back on topic - I bought (three, I think) First Anytime Day Singles as I've never travelled in first before and really wanted a trip on a Pendolino in first. I bought singles because I also had a West Mids Day Ranger and I wasn't sure were I was going - everything was very much unplanned except that I had in my head that I wanted a first class trip on a Pendolino and to experience the virgin first class lounges. I also had in my head that I wanted to have a look at the new (to me) Wrexham & Shropshire's as I still have a bit of soft spot for the old HST's.
Day Ranger bought at Nuneaton. Chap in ticket office didn't seem very happy that I was buying a WMDR?
Nuneaton to Coventry - LM - don't like these trains much - not enough leg room for me if you can't get a table seat.
Coventry to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street - 1st Anytime Day Single £7.50 - 2 x Virgin Pendolinos in First Class - on the first one - Virgin Knight - I had a whole coach to myself and the second - Virgin Pioneer - there were only a couple of other people in there. Didn't get any complimentary drinks or anything though - I suspect it was because they were coming to the end of a run - there seemed to be a lot of cleaning and preparing going on. Visited lounge at BHM - they have a reception/concierge rather than remote access - very nice, but preferred Wolverhampton as more modern. Visited Wolverhampton shops for the first time - would normally visit Bull Ring but I've heard they're having a few major problems at the moment - hope everything is okay for them and that there is nothing sinister going on and that everyone affected is okay.
Also found out at Coventry (a poster) that VT have temporarily replaced several Pendolino runs with loco hauled HST's for which they sincerely apologise lol since April - does this refer to the Pendolino we lost due to the tragic incident at Grayrigg?
Wolverhampton to Telford on Wrexham and Shrops - service to Shrewsbury but left at Telford as I was standing. Steward seemed a bit grumpy as well - perhaps they don't like picking up short-trip passengers, I don't know. A bit disappointed really. Left train at Telford thinking it would be a big station with lots of connections back towards Wolves and BHS - waited about 45 minutes for a packed Arriva Wales service back to Wolves.
Wolverhampton to New Street Wolverhampton to New Street VT 221 103 Super Voyager. 1st Anytime Day Single £5.90 (used lounge at Wolves - very, very nice - had the whole lounge to myself for about 45 minutes as I missed one connection whilst enjoying my complimentary coffee. Surprised to see a Voyager - I was only expecting to see Pendolinos - must be on a different route - it terminated at New Street and went back to Edinburgh.
Last second platform change at Wolves as an empty Wrexham & Shrops was parked up on our platform lol - I think he was on his way home to Wrexham or wherever it is they are based.
New Street to Nuneaton - I thought this was expensive - £16.00 - but I expected the 1822? BHM-Stansted to be packed - it was - very - which is why I bought this ticket and didn't use the WMDR - and wanted to try XC in First. There was three of us in there - I suspect all 1st ticket holders - and a group of young people came in with standard tickets - the tickets weren't checked. I wouldn't mind really but I'd specifically paid the extra and didn't need to in the end. And the lads were a bit noisy.
Loved the Pendolinos in First - I think I will try Coventry or New Street to Euston next if I can get a reasonable ticket. I thought I was a Virgin fan before but even more so now lol :roll:
I also noted that the only time today that any of my tickets were checked were at the barriers at New Street and even then - please correct me if I am wrong - but all they want to see is that you have a ticket not the what's printed on it?
Can someone please advise me when you are given the complimentary drinks, etc. in first class?
I'm really not complaining because I was able to use the lounges no problem - we thought I might not be able to on the cheaper ticket - just curious as to how these things work for future reference - do you have to collect a drink, etc from the buffet? I don't fancy carrying a hot coffee along the train.
What I would dearly love to do next - is West Mids to or through the Lake District - my local station is Nuneaton and I appriciate not many VT's stop here these days - originally I was thinking Coventry or New Street to Glasgow but in first class this is far beyond my means - so I was thinking is Carlisle a main station and do you see most of the Lake District before you get there? Any ideas greatfully appreciated. Alternatively, I might just go Nuneaton or Coventry/New St to Euston on a First Advance Single one Saturday - there is one I think that leaves Nuneaton like 7am I think and I think is priced at £26.50 for the single and then come back on anything - like London Midland Class 350 to Nuneaton for £5 - providing they are not too busy in standard.
Cheers,
Steve.
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