RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

[Bungle73]

I'm sitting currently at Glasgow Central wondering why the hell there is no First Class lounge here? It is a major station for both Virgin and ScotRail yet there isn't even a joint one.
Any known reasons for it?

Edinburgh has two for example.

There's not one at York either for some reason (considering the size of the station).

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm sitting currently at Glasgow Central wondering why the hell there is no First Class lounge here? It is a major station for both Virgin and ScotRail yet there isn't even a joint one.
Any known reasons for it?

Edinburgh has two for example.

There was one once, and I think the following is true - Virgin ran it, but they were asked to allow Cally Sleeper passengers in at night. Various arguments arose over payments to allow this, and in the end VT shut it down when it couldn't be resolved.

 

[Butts]

I'm sitting currently at Glasgow Central wondering why the hell there is no First Class lounge here? It is a major station for both Virgin and ScotRail yet there isn't even a joint one.
Any known reasons for it?

Edinburgh has two for example.

If you look back we have had this topic before - you can use a nearby Hotel-forget the name - same at Inverness

 

[WCMLaddict]

Leeds lounge

 

[Ascot]

Leeds lounge

Thanks for that, lounge updated.

Many thanks to all who have contributed to East Coast as we now have a full house!

 

[OwlMan]

East Coast have issued a new page in "The Manual" for their "First Class Lounges" A copy is attached (will be removed in about 5 days time)

 

[Butts]

East Coast have issued a new page in "The Manual" for their "First Class Lounges" A copy is attached (will be removed in about 5 days time)

Interesting that - what grade of Staff will have a "First Class Pass" that enables them and their dependents free use of this service ?

 

[Deerfold]

Interesting that - what grade of Staff will have a "First Class Pass" that enables them and their dependents free use of this service ?

I doubt there's any/many being issued now but they existed many years ago.

My wife sat next to a widow of a former top-level chap at BR - it sounded as if she was badly off financially but could travel First Class anywhere in the country for free (subject to availability of course) - so she did.

 

[Ascot]

East Coast have issued a new page in "The Manual" for their "First Class Lounges" A copy is attached (will be removed in about 5 days time)

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I shall go through this and update the guide.

 

[Ascot]

Minor updates this week.

First will be re-branding the West Coast franchise from December. Any changes will be listed in the guide including a cosmetic overhaul. If First decide to create more lounges then these will be incorporated above.
Think pink and blue, not silver and red.

A Lounge of the Year award will be incorporated into the RailUK awards each year. The top 4 nominations will be put forward to the polls before the winner being announced and embedded into the guide.

More images have been added, keep them coming along with the reviews!

 

[pjnathanail]

A few suggestions:
For the East Coast lounge at KGX, would KGX-SVG at £20.40 not be better than KGX-PBO? I cannot find First Class DBY-BLP but DBY-LGE at £7.70 would do it. Based on EMT's policy of any FC ticket this would work.In addition, would an FCC FC ticket STP-CTK at £3.60 be accepted at the STP lounge?! I will try it next time I am in London. In Edinburgh I did the Haymarket buy-in and gained access to both the EC and ScotRail lounges with no funny looks. It is also worth doing the journey as I got orange juice and a pastry. I should have a picture of the Derby lounge up soon (next week).

 

[Ascot]

A few suggestions:
For the East Coast lounge at KGX, would KGX-SVG at £20.40 not be better than KGX-PBO? I cannot find First Class DBY-BLP but DBY-LGE at £7.70 would do it. Based on EMT's policy of any FC ticket this would work.In addition, would an FCC FC ticket STP-CTK at £3.60 be accepted at the STP lounge?! I will try it next time I am in London. In Edinburgh I did the Haymarket buy-in and gained access to both the EC and ScotRail lounges with no funny looks. It is also worth doing the journey as I got orange juice and a pastry. I should have a picture of the Derby lounge up soon (next week).

Hi pjnathanail, welcome to the forum and to the lounge guide! I'll try my best to go through your post but I'm sure someone else will pick up the technical answers.

A Stevenage ticket is indeed considerably cheaper than a Peterborough ticket, for some reason Stevenage was thought as set-down only. This will be revised.

Derby to Belper FDS is £4.20 and is available to purchase.

East Midlands, like any other TOC, restrict access to tickets which they get a share of. However, some stations on the EMT network are allowing all tickets to enter but this is a station level policy only and nothing to do with the corporate decision. The last time this was brought up it was agreed to not publish this anomaly with respect to the passengers who use this every day. The last thing we want is for head office to notice an influx in argumentative passengers on potentially invalid tickets and for a memo to go round enforcing the rule further. The only exception to this is the lounge membership available to purchase.

Edinburgh station is one of the most unfriendly stations I have come across while the works are being done, so the safe haven of 2 lounges is very welcoming. I agree that this facility is one of the gems of the network.

Finally, any pictures of lounges or reviews are most welcoming and we look forward to seeing them!

Side Note: Just to note the East Midlands annual membership is at £480. Compared to United Club membership which is at £342.72 for new members and open to non-travellers.

 

[lyesbkz]

Greetings,

As there is still a lack of photo for the Sheffield lounge I have managed to take a quick one (apologies if one has already been uploaded earlier and the Guide is just pending an update).

 

[Ascot]

Greetings,

As there is still a lack of photo for the Sheffield lounge I have managed to take a quick one (apologies if one has already been uploaded earlier and the Guide is just pending an update).

Many thanks for the image, I shall update the guide now!

 

[Ascot]

Minor updates to the guide listed below, many thanks for all the images and reviews coming in.

- I have updated the banner for EMT to a more generic band.

- I managed to have a chat with the First West Coast MD and they plan to support the current First Class offerings with enhancements over the first 18 months.

- Minor FAQ wording has been updated.

To lighten the mood a little I have created a sample layout for the temporary Directly Operated Railways on West Coast.

 

[cjp]

If you look back we have had this topic before - you can use a nearby Hotel-forget the name - same at Inverness

The question related to Glasgow Central which has no First Class lounge.
The Millennium Hotel is for Glasgow Queen Street.

Queen Street caters for the Glasgow Edinburgh first class commuters whilst Central caters for commuters and Virgin's long distance trains.

Generally Virgin and other customers at Queen Street can sit in Virgin's travel centre (three seats). Scotrail have provided a rather bleak waiting room although it is nearer the platforms used by Virgin's trains.

 

[Goatboy]

I have a First Class Single from Hemel Hempstead to Plymouth. Can I use the First Class Lounge on arrival at Euston? It would seem not, as I am not a customer of Virgin Trains?

 

[calc7]

I have a First Class Single from Hemel Hempstead to Plymouth. Can I use the First Class Lounge on arrival at Euston? It would seem not, as I am not a customer of Virgin Trains?

Unlikely, particularly as your ticket will be FGW&Connections and you will not have a reservation for a Virgin train.

 

[Goatboy]

Ah well.

Must have been nice in the days when it was 'Intercity customers only' or even 'British Rail Customers only'

 

[John @ home]

Must have been nice in the days when it was 'Intercity customers only' or even 'British Rail Customers only'

Passengers, I think!

 

[pjnathanail]

I recently did a Nottingham-Leicester return with a BoJ at East Mids Park so I sampled three lounges, and used a return East Mids Park to Derby to see that one too.

They were all very nice, particularly the Derby one. I have included two photos of the Derby one for the guide.

 

[Ascot]

I recently did a Nottingham-Leicester return with a BoJ at East Mids Park so I sampled three lounges, and used a return East Mids Park to Derby to see that one too.

They were all very nice, particularly the Derby one. I have included two photos of the Derby one for the guide.

Many thanks, I've updated the guide.

 

[Ascot]

I've been trying something new out which may be useful for some of the larger stations. Attached is a rough map of the EUS lounge outlining what zones are available and where things are.

As you know I am Van Gough resurrected with my artistic skills so, eventually, I'll get round to adding a more colourful/artistic feel once things take off to match the rest of the guide. The actual diagrams will be done using Visio since it's a tad difficult to read MS Paint text vertical.

 

[GodAtum]

I've been commuting from Paddington for a few months now on a 1st class ticket. I only remembered there was a FGW 1st class lounge today Much nicer then standing on the platform!!

 

[Bungle73]

I'm in the KGX Lounge ATM, and I notice you can now purchase alcoholic drinks. They weren't available before were they?

 

[Ascot]

I'm in the KGX Lounge ATM, and I notice you can now purchase alcoholic drinks. They weren't available before were they?

Excellent, what they got and how much?

 

[Bungle73]

Excellent, what they got and how much?

There's a menu on the table. It's got things like beer, larger or cider for £3.10, spirits for £3.75 and various wines for between £4.50 and £9.

I guess you have ask a member of Staff if you want them?

 

[Butts]

There's a menu on the table. It's got things like beer, larger or cider for £3.10, spirits for £3.75 and various wines for between £4.50 and £9.

I guess you have ask a member of Staff if you want them?

How come they are free onboard but you have to pay in the Lounge ?

 

[Deerfold]

How come they are free onboard but you have to pay in the Lounge ?

Persumably you have a fixed amount of time on board but could turn up to the lounge hours in advance.

Most people will drink a far lower quantity of soft drinks than some people would of alcohol.

 

[Butts]

Persumably you have a fixed amount of time on board but could turn up to the lounge hours in advance.

Most people will drink a far lower quantity of soft drinks than some people would of alcohol.

Thats simple to solve, make the first one free and you pay for any further ones