RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

[calc7]

Yes - that is absolutely wrong. I would suggest contacting Virgin with the time, date and details of the incident so that the member of staff can be re-trained. That's certainly something they won't want to be happening...

I was quite a fan of the Beefeater gin. Any noticeable changes to the menus/service patterns?

 

[bengolding]

I've contacted VT. one or two gatekeepers at New St I find aren't suitable for a customer facing role.

No sooner had I sent off my email, I was denied access to the VT Euston lounge on Fri, holding a First Anytime single to Derby. I was getting the express VT to Tamworth, which isn't that much slower than EMT. But the gent was having none of it and insisted that I must use it from St Pancras!

 

[calc7]

I've contacted VT. one or two gatekeepers at New St I find aren't suitable for a customer facing role.

No sooner had I sent off my email, I was denied access to the VT Euston lounge on Fri, holding a First Anytime single to Derby. I was getting the express VT to Tamworth, which isn't that much slower than EMT. But the gent was having none of it and insisted that I must use it from St Pancras!

I think they have a computer behind the desk at Euston? You could ask them to check EUS-DBY via TAM?

 

[Ascot]

I've never had a problem at BHM personally, however, I regularly see pax turned away at the door for holding tickets to Rugby, Liverpool and Manchester to name a few. Don't get me wrong, the dragons at BHM have been angels to me when I needed it but it does seem you need to be travelling primarily on a VT ticket to gain entry, be it overcrowding risks or ill-informed staff.


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[calc7]

They run a direct train to Rugby every hour?!

 

[Ascot]

They run a direct train to Rugby every hour?!

IIRC reason was, VT Train left, next train was a LM. It was quite a lengthy speech for 8 in the morning.


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[calc7]

IIRC reason was, VT Train left, next train was a LM. It was quite a lengthy speech for 8 in the morning.


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Passenger is entitled to get the next VT to Coventry and change there for LM! Particularly if they'd just missed a VT they'd be missing the LM 3 minutes after it. Either way, it sounds like the dragon(s) at BHM like to make up rules on the fly.

 

[Butts]

IIRC reason was, VT Train left, next train was a LM. It was quite a lengthy speech for 8 in the morning.


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It says on the site "Naturally you can only use the Lounges on the DATE of your ticket" - it says nothing about within a certain time.

 

[pjnathanail]

It says on the site "Naturally you can only use the Lounges on the DATE of your ticket" - it says nothing about within a certain time.

If I bought an anytime return could I use it in the lounge every day for a month if I didn't travel on it?

 

[All Line Rover]

If I bought an anytime return could I use it in the lounge every day for a month if I didn't travel on it?

Technically I would say no, but don't let this come to their attention.

 

[Seacook]

IIRC reason was, VT Train left, next train was a LM. It was quite a lengthy speech for 8 in the morning.


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This sounds like an excellent reason to wait in the first class lounge. Why take an LM train with no complimentary drinks instead of having a tea or coffee before travelling with Virgin? It is no part of the dragons' role to dictate to passengers which TOC to use.

I have never had a real problem in BHM, but I did get a comment about my nNetwork season ticket being faded and difficult to read. This was quite true, but I still got in. When I came out, I went straight into the Travel Centre and got a replacement free of charge. I have never been asked where I was going or which train I intended to catch.

 

[Ascot]

Minor updates as we roll into 2013.

- All station opening hours have been revised and updated.
- EMT has finally noticed people travel after 12pm and all lounges are open into the evening. A relief for those travelling in that part of the world.

Keep the reviews and pictures coming in!

 

[TRAINLINCS]

Seems to have been a change of policy at St Pancras East Midlands Lounge. My last information was that a charge was made for entry for passengers with Advance tickets after 4pm. Visited today at 5pm with Advance ticket. Ticket and seat reservation checked at the reception. No problem. There is a notice on the door saying that the lounge is open to all 1st class ticket holders with no exceptions mentioned.
For those interested complimentaries included white/red wine, tea, coffee, milk, orange juice, bottled water, crisps, salted peanuts, and biscuits. All help yourself as many times as you wished.

 

[scotsman]

The First ScotRail lounge in Edinburgh Waverley has closed, passengers with tickets/passes valid for access to the FSR lounge will now be accepted in the East Coast lounge.

 

[Butts]

The First ScotRail lounge in Edinburgh Waverley has closed, passengers with tickets/passes valid for access to the FSR lounge will now be accepted in the East Coast lounge.

Have they got any Lounges left with this closure ? - is the Caledonian Sleeper one still open?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Have they got any Lounges left with this closure ?

Why not check the guide in the OP? Aberdeen remains, as do the rest on contract (Inverness, Glasgow Q St etc).

 

[pjnathanail]

The First ScotRail lounge in Edinburgh Waverley has closed, passengers with tickets/passes valid for access to the FSR lounge will now be accepted in the East Coast lounge.

Does this include scot rail advance cards?!

 

[Ascot]

Thanks for the heads up re EDB. I'll check access rights and update the guide by the end of the week.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
All passengers that could use the ScotRail lounge at Edinburgh may use the East Coast lounge including Advance loyalty members. I have updated the guide accordingly.

 

[OwlMan]

East Coast have amended their rules again (introduced a £10 minimum fare):

The following tickets have unrestricted access to East Coast First Class Lounges, where the journey is relevant to the location:

• All inter-available First Class tickets which are valid for all or part of the journey on EC trains, subject to minimum fare of £10.00, including Anytime, Off-Peak, First Class Season, Carnet and Executive Packages, including Scottish Executive..
• Also all of the above which are routed “EC only” or “EC & Connections”.
• All valid First Class BritRail and First Class Rovers.
• In addition all First Class Staff Pass Holders and Dependents, either active or retired, when travelling for leisure, may use East Coast First Class Lounges, subject to capacity.

Tickets which are not valid for entry are all First Class tickets valid only on other operators’ services.
East Coast First Class Lounges – Entry by Supplement.

The following heavily discounted ticket types include the option to purchase access to East Coast First class lounges for a supplement fee of £5·00 (per person per visit). The ticket must be relevant to the lounge being used. The supplement allows customers travelling on these tickets to take advantage of all East Coast First Class Lounge facilities (including the full range of complimentary items):

• First Advance tickets, First Class Reader Offer and First Class Flat fare tickets routed ‘EC only’ and ‘EC & Connections’
• EC “Print-at-home” First Class Upgrade voucher.
• First Class inclusive tour tickets (ITX) routed Any Permitted and East Coast First Class ITX tickets, including Superbreak, Rivera, etc.
• East Coast Weekend First tickets (destination station only).

Any tickets not shown in the above lists but which are valid on East Coast trains and are above the £10.00 minimum fare, charge the £5.00 supplement.

Peter

 

[Butts]

East Coast have amended their rules again (introduced a £10 minimum fare):



Peter

Bang goes the fabled Waverley to Haymarket Single then

 

[Seacook]

It does not say whether the £10 minimum is before or after railcard discounts. You could make an argument either way. If the £10 applies to the price paid it might be an interesting exercise to find out which tickets would be cheaper paying full price than discounted + £5, essentially any priced between 10.00 and 14.50.

 

[Deerfold]

East Coast have amended their rules again (introduced a £10 minimum fare):



Peter

Where have they publicised that? It seems to be at odds with the information on their own website with no mention of the £10 minimum fare there - http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/on-board-our-trains/food1/lounges/.

 

[All Line Rover]

Where have they publicised that? It seems to be at odds with the information on their own website with no mention of the £10 minimum fare there - http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/on-board-our-trains/food1/lounges/.

NRE, the 'authoritative source' of information, doesn't mention it either, though in principle I think it is a good idea. What is silly is to deny people holding £100+ 1st APs complimentary access to the lounges.

 

[Ascot]

Just to clarify the East Coast £10 rule the same rules apply, however, you will not be accepted if your ticket is less than £10. ScotRail passengers may continue to use the Edinburgh lounge as per usual ScotRail agreements. This rule has been in force since mid February 2013.

I will update the guide over the next few hours to reflect new buy-ins.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Minor update for Greater Anglia, the Liverpool St lounge has been refurbished and is now open again. The lounge is now open daily from 7am to 8pm.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Minor updates as we step into Spring.

East Coast

As commented above, East Coast have implemented a new £10 minimum fare rule for entry into their lounges. Footnotes have been included in the guide but Buy-ins will remain unchanged until the public East Coast site is updated.

ScotRail

An increase in sleeper popularity has sparked the creation of a dedicated Euston card. This contains the published access entitlements for the sleeper, however, previous experiences prove you may get lucky on a more restricted ticket. Feel free to submit a photograph of a Euston/ScotRail themed image for the card.

I am hesitant of creating a Glasgow Central card as strictly speaking the arrangement at GLC is not a station building. Depending on popularity, this can be added to complete the sleeper lounge guide.

General

An overview of opening times and facilities has been carried out and the guide is as close to real time as possible. Any errors then please post below.

As always, your submissions, comments and photographs are always welcome and encouraged to build on the guide. If you wish to PM a comment to me, please consider if your post would be beneficial to others on the forum. Your PM may help others too if you post on this thread as well.

 

[trainophile]

Is it allowable to use a Virgin 1st Class lounge if it is at a point that is neither the start nor end of your journey?

I will have a 40 minute connection at Birmingham New Street. Obviously BHM isn't printed on my journey ticket, although it is on my seat reservation.

Thought I might check the lounge out while I wait, if I can find it! It'll be after the new improved station re-launch, so if the answer is 'yes' then could someone tell me how to find it please? I always get lost at BHM .

 

[telstarbox]

I've done that before mid-journey at BHM with no trouble.

 

[Ascot]

Is it allowable to use a Virgin 1st Class lounge if it is at a point that is neither the start nor end of your journey?

I will have a 40 minute connection at Birmingham New Street. Obviously BHM isn't printed on my journey ticket, although it is on my seat reservation.

Thought I might check the lounge out while I wait, if I can find it! It'll be after the new improved station re-launch, so if the answer is 'yes' then could someone tell me how to find it please? I always get lost at BHM .

If your travel involves a Virgin Train at New St then you can use it. E.g. Cheltenham to Leicester you cannot but a Cheltenham to Preston you can. There is supposed to be a temporary lounge during the switch over but I don't know it's location yet.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks both. I'll be catching a Virgin train at BHM so I should be okay then. Just got to find the lounge now! It'll be after the station re-launch at the end of April, so hopefully will be a permanent place by then, not a portakabin!

Does anyone know where the Virgin Sunday services to Edinburgh (via BHM) start from, just out of curiosity? Mine departs BHM at 1220.

 

[Deerfold]

Thanks both. I'll be catching a Virgin train at BHM so I should be okay then. Just got to find the lounge now! It'll be after the station re-launch at the end of April, so hopefully will be a permanent place by then, not a portakabin!

Does anyone know where the Virgin Sunday services to Edinburgh (via BHM) start from, just out of curiosity? Mine departs BHM at 1220.

This coming Sunday that train starts at BHM as do all the Virgin ones.

 

[Ascot]

Minor update with new Birmingham New Street lounge.