Travelling on Virgin 1st Class?

[GodAtum]

I've been wanted to travel on Virgin 1st class for a while and was wondering what the cheapest route from London to take will be? I'm hoping to travel during the weekday as there is only a full 1st class service during the week.

 

[Ivo]

Good question. Do you have a Railcard at all? I know that it is possible to get to as low as perhaps £15, or lower still, with one. I'll check for you...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, sorry, forgot to mention; I will set the departure time as 12:00 on Wednesday 27th January, from Euston.

 

[GodAtum]

Yes I have a young persons railcard

 

[Ivo]

Right, then...

Without a Railcard, the cheapest reasonable-distance fare that I could find was to Birmingham (predictably), which costs £26.50 First Class (Advance though). Stoke/Stafford are £28, and Manchester/Liverpool/Chester are £34.

With one...

BHM for £17.50

 

[Old Timer]

I've been wanted to travel on Virgin 1st class for a while and was wondering what the cheapest route from London to take will be? I'm hoping to travel during the weekday as there is only a full 1st class service during the week.

If you want to take advantage of the free hot food then you will need to go beyond at least Milton keynes/Rugby

For breakfast/evening meals Euston/Coventry/Nuneaton is the shortest distance you want to go because it takes that sort of time for it to be cooked and served.

If you have the money plus the time then consider a 1st Class to New St season (about £350) and you could spend a whole week riding behind a Class 90 whilst being continually fed and watered. That includes wine/beer after 1030.

 

[MCR247]

If I was you, I'd take a service with the evening meal or breakfast. They dont do much at lunch

 

[Ivo]

Also, away from Virgin (if you're interested), you can go from Paddington to Penzance First Class for £22.45 with the 16-25 Railcard. I'm looking into doing it myself before too long.

Would certainly be a boost in the 2010 Mileage competition...

 

[robert2000]

wrexham and shropshire 1st is another alternative, the food on that is the best.

£55 advanced 1st class single to telford/shrewsbury or wrexham.

but ive not tried virgin 1st class yet so i cannot compare.

the new wsmr fleet doesnt have the facilities to do fried eggs i believe.

 

[GodAtum]

wrexham and shropshire 1st is another alternative, the food on that is the best.
£55 advanced 1st class single to telford/shrewsbury or wrexham.
but ive not tried virgin 1st class yet so i cannot compare.
the new wsmr fleet doesnt have the facilities to do fried eggs i believe.

Is that on Virgin as well becuase it says on their site I have to change onto an Arriva Wales train?

Also, away from Virgin (if you're interested), you can go from Paddington to Penzance First Class for £22.45 with the 16-25 Railcard. I'm looking into doing it myself before too long.

Is that the FGW sleeper service?

 

[Ivo]

There is no First-Class service on the Night Riviera at all. In fact, the price I quoted you is actually cheaper than it (albeit by a mere £1.95). But, even by Advance standards, it has limited availability.

And don't forget that, regarding First-Class travel, YP holders can only travel using Advance tickets...

 

[GodAtum]

On FGW do don't get a full meal like on Virgin?

 

[Ivo]

It's a bit... well, "thingy" to be honest with you. As a rule, there are no restaurant facilities (that's bad of course...) on FGW HSTs. However, there are certain journeys (I can't say if you'll find a £22.45 example) on which there is a "Travelling Chef", and there are also a few examples that do, indeed, serve proper meals. However, I believe you have to pay. I'm not sure on that one. What you will get is a free cup of tea. Wow... :roll:

 

[GodAtum]

Lol I think I'll spend my money on Virgin then :roll:

I decided to I can travel to Manchester or Liverpool as its a 2hr+ journey so I can make use of all the facilities! What would be a good thing to do to while away the time as i'm thinking of making use of the breakfast and dinner meals?

Is there any major difference between the Pendalino and Super Voyager 1st class services?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Ohhh so much difference. You'll only get Pendolino's between Manchester/Liverpool and London though, so don't worry.

If I were you, I'd go up to Manchester on a breakfast service (before 10am) spend the late morning/early afternoon in Manchester. Then I'd go across to Liverpool (45 mins, TPE, advance from £2.95) then use the FC lounge in Lime Street and catch the 1748 or 1848 for evening meal back to Euston

 

[GodAtum]

Ohhh so much difference. You'll only get Pendolino's between Manchester/Liverpool and London though, so don't worry.

If I were you, I'd go up to Manchester on a breakfast service (before 10am) spend the late morning/early afternoon in Manchester. Then I'd go across to Liverpool (45 mins, TPE, advance from £2.95) then use the FC lounge in Lime Street and catch the 1748 or 1848 for evening meal back to Euston

That sounds like a great plan! How do I book this multi-part journey online? Also I'm probably going to be travelling on my own so I'd rather not have a table seat. I think there are some single seats but how do I request them?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Online, you'll have to do it in 3 separate bookings (you won't pay extra as all the advance tickets are singles)

Go to www.virgintrains.co.uk for the trips to and from London.
For the Manchester-Liverpool trip, www.tpexpress.co.uk

When you're given the option of a table seat, simply leave the box unchecked!

 

[John @ home]

Online, you'll have to do it in 3 separate bookings (you won't pay extra as all the advance tickets are singles)

Go to www.virgintrains.co.uk for the trips to and from London.
For the Manchester-Liverpool trip, www.tpexpress.co.uk

When you're given the option of a table seat, simply leave the box unchecked!

If you book through East Coast, you can do it as one transaction (Choose Book another journey after each leg) and there is a wider choice of seating options, including Individual.

But do check the prices against the TOCs' own sites. There are sometimes site-specific offers.

 

[yorkie]

TPE is no cheaper on their own site unless you have a Railcard, then it is cheaper - as the price is 50% off rather than 34% off. (That may only apply to YP railcards and it may not apply in FC)

 

[bengolding]

Beware that if you want to travel on breakfast or evening meal trains, the cheapest priced FC Advance tickets won't be available on these trains as these are 'restaurant' services so there is a premium to travel First. If you simply want to experience First, you're better going to the West Midlands or Manchester and back with 3 tph, so plenty of availability of FC Advance.

 

[GodAtum]

TPE is no cheaper on their own site unless you have a Railcard, then it is cheaper - as the price is 50% off rather than 34% off. (That may only apply to YP railcards and it may not apply in FC)

On East Coast and TPE sites they are both the same price for FC (£7.60 with railard as opposed to £11.50 without).

Beware that if you want to travel on breakfast or evening meal trains, the cheapest priced FC Advance tickets won't be available on these trains as these are 'restaurant' services so there is a premium to travel First. If you simply want to experience First, you're better going to the West Midlands or Manchester and back with 3 tph, so plenty of availability of FC Advance.

I'm hoping to experience the full food service

I'm trying to book a seat in coach K as that's where the food gets served first. Is it easier to phone and book so I can request a specific coach?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

No. You'll get through to India. Not meaning to be racist in the slightest here, but they didn't know where Runcorn was.

Online is your best bet. If not, then go to your local station

 

[yorkie]

On East Coast and TPE sites they are both the same price for FC (£7.60 with railard as opposed to £11.50 without).

Looks like TPEs "Student" promotion (which you don't have to be a student to take advantage of, you just need a Y-P railcard) only applies to standard tickets then, which is understandable!

 

[GodAtum]

I can only find seat 02A, Coach H for the 17:48 from Liverpool. How restricted is the view?

 

[Old Timer]

If you wait until this eve, I will chack and let you know.

 

[GodAtum]

If you wait until this eve, I will chack and let you know.

Many thanks. Would it be wise to travel next week as I'm not sure how bad the weather will be and I'd like my train to actually be running as i probably wont be able to get a refund?

 

[Pumbaa]

http://www.v-flyer.com/pendolino.asp

Restricted view.

Honestly,reserve any seat and choose your own when you get on there! There are enough kicking about that you can have a bay of 4 to yourself!!

 

[GodAtum]

http://www.v-flyer.com/pendolino.asp

Restricted view.

Honestly,reserve any seat and choose your own when you get on there! There are enough kicking about that you can have a bay of 4 to yourself!!

Wont it be full during rush hour? I'll be travelling at 0940 and 1748.

 

[Old Timer]

Many thanks. Would it be wise to travel next week as I'm not sure how bad the weather will be and I'd like my train to actually be running as i probably wont be able to get a refund?

I have been beaten to it.

You could always go to the booking office, get a new seat reservation, and then cancel the other one later, provided of course it is not one of those super cheap tickets ?

 

[tony_mac]

Wont it be full during rush hour? I'll be travelling at 0940 and 1748.

I haven't been on the evening peak, but when I was on the 0907 out of Euston it was probably 4 passengers per carriage.

 

[mathmo]

I got an evening meal Glasgow service (about 1800 I think) out of Euston about a year ago. In my coach, each FC passenger had two or three seats to themselves.