Virgin 1st Class and Caledonian Sleeper

[SovietGaz]

Just a quick one, I'm planning a trip away for me and my girlfriend this Christmas time (early December) and just wanted to know people's on opinions really.

We'll be leaving from Colwyn Bay to Euston on a Friday night and I wanted to know if getting us first class tickets is really worth it at all? What do you get? Or should we just stick with the quiet coach?

After London we are going for a few days to Edinburgh and I was looking at the sleeper service on a Sunday night. Compared to a flight what are people's opinions here? Does it leave you as refreshed and ready for the day as they make out? Is getting a first class cabin worth while?

Never really used any of these services before so any input would be a great help.

Thank you

 

[Yew]

You can get a reasonable nights sleep, not the lognest or the greastest, but better thn a 5:30 am train. I wouldnt go first class personally if there are two of you, the beds are no bigger, and you wont be sharking with a stranger or anything


Its worth it for the experience, if you like it do it again, if you dont, then at least you can say 'I went on a train with a bed once...'

 

[Greenback]

You can get a reasonable nights sleep, not the lognest or the greastest, but better thn a 5:30 am train. I wouldnt go first personally if there are two of you, the beds are no bigger, and you wont be sharking with a stranger or anything


Its worth it for the experience, if you like it do it again, if you dont, then at least you can say 'I went on a train with a bed once...'

I agree with Yew.

Personally I find the advantages of the sleeper are that you will probbaly be less tired than catching an early flight, and by travelling overnight you will gain more time in Scotland. If you cna get a cheap ticket, it may even be cheaper than a daytime train, with the bonus that you can enjoy a method of travel that has become comparitively rare in the UK. If you haven't tried a sleeper before I'd definitely give it a go!

 

[SovietGaz]

Thanks, I think I'll go for it because how much longer are sleepers going to exist for?

Don't think I will bother with the Virgin First Class either, I think the quiet coach will suit us best for the price.

 

[Simon Poole]

I got a quick queston on the sleeper becuase i'm going on it Thursday night, where are coach S & A on the Inverness/Aberdeen & Fort William service? i'm taking a Guess Coach S is towards the front and Coach A is at the very back

 

[philjo]

The coaches are not in alphabetical order along the train.
when I travelled last month the Fort William portion was coaches G & F which is at the very front next to the loco northbound (& behind the lounge car after it is added on in Edinburgh)

 

[Simon Poole]

The coaches are not in alphabetical order along the train.
when I travelled last month the Fort William portion was coaches G & F which is at the very front next to the loco northbound (& behind the lounge car after it is added on in Edinburgh)

okay thanks, lucky the Fort William portion leaves last

 

[DarloRich]

dont get a birth over the bogies as it can be a bit rocky otherwise i find it fine on the sleeper and isleep well

 

[rail-britain]

where are coach S & A on the Inverness/Aberdeen & Fort William service? i'm taking a Guess Coach S is towards the front and Coach A is at the very back

Which are the travel points?

 

[Simon Poole]

Which are the travel points?

Travel Points?

 

[MCR247]

Where are you travelling from and to

 

[broadgage]

dont get a birth over the bogies as it can be a bit rocky otherwise i find it fine on the sleeper and isleep well

I would suggest avoiding a birth anywhere on a train!
The local hospital is probably more suitable

 

[Welshman]

Just a quick one, I'm planning a trip away for me and my girlfriend this Christmas time (early December) and just wanted to know people's on opinions really.

We'll be leaving from Colwyn Bay to Euston on a Friday night and I wanted to know if getting us first class tickets is really worth it at all? What do you get? Or should we just stick with the quiet coach?

Bear in mind, too, that if you leave Colwyn Bay later than 1450, you'll be travelling standard class to Chester anyway, and if you leave later than 1838, you'll be standard to Crewe! [And, unfortunately, ATWs 2 or 3-car 158s and 175s don't have a Quiet Coach].
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I wouldnt go first class personally if there are two of you, the beds are no bigger, and you wont be sharking with a stranger or anything

I know I'm growing old and need to get out more, but what exactly is "sharking with a stranger"? [sorry]

 

[SovietGaz]

Bear in mind, too, that if you leave Colwyn Bay later than 1450, you'll be travelling standard class to Chester anyway, and if you leave later than 1838, you'll be standard to Crewe! [And, unfortunately, ATWs 2 or 3-car 158s and 175s don't have a Quiet Coach].

Yeah figure that much, might just be nice when we arrive at Chester to surprise her with First Class, prices seem to be jumping around for it though...

 

[6Gman]

Yeah figure that much, might just be nice when we arrive at Chester to surprise her with First Class, prices seem to be jumping around for it though...

She might be more surprised if your train from the Coast is a few minutes late and they let the Londons go without you!

 

[SovietGaz]

She might be more surprised if your train from the Coast is a few minutes late and they let the Londons go without you!

Haha, that's the worry, might just get a train through to Warrington BQ an wait an hour just so we aren't cutting it 15-minutes-delay-because-it's-a-bit-rainy fine.

Plus is that a Pendo service to Euston for Warrington?