Virgin First Class Return Advice

[Crossover]

One of my friends has recently won two Virgin First Class Return tickets to use on their network and since he has invited me to go with, we're after some thoughts/advice on the best way to use them.

Basically, we would probably be starting from Stafford and have had a few thoughts on where to go to essentially get the best value from them.

One thought we have had is up to Scotland, but are open to other ideas.

I would personally like to have a Pendolino for at least one of the journeys, especially if it is up to Scotland but other than that either Pendolino or Voyager is fine.

Onboard catering would be preferable too

We have also debated travelling on cheap tickets to either Birmingham or London to be able to do a longer run.

Also, for anyone who has done these before, as with us in Stafford who may have to travel to another station to catch a VT (such as to Scotland departing from Crewe) and VT run either no, or (in the case of Stafford - Crewe) limited, services, would they cover travel on any other operators services or would that have to be sorted separately?

 

[premier01]

One of my friends has recently won two Virgin First Class Return tickets to use on their network and since he has invited me to go with, we're after some thoughts/advice on the best way to use them.

Basically, we would probably be starting from Stafford and have had a few thoughts on where to go to essentially get the best value from them.

One thought we have had is up to Scotland, but are open to other ideas.

I would personally like to have a Pendolino for at least one of the journeys, especially if it is up to Scotland but other than that either Pendolino or Voyager is fine.

Onboard catering would be preferable too

We have also debated travelling on cheap tickets to either Birmingham or London to be able to do a longer run.

Also, for anyone who has done these before, as with us in Stafford who may have to travel to another station to catch a VT (such as to Scotland departing from Crewe) and VT run either no, or (in the case of Stafford - Crewe) limited, services, would they cover travel on any other operators services or would that have to be sorted separately?

I would recommend trying to get on a breakfast service on the outbound and Evening Meal service on the return journey to experience the best catering, as for getting best value for money if you could perhaps get cheap LM tickets to London and start your journey from there to Scotland.

 

[rail-britain]

In order to travel on a Pendolino to Scotland, you will probably have to travel all the way to Warrington
You will therefore miss out on the high speed experience, between Warrington and Euston

I therefore suggest you travel by London Midland to Euston
You can then travel from Euston to Glasgow, having breakfast
Return on the next service back south to Euston, although this will only be light snacks
Travel on the final London Midland service back to Stafford (or standard on VT)

However, if you leave later from Glasgow you may get an evening hot meal (er, more of a snack)
However, you will definitely have to travel back by VT to Stafford

The evening meal is not what it used to be, so make all the effort to enjoy breakfast
With careful planning you can end up with two!

 

[Crossover]

Back again!

Had a bit of progress and decided what we are going to do based on the above.

We have decided to get a train to Birmingham New Street and to travel to Glasgow from there. So, first question (mainly on my part) is do any of the services from New St to Glasgow get Pendolinos, or are they all Voyager run. If Voyager, is the First class food service similar to the Pendos?
If it helps for anyone in the know, (provided diagrams don't change but these times are based on a weekday in mid-May) we are planning on getting the 07:20 from BHM and returning (on a different day) on the 17:40 from GLC. This also has an advantage of actually calling at Stafford en-route = WIN!

We are thinking of visiting Glasgow, Perth, Dundee and Edinburgh over the three days, staying in Perth - what's the best way to ticket this? We have seen the 3 in 7 day Central Scotland Rover, although it doesn't cover Perth. We are thinking that we could do singles to get to/from Perth to/from the nearest station that is covered by the rover, to join up with it. Is there are any better way of doing it than doing singles?
Also, an a related note, am I correct in thinking that with a Rover, you can only change ticket where the train actually calls at as per NCoC Cond 19?

Hope all this makes sense

 

[bengolding]

Back again!

Had a bit of progress and decided what we are going to do based on the above.

We have decided to get a train to Birmingham New Street and to travel to Glasgow from there. So, first question (mainly on my part) is do any of the services from New St to Glasgow get Pendolinos, or are they all Voyager run. If Voyager, is the First class food service similar to the Pendos?
If it helps for anyone in the know, (provided diagrams don't change but these times are based on a weekday in mid-May) we are planning on getting the 07:20 from BHM and returning (on a different day) on the 17:40 from GLC. This also has an advantage of actually calling at Stafford en-route = WIN!

In terms of breakfast, the Voyager offering is inferior to the Pendolinos, although I did travel on one last week to New St where they offered an improved offering on before. After that, it's Light Bites all day with a choice of 2 sandwiches and no hot option, so not as good as the Pendo service.

If I were you, I'd do this:

OUTBOUND
Get the 07:03 Liverpool Pendolino from Stafford to Crewe (you may even get a quick breakfast on board as First will be empty!) and then get the 07:32 Glasgow Pendolino from Crewe, arriving 10:36. You'll be served breakfast after Preston and may even receive one after Crewe as I'd imagine First is fairly quiet from Euston. Alternatively, get the 05:55 Euston from Stafford to Nuneaton, then the 06:39 Liverpool north from there (the 07:03 from Stafford) - this way, you'll have ample time for a breakfast to Crewe!

RETURN
Get the 16:40 Euston service from Glasgow, where you'll be served the Evening Meal. Alight at Preston for the 19:16 Voyager to Birmingham, changing at Crewe for the 20:29 Euston service to Stafford. On both the latter two, you'll receive the Light Bites service at seat. The 17:40 is a Voyager so no hot service. Alternatively, get the 18:40 Euston service from Glasgow, which also offers the Evening Meal. Change at Preston for the 21:17 Voyager to Wolves, then return to Stafford on the 22:46 or 22:57 (if you go via Nuneaton earlier use the return portion from Nuneaton to Stafford).

 

[AlterEgo]

Bengolding has probably given you the best advice there to get the best out of your tickets.....sounds like a very good itinerary to me. The Pendolino breakfast offering is much better than the Voyager equivalent, as the Pendo has a kitchen rather than a small galley area with microwave.

 

[scotsman]

We are thinking of visiting Glasgow, Perth, Dundee and Edinburgh over the three days, staying in Perth - what's the best way to ticket this?

I suggest spending one day in Edinburgh, one in Glasgow and one between Dundee and Perth (there's not much in Perth, with a bit more in Dundee).

We have seen the 3 in 7 day Central Scotland Rover, although it doesn't cover Perth. We are thinking that we could do singles to get to/from Perth to/from the nearest station that is covered by the rover, to join up with it. Is there are any better way of doing it than doing singles?

Well, you could just buy a return to Stirling for your day in Glasgow @ £7.40 Off peak or £12.20 Anytime (the reason I say Stirling is that there are much more trains earlier in the Off Peak period, and every train calls there - the fare is the same as Dunblane, the nearest station!)

Or you could get your money's worth out of the rover and get a return to Markinch @ £8.20 Off Peak (first OP train is at 0848, so no need for an Anytime really), then travel via Edinburgh to get to Glasgow Queen Street.

This advice is the same for your trip to Edinburgh, but in reverse - travel via Stirling for a longer journey (likely to be a 158) unless you catch the southbound Highland Chieftain at 0956.

As for Dundee, it's simple - £12.40 anytime, £7.50 from 0936 onwards! (Although you may want to travel via Edinburgh/Glasgow to get to North Berwick instead, much nicer than either of the two, and you get a decent trip on your ticket!)

For your reference the following singles can also be used in combinations for more interesting journeys (eg. Perth-Dundee-Edinburgh-Glasgow & Glasgow-Edinburgh-Markinch-Perth, giving you high mileage accumulation travelling to/from Dundee

Perth - Stirling £7.30
Perth - Markinch £7.40
Perth - Dundee £6.70

 

[simonalexander05]

Hi, Simon here (the guy who won the tickets).

Thanks for all your suggestions so far

What are your thoughts on travelling to/from Edinburgh, rather than Glasgow? Would it result in a better journey (food/trains) overall?

I suggest spending one day in Edinburgh, one in Glasgow and one between Dundee and Perth (there's not much in Perth, with a bit more in Dundee).

This is kind of what I was thinking anyway - especially if we are staying in Perth, we can explore it a bit in the evenings. Are there any places we haven't considered that are nearby and worth visiting?

 

[AlterEgo]

All Edinburgh trains are Voyager-operated ordinarily, so you'd not get as high a standard of service as you would on a Pendo to Glasgow.

 

[scotsman]

This is kind of what I was thinking anyway - especially if we are staying in Perth, we can explore it a bit in the evenings. Are there any places we haven't considered that are nearby and worth visiting?

North Berwick and Linlithgow would be good for a day

 

[Crossover]

I'm back again!

Just after some thoughts on booked workings for tomorrow (which is when we are going up to Scotland) - hope its not too late.

Firstly, whats the FC catering service like on a Sunday on the respective trains (221/390)?

Services from Crewe:
10:08 to GLC (ex New Street) - how close to no chance is there of it being a Pendo?
Alternatively 10:57 to GLC (ex Euston) - is this booked for a Pendolino?

Also, does anyone have idea what loadings are likely to be like on these services (I expect Sun AM is likely to be quieter than other times)?

EDIT: And that post makes me an established member

 

[sonic2009]

I'm back again!

Just after some thoughts on booked workings for tomorrow (which is when we are going up to Scotland) - hope its not too late.

Firstly, whats the FC catering service like on a Sunday on the respective trains (221/390)?

Services from Crewe:
10:08 to GLC (ex New Street) - how close to no chance is there of it being a Pendo?
Alternatively 10:57 to GLC (ex Euston) - is this booked for a Pendolino?

Also, does anyone have idea what loadings are likely to be like on these services (I expect Sun AM is likely to be quieter than other times)?

EDIT: And that post makes me an established member

Class 221 : Collect Refreshments from the Onboard Shop
Class 390 : Served at Your Seat...

Only think offered is Tea,Cofee,Crisps,Biscuits,Still and Sparkling Water

 

[Crossover]

That was quick sonic2009!

Would I be right in thinking then that you don't get the normal breakfast service on either service on Sundays?

 

[SS4]

That was quick sonic2009!

Would I be right in thinking then that you don't get the normal breakfast service on either service on Sundays?

Nope, cooked breakfasts are only Monday to Friday

 

[W-on-Sea]

Hi, Simon here (the guy who won the tickets).


This is kind of what I was thinking anyway - especially if we are staying in Perth, we can explore it a bit in the evenings. Are there any places we haven't considered that are nearby and worth visiting?

I'd say St Andrews is *well* worth a visit (In fact, in my opinion I'd say far more so than Dundee, actually). Unfortunately there are no longer any direct bus services to there from Perth, but if there is a frequent bus service from Dundee or Leuchars. And if you wanted to explore further that way, some of the other villages on the East Neuk coast (especially Crail, Pittenweem, St Monans, Elie) are really attractive places too.

Perth's a charming small town with a lot of history, Glasgow and Edinburgh are both really wonderful (but obviously very different) cities, Dundee....I really have to say...not so much.

Another option from Perth might be to go up the Tay a bit, to, say ,Dunkeld, Pitlochry or Blair Atholl (though the main reason to go to the last of these would be the castle, as there's really very little else there)

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for the replies all - can anyone shed any light on the likelyhood of that 10:08 from Crewe being Voyager or Pendolino worked?

 

[Pumbaa]

Voyager 100% I'm afraid!

 

[Crossover]

Voyager 100% I'm afraid!

Cheers Pumbaa

Decision made - we're going for the later one that comes from Euston!

Will hopefully give a little while to try out the FC Lounge at Crewe