Virgin First Class service north of Preston

[bengolding]

A Virgin TM told me that the Birmingham-Scotish Voyagers now offer an at-seat service in First Class Mon-Fri north of Preston, i.e. Preston-Glasgow/Edinburgh and v.v. This brings consistency to the whole Virgin route with all services now offering an at-seat service in First during weekdays.

If only the Voyager First Class breakfast offering could be improved. XC offer a rotating First menu with several hot and cold options on offer, it's a shame Virgin don't catch on with this on the Super Voyagers.

 

[Failed Unit]

I must admit that you feel a bit of a poor relation if you get a Voyager compared to a pendo. If you travel 1st class from Glasgow - Preston at 07:35 you get a nice cooked breakfast for example, but leave 25minutes later and pay the same price you have to walk to the shop to get a soggy roll. With the revised seating in the coach the shop is in (B?) you may as well save yourself some cash and buy the soggy roll!

I would be nice to see the same product offered on all Virgin trains, the Voyagers offer Breakfast from Holyhead so why not on Brum - Scotland. I bet the pax from Crewe are not happy as they must use the Voyager now so they have had a downgrade in product for the same price.

 

[350401]

With the VWC Voyagers, the shop is in Coach D, First Class is Coach E. Not too long a walk. The main issue with first class in the Voyagers is that Coach D, which is 2+2 around tables, is used as 1st class on the Euston-Wales runs. Imagine paying for first, and having to sit in effectively standard class seating! But yes, agreed, Virgin really should improve their catering offer on the Voyagers.

 

[Failed Unit]

With the VWC Voyagers, the shop is in Coach D, First Class is Coach E. Not too long a walk. The main issue with first class in the Voyagers is that Coach D, which is 2+2 around tables, is used as 1st class on the Euston-Wales runs. Imagine paying for first, and having to sit in effectively standard class seating! But yes, agreed, Virgin really should improve their catering offer on the Voyagers.

I know it isn't a long walk, but is anything a long walk on a voyager My point was really that you get at seat on the same route depending on where your train is going and pay the same price. At least with the 2+2 on the wales route you do get all the "frills" that the pendo's do. I guess people travelling from London - Crewe probably still avoid the Voyagers as much as the Glasgow - Warrington passegners do!

 

[rail-britain]

I would be nice to see the same product offered on all Virgin trains, the Voyagers offer Breakfast from Holyhead so why not on Brum - Scotland. I bet the pax from Crewe are not happy as they must use the Voyager now so they have had a downgrade in product for the same price.

I didn't get any cooked breakfasts on the Voyagers with the option; it was the all day breakfast bar (microwaved)
Certainly doesn't compare to the full breakfast options on a 390
Ironically, the VT breakfast bar is the same as the one offered to ScotRail sleeper passengers (free for First Class and £4 to standard)

 

[bengolding]

For those who use Nuneaton, there is no option but to use the damn Voyagers. The 07:34 to Euston is coupled with 2 Voyagers - one from Lancaster and another from Holyhead. Despite this, the only breakfast option is, as you say, a soggy unapetising bacon roll. Both the 17:10 and 18:10 north are double trains, but at least they offer the hot option, usually a very minimalistic boil in the bag bangers and mash. The last time I was on the 17:10, the 2+2 composite coach was First, which was hardly used compared with the proper First next door, which was full.

First Class catering on the Voyagers could be far better. I recall using the 14:17 Paddington-Glasgow to Leamington Spa several years back, just after Voyagers were started on that route. Then, I was offered a rather nice hot option from a dedicated First Class host.

 

[First ScotRail]

Great news long overdue, overever I do feel the voyager catering offer is far poorer than the pendolino, I was only ever offered a bacon panini and that was it! I was less than impressed.