VT 1st Class catering/timetable

[Leisurefirst]

Hello all,
Treated myself to First Class from Euston to Glasgow and return for a forthcoming trip.

Going up to Scotland is obvious enough as it's AM...looking forward to breakfast!

I'm confused about the return which will be on the 14.40 departure.

According to the VT timetable there is Dinner (it has the symbol at the top) but I don't understand the part about shading.
The corresponding dark shading is from Preston, it's lighter from Glasgow.

Does this mean by boarding at Glasgow Central I receive
- Lunch not dinner as only those boarding from Preston onwards receive it.
- Dinner but not until Preston.
- Both!
Thanks in advance...

 

[jfisher21]

I would expect a snack between Glasgow and Preston, then dinner after Preston. The dinners are not that big though!

 

[Iskra]

Probably lunch then dinner.

Definitely if you swap seat after Preston...

(Crews change at Preston)

 

[Silver Cobra]

You'll likely get offered both options, like jfisher has posted. I've only travelled from Glasgow to Euston once in first class (1240 service on a Thursday in August 2016), but in that case, I was offered both the lunch menu just after departing Glasgow and the afternoon snack menu after Preston. The fact the crew changes at Preston makes it more likely you'll get both.

**EDIT: Looks like VT have simplified their first class offerings somewhat since 2016. Back then there was something like 5 or 6 different 'menus' for the different times of the day, but now it seems there's just 3. Sort of like how VTEC/LNER reduced theirs down to 2.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I think you assumed correctly regarding the shading, but if you are travelling throughout to London Euston I think it's likely that the evening meal would also be offered to you after departure from Preston, with the afternoon offering served between Glasgow and there. I have recently travelled south from Carlisle on an evening service where dinner was served between there and Preston, then after departure from the latter sandwiches and crisps etc.were also offered if this helps?

 

[CMRail]

Meanwhile I’m sat on a three hour GWR service with a cup of tea, a biscuit and a packet of crisps... that I had to collect from the Standard Class trolley!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Meanwhile I’m sat on a three hour GWR service with a cup of tea, a biscuit and a packet of crisps... that I had to collect from the Standard Class trolley!

Yep, In all fairness you can't complain at the Virgin service at all, very decent all round by comparison.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Thanks everybody, sounds promising.
It felt like a bit of an extravagance, but I got what I consider a pretty good deal as I got 20 percent off with a Virgin Red code I was saving (I'm not eligible for a railcard for this journey) so it was just over £100 return.
Main reason was to get a single seat (not facing someone) guaranteed (not sure why I couldn't reserve one in coach K going to Scotland "not reservable?) with some space as I felt wierdly uncomfortable on my last (standard) trip on a Pendolino...and that was only from Oxenholme to Euston...so much so I got up and stood in the vestibule from about Rugby, just felt trapped and I'm not that tall!
Had been holding out for a Seat Sale but the single seats had almost all gone on the 14.40 return so I went for it!
Cheers again everybody!
Enjoyed my recent return trip from Paddington to Tenby partially in 1st (from/to Bristol Pkwy) thanks to tips on tickets from the forum

 

[jfisher21]

Coach K is not great as it often ends up as a staff room.... better to be in H or J in my opinion.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Coach K is not great as it often ends up as a staff room.... better to be in H or J in my opinion.

Oh dear, I'm in K coming back as the single seats that aren't facing someone else in H and J (why are there only one in each?!) had gone...there was only one left in K which was backwards, thankfully not too bothered by that. Hopefully as the others are booked they'll be filled with punters too!

 

[daniel97]

Thanks everybody, sounds promising.
It felt like a bit of an extravagance, but I got what I consider a pretty good deal as I got 20 percent off with a Virgin Red code I was saving (I'm not eligible for a railcard for this journey) so it was just over £100 return.
Main reason was to get a single seat (not facing someone) guaranteed (not sure why I couldn't reserve one in coach K going to Scotland "not reservable?) with some space as I felt wierdly uncomfortable on my last (standard) trip on a Pendolino...and that was only from Oxenholme to Euston...so much so I got up and stood in the vestibule from about Rugby, just felt trapped and I'm not that tall!
Had been holding out for a Seat Sale but the single seats had almost all gone on the 14.40 return so I went for it!
Cheers again everybody!
Enjoyed my recent return trip from Paddington to Tenby partially in 1st (from/to Bristol Pkwy) thanks to tips on tickets from the forum

If it was a 9-Car Pendo, K is the unreserved 1st Class coach

 

[Camden]

Yep, In all fairness you can't complain at the Virgin service at all, very decent all round by comparison.

I would complain about inconsistency if nothing else. At no point traveling first class with Virgin have I ever been offered anything more than derisory snacks.

A recent Glasgow trip, two cups of tea, a biscuit and a "snack box" containing the world's smallest sandwich.

If it wasn't that I sometimes need the extra space, I absolutely wouldn't bother.

 

[AlterEgo]

Virgin’s dinner service is tiny and you should not actually rely on it to replace your normal dinner meal.