WAG Express Premier Service

[marcouk2]

On my ALR for the end of this month I've got a section of the northbound WAG Express planned in.

Trying the Premier Service has taken my fancy but information on the ATW website is sparse regarding the finer details of it.

Having no idea how long they take to cook/serve the Premier Service would it be doable timewise on just the Cardiff - Shrewsbury leg of the journey or would extending it to Crewe be needed for the full meal.

Also is the specific 'Premier Upgrade' required for the Premier Service or is an upgrade/excess of the ALR to first class for the single journey all that is required?

Many Thanks.

 

[FQ]

On my ALR for the end of this month I've got a section of the northbound WAG Express planned in.

Trying the Premier Service has taken my fancy but information on the ATW website is sparse regarding the finer details of it.

Having no idea how long they take to cook/serve the Premier Service would it be doable timewise on just the Cardiff - Shrewsbury leg of the journey or would extending it to Crewe be needed for the full meal.

Also is the specific 'Premier Upgrade' required for the Premier Service or is an upgrade/excess of the ALR to first class for the single journey all that is required?

Many Thanks.

It doesn't go to Crewe. I don't know but for things like that you Usually have to go all the way through, in this case Holyhead.

 

[bb21]

There is plenty of time for a meal to be served even if you are only going to Shrewsbury. The full upgrade is payable, which is £32.50, although Railcard discount is available if you have one.

 

[Welshman]

As far as I know, you just need to upgrade to first class for the journey you're making, and dinner is offered to passengers with first-class tickets. It may be a good idea to reserve a seat in first the same time as you upgrade.

We've used the train twice, and on both occasions they've asked when leaving Cardiff when we'd like our meal. On both occasions, we opted for an early meal for personal preferences, and it was served, enjoyed and cleaned away by Shrewsbury.

You certainly don't have to stay on to Holyhead to enjoy the full dinner. As far as I know, the chef leaves the train at Rhyl, so he can board the morning train the following day!

It's an excellent service, and a lovely way to travel. Make the most of it, for, apparently, the subsidy ends in 2015.

 

[30907]

There is plenty of time for a meal to be served even if you are only going to Shrewsbury. The full upgrade is payable, which is £32.50, although Railcard discount is available if you have one.

I've had dinner between Shrewsbury and flint.

 

[bb21]

I'm sure there is no minimum distance requirement. Provided that there is a sensible amount of time, I am sure the attendants will be able to adjust the speed of service accordingly.

I highly recommend this service.

 

[FQ]

I'm sure there is no minimum distance requirement. Provided that there is a sensible amount of time, I am sure the attendants will be able to adjust the speed of service accordingly.

I highly recommend this service.

So I guess Ruabon to Wrexham is out of the question

 

[Welshman]

So I guess Ruabon to Wrexham is out of the question

As far as I remember from our journeys, doggy-bags and indigestion tablets were not provided.

 

[DarloRich]

On my ALR for the end of this month I've got a section of the northbound WAG Express planned in.

Trying the Premier Service has taken my fancy but information on the ATW website is sparse regarding the finer details of it.

Having no idea how long they take to cook/serve the Premier Service would it be doable timewise on just the Cardiff - Shrewsbury leg of the journey or would extending it to Crewe be needed for the full meal.

Also is the specific 'Premier Upgrade' required for the Premier Service or is an upgrade/excess of the ALR to first class for the single journey all that is required?

Many Thanks.

I did it on my ALR. I traveled Cardiff - Holyhead on Monday night, there were 5 of us in fc. It was fantastci!

I was served my starter just after Abergaveny, my main as we passed Pontrilas signal box and my desert at Ludlow. Drinks service continued to Chester ( but as i was the only on on for Holyhead the staff, who were great, kept it going till after Conway.
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I'm sure there is no minimum distance requirement. Provided that there is a sensible amount of time, I am sure the attendants will be able to adjust the speed of service accordingly.

I highly recommend this service.

Indeed on the return leg is was scheduled to get off at Chester and the staff called the chef to ask him to cook me some breakfast as soon as he got on at Rhyl!

In the end as i stayed on till Shrewsbury he did my lovely breakfast with the others after Chester.

 

[marcouk2]

Cheers for the info guys, works out easier only travelling as far as Shrewsbury on the WAG Express to get to where i'm staying for the night.

Querying the Premier upgrade ticket as looking at the restriction code details on BRFares it implies it is valid for a return journey which I dont need and even with a railcard is still more expensive than a straight SDS->FDS upgrade.

Is it possible to buy the upgrade from the ticket office when buying my ALR?

 

[bb21]

What Railcard do you have?

If you have Y-P, remember that it is not valid with the FDS, so you are looking at an excess from the discounted SDS to the full fare FDS, which is £32.25 for Cardiff - Shrewsbury, whereas an upgrade would knock about a third of the £32.50 fare.

The upgrade should be available from the ticket office, but I think you can just buy it onboard if you ask the guard before getting on. It is highly unlikely to be full in my experience.

 

[marcouk2]

Ah I'd missed that bit in my calculations bb21. So the premier upgrade will be cheaper for me. Thanks for spotting that.

I'll see if I can get a ticket office to issue me the upgrade, had enough fun last time getting my sleeper supplements issued.

 

[marcouk2]

No issues in buying premier upgrade and ALR at Doncaster this evening.

 

[postye]

I'm planning to do the WAG on my ALR in September and was just wondering how busy it's likely to be, i.e. will I need to reserve a seat in first/premier on the Friday evening service?

Thanks

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

It is possible to have a meal ordered and brought to your seat in standard class...I did this a few times last year both for the breakfast and evening meal. Haven't had the opportunity this year. It's good, but doesn't, of course, beat sitting in the first class accomodation.

 

[bb21]

How much did they charge for the meal alone?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

How much did they charge for the meal alone?

Well, I'm a vegetarian, so had the veggie breakfast on the way down to Cardiff and the veggie option on the return (Thai curry if I recall)...the former was, I think, £4 or 5.95 and the latter £7 or 8.95. Sorry, can't remember exactly, but we thought it was great vaue...piping hot!

 

[gazthomas]

Well, I'm a vegetarian, so had the veggie breakfast on the way down to Cardiff and the veggie option on the return (Thai curry if I recall)...the former was, I think, £4 or 5.95 and the latter £7 or 8.95. Sorry, can't remember exactly, but we thought it was great vaue...piping hot!

On that basis that's why I've gone for £21 each way advances from Llandudno junction to Cardiff in September. £59 each way seems quite the premium for meals and a bigger seat so pleased I can partake in the food still! I will be a mature student from October so can't wait to get a fresh Young Persons railcard!

 

[bb21]

Well, I'm a vegetarian, so had the veggie breakfast on the way down to Cardiff and the veggie option on the return (Thai curry if I recall)...the former was, I think, £4 or 5.95 and the latter £7 or 8.95. Sorry, can't remember exactly, but we thought it was great vaue...piping hot!

That price is pretty awesome.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

That price is pretty awesome.

Yes, I hope my memory isn't playing tricks! Actually, makes me want to try it out again...will have to look for something to do in the south.