Website for First Class Perks

[rail-britain]

I'm pleased to report that I'm getting there. Since I last updated I've emailed all the TOCs asking for info and made a start on each TOC page

This is where you may run into problems
Where a website is deemed to be commercial (.co.uk, com, adverts, etc) then permission is usually denied
You need to get a legal agreement in place, most last three years
However, three TOC I know of will refuse, but you can get round that!

I've also found a few errors in the reviews, perhaps from old website content
Equally, I have already found this week that there are some differences between a TOC website, leaflets, and what is actually offered on the day!

 

[Tom B]

NXEC's offering is very variable - they don't offer a newspaper every day, it's when they can be bothered. Similarly, the trolley can be up and down all the time, or it can whizz around once and then disappear for the rest of the trip.

 

[rail-britain]

NXEC :
As previous, service can vary for many reasons including time of day, preceeding late trains, staff availability, and so on
I personally find their service very basic, with only drinks on offer
The Catering vouchers are a help to save money, but adding even just a sandwich and crisps / main meal can add £4.00 each way
For those reasons when travelling between Scotland and London I choose Virgin Trains instead

I tend to make at least three different journeys with a TOC and then compile the review from there
In most cases you can then determine what their "normal" service is and compare

 

[djw1981]

But with Virgin the service si worse - a Murdoch rag to read - often missing IME on the Brum runs. No at seat service north of Preston on the Brum trains (and frequently not on the London's, especially outside the peak). Their offering is mixed - the meal times are good, the snack box less so - it seems that the snack box costs a lot less than what you get at other times.

The ambience is less' First Class' as well, some due to service busy-ness (maybe better with VHF) but at one time it wasn't that different to SC - noisy, busy, luggage everywhere etc. NXEC can often be a lot better - quieter brighter, and until recently it had the advantage of wifi, thankfully being redressed.

 

[devon_metro]

Is Chiltern relevant, as they don't actually provide First Class :?

 

[Edvid]

I've noticed several in the same position,* notably London Underground (which isn't even a National Rail TOC).

* MerseyRail, London Overground, Heathrow Connect and (as mentioned) Chiltern Railways. There may be one or two I've missed out.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Their offering is mixed - the meal times are good, the snack box less so - it seems that the snack box costs a lot less than what you get at other times.

But VT have got rid of all the snack box's, haven't they? :???:

 

[djw1981]

Exactly. Even with the snack box, it seemed that peak and flows to Manchester and Brum got the best deal.

 

[rail-britain]

I've yet to try the Euston - Manchester, Euston - Liverpool, these are next week
Later this week I have a Birmingham - Edinburgh, so will see how this compares

I've now been on the 16:30 Euston - Glasgow twice this week
Loads of reserved seats in First Class, but only about 20% of the people actually turn up
On departing Preston this is down to less than twenty
However, I expect the service on Friday to be quite different!
The menu was also different each day

 

[williamn]

Was on Virgin First Euston- Manchester and return. Generally excellent - way above any other operator, though quality of staff not that great - few smiles, not very friendly.

I always think Eurostar First is fantastic. One nice little touch is the way everyone is welcomed to the train by a steward and then again when they leave the Steward stands by the door and say goodbye. I think GNER used to do this sometimes too. Little things like this make a trip seem special.

 

[rail-britain]

I would rank ATW First Class between Holyhead and Cardiff, as the best so far, but it's not perfect
The Mk3 RFM is well turned out and looks like it has been retrimmed before it entered public service, however there are a few very small detail items missing but if you didn't know they were supposed to be there then you wouldn't notice
The toilet is most unusual (10249) and suffers from poor lighting on the mirrors, and who in their right mind out a full length mirror in there!?!
It was also quite difficult to tell the difference between hot and cold taps

 

[thefab444]

That really depends on your perspective. On the 444s and 159s, the seating in 1st is pretty good - 2+1 instead of 2+2, with better legroom and window alignment (particularly an issue on the rather cramped 159s).

Indeed, the seating in FC on the 444s is pretty good; can't speak for the 159s though but they look good.

The power points are a real bonus too - you may be able to find them in standard (I've never really spotted them)

They are located in the DMSO (the other driving coach), I think it is just table seats that have them, but there are 4 per table.