West Midlands First Class. Any experience?

[Morpethcurve]

Travelling London - Birmingham and back in April, WMT 1st Class is good value although I realise it takes longer.

Is it proper First i.e. three abreast and more space, or would I just be paying for a headrest cover like on Southern?

Your comments would be appreciated. Many Thanks - Morpethcurve

 

[Lrd]

It's 2+2 mostly airline with 2(?) tables of 4. The seats aren't as comfortable as the standard class seats on the 350/1s and /3s but are better than the 3+2 seating on the /2s.

You're paying to guarantee yourself a seat but depending on the service you get then it will be empty by Milton Keynes/Northampton with a few more doing local journeys from Coventry/International into New Street.

I would look at Chiltern, takes a little bit longer than Virgin but are comfy trains, especially the loco hauled sets.

 

[Clansman]

Travelling London - Birmingham and back in April, WMT 1st Class is good value although I realise it takes longer.

Is it proper First i.e. three abreast and more space, or would I just be paying for a headrest cover like on Southern?

Your comments would be appreciated. Many Thanks - Morpethcurve

Depends what you're after. On a 3+2 layout train it is an improvement, but on the general 2+2 layout it's nothing special. It purely depends on the type of seating which suits you.

It's by no means proper, but rather a premium hyped standard offering. For example, different style seats in 2+2 layout, larger largroom, curtains, an amticaster, and two plug sockets, is what you're getting for your money. I've travelled in it a few times from Tamworth to Crewe and have no complaints. I'm not sure how the first class fares compare against standard so I'm not how WMT value the 'upgrade'.

Although the seats are said to recline, I've failed to do so!

 

[class387]

I must emphasise the fact that if your train is a 350/1 or 350/3, as many Birmingham trains are, the first class seats are in fact worse, than the seats used in standard!

 

[Morpethcurve]

Many Thanks. Thats put that one to rest.

Regards - Morpethcurve

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 1st seats are the same as used in Standard (and 1st) on the 2+2 seated Southern and Southeastern Electrostars. They are OKish, but are a slightly odd design with very high armrests and very thick support pillars, which to make makes for a less comfortable seat than the Grammer E3000s found in Standard (on /1, /3 and /4), and noticeably less legroom than all the Standard seats except the airline side centre section which has an extra row crammed in. Personally I don't even bother going sitting there even if it is declassified unless there is no other seat.

 

[47271]

Also to say that, unless recently refurbished, the cabin is very likely to be threadbare to the extent that you won't be able to tell the original colour of the seats. I was on a particularly horrid example between London and Milton Keynes the other day.

Watch for the trains that sit at Northampton for 20 minutes, that's another reason not to do this.

I travel between London and Birmingham a fair bit, if you want value for money go on the single class Chiltern. If money is no object and you're in a hurry use Virgin. If you take the attitude that everything in life has to be tried once, go First Class on a crusty 350.

 

[Morpethcurve]

I appreciate the advice. I am thinking of going down on a loco-hauled Chiltern and back up on a £27.00 Virgin upgrade, on a 390.

Thanks - Morpethcurve.

 

[boxy321]

I appreciate the advice. I am thinking of going down on a loco-hauled Chiltern and back up on a £27.00 Virgin upgrade, on a 390.

Thanks - Morpethcurve.

Sounds good. I was on both this morning: VT to Brum then Chiltern to Solihull. I really should go to London on the latter one day.

 

[Hadders]

There are two reasons for using 1st class on WMT:

1. Guarantee of a seat
2. Better ambiance away from the chavs and riff-raff (most of the time)

 

[Mordac]

On 350/1s, the seats are worse in first than standard. They're the only train seats that ever caused me pain.

 

[capoldi]

There are two reasons for using 1st class on WMT:

1. Guarantee of a seat
2. Better ambiance away from the chavs and riff-raff (most of the time)

A couple of mentions of a 'guaranteed seat' here...of course not the case, and frequently the opposite - on at least 4 of the departures I regularly use 1st is standing room only, with standard having loads of space.