Train commuters
Discussion
Does anyone on here, who travels by train, pay the extra for first class?
I've been doing some sums and it works out that it's about £100 a month more for a first class ticket, which is about £4.50 a day based on 22 working days in the average month.
I'm contemplating it as my journey time is just under an hour, and often entails either standing, being sat in a carriage with no aircon, or squeezing into the uncomfortable seats with some fat / smelly / noisy oaf sat next to me eating cheese and onion crisps.
Anyone else taken the plunge and upgraded to first?
I've been doing some sums and it works out that it's about £100 a month more for a first class ticket, which is about £4.50 a day based on 22 working days in the average month.
I'm contemplating it as my journey time is just under an hour, and often entails either standing, being sat in a carriage with no aircon, or squeezing into the uncomfortable seats with some fat / smelly / noisy oaf sat next to me eating cheese and onion crisps.
Anyone else taken the plunge and upgraded to first?
I object to First Class on my route (South Eastern) as they offer NOTHING other than a higher chance of getting a seat. The seats are exactly the same.
So regularly there'll be 12 First Class seats with 1 person sitting down and 40+ people standing. Until there are enough seats for everyone they shouldn't be allowed to offer First.
So regularly there'll be 12 First Class seats with 1 person sitting down and 40+ people standing. Until there are enough seats for everyone they shouldn't be allowed to offer First.
funkyol said:
Does anyone on here, who travels by train, pay the extra for first class?
I've been doing some sums and it works out that it's about £100 a month more for a first class ticket, which is about £4.50 a day based on 22 working days in the average month.
I'm contemplating it as my journey time is just under an hour, and often entails either standing, being sat in a carriage with no aircon, or squeezing into the uncomfortable seats with some fat / smelly / noisy oaf sat next to me eating cheese and onion crisps.
Anyone else taken the plunge and upgraded to first?
Thing is, when trains are busy at peak times, they often de-classify First Class, so would you be happy knowing the gurning fool sat opposite you paid a regular price for his ticket?I've been doing some sums and it works out that it's about £100 a month more for a first class ticket, which is about £4.50 a day based on 22 working days in the average month.
I'm contemplating it as my journey time is just under an hour, and often entails either standing, being sat in a carriage with no aircon, or squeezing into the uncomfortable seats with some fat / smelly / noisy oaf sat next to me eating cheese and onion crisps.
Anyone else taken the plunge and upgraded to first?
I commute into London from just past Gatwick every day and was very tempted to upgrade to first class as I hardly ever got a seat.
I then realised my ticket covers me for the Gatwick Express (ANY ROUTE on it) and since then I have never had to stand up, or deal with a late train, plus the timetable is just every 15mins so it's a doddle to work out when the next train is.
Can't remember the last time I queued up for a ticket barrier that wasn't on the underground!
I then realised my ticket covers me for the Gatwick Express (ANY ROUTE on it) and since then I have never had to stand up, or deal with a late train, plus the timetable is just every 15mins so it's a doddle to work out when the next train is.
Can't remember the last time I queued up for a ticket barrier that wasn't on the underground!
theaxe said:
But don't you feel ripped off for paying £1000 more to get the level of service that you should get for 2nd class?
What's the point of "should"? Is that "should" in a "I have my rights" way?! The simple fact is that I have the choice to pay £x to stand most of the time for 90 minutes a day or £x + £1k to sit, and I choose to do the latter.
If they installed double decker trains and I was in comfort in 2nd class, I'd do that. But they haven't. And won't.
"Should" they? No. Because if they did £x + £1k would be what everyone would have to pay due to the cost of putting on that quality of service.
I see your point but I guess I'm just not happy with the monopoly that's imposed on me. I'd argue that instead of 40 people standing, with 1 person paying £1000 more and 11 empty seats there should be 29 people standing and the £1000 should not be paid by anyone.
Ideally I'd like to see zero people standing and as many first class seats as the market will bear offering a premium product that distinguishes itself by being beyond the basics.
Ideally I'd like to see zero people standing and as many first class seats as the market will bear offering a premium product that distinguishes itself by being beyond the basics.
pejay said:
I commute into London from just past Gatwick every day and was very tempted to upgrade to first class as I hardly ever got a seat.
I then realised my ticket covers me for the Gatwick Express (ANY ROUTE on it) and since then I have never had to stand up, or deal with a late train, plus the timetable is just every 15mins so it's a doddle to work out when the next train is.
Can't remember the last time I queued up for a ticket barrier that wasn't on the underground!
That will be Crawley then im guessing I then realised my ticket covers me for the Gatwick Express (ANY ROUTE on it) and since then I have never had to stand up, or deal with a late train, plus the timetable is just every 15mins so it's a doddle to work out when the next train is.
Can't remember the last time I queued up for a ticket barrier that wasn't on the underground!
theaxe said:
I see your point but I guess I'm just not happy with the monopoly that's imposed on me. I'd argue that instead of 40 people standing, with 1 person paying £1000 more and 11 empty seats there should be 29 people standing and the £1000 should not be paid by anyone.
Ideally I'd like to see zero people standing and as many first class seats as the market will bear offering a premium product that distinguishes itself by being beyond the basics.
Communist (only joking!)Ideally I'd like to see zero people standing and as many first class seats as the market will bear offering a premium product that distinguishes itself by being beyond the basics.
It's rarely just 1 seat occupied. This morning, the train was quiet due to holidays, so everyone in 2nd class who wanted a seat (and some don't) could get one. The 1st class section had 8 out of 12 seats occupied.
In peak season, it's usually full in 1st (thankfully after my station!) or 1 or 2 seats free.
I think it might help if the OP were to tell us which service.
My experience is that 1st class (and what it offers) is very different with different operators.
Some offer tea/coffee and biscuits, such as First TPE (excellent service) and NXEC (although they're often lacking when I travelling on that route them!).
Others like Cross-Country and Virgin add sandwiches or bacon roll to the mix (a bacon roll in NXEC 1st is three quid!).
Hull Trains to London are one of the best. Free cold evening meal on most services with hot meals on those with the necessary kitchen facilities.
My experience is that 1st class (and what it offers) is very different with different operators.
Some offer tea/coffee and biscuits, such as First TPE (excellent service) and NXEC (although they're often lacking when I travelling on that route them!).
Others like Cross-Country and Virgin add sandwiches or bacon roll to the mix (a bacon roll in NXEC 1st is three quid!).
Hull Trains to London are one of the best. Free cold evening meal on most services with hot meals on those with the necessary kitchen facilities.
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