Train travel - advantages of first class travel?

[olivo]

I don't live in England but need to visit and will need to make a train journey of around 4 hours. What are the benefits of first class train travel over standard? Is it worth it? I have two teens and a family railcard.

TIA

Weekends: no food, here's a voucher for a free cup of tea, go and get it yourself from the buffet car. This was mainly Virgin Trains, pre CovId

Same on East Midlands trains.

Free WiFi is standard on all trains regardless of standard/first class. You probably won’t have a separate loo either, so it’ll be the same one everyone else uses.

I don’t think the extra price difference is worth it personally.

I often travel 1st from Dorset to London and get tickets from Trainline, sometimes its cheaper than the standard fare. I have never been given free drinks a newspaper or food and the toilets are the same as every other roilet, the seats are a bit bigger especially the single window seat, you get a window curtain but it was spoilt with pretty much everyone on their phone, laptops or iPads clicking away or talking.

Don't book through Trainline, they charge a fee and if anything goes wrong they're a hassle to deal with. You can book on the train operator's website with no fee.

Thanks Orf, it is always cheaper for me this way. OP, where are you travelling from wnd to, what dates.

The old East Coast trains used to have a great First Class, sandwiches, crisps and lots of wine top-ups!

Depends on the price and how busy the train is. If it's busy then first is worth it for the extra room. I've just bought a first class ticket from London to Norwich for £15, you can get good deals on off peak tickets.

Sometimes first class is busier than standard class. Plenty often there are noisy idiots in First class. Its not that much more special imho. "Riff raff" on trains arent exclusively found in standard class!

@soooooooG

It depends on the route, some are worth it, some aren't. GWR commuter trains first class into London are lovely.

Not any more- when do you last go on one?

Free Wi-fi is standard in trains. However how good it is definitely depends on how many other passenger devices are logged onto it.

Yeah since the ‘upgrade’ I tend not to bother with 1st on GWR. The seats are like ironing boards (compared to the old comfy leather armchairs), the lights are bright LEDs and it’s so bloody cold.

Also, WiFi on GWR is rubbish. It’s just a mobile phone mast stuck on a train that is very very slow.

Liverpool to Newcastle on a weekday afternoon. Quite a lot more, would have to sit separately.

My husband and I were upgraded to first class on virgin once because they made a mistake.
I actually hated it, the constant being offered things. When I'm on a train I prefer to sit down, go and get anything I want from the shop myself, then just be left to it. I didn't feel I could relax when there was someone at the table what felt like every 5 minutes asking if we wanted this and that.

@happymummy12345

My husband and I were upgraded to first class on virgin once because they made a mistake. I actually hated it, the constant being offered things. When I'm on a train I prefer to sit down, go and get anything I want from the shop myself, then just be left to it. I didn't feel I could relax when there was someone at the table what felt like every 5 minutes asking if we wanted this and that.

Just smile and say no thank you. This is a problem that I'm sure more of us would prefer.

More space and fewer problematic neighbours. People are generally quieter and keep to themselves rather than being loud and annoying. That said, if you think you might be loud and annoying travelling with 2 teenagers, it might be better to travel standard rather than get the looks from everyone else who paid extra for the peace and quiet.

If you had the means to do it, yes, I would. I love first class. But if it's a stretch, standard class is absolutely fine, especially if you are travelling off peak. It could potentially be nearly empty at the moment.

I did virgin to London when they had the east coast contract

Nice lounge at kings cross

And I had to be poured off the train after 6 hours I was so pissed

Food was good too

Tbh dont think its worth it with teens- they'll just be glued to their phones.

I've gone for it, got a good deal as they did accept my railcard. The space encouraged me, the DCs will just be on phones but they'll be quiet.

Thanks for all your help.

@PointeShoesandTutus

Transpennine pre Covid used to be an absolute bun fight. Even if you had reserved seats, half the time they didn’t apply them and you’d end up standing like sardines. I’d always opt for first on transpennine to stand a chance of actually getting to sit down, especially between Leeds and Manchester. It might be better now Covid has reduced train use, but I haven’t been since.

Better with Covid because they’ve added extra carriages (nearly double the number).

Still very busy when I took it though.

Never took 1st class with them (I usually travel shorter distances) but I doubt that the food will be the focal point.
Wifi is crap. I’ve never managed to log in on those trains.

Transpennine the first class is not worth it. It's just a different carriage with slightly fewer seats in.

Used to love travelling first class.
First did it with a baby and toddler. Staff were so helpful (this was the East Coast mainline in one of its many forms). More space for baby on lap and nice Nd quiet.
Then as the children got older... again nice and quiet. Staff sometimes would go and find more suitable snacks for the children. Sometimes we had a whole meal. And the space was very useful. As were the clean toilets in the lounges.

I'd like to point out though... my children were extremely quiet. My eldest was sensitive to noise so it was a lot better for her. I wouldn't have done it if they were lively!