When is first class train travel worth it?

[herange]

Have a four hour train journey soon to take, and the cost is £40 in standard or £70 in first class. Is it worth it?

I would for a four hour trip - you get fed and watered and it’s nicer.

I usually go standard but if there’s less than £30 difference (for a return?) it’s a no-brainer. I would spend more than that on coffees and food.

Which company/route?

GWR from Paddington not worth it at all

Virgin totally worth it. Hill Trsins not bad. GNER not bad.

It’s 18 years too late to travel with GNER 😉

Avanti not worth it - no food or drink provided.

Omg what are they called now? I used to get them up to Doncaster.

Lner is worth it especially if its the ones we're you get a proper meal and alcohol been less impressed with others

that’s a good price for a four hour journey even at £70, I would consider it definitely!

Avanti West coast is definitely worth it. I always get food and drink and enjoy time in the lounge to wait away from the crowd.

Depends which rail company. I used the Seat Frog upgrade app to upgrade for a few £ recently. Cross Country Basingstoke to Manchester, I got a free cup of tea and some biscuits soon after leaving Basingstoke and that was it. On the way back there were delays and cancellations and they allowed first class to be used by anyone because of overcrowding so I was jammed in with hundreds of football fans (from two teams that had just played each other, thankfully it stayed friendly) but absolutely no point paying for the upgrade that way either. I know the delays weren't their fault but I'm glad I hadn't paid the full first class fare. And they rejected my delay repay claim on a technicality.

LNER is the latest operator. Previously, post-GNER, it has also been called National Express, East Coast and Virgin.

You don’t get food and drink included - haven’t for a while.

Edited: ignore me. You do with first, not with standard premium!

LNER always worth it. Avanti West Coast sometimes worth it. LNER definitely the best first class service for normal trains in the country. Transpennine Express worth it on long journeys for advance booking. I really rate TfW actually but haven't been on it as much.

GWR probably not worth it unless it's the Pullman of course. Cross Country not worth it. Grand Central not worth it - just get a sad packed lunch and the seats are all broken.

I travel regularly from East Midlands to London St Pancras and use the seatfrog app to upgrade to first class..I've won quite a few auctions for £10..I got 2 hot drinks, bottle of water, cake/biscuits and sandwiches..definitely worth it for me but really does depend on which train company..its not always worth the extra cost.

LNER definitely worth it, food and drink including booze, and a nice lounge to wait in.

Look at Seatfrog and consider bidding as often cheaper way of doing it.