East Coast 1st Class - what to expect?

Cuilean

I'm going on East Coast to visit an old friend in Leeds in a couple of weeks, and since it wasn't a great deal more expensive to have a 1st class seat on the way back, I decided to give it a go. I've never travelled first class before, so I'm quite excited about it.


The thing is, I'm getting conflicting information on what to expect from various websites. Journey time will be about 3 hours - some writers say there will be a complimentary hot meal if you're on the train for that long, some people say you have to pay for that. There's a mention of complimentary wine from the drinks trolley, individual charging points for a laptop, and there seem to be varying reports of 1st class waiting rooms.


Is there anyone here who has experienced 1st class with East Coast who can tell me what to expect? Good and bad, please. I'm not a very regular train traveller, and I'd like to be prepared

wiogs

Cuilean wrote: »

I'm going on East Coast to visit an old friend in Leeds in a couple of weeks, and since it wasn't a great deal more expensive to have a 1st class seat on the way back, I decided to give it a go. I've never travelled first class before, so I'm quite excited about it.


The thing is, I'm getting conflicting information on what to expect from various websites. Journey time will be about 3 hours - some writers say there will be a complimentary hot meal if you're on the train for that long, some people say you have to pay for that. There's a mention of complimentary wine from the drinks trolley, individual charging points for a laptop, and there seem to be varying reports of 1st class waiting rooms.


Is there anyone here who has experienced 1st class with East Coast who can tell me what to expect? Good and bad, please. I'm not a very regular train traveller, and I'd like to be prepared

Wonder why "some people" would say that?

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/complimentary-food-and-drink/

I have had free meals, free drinks, free wifi (and yes I know none of it is really free)

Horizon81

What day are you travelling? You only get booze on weekdays (after lunchtime), not on weekends or bank holidays.

You'll get a hot meal, and regular offerings of tea and coffee, with less regular offerings of cold drinks/booze. You can have snacks as well like a sarnie, crisps, biscuits etc. You should have free wifi for the duration of your journey.

If you're travelling alone then you will hopefully have a single seat. That's the joy of first class if travelling alone. Not being stuck beside someone you'd rather not be!

Thea

I regularly do the Stevenage to Leeds route first class as its often cheaper then standard class.


I always get offered tea/coffee (warm not hot) and other beverages twice.


Food- either sandwiches or a hot meal. But recently they have always run out of something so choice is limited. (How I don't understand when its the first stop outside London and the carriage is not full). Nothing spectacular but for me easier then picking up something in Stevenage as I don't always have time.


Don't sit in the 'quite' coach near the staff. I have always got a table of 4 to myself (travelling just after lunch time). Seats are comfortable and recline a little. If the price is right definitely go for it.


Journey time is 2 hours.

yorkie2

Cuilean wrote: »

Is there anyone here who has experienced 1st class with East Coast who can tell me what to expect?

I can tell you what you can reasonably expect, but without knowing the origin, day of the week and time of travel, I cannot possibly say.

So, without that knowledge, anything from just a tea/coffee if you're lucky (e.g. Doncaster-Leeds) up to, potentially, a meal (e.g. London to Leeds on selected evening peak trains Monday-Friday).

Livingthedream

Don't forgert, with a 1st class ticket it gives you access to East Coast's 1st class lounges at their stations. A nice little perk.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/first-class-lounges/

Nice new/refurbished East Coast lounge just open at Edinburgh Waverley.