Cattle Class or First Class - you decide! (Virgin Trains)

Member Name: marymoose

Product:	Virgin Trains
Date:	01/11/08 (526 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pretty fast, reasonable service, wine has high alcohol content

Disadvantages: Not always reliable, cattle class is crowded, tickets are expensive

I seem to spend a great deal of time on trains, mainly due to the fact that I don't 'do' driving. But in a funny sort of way I actually quite enjoy it. I've already reviewed my experiences on Northern Rail which I use for my daily commute.



---Today's journey---

Today (5th September 2008) however I am travelling on the 16:34 Virgin Pendolino from Carlisle to London Euston (which was the 15:10 from Glasgow). This afternoon we'll be stopping at Penrith, Oxenholme, Lancaster, Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe, Rugby, Milton Keynes and London Euston.

I'm going down to Essex as my parents are having a party - Gerry the Giraffe bouncy castle will be there and everything - hubby didn't fancy the drive down, so I'm going down on my own on the train and will have to explain to everyone at the party that hubby and I aren't having marital problems!



---A pointless ramble---

The first time I ever travelled on this Virgin line was also the first time I'd ever travelled on my own on the train (back in early 1999), I was travelling up to Lancaster for an Open Day at the University, and on buying the ticket was asked if I wanted smoking or non-smoking. I hadn't had any idea that people were allowed to smoke on trains, so with a glance behind to check my mum was out of earshot I booked a seat in the naughty carriage.

I was miserable as sin when I left Lancaster, as although I'd loved the University and the campus, I made the mistake of asking a girl on a bus if I'd like Lancaster, to which she replied condescendingly "You'd find it boring." So that was it, my plans for the future had gone out of the window with just that short sentence, and thus my life changed course - the butterfly effect.

When I got onto the train I found my seat joining a drunk Scotsman, who was upset about his ex wife and his wee lad or something, and a nice young man called James who was coming back from his girlfriend's father's funeral. I joined them in drinking (they were buying) and smoking the journey away. It was a journey I often look back on fondly.



---No more smoking carriages---

The next time I was on a Virgin train there were no longer any smoking carriages. This doesn't really bother me since I no longer smoke....in fact it wouldn't have bothered me anyway since it was a novelty being able to smoke in the first place. However, I have to say that I did meet some interesting people in smoking carriages (mainly between Hull and Kings Cross on GNER)...smokers are generally far more sociable it seems - probably because everyone else hates them so much.



---Back to now---

So here I am, it's 5:15pm and I've reminisced about the past. The train didn't leave until 16:44 so 10 minutes behind schedule. I'm sat in Coach D. I couldn't be bothered to sit by a window as the rain is depressing. Mind you, the man across the aisle is taking photos out of his window - maybe like me he has a thing for Cumbrian sheep.



---Refreshments---

For the purpose of this review I'm now going to make my way to the buffet carriage. Tell a lie, I'm going because I want a drink!

I'm back and have a half bottle of Casa La Joya Cabernet Savignon. It cost me £4.80. It smells and tastes fruity. Bloody hell, it's 14% alcohol - so that'll be why I usually stagger off Virgin trains!

I also bought a ham sandwich for £2 (the cheapest and plainest available). I should have bought a baguette from the sandwich shop in Carlisle when I left work. But I'd vaguely hoped that since my last trip 3 months ago that Virgin had started selling reasonably priced 3 course dinners. Perhaps they do in First Class - who knows what mysteries go on in there (since using First Class it's not all that exciting!). Since my equivalent return ticket for first class would have cost £300 I'd rather save my money and drink the Virgin wine instead.

I will review the sandwich when I come to it. The shop did look decidedly bare. I expect it'll be filled up at Preston when they have a changeover. But I didn't want to take the risk. I was not even slightly tempted by the sole Aberdeen Angus cheeseburger. I made that mistake once before and paid £3.50 for the pleasure. Think Tesco extra value burger with extra fat - you get the picture? Mind you, it's hot, as are the £3.00 bacon rolls (which there's a picture of at the bottom of this review from a previous trip where I had thought I might write a review - I'm not in the habit of taking pictures of bacon sandwiches) but at least the bacon rolls are just about edible.

Anyway, there is a selection of overpriced snacks - to give an idea peanuts (70p), Fruitcake slice (£1.20), Carlsberg can (£2.60), fruit bag (£1.10), Black Thorn cider can (£2.60) - prices correct from April 2008.

According to the Virgin train magazine "Hotline" (which contains a wealth of useless information) "...it's all waiting for you at The Shop".

Anyway, it's now 5:40pm and we're at Lancaster. I think having filled 3 pages of my A4 pad that I'll read for a bit.

40 minutes later and we're arriving at Warrington Bank Quay.

I've had my sandwich which was boring but reasonable. The bread was soft, there was a fair bit of ham - the packet stated Medium Fats, Low Saturates, Low Sugar and High Salt. Shame about the salt, but such is processed food.

It's getting busier now, don't think I'll have a double seat to myself for much longer. This is what I don't like - please please don't sit next to me! Maybe the fact that I'm drinking will but them off.



---First Class---

There's just been an announcement saying that on Monday Coach G on Virgin Pendolino trains will revert back to being a First Class carriage. Now THIS is what REALLY riles me about Virgin trains. There are the same number of First Class as Standard Class carriages, but only 5-10% of the customers travel First Class (my estimations). Now if travelling "cattle class" was cheap then I wouldn't complain, but train travel whatever class is expensive. In the past I hear they used to do a thing where you could upgrade to First Class for £10 - I have looked on the website, and on bank holidays/weekends you can apparently upgrade to First Class for £15 - I will bear this in mind for the future (although I generally travel on weekdays). However, on weekends and bank holidays you only get tea/coffee and biscuits - no free booze!!!

In all seriousness I really don't mind sharing a double seat with someone, although I prefer both to myself (except in the past in smoking carriages where I used to chat to people). But back in May it was so packed and there were so many people left standing - meanwhile First Class was more than half empty.



---Luggage---

This is linked to the overcrowding in Standard Class, but is also a separate issue. Virgin trains are not designed for people with luggage. The overhead racks are conveniently just too small to fit my bag into, and there's not enough additional space for luggage. It's not too bad now, but on a day where every seat is filled it's Bedlam - suitcases down the aisles, on the ceilings, in the toilets - everywhere!

A note to Virgin - if you move the overhead luggage space down a couple of inches then that will go a long way in solving the problem.



---Claustrophobia---

I am not generally claustrophobic. If I was then there would be absolutely no way on the earth that I could travel on a Virgin train. Anyone who says that they are claustrophobic and travels on Virgin trains must be lying. Unlike traditional trains Virgin ones don't have windows - there's no chance of a breath of fresh air. It's even worse when the air conditioning is broken.



---Virgin Toilets---

I just went to the shop again and got a half bottle of white wine (13.5% alcohol) and a small bag of pretzels. On the way back I went to the toilets as there's now someone sat next to me and I didn't want to make unnecessary trips.

I have spent many happy hours outside Virgin toilets, generally when travelling up to Scotland when the train's been too busy to get a seat. There are two types of Virgin toilet - the 'normal' train toilet (where you go in and lock the door behind you manually), or the wheelchair friendly one. Press a button on the outside and in you go, press another button to close the door and another to lock it behind you. This is all fine until the lock button doesn't work (or you are drunk and forget) and someone comes in after you. The other issues is that if the person before you has flooded the toilet and you have a bag there's no where to put it - don't want it on the manky floor. One I placed my bag on the sink, but of course this activated the automatic water taps.



---Marymoose travels First Class!---

This review was almost ready to be published when I decided that I would try out First Class.

It's now exactly 8 weeks later (31st October 2008) and I am on the same train again (4:34pm to Euston) - but this time I am in Coach J which is First Class. Since I only wanted a single journey (will be going back in the car which hubby has) and because I booked in advance, and since I'm on holiday I thought I'd treat myself. My ticket cost £76 one way from Carlisle to Euston - if I'd bought it on the day it would have cost something absurd like £185. If I had gone cattle class and bought my ticket in advance I could have got a ticket as cheap as £18 - however, this would have involved changing trains, and arriving very late. It's worth looking on the website and playing around until you find the ticket you want. I actually purchased my ticket through the Virgin website which was very easy to do.

Anyway, today the train was on time, and as soon as I'd found my seat and sat down I was offered tea and called Madam. I don't drink tea, but a few minutes later the staff came with the drinks trolley and I got a glass of white wine.

Throughout the journey I had 5 glasses of wine (2 big, 3 small) and a bottle of water - for the last hour though no drinks were offered which was a bit disappointing - however I think I'd probably had enough. It also meant I wasn't drunk on arrival in London for once! Complimentary drinks include wine, beer, cider, a small selection of spirits, hot drinks, and Virgin soft drinks.

The food trolley came round and I had a Wensleydale and carrot wrap which was lovely, and a piece of ginger cake. On the trolley's way back I got a ham and chutney sandwich and a shortbread biscuit. The only other food on offer was a warm salmon quiche - but this looked slightly overcooked. According to the website the menu changes weekly - the food on offer does depend on which journey are making.

Since my Ipod was out of charge I decided to listen to the onboard entertainment (much like it is on a plane) - I used my one headphones rather than asking for complimentary ones. To be honest it's pretty rubbish, and every time there's an announcement the music stops.

I enjoyed my First Class journey...while I imagine it was packed elsewhere on the train it was half empty in First Class. I was sat in a single seat with a table and a person across from me for some of the journey. Later on in the journey I did move so I could stretch out. The seats are wider and there is more leg room. I won't be travelling First Class as a rule though, normally for the journeys I make it would cost too much, and it's not really worth the extra cost for the benefits.



---Other---

I think my review has been pretty comprehensive, but just to list a few bits I might have missed out:

Disadvantages:
* The time we just stopped for an hour and there was no explanation or apology whatsoever
* The irritating alarm thing that they have (think it's for people who want assistance or something) - it is really annoying especially when it goes off repeatedly.
* Air conditioning is not always reliable
* Rubbish collecting is quite sporadic!
* Reserved seating function is often up the creak - seats saying available when other people have booked them - can lead to some annoyance!
* The announcement system is often really unclear and temperamental.


Advantages:
* Virgin are generally pretty good at replying to complaints, and you're likely to get a £5 or £10 voucher.
* The Virgin staff are generally good. This goes for the ones on the train (especially in First Class) and those at stations. Carlisle station is manned by Virgin staff.
* Trains are generally clean and comfortable
* Easy to buy tickets online, and get them from the Fast Track machine at the station.


To find out more about Virgin Trains, visit the website:

www.virgintrains.co.uk

Although my review is long I haven't talked about things like the network, special offers, Eurostar etc - this review has been based solely on my personal experience - as a review should be!

Summary: Good for me since I don't do driving!