Don't forget that LondonMidland's half-price sale on Super Off-Peak tickets runs until next Sunday (3rd July) - the tickets bought have a return validity of a month. Tickets cost £9 BUT there are major time restrictions during the Monday-Friday peaks (any train can be used at weekends).
Virgin Trains will have a First Class seat sale from Wednesday (29th June) for journeys taken between 23rd July and 4th September. Single fares between Birmingham New Street and London Euston will be £19 - selected trains only of course!
Monday 27 June 2011
Making the most of Virgin Trains
Friday and Saturday's Pendolino connections to my Eurostar trip were object lessons in the good and the not-so-good aspects of the Virgin Trains services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.
Let's start off with a 'hidden' good... As a standard class ticket holder with time to kill before my train, New Street can be a depressing and expensive experience. However for £3.50 (the cost of a Virgin Trains only First Class Single to Birmingham International) I was able to wait in comfort in the First Class lounge, enjoy a second breakfast, use the free WiFi, pick up copies of the Independent and Financial Times, and walk to my train with a take-away drink... Oh, and the loo's free too...
The 8.30 Pendolino was waiting for me as I arrived to board it 10 minutes before departure. My reservation was in Coach C and for once the reservation system seemed to be working. What was NOT working were the sockets - memo to self, always check before booting up the laptop. Of course, the train manager couldn't help.
The train wasn't too busy so was relatively comfortable to travel on. Departure was on time and arrival was only slightly late. However, despite the shop being open, there was no announcement about this service made (a regular occurrence these days - do the staff think everyone now knows). Also, disappointingly, Virgin's 'Onboard' replacement for the late-lamented 'Hotline' magazine had not been updated.
Coming back, I was able to join the 1603 departure from Euston. One of the advantages of the Eurostar connection ticket is that the First Class upgrade is available on the train, so I joined a very quiet 'Quiet' coach H. Pleasantly surprised to find that the upgrade now cost only £10 - a veritable bargain when you consider the benefits - which the train manager assured me was due to staff pressure on management. He also told me that the change of price was well publicised BUT you won't know of the new price if you checked the Virgin Trains or National Rail websites, nor have I been overwhelmed by posters at the stations...
This time there was a shop announcement BUT no First Class hosts due to 'staff shortages' Still the Shop host was very friendly and helpful and the complementary first class fare very welcome. WiFi worked fine too, and the journey was speedy.
Overall, Virgin do deliver BUT not fully. One wonders if management's heart really is in the bid to renew the franchise or whether they have thrown in the towel already...
Let's start off with a 'hidden' good... As a standard class ticket holder with time to kill before my train, New Street can be a depressing and expensive experience. However for £3.50 (the cost of a Virgin Trains only First Class Single to Birmingham International) I was able to wait in comfort in the First Class lounge, enjoy a second breakfast, use the free WiFi, pick up copies of the Independent and Financial Times, and walk to my train with a take-away drink... Oh, and the loo's free too...
The 8.30 Pendolino was waiting for me as I arrived to board it 10 minutes before departure. My reservation was in Coach C and for once the reservation system seemed to be working. What was NOT working were the sockets - memo to self, always check before booting up the laptop. Of course, the train manager couldn't help.
The train wasn't too busy so was relatively comfortable to travel on. Departure was on time and arrival was only slightly late. However, despite the shop being open, there was no announcement about this service made (a regular occurrence these days - do the staff think everyone now knows). Also, disappointingly, Virgin's 'Onboard' replacement for the late-lamented 'Hotline' magazine had not been updated.
Coming back, I was able to join the 1603 departure from Euston. One of the advantages of the Eurostar connection ticket is that the First Class upgrade is available on the train, so I joined a very quiet 'Quiet' coach H. Pleasantly surprised to find that the upgrade now cost only £10 - a veritable bargain when you consider the benefits - which the train manager assured me was due to staff pressure on management. He also told me that the change of price was well publicised BUT you won't know of the new price if you checked the Virgin Trains or National Rail websites, nor have I been overwhelmed by posters at the stations...
This time there was a shop announcement BUT no First Class hosts due to 'staff shortages' Still the Shop host was very friendly and helpful and the complementary first class fare very welcome. WiFi worked fine too, and the journey was speedy.
Overall, Virgin do deliver BUT not fully. One wonders if management's heart really is in the bid to renew the franchise or whether they have thrown in the towel already...
Virgin Trains fares
On Friday I was lucky enough to be taking the Eurostar to Paris... As the trip was long planned, I had bought my tickets from St Pancras as soon as booking was open in April but only for the London-Paris portion of the overall journey as I wanted to retain my flexibility on travel from & to Birmingham...
For mid-morning (Monday-Friday) and all Saturday and Sunday departures from St Pancras, this is possible because Virgin Trains sells a standard class Eurostar connection single ticket for £22.20. Monday to Friday, this ticket is valid on trains timed to arrive in London after 9.40 (ie on the 830 Pendolino onwards).
Of course, Virgin don't sell this ticket online so you have to go to the booking office at New Street and argue your way to getting them. First, take your Eurostar tickets then persist in asking for a London International (CIV) single for both legs of the journey. In theory, the ticket is a walk-on fare BUT as the booking office staff rarely sell them (and so tend not to know about them) it is best not to leave the purchase until the last minute...
Apart from the price, the great advantage is that this ticket is protected by European rail regulations which means that both Eurostar and Virgin are bound to honour their service provision should delays to the journey occur (ie should the Pendolino fail then Eurostar will put you on the next available train).
Another advantage is that at weekends, a £10 upgrade will get you First Class travel but only if you buy it on the train...
For mid-morning (Monday-Friday) and all Saturday and Sunday departures from St Pancras, this is possible because Virgin Trains sells a standard class Eurostar connection single ticket for £22.20. Monday to Friday, this ticket is valid on trains timed to arrive in London after 9.40 (ie on the 830 Pendolino onwards).
Of course, Virgin don't sell this ticket online so you have to go to the booking office at New Street and argue your way to getting them. First, take your Eurostar tickets then persist in asking for a London International (CIV) single for both legs of the journey. In theory, the ticket is a walk-on fare BUT as the booking office staff rarely sell them (and so tend not to know about them) it is best not to leave the purchase until the last minute...
Apart from the price, the great advantage is that this ticket is protected by European rail regulations which means that both Eurostar and Virgin are bound to honour their service provision should delays to the journey occur (ie should the Pendolino fail then Eurostar will put you on the next available train).
Another advantage is that at weekends, a £10 upgrade will get you First Class travel but only if you buy it on the train...
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