Blackpool North to Glasgow Central

[GlasgowHST]

Hi there, I have been a long time reader of this form however this if my first post and I am looking for some advice. I have booked tickets online via the East Coast website to travel from Blackpool North to Glasgow Central for two adults in First Class on the 22nd of July, and it has given me a price of £41.60which includes the DSB railcard discount. The first part of my journey departing Blackpool is with Transpennine Express departing Blackpool North at 18:45 and connecting onto the Virgin Trains Service departing Preston at 19:41 arriving into Glasgow at 22:01. It states that this is a first advance ticket and it is valid only on the service chosen. It also states that it is valid on TP Express and Connections only. My concern is that between Preston and Glasgow I am travelling with Virgin, will there be any problems here and are AP TPE and Connection tickets valid on Virgin Trains? This ticket is also available to book on all train operator sites with the exception of Virgin. Can someone please answer this for me? Many thanks.

 

[transportphoto]

TPE & CONNECTIONS - the Connections bit is what makes it valid on Virgin.

As it is a Advance you would have a Mandatory Reservation Coupon for both the services - they (IIRC) print 'Only Valid with ticket no. 01234' so this and the ticket would permit you travel on the service.

 

[GlasgowHST]

Thanks for the quick reply and the info transportphoto, it is very much appreciated.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, "& Connections" tickets are valid on connecting services, we've seen several examples on this forum of where the "connection" covers a greater distance than the non-connection! This is another one to add to the list! (For example we recently had Leeds - York (TPE) + York - Newcastle (EC) on a TPE & Connections).

 

[rail-britain]

18:45 Blackpool North - Preston
You may be offered drinks and biscuits from the trolley

19:41 Preston - Glasgow
You will be offered drinks and one snack shortly after departing Preston
There should also be a second round of drinks after Carlisle
Although the two staff will be clearing up First Class feel free to ask them for more drinks, they may also offer you another snack (allowing you to try both)
Also many passengers will have left the train at Preston, often leaving it rather messy and untidy
I normally book seats in Coach J northbound, as there are normally less passengers in this coach (due to the Traveller scheme)

 

[GlasgowHST]

There are so many different ticket types out there that it all becomes very confusing and strangely enough Virgin do not offer this fare through their website, however it is available through all other operators including thetrainline.com.

Thanks rail-britian for all the info regarding the onboard service, I really was not expecting anything between Blackpool and Preston so if we get a drink and a biscuit then that would be a bonus.

What type of snacks do you get offered on Virgin Trains? I normally travel on East Coast to York, is it similar sort of service onboard Virgin?

Thanks again to everyone for their help, this forum is honoured to have people who give very useful info.

 

[rail-britain]

What type of snacks do you get offered on Virgin Trains? I normally travel on East Coast to York, is it similar sort of service onboard Virgin?

East Coast only offer drinks and biscuits
Virgin Trains will shower you in food and drink by comparison!
However it's nothing like it used to be

The snack is usually either a sandwich or pie
There is also a vastly wider range of "free" drinks; tea, coffee, orange juice, cola, wine, beers, and lager

You may be lucky and get served "left overs" of the evening meal
This will be a hot snack
If the train is quiet you can ask if you can try both, the Glasgow crew are usually more than happy to oblige (waste not, want not)

 

[route101]

Ive been unlucky whenever ive boarded at Preston and went on Virgin Ist Class . On the 2 times ive had no meal , they had run out and the second only drinks .

 

[rail-britain]

Ive been unlucky whenever ive boarded at Preston and went on Virgin Ist Class . On the 2 times ive had no meal , they had run out and the second only drinks

I would complain, what is the point of paying for First Class then!

You should have received at LEAST the snack
Equally, the meals are only served at the points in the timetable
If you board after these then it depends on how much is left (as above, if any)

 

[route101]

Yeah maybe i should . It was over 2 years ago . Maybe its changed now and the trains are restocked at preston and they are more proactive in providing catering north of Preston.

 

[rail-britain]

Yeah maybe i should . It was over 2 years ago . Maybe its changed now and the trains are restocked at preston and they are more proactive in providing catering north of Preston

Too late to complain now!
Northbound trains are rarely restocked at Preston, but the catering levels are based on reservations in the system up to four hours before leaving Euston
Southbound trains are only stocked for hot meals

Basically the Glasgow crew board at Preston and see what is left over
I usually travel at least once every three months (Glasgow - Preston) and have always had a meal on one advertised as such
There have been occasions where the normal service has been low on snacks though
However, the Glasgow crew do try and flog all the food that is left northbound, especially after Carlisle

 

[route101]

I remember once in 2004 i was on Virgin 87 back up to Glasgow the steward parked the trolley and wanted us to eat as much of it up . This was at the weekend when Virgin still offered sandwiches.

 

[boing_uk]

Catering from Blackpool? You'll be lucky, as TPE dont offer it between Blackpool and Preston.

In fact Ive never seen it between Manchester and Preston either, although TPE reckon they do provide it on some services.

 

[yorkie]

I rarely see any catering on TPE, although I usually do the York-Manchester route (still waiting to have kwvr45 as my guard though!)

 

[142094]

York is the starting/end point for catering for the Newcastle/Middlesbrough/Scarborough services, but it can be very annoying at peak times when the aisles are full and a trolley is trying to get through.

 

[323235]

Catering from Blackpool? You'll be lucky, as TPE dont offer it between Blackpool and Preston.

In fact Ive never seen it between Manchester and Preston either, although TPE reckon they do provide it on some services.

I saw a Trolley on the 1640 Blackpool North - Manchester Airport when I got on at Salford Crescent last week. It was in the completely empty First Class section as I passed through.

 

[rail-britain]

In fact Ive never seen it between Manchester and Preston either, although TPE reckon they do provide it on some services

I only made two journeys on TPE last year, each time the trolley was already in First Class when I boarded and was unable (unwilling) to pass through the train

 

[janb]

In fact Ive never seen it between Manchester and Preston either, although TPE reckon they do provide it on some services.

I got it (cup of tea, biscuits, kind of pain au chocolat come cake thing) on the 07.47 from Lancaster one day at the start of June, which comes from Scotland, but only after we left Preston. Only three of us in First Class until Bolton.

 

[Lampshade]

They do have the trolley service between Manchester and Preston although it's a bit hit and miss during the peaks.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Basically the Glasgow crew board at Preston and see what is left over
I usually travel at least once every three months (Glasgow - Preston)

However, the Glasgow crew do try and flog all the food that is left northbound, especially after Carlisle

Having just read a couple of other threads with interest, I'm beginning to wonder how accurate some of the information you've posted on the forum is, Rail-Britain. (Based on what I saw on one or two earlier posts, which other members corrected)

I'd be very interested to know which trains you can find the onboard CSAs flogging as much food as possible north of Carlisle, when travelling to Glasgow, as I've personally noticed a very distinct lack of both food and drink being offered Carlisle-Glasgow northbound on Pendolino's, despite the timetable still showing Carlisle as a highlighted station for breakfast orders on the 09:22.

 

[rail-britain]

I'd be very interested to know which trains you can find the onboard CSAs flogging as much food as possible north of Carlisle, when travelling to Glasgow

Most of the journeys I make are with the same crew southbound and northbound
Perhaps they are getting quite used to me travelling; Coach G southbound and Coach J northbound
They usually pass from Coach K to Coach G on which I receive one portion
On their return back to the Kitchen I often get asked if I would like more
So far this year I have made three such trips; 11:40 southbound and 15:38 northbound

 

[First ScotRail]

Most Virgin crews from Glasgow now go through to Euston also instead of changing at preston.

 

[bengolding]

Most Virgin crews from Glasgow now go through to Euston also instead of changing at preston.

I was on the 08:30 Euston-Glasgow and 16:40 back yesterday. Both had Euston based crews for the entire journey. Those on the 16:40 travelled out on the 09:30 earlier. On the Birmingham-Scotlands, the First Class host now remains for the entire journey.

Seems to have been a recent introduction. Previously, there was a change of crew on all Anglo-Scotish VTs at Preston.

First Class loadings north of Preson on Pendolinos still seems to be pretty awful, esp on peak trains such as my 08:30 yesterday where I was the only occupant of coach G north of Lancaster with only 3 next door in H. Then again, it was nice having an exclusive coach after parting with £423.

Still seems to be a lot of slack in the northbound timetable. We did Euston - Warrington non-stop in 1h39. Waited 5 mins at Warrington, 7 at Preston but then late into Lancaster (14 mins from leaving Preston to leaving Lancaster is way too optimistic). Despite that, we arrived a few mins early into Glasgow, making it a sub 4h30 journey.

 

[rail-britain]

First Class loadings north of Preson on Pendolinos still seems to be pretty awful, esp on peak trains such as my 08:30 yesterday where I was the only occupant of coach G north of Lancaster with only 3 next door in H

It's always like this
No wonder with the current prices, it makes travelling on East Coast or a flight cheaper

I regularly travel on the 04:28 Glasgow - Euston
As yet, I have never seen another First Class ticket holder before Preston
I get off at Preston (staying on to London is at least another £200)
If I am continuing to London, then I travel to Manchester and continue from there

 

[First ScotRail]

I was on the 08:30 Euston-Glasgow and 16:40 back yesterday. Both had Euston based crews for the entire journey. Those on the 16:40 travelled out on the 09:30 earlier. On the Birmingham-Scotlands, the First Class host now remains for the entire journey.

It provides a much better service for both, shame the BHM-GLC/EDB services still offer rubbish first class food compared to the EUS services.

 

[bengolding]

Agree on that. Their microwaved breakfast rolls are hideous. Even XC have improved their breakfast offering with a better selection of breakfast baps that changes every week. Both having similar stopping pattersn so I don't understand why VWC can't follow suit. On the North Wales Voyagers, you get a basic cooked breakfast offering that is also superior to what you get on the Birmingham-Scotlands, and their alternative 'evening meal' is also pretty good too.

 

[Failed Unit]

Agree on that. Their microwaved breakfast rolls are hideous. Even XC have improved their breakfast offering with a better selection of breakfast baps that changes every week. Both having similar stopping pattersn so I don't understand why VWC can't follow suit. On the North Wales Voyagers, you get a basic cooked breakfast offering that is also superior to what you get on the Birmingham-Scotlands, and their alternative 'evening meal' is also pretty good too.

Do you still have to collect it yourself as well from the shop? I have downgraded myself to standard now when I use that route. Coach D and then spend some of the difference on something at the station (I would spend it on the train but Virgin don't accept credit cards now and often don't accept anything other than the correct change so I can't be bothered risking using the shop)

FYI on East Coast for you can travel Glasgow - London (but no the other way) for £199 which is a standard class ticket with free upgrade to first (also includes a meal). Certainly worth it if you have the time to spare (or hate Pendo's )

 

[voyagerdude220]

Most Virgin crews from Glasgow now go through to Euston also instead of changing at preston.

Yep It's been happening for at least the last few months, although i'm not sure on precisely when the change occured.

I fully agree with the last three or four posts about VT First Class service levels, particularly comments about the food offered on West Coast Super Voyagers.

I'm a fan of the alternative evening meals served on the Euston Super Voyagers, as they are far superior to the cold snacks offered on Birmingham-Scotland services.

I like to go out for the day between Preston and Glasgow when I have time, and always go for the Pendolino's. Why:

(with railcard) £22.10 each way, instead of around £60-71.95 on the Super Voyagers.

Far quieter services- I only find the 08:15 Preston to Glasgow to be busy at times- many others are very quiet.

Food- full English breakfast on Pendolinos or a soggy bacon roll in the morning. During the evening, I'm offered a hot evening meal alongside cheese & biscuits. Super Voyager- Sandwich etc.

Alot more space on the Pendolino's. I could go on..

 

[route101]

Anyone know what the currant hot meals are on the Euston to Glasgow evening services?

 

[GlasgowHST]

18:45 Blackpool North - Preston
You may be offered drinks and biscuits from the trolley

On all services with TPE between Preston and Blackpool North we received no service in First Class, not that any was expected as it is a short journey, however I must add that at Preston I noticed that the trolley and host disembarked from the train and on our return Blackpool to Preston the trolley and host was at the platform waiting to board for the continuing service to Manchester Airport.

19:41 Preston - Glasgow
You will be offered drinks and one snack shortly after departing Preston
There should also be a second round of drinks after Carlisle
Although the two staff will be clearing up First Class feel free to ask them for more drinks, they may also offer you another snack (allowing you to try both)
Also many passengers will have left the train at Preston, often leaving it rather messy and untidy
I normally book seats in Coach J northbound, as there are normally less passengers in this coach (due to the Traveller scheme)

With regards to this service, First Class at seat service was only available until just outside Carlisle then it ceased as the onboard staff disembarked at Carlisle and appeared to be Carlisle based.

Thanks for all the info that everyone gave though it was much appreciated.