"Sam" wrote:
Hi All

Due to my partner's working commitments it looks like we will be moving
from London to the Stafford area

Has anyone experience of commuting from Stafford to EUS ? Needing to
arrive into EUS about 0900 and leaving at 1700 ish, chances of getting
seats, frequency of delays etc etc ?

Yep, I do it every day and have done for the past 18 months. A monthly
season ticket cost 775.80 with the underground included.

The 6:43 gets into EUS at about 8:20. One the way back there is the 17:21
which is heaving as it stops at Rugby and Nuneaton or the 17:45 which is a
bit quieter. Your best bet is to reserve a seat as all the trains can get a
bit full. Not really many delays but it seems worse on trains leaving
London. The worst part is the seats on the Virgin trains which appear to
have been designed by a legless dwarf. First class is better but the prices
are a bit steep, well over 1000 per month last time I looked.

"MrMr" wrote in message
...

The 6:43 gets into EUS at about 8:20. One the way back there is the 17:21
which is heaving as it stops at Rugby and Nuneaton or the 17:45 which is a
bit quieter. Your best bet is to reserve a seat as all the trains can get
a
bit full. Not really many delays but it seems worse on trains leaving
London. The worst part is the seats on the Virgin trains which appear to
have been designed by a legless dwarf. First class is better but the
prices
are a bit steep, well over 1000 per month last time I looked.

But, but, but... a season is one of the times when first class is usually
worth the extra [1], as it's 150% of the standard fare (160% on some lines,
I know). Since that gets you a seat and coffee etc, I guess it's worth it. I
have never travelled on the 1721 ex Euston, but I can picture standard on
it - and it's not a pretty sight.

[1] The others IMHO are Advance Purchase deals and cases where you would
have to buy an open return if you travelled in standard.

Regards

Jonathan

In message , at 21:09:44 on Sun, 2 Dec
2007, Jonathan Morton
remarked:
But, but, but... a season is one of the times when first class is usually
worth the extra [1], as it's 150% of the standard fare (160% on some lines,
I know). Since that gets you a seat and coffee etc, I guess it's worth it.

Only gets you coffee on some "Intercity" services. Many suburban First
Class services have no catering at all (eg FCC).
--
Roland Perry

On Dec 2, 9:19 pm, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 21:09:44 on Sun, 2 Dec
2007, Jonathan Morton
remarked:

But, but, but... a season is one of the times when first class is usually
worth the extra [1], as it's 150% of the standard fare (160% on some lines,
I know). Since that gets you a seat and coffee etc, I guess it's worth it.

Only gets you coffee on some "Intercity" services. Many suburban First
Class services have no catering at all (eg FCC).

But more likely to need the guarenteed seat (exSilverlink being an
exception, no catering, but no seating problems)

In message
, at
13:53:25 on Sun, 2 Dec 2007, Paul Weaver remarked:
But, but, but... a season is one of the times when first class is usually
worth the extra [1], as it's 150% of the standard fare (160% on some lines,
I know). Since that gets you a seat and coffee etc, I guess it's worth it.

Only gets you coffee on some "Intercity" services. Many suburban First
Class services have no catering at all (eg FCC).

But more likely to need the guarenteed seat (exSilverlink being an
exception, no catering, but no seating problems)

A better chance of a seat is a "good thing". But I don't want anyone to
think they'll also get free coffee!
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message
, at
13:53:25 on Sun, 2 Dec 2007, Paul Weaver remarked:
But, but, but... a season is one of the times when first class is
usually
worth the extra [1], as it's 150% of the standard fare (160% on some
lines,
I know). Since that gets you a seat and coffee etc, I guess it's worth
it.

Only gets you coffee on some "Intercity" services. Many suburban First
Class services have no catering at all (eg FCC).

But more likely to need the guarenteed seat (exSilverlink being an
exception, no catering, but no seating problems)

A better chance of a seat is a "good thing". But I don't want anyone to
think they'll also get free coffee!

Fair comment. On many lines it's a case of first class giving you a choice
of trains, because the obvious ones are rammed in standard.

Regards

Jonathan

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 21:56:15 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

A better chance of a seat is a "good thing". But I don't want anyone to
think they'll also get free coffee!

But they would from London to Stafford, which is the thread subject!
And a reasonable breakfast on the morning journey (if there's anything
left by Stafford!)

In message , at 22:50:33 on
Sun, 2 Dec 2007, G remarked:
A better chance of a seat is a "good thing". But I don't want anyone to
think they'll also get free coffee!

But they would from London to Stafford, which is the thread subject!

Yes, but the thread had drifted somewhat to a discussion of First Class
elsewhere.

And a reasonable breakfast on the morning journey (if there's anything
left by Stafford!)

Is it free, or do you have to pay?
--
Roland Perry

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 13:53:25 -0800 (PST), Paul Weaver
wrote:

But more likely to need the guarenteed seat (exSilverlink being an
exception, no catering, but no seating problems)

On the Desiros, the First Class seats are worse than the Standard
ones...

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On 3 Dec, 06:26, (Neil Williams) wrote:
On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 13:53:25 -0800 (PST), Paul Weaver

wrote:
But more likely to need the guarenteed seat (exSilverlink being an
exception, no catering, but no seating problems)

On the Desiros, the First Class seats are worse than the Standard
ones...

But (off-peak) the company is better