Avanti West Coast introduces ‘Standard Premium’ on selected trains

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• John says:

  20 Dec20 December 05:27

  I’d rather have the standard class seat and the free food

• NigelthePensioner says:

  20 Dec20 December 08:24

  I have travelled on Avanti’s attempt at first on a number of occasions since Virgin “rebranded” (head office is the same address in Brum). The fares have approximately doubled and the food has become even worse. I would happily have the first seat with no free food and just bring a couple of cups of steaming tea on board with me for the 73 minute trip from Bham Int to Eus. The wine / gin / beer offering has also disappeared under the guise of “substantial meal”. They need to watch themselves as I can highly recommend the Chiltern Service to M’bone as the route is nicer and big deal about the extra 17 mins journey time from Brum city centre!

  • ChrisC says:

    20 Dec20 December 09:00

    Avanti isn’t a rebranded Virgin trains it’s a totally different company.

    • Charlieface says:

      20 Dec20 December 09:14

      It effectively is when everything stays the same except for top-level management

      • Lady London says:

        20 Dec20 December 17:52

        Much like what happened with Bunnings (an excellently run company) when they bought Homebase. They simply couldn’t overcome the.Homebase culture and errors because they had the same people there.

        • Rob says:

          20 Dec20 December 18:37

          That’s not why it went wrong. Bunnings is ‘hard’ DIY, like B&Q. Homebase is ‘soft’ DIY, with more female shoppers. You can’t out-B&Q B&Q, so Bunnings scared off existing Homebase customers without gaining any from B&Q.

      • ChrisC says:

        20 Dec20 December 19:27

        different owners different franchise so yes it’s a totally separate company

        and most of the top management were also retrained.

    • Roy says:

      20 Dec20 December 15:33

      Yes, but when everyone, including the managers, are TUPE’d over from the old company, how different is it really?

  • Lady London says:

    20 Dec20 December 11:30

    +1 @Nigel

• Matt says:

  20 Dec20 December 09:25

  Lady London thank you for advice the other day re rights after cancelled KL flights in First. I called You First (wish I’d called them in the first place) and they said the other person I spoke to was wrong to say I could only be booked into business as no reward availability in First. Tickets now sorted for Singapore in first. Ps. I couldn’t work out what the 75% compo meant but I’m happy with the result now.

  • Lady London says:

    20 Dec20 December 11:31

    You’re welcome. Enjoy.

• Dr Tom says:

  20 Dec20 December 15:16

  Checked on Rail Forums and Standard Premium is already running on selected Euston to Birmingham New Street trains on a trial basis

  The price for short routes is £25.

  Seems a bit expensive right now while the trains are quiet, particularly when you can get the catered SeatFrog upgrades for less, but this could be a good deal at peak times or when you can’t book in advance (as you can upgrade on the train). Also a good way of getting a single seat with a plug socket if that’s of value.

• Baji Nahid says:

  20 Dec20 December 18:54

  havent first group handed back the franchise now? I had read on the news they couldn’t afford to operate it.

  • Rob says:

    20 Dec20 December 19:40

    They are running it under contract, taking no revenue risk. Like London buses.

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