Glasgow gets the First Class taste of Great British Breakfast as weekend trial offer is extended

02 July 2009

The trial of a Great British Breakfast bargain on selected Virgin Trains at weekends has proved so popular it is to be extended.

Glasgow passengers will also be able to enjoy a full complimentary cooked breakfast on Saturdays and the experiment to test demand will continue on routes between London Euston and Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.

The original trial on 16 trains each weekend during June is extended to weekends up to Sunday 26 July, but involving 17 trains from Saturday 4 July. The extra train on Saturdays will be the 0940 from Glasgow Central, with catering from there, Carlisle and Oxenholme. Catering service in 1st Class on the 1030 London Euston to Glasgow Central on Saturdays will also apply north of Preston, having previously been south of Warrington only.

Complimentary breakfast will be available at-seat in First Class on the chosen trains, with a brunch option later in the morning and early afternoon on some trains.

A Weekend First upgrade costs an extra flat-rate £15 per single journey on Virgin Trains for holders of most Standard Class tickets, but people travelling with Standard Anytime tickets can upgrade without making any extra payment. At-seat food service is complimentary in First Class on the trains involved in the trial until 26 July. The original catering trial with 16 trains each weekend began on 6 June and was originally due to run until 28 June.

The Virgin Trains promotional theme of ‘Weekends are back!’ is emphasised by the opening of First Class Lounges on stations at weekends for the first time, also to test the leisure market for facilities that are already enjoyed Mondays to Fridays when business people are travelling.
Wii-fi is also available free in First Class on Virgin Pendolino trains and First Class Lounges at weekends on the same basis as weekdays, so those who trade up can also save at least £5 compared to the hourly charge in Standard Class.

“The offer of complimentary food, served at your seat as a trial to test the market, is being extended to encourage even more people to trade up to First Class at weekends. They will also enjoy the benefits of unlimited free wi-fi access, which is charged at an hourly rate in Standard,” said Bob Powell, On Board Director for Virgin Trains.

“Customers in First Class already enjoy our unique at-seat service of complimentary ‘Best of British’ food between Mondays and Fridays, something no other train operator provides within Britain. Now this is available on selected trains at weekends too when leisure travellers can enjoy the experience,” Mr Powell added.

The Great British Breakfast offers outdoor-reared British pork and herb sausage, sweetcure back bacon, free-range fried egg, potato rosti and grilled tomato (or there is an equivalent vegetarian grill). Alternatively, customers can have a roll with bacon or sausage or vegetarian sausage, or a fruit plate. The main course is accompanied by toast and marmalade, orange or grapefruit juice, water and tea or coffee.

Later, brunch is offered. This is the breakfast menu but with the option of a “light bite” snack as an alternative.

The usual weekend offering of tea, coffee and biscuits will continue to be available at other times.

The trial will be available on these trains:

Saturdays to 25 July.
0748 LIVERPOOL LIME ST - LONDON EUSTON, 0755 MANCHESTER PICCADILLY - EUSTON, 0800 EUSTON - MANCHESTER, 0806 WOLVERHAMPTON - EUSTON, 0940 GLASGOW CENTRAL TO LONDON EUSTON (for passengers joining at Glasgow, Carlisle and Oxenholme The Lake District), 1023 EUSTON - WOLVERHAMPTON, 1030 EUSTON - GLASGOW CENTRAL (food offer extended north of Preston, including passengers joining at Lancaster, Oxenholme and Carlisle; previously only south of Warrington), 1035 MANCHESTER - EUSTON, 1040 EUSTON - MANCHESTER.

Sundays to 26 July.
0805 WOLVERHAMPTON – LONDON EUSTON, 0900 PRESTON - EUSTON, 0920 MANCHESTER PICCADILLY - EUSTON, 0920 EUSTON - MANCHESTER, 1115 EUSTON – LIVERPOOL LIME ST, 1235 MANCHESTER - EUSTON, 1238 EUSTON – BIRMINGHAM NEW ST, 1255 EUSTON - MANCHESTER.