WORTH THE COST? Scotrail's First class put to the test Aberdeen to Glasgow. 1ST CLASS COMPARISON

I've always thought highly of Scotrail's services around the country, but have avoided their first class service because I thought it was poor value for money. Today I travelled Scotrail first class from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street including experiencing the new first class lounge at Aberdeen station. #scotrail
Filmed September 2023 | Aberdeen, UK.
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[@nigeljohnson6069]

Fully agree with your assessment. To charge top dollar for fist class, and not provide a full first class service is clearly profiteering. Still blaming the pandemic is frankly pathetic. They are ripping you off.

[@M3G4UK]

It's really crap, but ultimately unsurprising as Avanti and Caledonian Sleepers use the same excuses. 😢

[@Midlandstransporthub]

​@@M3G4UKI got a full English breakfast on Avanti in first class

[@highlandersixtysix]

You might say 'profiteering' but I'd say 'gouging'. I took the service from Edinburgh to Perth in December last year and it was appallingly bad, there was a case of bottled water dumped upon a table and we were told to 'help ourselves', freezing cold day and not a hot drink to be had. The only benefit of 1st Class was the flexibility of the ticket.

[@sodorflubbs5000]

No they’re not. All trains have this problem to. I travel on LNER and they don’t do the kind of meals they used to either.

[@jonjohnson2844]

Isn't that true of every "first class" ticket though, regardless of the mode of transport, a huge increase in price that is exponentially more profitable for the company?

[@blackmask38]

Scotrail could learn a lot from LNER with regard to customer care in first class.

[@andrewbeadle9168]

th on train catering is being resumed .. slowly but is happening

[@scotbotvideos]

Why slowly? Why not just get on with it? ScotFail need to stop procrastinating and get the job done already. Excuses, excuses as per usual. @@andrewbeadle9168

[@grww4056]

But Humza Useless is continuing the ban of alcohol on all natrail trains. Sturgeon tried to order LNER around during the pandemic. They rightly told her where to go. @@andrewbeadle9168

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

@@andrewbeadle9168 LNER never actually stopped it. It was just drastically scaled back, but was always there. I was travelling during the second lockdown in late 2020 and they had a mostly full First Class service.

[@john07973]

​@@andrewbeadle9168 Laughable it should have resumed over a year ago

[@bridgethuggett1052]

Nice nod to Steve and Alicja!

[@martingreen331]

This is a generous score. No host, no selection of food and beverages, no towels in the first class lounge shower room , and a leaking toilet with a soaking floor. I would give this 3 out of 10

[@ohheyitskevinc]

My only takeaway is: pay the £8 and you’ll have up to £40 to spend on food and drink from somewhere else. Thought you were quite generous with the score!

[@peterking6940]

I've travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street first class and I think that you have been very generous with your scoring.

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[@edprior2821]

You were much more generous with your scoring than I would have been. The value proposition for the very high price was abysmal. Lounge offering was poor, but the biggest minus was the lack of legroom which for me would be the major reason for going first class. You scored comfort high because the carriage was relatively empty, but had it not been it would have been a 1 out of 10 for me.

[@DSTWizz]

I think you were more than generous with your scores, Scott. I think it's more of a "See me", rather than "Could do better". But maybe that's because I'm old and grumpy; I think I'd opt for the Standard Class based on your assessment, so thanks for taking the journey so we don't have to!

[@noahcount7132]

Scott, due to the extreme difference in fare and very little difference in accommodations and extras, I'd give your 'upgrade' to first class no more than a 2 out of 10. And that's being generous.

[@mikestephens5622]

Well, I wouldn't pay £40 extra for those meagre wee extras. If Scotrail want our business, they have to give better customer service.Thanks for showing us the truth, Scott. I like that reference to Steve and Alicja in Montrose 😊

[@presspound7358]

Since I live in Atlantic Canada, I have no business commenting ScotRail. I would… however like to say that the coastal views from this rail line are absolutely magnificent. That is one charming journey and just imagine for a moment what those vistas would have offered upon a bright summer sunny day. Cheers 🥂 to folks in Scotland.👍🥰🇨🇦

[@TomCro73]

Some great coastal views indeed - but for spectacular, look up some scenic vlogs from the West Highland Line, and (to a lesser, yet IMHO rather more coastally spectacular) sense, the Kyle Line (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh). Stunning, stunning, stunning... I looked at my train driver with total jealousy!

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

if I'd paid that much extra for the ticket I wouldn't be disappointed, I'd be furious

[@johnledingham852]

Knowing there's no towels in the showers, would taking a couple of extra hankies in your pocket suffice? Maybe Scot rail could place a mop and a bucket in the toilets that have plumbing difficulties. Perhaps they could put sandwiches under the seats like airlines put lifejackets under the seats. And a whistle should you desire a cup of tea. There's always an answer for these minor problems.

[@steve-marsh]

Mate, EVERYONE in Montrose is First Class! 🤣

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Yep, sure are!

[@colingreenwood231]

Very generous Scott. £40 for a packet of biscuits is a lot of money.

[@lewiss626]

Whats really mad about scotrails first class is that they charge more then LNER who provide a much better experience. I have got a single from inverness to Edinburgh first class for £25 with LNER who provided me with full breakfast and came around with tea/coffee about 6 times during the journey. With scot rail i would have been paying £65

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

I'm from Scotland and live in SE England. Whenever I travel north on LNER I always go First Class, because the ticketing price structure menas that going Standard and buying everything out of pocket that First would normally have included means that the price difference is basically zip. You also get a nicer seat and a quieter carriage. Going First just makes more sense and it's a more pleasant experience.

[@janettesinclair6279]

@@halfbakedproductions7887 Exactly!

[@damianwalls1262]

Wow that's grim you were too generous what would a tourist think of that given the great service in even standard class on European trains

[@pbsteamatspeed7683]

Personally I like the Swiss-style face to face seating as it guarantees a window to look out of!😉 As ScotRail alone operate HSTs I would travel this route, but in standard!

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

The other thing about LNER is thaty they actually have individual First Class seats on one side of the carriage, so you don't have to share. For whatever reason Scotrail opted to not do that.

[@TomCro73]

Indeed, odd decision - which AFAIK reduces the seating count. Can't even blame public ownership for that decision!

[@janettesinclair6279]

Yes, those seats are brilliant - as a solo traveller I hate being squashed up with people I don't know (although sometimes it can't be avoided.)

[@sharrizink6516]

I've done (almost) the reverse of that trip - from Stirling to Aberdeen. The day I traveled, standard class was packed, and first was nearly empty, so just having a quiet carriage and a single seat made the first class ticket worth the price to me.

[@nigelpendrey2815]

A few years ago I traveled that route, from Aberdeen to Glasgow. This was before ScotRail acquired the 125s. I bought my ticket in the ticket office, asked about 1st class travel to which the ticket office manager said that I could have it but don’t expect it to be anything like LNER. It appears that not much has changed. I travelled 2nd class…

[@silvialittlewolf]

I bet the "first-class people living in Montrose" will / have thoroughly enjoy/ed your video! 😃 Greetings to Steve and Alicija (sp?)!

[@peonycottageboutique4154]

How disappointing, to say the least. We booked first class tickets through ScotRail for our Edinburgh-Aberdeen journey in September to catch the ferry to Shetland. We were surprised to find we were actually on LNER...and it was just fantastic. Comfortable seats, friendly and welcoming on-board staff, spotlessly clean, delicious complimentary food (hot and cold) and drinks (alcohol and soft drinks). We weren't expecting all that and it was such a treat. What a difference between our experience and yours on ScotRail. :(

[@typhoon-7]

LNER and "comfortable seats" don't go together in my experience!

[@necroslair]

Discourage use of the showers by not providing towels. Then in the near future discontinue the showers citing lack of use. Slick way to save some money there…

[@gerrymckenna4878]

Fully agree with your views although I would have scored Scotrail lower! The lack of onboard service is abysmal. The First Class lounge is also available to LNER 1st passengers. If you are Aberdeen to Edinburgh...use LNER !! The alcohol ban is another real bugbear especially when LNER, Cross Country , TPE, Lumo and Caledonian Sleeper allow alcohol on their Scottish trains. . Not every passenger is a buckfast swilling lout.

[@maryreid4273]

I think the alcohol ban is ok actually, nobody needs alcohol for a train journey and if it does help to eliminate 'louts' then it's a good thing. I do think catering in general needs to be improved, with a trolley service throughout the train!

[@TomCro73]

@@maryreid4273 I think Gerry's point was that the few spoil it for the many. Nobody *needs food* for a train journey either, but it helps make the trip more enjoyable; it's unfortunate that ScotRail continue to regard their customers with suspicion rather than respect. By similar logic, all pubs should be shut to eliminate misbehavior? In practice, it makes decent people find alternate means - I made a great many friends aboard one departure out of Aberdeen when I handed around a bottle of something suitably festive! I remain convinced that BTP would *never* have subsequently been required, had we been treated like adults from the off. Sadly, that's an alien concept to some.

[@maryreid4273]

@@TomCro73 food is more essential than alcohol, especially for a long journey. The presence of alcohol doesn't make it more enjoyable for many folk especially if you've had to endure quite a few journeys with the ones who don't know how to enjoy a drink in moderation.

[@TomCro73]

@@maryreid4273 I've had more journeys spoiled by overweight folks who require more space than one seat provides - but I don't propose banning the onboard sale of sugary/fatty food/drinks as a solution, as the vast majority of passengers are capable of sensible consumption. Likewise with alcohol - yet in Scotland, it seems acceptable to treat everyone like naughty schoolchildren, regardless of how frequently this backfires. Humans can actually survive up to three weeks without food, so it's hardly "essential" on journeys below that duration. Alcohol, on the other hand... 😀

[@maryreid4273]

@@TomCro73 I have never had my journey spoiled by someone else's eating habits and/or weight, I have had many a journey spoiled by drunk loutish behaviour. Also, it's not only overweight people who might need to eat or people who overeat who are overweight.

[@danielktdoranie]

I think your assessment was too kind, I would have scored it much lower. I have taken first class trains in Europe and the experience was excellent

[@mariendorf1981]

Don’t bother with Deutsche Bahn. They cancel seat reservations in first class and regularly overbook… so you end up sitting on the floor in first class. It’s a disgrace. And they try everything in the book to not refund.

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[@IngramCars]

The best First Class train I've travelled on, is with LNER, London to Edinburgh, who have a fantastic menu, a good selection of drinks and snacks, the staff a smart and polite, the trains clean and comfortable. In my opinion better than Avanti, but both are better than GWR.

[@stuartirvine3855]

Another good, factual and honest review video. Nice to see what I assumed to be a nod to Mr Marsh, hope to see more of your cross channel challenges soon 😃

[@JScot92]

I would never pay for Scotrail first class. The company has a longstanding customer service issue. They have no understanding of modern customer expectations, and are completely ill-equipped to deliver a first class experience. They also seem to be in a permanent staffing crisis. I don't think it's a political thing either, they've always been like this, it's a culture of complacency and underinvestment that runs deep in our country. Scotland could offer some truly special railway journeys, but no-one in Scotrail management has the drive or inclination to make the onboard experience half decent. Great video.

[@colinlambert882]

They are still blaming Covid for the lack of facilities. Even on those services, where they have re-introduced, it’s just a trolley, so a hot drink, a sandwich or a snack, but nothing more. Not very impressive.

[@papabear6860]

Scott, your scores are far too generous! Especially for the toilet with wet floor!

[@bganonimouse2754]

I think you were actually quite generous. When you consider the high price its totally unacceptable that Scotrail offers such a poor first class service.

[@yyyfffff33333]

Great video Scott and I hope a lot of people take note . Scotrail symbolizes Britain in general . Give them as poor as service as you can get away with !

[@KempSimon]

At the start of the Covid19 pandemic East Midlands Railway ("EMR") closed their First Class lounges "until further notice| and - guess what? - almost two years after the last restrictions were lifted, the lounges have yet to re-open!

[@robertofraser101]

​@@KempSimon shocking all excuses too save money

[@alanbrown3015]

​@@KempSimono

[@siobhancrawford7236]

So, my hack on this is to pay for a standard seat and upgrade on board the train. this costs £5 each way (Mon-Fri) and £15 at the weekends. Used the new lounge at Aberdeen and found it very unpersonal and not very well stocked . I used 1st class on a trip to Inverness not that long ago and was pleased to see a host providing hot drinks etc so it's slowly coming back x

[@simsonie]

It's £5 for Edinburgh - Glasgow but £15 for intercity routes. The day you travel doesn't matter anymore.

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[@wizardofthenorth8352]

Really interesting and looking forward to Cross Country. So they have Manchester to Birmingham route, 80 miles and charge £249 1st open return!! Half the mileage of Aberdeen to Glasgow! £1.50 a mile! Your assessment around lack of catering is bang on! All operators are trying to charge top dollar and not provide anything. Look at Avanti west coast with their Standard Premium offer. Squeezing out additional costs (as they see it) - and still have the nerve to charge £369 open RTN Manchester to London. Beggars belief! A great video looking forward to Cross Country.

[@spud4776]

Top vid as always. Liked the nod to Steve and Alicjia!

[@brentford2]

Great post as always Scott

[@richardmurray2068]

There's an Avanti West Coast 1st Class Lounge at Glasgow Central, it's pretty basic and it's almost never open, I've turned up a few times to use it and found it's closed and had to hang around the concourse area for ages as a result

[@paulj676]

Thanks for another great video Scott. It's a shame they're using what look like nicely refurbished HSTs without the service we would expect with the ticket price.

[@robbiephillipstravelsofple4790]

Thanks for the Video Scott. I am planning a trip on LNER London to Edinburgh a stay over night in Edinburgh up to Aberdeen which I was planning to do first class as I do love the HSTs and home overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper. Good luck with Cross Country!

[@europa2000man]

Great video. In Ireland, they have only started to reintroduce a catering trolley on the Dublin Heuston to Cork services only. The only train that had it before the Cork one is the Dublin Connolly to Belfast train (The Enterprise). Trains to the likes of Galway, Waterford, Sligo and Westport still have yet to get their catering services back.

[@gulfstream7235]

If it were profitable for them it would have been reintroduced a long time ago. Management, costs, unions etc is the likely cause.

[@damianwalls1262]

On a service to cork or Galway I think I'd want more than a trolley

[@europa2000man]

@@gulfstream7235 Could be the case.

[@europa2000man]

@@damianwalls1262 I know where your coming from. I don't even think the buffet coach is open on the trains. They seem to be empty. Also, unless you are in the 1st class carriage, the trolley service only goes once up and down the train. So you may not get a trolley service at all depending on where you get on and off.

[@damianwalls1262]

In this day and age it's incomprehensible. Thanks for your reply

[@mary-janejenkins9560]

Hope your alright after storm Babet ❤

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

Brilliant Vlog Scott I enjoyed my experience travelling first class with Scot Rail this year however it was a let down as no catering was on board and I also had cans of water and biscuits to choose from I think the first class lounge at Aberdeen is very nice indeed but like you say again it was very limited snacks and drinks that wouldn’t put me off traveling with Scot Rail again even tho they purely didn’t offer much until your next Vlog keep up the good work take care and stay safe

[@bradwhiteuk]

Enjoyed the video! I don't think you got your money's worth for the £40 extra there. The seats did look very comfortable and the lounge was nice, but that was about it.

[@FrankC321]

Hi Scott, if I make to Scotland, I'd be taking that exact same trip. View of the ocean, 10 out of 10.

[@giovanni6636]

You’re a lunatic ( probably American) if you’re looking forward to this shit trip

[@robertblechle6365]

Having done that route in reverse in June , restroom was clean but we got an upgrade , yes first class is nice but no value. Thanks for the work for the video. And , yea first class people live in Montross

[@NikkiEvernight]

Thanks Scott! Good info to know! I came into Glasgow on Avanti first class. Expensive, but the food and drink is more than anyone might ever be able to eat!

[@katrinabryce]

You could sit in a coffee shop for a lot less than £40, so I really don't think the first class lounge makes it worth it.

[@keithparker1346]

I think part of the appeal of first class is letting it be known to others you are traveling first class

[@DaveyPalmer1]

That was a first class review Scott....I'll get my coat. And loved that reference to Steve & Alicja 👍

[@soggymoggytravels]

Seems overpriced for what it was, but sadly that's what I've come to expect with UK rail.

[@bquinn4533]

I love your work.

[@kevinellis8869]

A good review, looking forward to seeing your thoughts on XC - Aberdeen to Penzance on a 4 car Voyager! Many years ago I did Bournemouth-Edinburgh in first class thanks to some railway employee friends and it wasn't too bad.

[@petersums]

I used to love the First Class lounge at Glasgow Central Fantastic range of snacks and drinks - has that closed down now? Lack of food on the train is awful - I used to travel to and from London and the snacks / meals / drinks service was non stop and made the First Class markup very worthwhile.

[@denniscannon3633]

I am prepared to pay extra to travel in a premium way, but certainly not Scot Rail's hugely disappointing offering. The price premium is completely unjustified - no wonder there were so many empty seats. To Scot Rail I say: think again. Thanks for producing a balanced and worthwhile video. Dennis

[@darapixie]

I live in Ireland but love your content, I want to go to Inverness on the sleeper train from Holyhead next year. I lived in Livingston for a time when I was 18/19 and never got to venture further than Edinburgh. Love your videos as they are inspiring!

[@philliphurley5341]

All of your reviews are first class !

[@tonywinward]

I did first class from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street back in January. The seats were fantastic. I loved the ride! When I was onboard though we only had cans of water to drink. Better than nothing but it could have been a lot better for first class

[@robertofraser101]

Lovley lounge in aberdeen station what a outlook before journey i just love 125s and the decor in 1st is lovley but as you say scott that only some you tubers from montrose can afford it 😊😊 nice one scott loved seeing the 125s again enjoyed thanks

[@westerleighwerek1493]

125 (HST) best train left on the network for ride/comfort and 45 years old! I did Bristol to Edinburgh whilst Cross Country had 125's and had plenty of snacks/drinks in first class.

[@douglaslockhart1617]

Great video let's have more please Steve is in wales like you he is a legend

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Interesting video Scott. I think, living in Scotland, we are a bit spoilt by the LNER and Avanti first class service. In the summer I used a First Class Interrail ticket to go to France via London and Portsmouth. The First Class offering by South Western Railway (London to Portsmouth and back) was simply a slightly bigger seat in a very small area at the end of the train, with absolutely no catering nor service of any sort whatsoever. No lounge at either London Waterloo or Portsmouth Harbour - in fact Portsmouth was quite run-down and depressing. Regarding ScotRail, like you, I am amazed that they can still use the Lock-downs as an excuse for inferior service - but they are not unique in that respect. Many other outfits, such as the gym I go to, reduced the level of service due to Covid with no intention of ever going back to the former levels. There are First Class lounges at both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, and although they are operated by LNER/Avanti respectively, you can use them with any sort of first class ticket. The Avanti one at Glasgow Central is often closed due to "staff shortages" which is becoming a synonym for "parsimonious mangement"!

[@wietzebraem]

hey Scott, I rode along a few years ago when the liner trains were still very convertible trains and that was with a group trip with the train travel shop, with kind regards from Wietze Braem from Adinkerke, Belgium

[@leehutchisonuk]

it's very easy (allegedly) to just walk into the scotrail first class which is nearly always empty and just grab some canned water and shortbread to take back to your seat in standard.

[@barbaram5214]

The train looked beautiful but not having food would really irritate me. The scenery was beautiful, however. In July I visited Scotland for the first time. The LNER from London to Edinburgh was cancelled at the last minute and the next train was super full so at the suggestion of another traveler who was going to Newcastle, I took LNER to York. There, instead of taking another LNER train to Edinburgh I hopped on a Cross Country train and liked it and it was very uncrowded. (There was an announcement that LNER tickets were not accepted and another group of passengers got scolded, but the conductor said my ticket - off-peak - was OK so I was glad that they didn’t require me to buy another ticket!) This was in standard class. So I’ll be interested in your Cross Country review. I’m enjoying your older videos.

[@brianl4338]

During my student days I travelled to Aberdeen on this line, around 1980 they introduced new trains - HST intercity 125 like this one (never used 1st class).

[@richardtalbot8769]

those first class seats look exactly the same as the seats and consoles on those coaches when GWR had them.

[@Midlandstransporthub]

Great video Scott, I did Edinburgh to Aberdeen in first class with my railcard and it cost me £19.89 single. I wouldn't say it's worth it though other than the seats being a lot more comfortable. I was able to use the first class lounge on arrival to Aberdeen

[@kennethhume8628]

Top work .

[@onlycompetitions5083]

Another good show there Scott, however your scoring was (in my opinion) over generous. As a first class service, this was a disgrace.

[@JackGillies]

If you compare ScotRail's intercity offering to other major rail operators in Europe like DB, SNCF and PKP in Poland just to use a few examples it is pretty poor. Retro fitted and refurbished inter city 125s which are constantly requiring maintenance or Class 150s that were more or less made redundant after Edinburgh-Glasgow mainline was electrified compared to modern high speed trains used elsewhere. Hoping holyrood really put their money where their mouths are and upgrade our railways

[@barvdw]

Most of ScotRail trips hardly qualify as long-distance, though, and you won't find any catering on a German RE or a French TER. Heck, most French regions abolished First class altogether on their TER. You need the equivalent of a WCML or ECML service to London to even experience having a café car, often not even a full dining car, and I'm not nearly as enamoured as you with what e.g. SNCF is offering in their TGVs. Small, overpriced portions, cardboard sandwiches... I wasn't overwhelmed with the refreshments trolley's offerings, I mean, come on, sugar-free Irn Bru? Admittedly DB does somewhat better (although the number of times I could just get coffee and snacks, because the oven was broken -again-), as are PKP, ČD or MÁV, but frankly, in many cou of similar sizes (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands...), catering has been abolished completely, but for some international services.

[@JurgenADV]

Not sure this is the Scott style I like - other than the honesty. I do appreciate Scott’s integrity.

[@stevecooksley]

I recognise those seats from their GWR days - very comfy, but I would not be happy with no tea/coffee facilities onboard. I'm going to bet that Scotrail will scrap first class in the future the same way Southeastern did down here.

[@thomascook578]

With the exception of the carpet, the seats are from the trains days of First Great Western

[@andysmart2379]

Scott I thought you were waaay too generous with your scoring! I travel on Scotrail inter city services regularly and would never use their first class. Since the pandemic they have been very slow to reintroduce catering on their trains, even when others were providing a full service. Currently some services have catering but not many in my experience. The Scotrail HSTs have a buffet bar which was used before the pandemic but I've not seen any of them used since, even where catering has returned. Pre-pandemic first class catering involved a free muffin and a tea/coffee, so it wasn't up to much anyway. Paying a first class premium for what is just a slightly more comfortable seat is a rip off. Unless Scotrail start providing a decent catering service in first class they may as well remove the first class carriages from the HST sets, there's hardly anyone uses them. First class on the class 170 DMU inter city services is a joke, enuff said. In my experience LNER are streets ahead of the rest in first class. I've tried Avanti West Coast which I know you loved and I would give it a firm second place behind LNER. We won't even mention GWR!

[@user-so8kp4in2j]

Scott the typo in the title!!! Argh its doing my noggin in! Great vid as always though, keep up the great work.

[@scotbotvideos]

Yeah, it should be an 'f' in Scotrail, right? As in Scotfail. Did you mean something else per chance? ;)

[@user-so8kp4in2j]

​@@scotbotvideosbewteen! Argh.😂

[@walterfillingham]

I know ScotRail have been actively recruiting people to work the onboard hospitality certainly here in Inverness, I would have applied myself, but was too late. Without the onboard hospitality First Class not worth it, by comparison if travelling say from Inverness to Edinburgh I definitely choose LNER as it comes with proper hot fresh meals (breakfast on way down, dinner on way up) loads of snacks and plenty of drinks and teas and coffee. Inverness station desperately needs a First Class lounge, such a busy station and just one tiny cold waiting room.

[@thomascook578]

Keep an eye on the external vacancies, catering jobs will probably appear again

[@christopherdoherty4124]

standard is £48.90 from aberdeen to glasgow and the fairs are all over the place on they website

[@mrsausauge]

I believe you can upgrade to first class on board for substantially less, I believe its around 10 pounds.

[@kennethbell54]

At least the windows looked clean Scott

[@helencolgan8580]

Hi Scott, have you heard about the new service from Edinburgh to London, think it’s called Lumo?

[@richardstreet7518]

Travelled Aberdeen to Edinburgh on an advance first and it was only 12£ more plus there was a member of staff.. Worth it at that cost ..

[@cannyexplorer5357]

Hope you do do the cross country one, as it’s one we would like to try.

[@scottc1589]

Nice video! What's great is when there's a problem with an IC7 set and they replace what should be a 5 carriage IC7 consist with a 3 carriage DMU consist on a busy mid-day train from Inverness to where I thankfully got off the train in Pitlochry. Talk about a waste money for a first-class ticket, even with the tiny first-class section on some of the long haul DMU carriages. Shame on Scotrail!

[@Laticity]

100% fair review. Funny enough, had this conversation last night. Travel south from Inverness frequently and unfortunately I do avoid the Scotrail service where possible. Look, it's going to be tough when compared to the britain-wide operators but it's still poor. That said, they look great and well, riding an HST is riding an HST! Take the Aberdeen lounge out the equation and it deserves a worse score.

[@grahamstewart615]

The first class lounge at Queen St used to be the hotel lounge next door who gave you free tea or coffee and shortbread. Obviously you could use the hotel restrooms. Problem with first class in Scotland is there isn’t enough people in general. Try First Class on a Friday or Saturday afternoon onwards going into Glasgow. You really can meet the buckfast regulars piling into first class. The ticket guard ain't risking it putting them out. Is it worth it. Not inter city in Scotland it ain’t. Basically you're being overcharged for a seat. Nothing else.

[@custardo]

How different from Avanti West Coast. Had a great experience with them.That said I'm not a person that uses lounges...

[@roseogrady8785]

In agreement.

[@trainsarecool190]

In the past few years I have only been on one scotrail train with catering and I have never seen the snack car open on their HSTs

[@andrewgalt3964]

Good of you to highlight the difference between 1st and 2nd on this route a total waste of money for First ❤

[@imjustrach]

I find train companies are very careful in their wording eg 'complimentary on-board catering' so that if it's missing from the first class service you can't complain. I've had multiple tines on LNER when they have run out of food by they time they get to my station but since it's 'complimentary' they just shrug it off. A real shame since LNER is the best first class I've been on, especially when travelling for 3+ hours. Although their current price increases make it less desirable!

[@scottishpilot.]

When I tried first class from Perth to Aberdeen, there even wasn’t a ticket check!

[@kevanhubbard9673]

You don't say if LNER and Cross Country 1st class passengers can also use the lounge but I suppose if the doors unlocked anyone can!Those seats are the same one's that Great Western installed a few years before they started getting rid of their HST's.Towels would generally only be required by the Cal Sleeper arriving passengers so maybe someone comes in the morning and puts some in the shower?

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

I just think it would be great if Scotrail Does a few more of their own lounge at the likes of Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow, unless they can learn from LNER with their first class lounge. I think it's nice that there's one in Aberdeen, which I did passed buy it back in July.

[@Ian-Steele]

I like the little comment about some First Class people living in Montrose. I wonder who that was referring to Steve or Alicja perhaps 😂 !

[@LiftFan]

It's really a shame that ScotRail hold back so much on catering- they are still some long journeys. I travelled around on a 7 day all lines rover, and each upgrade was £15 on the train so not too bad value for me. I do miss having these carriages on Great Western, first class on an IET just isn't half as comfortable or luxurious, and the catering offer seems to match ScotRail most of the time!

[@andyhughes5885]

You were very generous with your points for the flooded toilet. What if you needed to sit down, your trousers would have been soaking wet. II`d have given that a 0, especially with the ticket price you paid.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Very disappointing but I've see worse 1st Class services, South Western Railway springs to mind as their first class on a Class 450 Desiro only has eight seats (2 4 table seats) and that it. But to be fair, less first class is a good thing as there more standard class seats as those trains can be extremely busy out of London Waterloo.

[@s125ish]

I remember SWT had catering.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Yeah when you pay for a premium service and you dont get the full experience then the least the firm can do is give a part refund. To not have basic tea and coffee in 1st class is pretty poor. Love the trains though. The mk3 coach offers a lovely quiet ride.

[@TheJamster2006]

I believe even with hospitality all you get complimentary in first class is one bottle of water and a biscuit, perhaps a tea or coffee aswell. And they make sure you only get one serving. They really miss a trick on these trains as there is a buffet which could house a microwave or toasty machine so they could offer hot food to the entire train aswell as having a trolley onboard

[@davidboyle7064]

Haha 6:12 I know who you are referring to there (Marsh!!!)

[@sydshrimp]

Re Aberdeen 1st Class Lounge Room: "There is a buzzer entrance system where you show your ticket to a camera to gain access, or you can push open the door as it is unlocked!" Hilarious! Not exactly worth paying the extra 40 pounds.