Great Western Coffee Shop

Hiya.. Can anyone beat my ^32 there and ^38 back for Maidenhead to Nottingham.. It's for Wednesday 9th leaving Maidenhead at 9am and returning at 4.30pm - price quoted was for two people...

Incidentally if I ask for first class prices.. From St Pancras to Nottingham it is ^46 there and ^62 back (I'm tempted to pay the extra).. Yet if I get the quote from Maidenhead to Nottingham its ^270 each way (via St Pancras on the same trains).. That's a lot of extra money to get from Maidenhead to St Pancras first class :-)

If I did go first class from St Pancras to Nottingham, does anyone know what, if any, freebies we might get?

Thanks in advance.. I'd investigate more myself but am having a hectic few weeks...

Its a journey I'm going to be doing at some point, but from honiton Im not at work for a few days but will try and find out for you tomorrow :-)

I've taken a quick look and I think you've found the best fares already, Jo.  :)

I could throw in some more complicated options, but the savings are likely to be miniscule and journey times may not be conducive.

One thing I thought of though. Do you not have a season from Maidenhead to London? Possibly money to be saved there for one of the fares....

As for 1st Class comps with EMT: Tea, coffee, orange juice, mineral water and savoury snacks. Complimentary glass of wine on evening departures. Also, an at-seat service of (paid for) items from the 'At-seat service menu'.

http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/YourJourney/pages/firstclass.aspx?page=OnboardDining

Thank you. Yes I tend to have a season ticket at times.. But because I was on holiday the week before last I've been working on dailies this last week.. Should be on a weekly or monthly travelcard by Wednesday though.. Which is why I was also looking at the St Pancras to Nottingham prices..

(I will admit I kind of put the St Pancras to Nottingham standard class prices on when I said they were Maidenhead to Nottingham ones.. I was in a hurry though in my defence)..

Ok will go book those tickets then... ;D

From a station I hope :-) :-p

Be silly to book Advance Purchase East Midlands Trains tickets from a station. They're ^1 cheaper from the EMT website!  :P ;) ;D

Sorry Jo, forgot to mention that!  :-[

its ok we all like sitting on a cold platform  ;D

And 2.5% cashback available from cashback websites (for EMT only tickets)

I got them from NR website.. Not sure if that was as cheap as EMT one but was cheaper the thetrainline.com.

National Rail don't sell tickets.  It must have passed you through to a TOC website to complete the purchase.

Still good value I think..

Anyway.. I did the trip today.. East Midlands first class showed FGW (from my experience of it) first class up big time.. Mind you having your free tea and coffee in a mug (Rather than a paper cup with lid), which then, when the train sways from side to side, sets up a wave motion in the mug, is quite bizarre if not a little scary.. And when a train goes past the other way the mugs/glasses all rattle even more.. However nothing was spilt and the service was wonderful..I would highly recommend it

Ps when I got my train home from Paddington tonight, which happened to be an HST, they were announcing that all first class people would have to go to the buffet go get their complimentary items..Not sure East Midlands would ever do that (as there appeared to be 2 or 3 or more people working in First Class itself) but please feel free to correct me if anyone knows different..