Upgrade to First Class
Treat yourself to the added comfort of First Class...
First Class fares are available for most journeys. If you already hold a ticket for travel in Standard Class accommodation, you are able to upgrade to travel in First Class on payment of an Excess fare.
On some services a Weekend First ticket allows you to upgrade to First Class at weekends and Bank Holidays.
Upgrade to First Class - how much does it cost?
You can upgrade your ticket to First Class at any time before you board the train. Please be aware that buying a ticket on the train when you had the opportunity to buy beforehand may leave you liable to a Penalty Fare.
Single Tickets
Simply pay the difference between the price of the single ticket you hold and the cost of the appropriate First Class Single for the journey you're making.
Return tickets - change of class in both directions
Simply pay the difference between the price of the ticket you hold and the cost of the appropriate First Class Return ticket for the journey you're making.
Return tickets - change of class in one direction
One of the following options, according to the ticket type held:
- Standard Anytime Return - simply pay the difference between the Standard and First Class Anytime Single fare
- Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak - simply pay the difference between the fare paid and the Standard Anytime Return PLUS the difference between the Standard Anytime Single and the First Anytime Single fare. It may be cheaper to buy a new First Class Single fare.
- Off-Peak - Simply pay the upgrade price where an Off-Peak ticket is held. Only valid on specific Arriva Trains Wales services
- Advance Single - As long as you are on the train shown on your ticket, simply pay the difference between your ticket and the First Class Single(plus £10 on CrossCountry services only).
- BritRail Pass - Ticket cannot be upgraded. The appropriate First Class Anytime Single fare should be purchased.
- Season Tickets:
- At the Ticket Office or on a Train, where there WAS NOT an opportunity to buy ticket:
The difference between the price of the Standard and First Class Single Anytime ticket which would be appropriate at the time of travel (Anytime or Off Peak, depending of the time of day you're travelling).
- On the Train, where there WAS an opportunity to buy ticket:
The full First Class Single fare for the journey being made - please be aware that buying a ticket on the train when you had the opportunity to buy beforehand may leave you liable to a Penalty Fare.
- At the Ticket Office or on a Train, where there WAS NOT an opportunity to buy ticket:
Weekend First
Weekend First may be available if you're travelling on a Saturday, Sunday or on a Bank Holiday.
Cross Country
Priced at either £10.00, £15.00 or £20.00 depending on the journey being made. Available to holders of valid Standard Class tickets on board the train, and subject to space being available in First Class.
If purchasing the ticket at the station it is possible to purchase the upgrade in advance and reserve a seat, but a seat is not guaranteed if customer chooses to travel on an alternative service.
Please note customers holding Standard Class Advance fares cannot purchase the First Class upgrade. Customers should purchase a First Class Advance ticket for their journey if they are looking to travel in First Class.
East Coast
Weekend First is available on all Standard class tickets including Advance:
- Zone 1 - London/Stevenage - Wakefield/York and north thereof £25.00
- Zone 2 - London/Stevenage Hull/Brough/Selby and all stations south of York and Wakefield £20.00
- Zone 3 - All non-London journeys, for example: starting and ending at Peterborough or north thereof £20.00
East Midlands Trains - mainline
Upgrade between any two East Midlands Mainline stations costs £9.00 when buying on board the train.
Weekend First upgrade is only available to Advance ticket holders on board the train only, subject to Weekend First accommodation being available.
Through booking is possible when travelling on services of other train operators participating in Weekend First (excluding East Coast), provided the booking generally is made by 1800 on the day before travel.
First Great Western
Upgrade from Standard to First Class on most routes at weekends and Bank Holidays on payment of a supplement of £5, £10, £15 or £20 dependant on the journey being made.
You can buy in advance at ticket offices or on board High Speed service.
Weekend First is not available in advance to holders of advance tickets, these tickets can be upgraded on the train, subject to availability.
First TransPennine Express
Upgrade from Standard to First Class on all First Transpennine Express services, subject to available seating, at weekends and Bank Holidays, on payment of a First class upgrade.
Journeys to/from Scotland on a First TransPennine Express service £10.00
Journeys between any other 2 stations on a First Transpennine Express service £6.00
Greater Anglia
Travel between any two stations served by a Greater Anglia reservable mainline service £7.00
Scotrail
Weekend First can be only be purchased on board the train (subject to accommodation being available) on the following routes:
- Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street - £3.20 per single trip
- Edinburgh/Glasgow to Aberdeen - £5.40 per single trip
- Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness - £5.40 per single trip
Through booking is possible when travelling on services of other train operators participating in 'Weekend First' (excluding East Coast), provided the booking generally is made by 1800 on the day before travel.
South West Trains
Weekend First can be only be purchased on board the train (subject to accommodation being available) between any two South West Trains stations for £5.00
If travelling South West Trains and another Train Operating Company's service, Weekend First upgrades may purchase at stations. Not available to holders of Advance tickets or those travelling on special promotions.
Through booking is possible when travelling on services of other train operators participating in 'Weekend First' (excluding East Coast), provided the booking generally is made by 1800 on the day before travel.
Virgin Trains
Upgrades are priced at £15.00 for adults and £5 for children for a single journey, regardless of the length of journey.
On weekends and Bank Holidays, upgrades to First Class on Virgin Trains is free of charge if holding a Standard Class Anytime ticket by approaching the Train Manager.
Premier Class - Arriva Trains Wales
Upgrade from Standard to First Class Monday to Friday on payment of a supplement of £30 to £50 dependant on journey length and subject to availability.
Available on the following services:
- 05:32 Holyhead to Cardiff Central
- 16:15 Cardiff Central to Holyhead
Breakfast or lunch, tea and coffee are included.
Do you hold a Gold Card?
Gold Cards may be able to benefit from the Gold Card First Supplement, if they are not travelling on the journey covered by their Annual Gold Card Season Ticket or Travelcard.
Holders of Annual Gold Cards Season Tickets and Travelcards may buy a special First Class upgrade for £5.00 (children £2.50) when travelling on a Standard Class ticket which has received an Annual Gold Card discount.
This allows travel in First Class accommodation on trains within the Network Railcard area on for the date shown on the supplement ticket. If the return journey is made on another day, a further Supplement ticket must be purchased.
On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays you may travel in First Accommodation by simply paying the supplement.
The Gold Card First Supplement ticket may be used in First Class after 1000 Monday to Friday and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. In addition, the Gold Card First Supplement cannot be used on journeys departing from any London terminal station or any intermediate journey between London and Clapham Junction inclusive between 1600 and 1900 (inclusive).
Gold Card First Supplement tickets are not valid for travel on services operated by CrossCountry, East Coast, East Midlands Trains (Mainline), Heathrow Express and Virgin Trains.
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