Cross Country weekend first

[whole diary]

[Tim]

I have a long journey with Crosscountry (BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to Darlington and Back in one weekend).  I'd rather avoid an AP ticket because the flexibilty might be useful and there is an off peak return for about ^100 which I don't think is too badly priced (and with my last 3 CC journeys I've managed to get a partial refund anyway because of delays).  To make my journey more pleasant can anyone tell me:

1) what the Weekend first upgrade is?  The CC website says "from ^10", but I understand that it could be as much as ^20 depending on the distance travelled).  I assume I can just buy it on the train and don't need to decide before hand.  Am I right in thinking that the upgrade premits a change of train (ie if I change at BNS^▸ (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street)) to another CC train, I will not ned to buy a second upgrade)  What extras will I get?  I assume it is just tea and biscuits sort of thing rather than a meal or any hot food.  IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) Virgin used to do overpackaged snack boxes.

2) which trains are usually operated by HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) at the weekends?

Thanks for any input.

Tim

[inspector_blakey]

I'm not too sure about pricing, but in terms of the extras you get it's not a lot - tea/coffee/the odd soft drink and biscuits, and that's on the occasions the trolley actually appears.

[Tim]

I've decided to aviod XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) all together and travel via London.  Seems quicker, not much more expensive off peak, no Voyagers and I get to try out Grand Central on the way North.