London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

Currently on the 1621 Darlington to Aberdeen service......after it arrived at 1727 in Darlington.

My god I've been spoilt, it's absolutely rammed having to "share a 4" with three others for the first time ever. My fault, when I booked it I should have checked my "theoretical" seat and changed to a "single"

Why are Aberdeen and Inverness Services always busy - they seem to have less First Class Capacity than Edinburgh ones.

Grub okay, but its a totally different experience not worth anywhere near the "normal price" of a ticket.

Ho Ho .....good old delay repay ...will cost me f all :roll:

Why are the Guards not making announcements about "delay repay" - wouldn't be anything to do with the train being packed

 

[IanXC]

Why are Aberdeen and Inverness Services always busy - they seem to have less First Class Capacity than Edinburgh ones.

Primarily because the Aberdeen and Inverness services have to be formed of HSTs, and these have 2.5 coaches of first rather than 3 on a 91 set (mk3 buffet vehicles include first class accomodation, whereas mk4 ones include standard).

 

[Butts]

Oh thanks for that.....grub = "Afternoon Tea" not as bad as I've heard people slating it on here.

Even though rammed I got 4s/w scon and crisps with a whisky

 

[Blindtraveler]

you should get again after EDB and seeing as your an hour down it woant be so wedged as normal

 

[Butts]

you should get again after EDB and seeing as your an hour down it woant be so wedged as normal

BT the experience is so far removed from my normal journey (when it's quiet) to explain it is near impossible.

As I mentioned previously I am used to a "4" to myself and an empty carriage.

This is purgatory - God Knows what Cattle Class is Like - The train does not seem to be air conditioned.

This journey is worth £25 tops - I paid £23.50

 

[Marton]

1730 dep KX last night: no evening meal, no explanation, no apology.

Not good if all you have had that day is a bowl of cereal for breakfast and a drink and some fruit for lunch.

 

[philjo]

Currently on the 1621 Darlington to Aberdeen service......after it arrived at 1727 in Darlington.

My god I've been spoilt, it's absolutely rammed having to "share a 4" with three others for the first time ever. My fault, when I booked it I should have checked my "theoretical" seat and changed to a "single"

There were signalling problems in the Welwyn North area earlier this afternoon causing delays of up to 60 minutes for FCC services so I suspect this is why your train was delayed. Running so late on a Friday afternoon would mean more passengers using the train than usual.

 

[IanXC]

There were signalling problems in the Welwyn North area earlier this afternoon causing delays of up to 60 minutes for FCC services so I suspect this is why your train was delayed. Running so late on a Friday afternoon would mean more passengers using the train than usual.

There was a northbound EC which lost around 60 minutes at Stevenage, due to signalling difficulties. I suspect that a service or 2 were cancelled as a service to Leeds was reported as "full and standing, do not attempt to board" at Doncaster.

 

[ainsworth74]

It's also Friday so people will be travelling for the weekend as well, adding to the loadings.

 

[Butts]

1730 dep KX last night: no evening meal, no explanation, no apology.

Not good if all you have had that day is a bowl of cereal for breakfast and a drink and some fruit for lunch.

Did you :

(a) Not get any sandwiches or anything else

(b) Ask why there was no evening meal

 

[krisk]

BT the experience is so far removed from my normal journey (when it's quiet) to explain it is near impossible.

As I mentioned previously I am used to a "4" to myself and an empty carriage.

This is purgatory - God Knows what Cattle Class is Like - The train does not seem to be air conditioned.

This journey is worth £25 tops - I paid £23.50

Shock horror someone shares a seat, whatever next?

 

[Butts]

Shock horror someone shares a seat, whatever next?

I quite agree...when you've paid £15.60 for an Advanced First Class Single from Whitby to Falkirk it's a downright liberty

Seriously as I said I've been spoilt big time on most of my trips ....empty carriages and dirt cheap 1st Class Fares.

I came down to earth with a bump !!

 

[paul1609]

I quite agree...when you've paid £15.60 for an Advanced First Class Single from Whitby to Falkirk it's a downright liberty

Seriously as I said I've been spoilt big time on most of my trips ....empty carriages and dirt cheap 1st Class Fares.

I came down to earth with a bump !!

I cant help but feel with so many ultra cheap tickets available in the north. Off peak a lot of the services shouldnt really be terminating at Newcastle and the stock released used to cure overcrowding south of there.

 

[krisk]

No cos then they would be sharing seats and tears and much toy throwing and dummy spitting would occur

 

[reb0118]

Unlike my mother, my mouth is not made of aspestos.

One hopes that your mother is rather better at spelling than you are!

To be fair asbestos does sound like aspestos when you have scalded your lips with boiling soup!

 

[Marton]

Did you :

(a) Not get any sandwiches or anything else

(b) Ask why there was no evening meal

• Yes but not a sustaining meal
  
• Yes - no reply - didn't push for one

 

[Butts]

• Yes but not a sustaining meal
  
• Yes - no reply - didn't push for one

Bring it up at the next East Coast Directors Forum online

 

[HST Power]

In November, I will be travelling from London KX to Stevenage every day for a week. First Class.

In the EC timetables, passengers from London KX are shaded for a food offering. Yet I have completed this journey several times, and all I have ever been given is a cup of tea.

On some services, they announce that the catering offers start after Stevenage.

Do I have any hope of getting any proper food or is the journey just too short?

 

[calc7]

In November, I will be travelling from London KX to Stevenage every day for a week. First Class.

In the EC timetables, passengers from London KX are shaded for a food offering. Yet I have completed this journey several times, and all I have ever been given is a cup of tea.

On some services, they announce that the catering offers start after Stevenage.

Do I have any hope of getting any proper food or is the journey just too short?

Too short.
If you read the literature on their website, you are only meant to get a full offering if travelling over 70 minutes.

 

[YorkshireRider]

In November, I will be travelling from London KX to Stevenage every day for a week. First Class.

In the EC timetables, passengers from London KX are shaded for a food offering. Yet I have completed this journey several times, and all I have ever been given is a cup of tea.

On some services, they announce that the catering offers start after Stevenage.

Do I have any hope of getting any proper food or is the journey just too short?

As calc7 says its supposed to be 70+ mins but if you sit at the top north end of coach K the crew may start service before Stevenage, in which case you could ask for slice of toast and a crossiant off the trolley. I wouldn't bother ordering off the menu because I don't think it would be ready in time for you to eat it. It could be the crew don't start service until after Stevenage in which case you are scuppered. I say coach K, but ifs it a HST go to coach J.

 

[calc7]

As calc7 says its supposed to be 70+ mins but if you sit at the top north end of coach K the crew may start service before Stevenage, in which case you could ask for slice of toast and a crossiant off the trolley. I wouldn't bother ordering off the menu because I don't think it would be ready in time for you to eat it. It could be the crew don't start service until after Stevenage in which case you are scuppered. I say coach K, but ifs it a HST go to coach J.

Agreed - this may work.
I've not had much experience of northbound All-Day/Evening Meal workings out of KGX. Do they bring out the drinks trolley etc. immediately after leaving London or after Stevenage?

Similarly, southbound out of Manchester/Liverpool, some crews will commence service after Stockport/Runcorn, whereas others will wait till after Wilmslow/Macclesfield etc.

 

[philjo]

Agreed - this may work.
I've not had much experience of northbound All-Day/Evening Meal workings out of KGX. Do they bring out the drinks trolley etc. immediately after leaving London or after Stevenage?

If it is a Leeds train that calls Stevenage, Grantham & doncaster I suspect that they will generally bring round the trolley only after leaving Stevenage & grantham.

When I have boarded one of the 07:27 York stoppers at Stevenage the trolley came round immediately after I sat down but passengers from Kings cross were already eating (though 1st class wasn't very full). I successfully had toast & orange juice from the trolley on the york stoppers between Stevenage & Peterborough where I was changing trains. (journey time 10 minutes more than KX-SVG)

 

[Furrball]

A little while ago I had a cup of tea, a sandwich and a beer on a journey from Leeds to Doncaster!

 

[HST Power]

Agreed - this may work.
I've not had much experience of northbound All-Day/Evening Meal workings out of KGX. Do they bring out the drinks trolley etc. immediately after leaving London or after Stevenage?

When I last went from Stevenage to Newcastle, we were all served breakfast almost immediately after the train had left. Though the service was pretty much empty from London King's Cross.

Returning home southbound, I was treated to what was the best all day offer I have ever expierenced. Loads of sandwhiches, free drinks, crisps and cake all the way down to Peterborough.

As calc7 says its supposed to be 70+ mins but if you sit at the top north end of coach K the crew may start service before Stevenage, in which case you could ask for slice of toast and a crossiant off the trolley. I wouldn't bother ordering off the menu because I don't think it would be ready in time for you to eat it. It could be the crew don't start service until after Stevenage in which case you are scuppered. I say coach K, but ifs it a HST go to coach J.

That's interesting, thank you. I'll try that. Don't think we get many HSTs stopping at Stevenage, it will almost certainly be worked by a 91. Coach K it is!

I don't mind if I don't get the full works, even just a sandwhich of some crisps would be nice!

 

[Butts]

Has anyone ever been on The Flying Scotsman 0540 ex EDB that only stops at Newcastle and then carries on to Kings Cross?

I just wondered what the catering staff do once the "Newcastle Breakfasts" have been served.

Strikes me they've got a couple of hours twiddling their thumbs - or do they come around with further goodies

 

[HST Power]

Has anyone ever been on The Flying Scotsman 0540 ex EDB that only stops at Newcastle and then carries on to Kings Cross?

I just wondered what the catering staff do once the "Newcastle Breakfasts" have been served.

Strikes me they've got a couple of hours twiddling their thumbs - or do they come around with further goodies

I went on The Flying Scotsman last year, but it was working the 0925 to London, not the non-stop service!

Having said that I may well have to use the 0540 at Christmas, owing to travel arrangements.

Surely they would do at least one more run with drinks at the very least? It must be much the same scenario for train crew members onboard the non-stoppers from York.

 

[calc7]

I went on The Flying Scotsman last year, but it was working the 0925 to London, not the non-stop service!

The Flying Scotsman is a named passanger train - currently the 0540 EDB-KGX, not the loco-hauled set in the Flying Scotsman livery, operated by East Coast.

Surely they would do at least one more run with drinks at the very least? It must be much the same scenario for train crew members onboard the non-stoppers from York.

One would hope so.
It is not unknown for there to be one round of catering and drinks only between York and Kings Cross on the non-stoppers. Which is poor customer service IMO and it doesn't help that the staff sit in their little cabin at the end of the quiet coach hooping and hollering for most of it.
If you get one of the slower trains taking 15 minutes longer you could expect up to three rounds!

 

[cjp]

0930 London to Edinburgh
Good service, Not wild about veggie breakfast but plenty of food and drink enjoying a last peppermint tea Staff cheerful and happy even..
Just passing Berwick and train is on time so my connection will be made.
97% satisfaction

 

[Butts]

0930 London to Edinburgh
Good service, Not wild about veggie breakfast but plenty of food and drink enjoying a last peppermint tea Staff cheerful and happy even..
Just passing Berwick and train is on time so my connection will be made.
97% satisfaction

My world you are a health conscious individual veggie breakfast and peppermint tea - have you had any alcohol yet ?

 

[Furrball]

From various tweets it seems that the launch of the Autumn menu is not far away.

http://twitter.com/Peter__Williams