London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[calc7]

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

http://twitter.com/Peter__Williams

It does look very nice!

And would tempt me into First, if only they could sort out their stock management, operational consistency and service proposition and delivery.

 

[Butts]

It does look very nice!

And would tempt me into First, if only they could sort out their stock management, operational consistency and service proposition and delivery.

IE Whisky on demand

 

[calc7]

IE Whisky on demand

Reading between the words - very good, Butts.

 

[Bungle73]

So does anyone know when the menus are changing? I'm off to York (again!) in the middle of October and was wondering if I'll get to try them out.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Not until end of November, the 20 something, can't remember the exact date.

 

[Bungle73]

Not until end of November, the 20 something, can't remember the exact date.

Oh.....

Thanks.

 

[paulypaul]

Has anyone travelled on The Chieftan southbound in First Class on a weekend at all recently and is able to confirm the offering?

I am going to be departing a Highland station on Sunday morning in December and I just wondered what the food offering would be like in First Class. I appreciate it is a weekend and so there will be a reduced offering, but I just wondered what it would be?

Thank you for any assistance.

 

[calc7]

Has anyone travelled on The Chieftan southbound in First Class on a weekend at all recently and is able to confirm the offering?

I am going to be departing a Highland station on Sunday morning in December and I just wondered what the food offering would be like in First Class. I appreciate it is a weekend and so there will be a reduced offering, but I just wondered what it would be?

Thank you for any assistance.

It ought to be the typical weekend offering - some form of "breakfast item" in the morning with tea and coffee; moving to sandwiches, crisps and biscuits typically after about 10am. No hot food or booze. Details on the East Coast website.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . typically after about 10am.

Which corresponds rather nicely with the actual change of service on the Chieftan from Perth onwards.

 

[HST Power]

Speaking of which, there's reduced catering on this morning's Chieftain service, due to a train fault.

Do you get many passengers who actually go all the way from Inverness to London?

The only person I could think of who might do that is Danny Alexander, who's the Member of Parliament for Inverness!

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm lead to believe that the through traffic to London is fairly low (I'd imagine most people either fly or take the sleeper) but the cross-boarder traffic into the northern parts of England I think is slightly stronger.

 

[Blindtraveler]

and the Scottish HST Sfrvices are becoming somewhat notorius for reduced breakfast/mid morning southbound catering as fridge problems continue. Come on EC, Sort it!

 

[Butts]

and the Scottish HST Sfrvices are becoming somewhat notorius for reduced breakfast/mid morning southbound catering as fridge problems continue. Come on EC, Sort it!

Not to mention the numerous "toaster malfunctions"

Wouldn't it be great if they announced "an enhanced service" to make up for all the problems.

How about a bit of BP and a proper fried egg in addition to the normal options.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm lead to believe that the through traffic to London is fairly low (I'd imagine most people either fly or take the sleeper) but the cross-boarder traffic into the northern parts of England I think is slightly stronger.

I would never take the Train from Inverness to London for obvious (puff puff ) reasons. For those with time on their hands it would be a great experience in 1st Class - wait for the "£25 special".
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It ought to be the typical weekend offering - some form of "breakfast item" in the morning with tea and coffee; moving to sandwiches, crisps and biscuits typically after about 10am. No hot food or booze. Details on the East Coast website.

The Breakfast Baguette is the worst item available on EC...you'll be ok when the sandwiches,crisps and biscuits materialise.

 

[Blindtraveler]

have given up both traveling First in Scotland and even relying on the buffet. Wouldnt it be great if they simply handed out vouchers to use at SSP outlets instead?

 

[Butts]

have given up both traveling First in Scotland and even relying on the buffet. Wouldnt it be great if they simply handed out vouchers to use at SSP outlets instead?

You shouldn't lose faith quite so easily , I had six journeys ex FKG via Edinburgh connecting to East Coast destinations in The North of England at the start of the month.

I had a "normal breakfast" on all of them.


The fares ranged from £10odd to £25 at the highest (Adv 1st R/C).

Mainly the 0800 from EDB a few on the 0830 and one earlier one.

On every journey I had a "4 to myself"

 

[Blindtraveler]

My recent trips have all been INV/ABD to EDB which on early runs is before the restock point meaning if the fridges are faulty the foods been wasted and £25 odds is v expensive coffee and biscuits.

 

[Butts]

My recent trips have all been INV/ABD to EDB which on early runs is before the restock point meaning if the fridges are faulty the foods been wasted and £25 odds is v expensive coffee and biscuits.

Still cheaper than Scotrail and the crap service they offer :roll:

 

[marks87]

Still cheaper than Scotrail and the crap service they offer :roll:

It's not too bad - at weekends it's tea/coffee and biscuits...or some unidentified fruit thing that I always avoid when they present the tray of "goodies". More honest than what EC claim to offer at least.

(Signed, the holder of an Advance card obtained through expenses-paid trip on the sleeper )

 

[Blindtraveler]

Scotrail to Inverness in any class is no fun. As to Aberdeen I dont care much for EC Coffee so quite happy to get a large one from pumkin and a breakfast from sizzler over the road.

Things in first on EC are generajy bad now with my past 2 evening meal journeys devoid of anything that resembles one and I dont sandwitches and cake as an evening meal.

 

[Butts]

Scotrail to Inverness in any class is no fun. As to Aberdeen I dont care much for EC Coffee so quite happy to get a large one from pumkin and a breakfast from sizzler over the road.

Things in first on EC are generajy bad now with my past 2 evening meal journeys devoid of anything that resembles one and I dont sandwitches and cake as an evening meal.

Do hope you use your "Bite Card" in Pumpkin to cut the damage by 20%.

I don't do many "internal" journeys on EC as it's often dearer to go to Aberdeen or Inverness than somewhere in the North of England for my "day trips"

 

[Blindtraveler]

PBO - EDB Friday night - all day hot option or sandwitches offered but with full range of evening meal dezerts available, apparently no evening meal loaded, Sheff a bit unhappy to say the least.
Come on E C!

 

[Butts]

PBO - EDB Friday night - all day hot option or sandwitches offered but with full range of evening meal dezerts available, apparently no evening meal loaded, Sheff a bit unhappy to say the least.
Come on E C!

Surely it stopped at York and or Newcastle which I believe are "stockholding" Stations :roll:

 

[Blindtraveler]

yes, and stock for buffet loaded at York but nout else.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Well I used EC FC for the first time since the complimentary offer was introduced and was very impressed. I think it's great that they have hot snacks during the day, as Virgin no longer do. Travelling on the 1530 Edb to Kgx, I had the hot cheese & tomato tart alongside 'paradise cake' shortly after Edinburgh. Another slice of cake after Newcastle. Coranation Chicken jacket potato after York.

 

[ainsworth74]

Surely it stopped at York and or Newcastle which I believe are "stockholding" Stations

It will have but by that point evening meal service has normally finished (I think there's one that serves from York) so no point loading it and of course because there's only one northbound that might need restocking and no southbounds those catering points won't have the necessary stock to load up for an evening meal service.

Travelling on the 1530 Edb to Kgx, I had the hot cheese & tomato tart alongside 'paradise cake' shortly after Edinburgh. Another slice of cake after Newcastle. Coranation Chicken jacket potato after York.

You must have had a crew change at Newcastle or York? I've never seen anyone get a second offering of the more 'substantial' food. You normally only get either one of the jacket potato or the other option. You can have as many sandwiches, cakes, crisps and whatnot as they offer but only one of the main food offerings.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I thought that would've been the case. It was the same lady taking orders, but she said she had forgotten what people had had. I'd still be very happy with one hot + later on one sandwich.
I had earlier used Virgin's 0830 Euston to Glasgow. I declined offers of breakfast as I had had one on an earlier train. I was told after Carlisle (dep 1147) it was still a breakfast train- so I couldn't get a sandwich.

 

[Butts]

It will have but by that point evening meal service has normally finished (I think there's one that serves from York) so no point loading it and of course because there's only one northbound that might need restocking and no southbounds those catering points won't have the necessary stock to load up for an evening meal service.



You must have had a crew change at Newcastle or York? I've never seen anyone get a second offering of the more 'substantial' food. You normally only get either one of the jacket potato or the other option. You can have as many sandwiches, cakes, crisps and whatnot as they offer but only one of the main food offerings.

Last time I got on an EDB service from York that was supposed to be EM , infact last two times they had run out of meals. I suspect if the "London End" go without theres no chance for any service approaching Hadrians Wall
However as I mentioned at the time I "pigged out" on copious quantities of Cheese and Biscuits.

Crew changes are the ally of hungry passengers - another tip remove your reservation ticket so they don't know where you boarded. To be fair I have been offered the "hot option" twice during a journey - not the EM but the pork pie or whatever. More important to me is the appearance of the "Trolley Dolly" and the Whisky it brings

 

[calc7]

Well I used EC FC for the first time since the complimentary offer was introduced and was very impressed. I think it's great that they have hot snacks during the day, as Virgin no longer do. Travelling on the 1530 Edb to Kgx, I had the hot cheese & tomato tart alongside 'paradise cake' shortly after Edinburgh. Another slice of cake after Newcastle. Coranation Chicken jacket potato after York.

That's pleasant to hear. I thought the 1530 had become one of the Scone Expresses, but seemingly not! (My favourite s/bound departures remain the 1630 and 1730)

It is quite easy to get a second helping of hot food if travelling through Newcastle; assuming it is a week where staff are rostered to change at NCL or if you have forgetful or thoughtful staff. That said, I'm usually happy enough for a 3hr+ journey to have a plate of hot food, some cake, and the option of a couple more sandwiches later in the journey. Oh and the booze of course.

 

[Butts]

That's pleasant to hear. I thought the 1530 had become one of the Scone Expresses, but seemingly not! (My favourite s/bound departures remain the 1630 and 1730)

It is quite easy to get a second helping of hot food if travelling through Newcastle; assuming it is a week where staff are rostered to change at NCL or if you have forgetful or thoughtful staff. That said, I'm usually happy enough for a 3hr+ journey to have a plate of hot food, some cake, and the option of a couple more sandwiches later in the journey. Oh and the booze of course.

Talking of "scone expresses" on Virgin I had a little red box with a couple of sandwiches and scones in. These can be recycled into a packed lunch for kids or adults - easy to transport in the box.

I'm on the Chieftan Monday ex FKG - how I hate that train the limited 1st Class is always rammed - still should get lunch and alcohol - better than the mid-morning crap.

Coming back from NCL at night I expect to have a carriage to myself virtually and the same level of service - a total contrast to the Chieftan - far more enjoyable.

 

[calc7]

Talking of "scone expresses" on Virgin I had a little red box with a couple of sandwiches and scones in. These can be recycled into a packed lunch for kids or adults - easy to transport in the box.

I'm on the Chieftan Monday ex FKG - how I hate that train the limited 1st Class is always rammed - still should get lunch and alcohol - better than the mid-morning crap.

Coming back from NCL at night I expect to have a carriage to myself virtually and the same level of service - a total contrast to the Chieftan - far more enjoyable.

Is there a food/booze run between FKG and EDB on the Chieftain? Agreed I would rather have "All Day" than a bacon sandwich and a coffee. You should try and get yourself reserved in "J" on that one.

No doubt you'll find yourself a "4" in coach K on the return.