My understanding is that the evening menu is the same as the all day menu just rebranded. The evening meal service is basically what it says on the tin.
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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
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MCR247
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Ah ok 
pethadine82
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Mod Note: Thread merged
Do East Coast allow people with standard tickets to sit in the dining car for a proper sit down meal, or is that reserved for first class holders.
Do they serve starters mains and desert?
What is the food like, and how quickly does it come once you have ordered.
cheers
Do East Coast allow people with standard tickets to sit in the dining car for a proper sit down meal, or is that reserved for first class holders.
Do they serve starters mains and desert?
What is the food like, and how quickly does it come once you have ordered.
cheers
Unfortunately East Coast did away with the restaurant service about 18 months ago as such only first class passengers can get meals on-board. You can find the menu of items avalible here for standard class passengers.
YorkshireRider
Member
Im not aware of any changes to the journey cards, at least not as far as Leeds services go. Then again Leeds services probably are not the problem, more the express Scotland trains which run non stop to York and ive no idea if they have changed as i dont work them.
The toast and drinks is just down to crew attitide as you have pointed out in your own posts. Another drink should not really be refused as long as the train has the stock and the crew member isnt busy with food orders at the time of asking (if thats the case a polite ill bring you one as soon as i can should apply). Again asking for another slice of toast should be fine, whether of course you should have to ask is another matter, easily solved by management if they just briefed out to offer 2 slices, which i dont believe they have.
Blindtraveler
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Think your in the wrong job mate - doubt youd want to be but with that approach Id make you the general manager of onboard service!
calc7
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Me too! Thanks for the update YR.
DaveNewcastle
Established Member
I used to be a very regular poster on this thread, but as some of you will have noticed, I'm copying EC's practice of service delivery:-
A) Inconsistent.
B) Slightly less each month.
So I post erratically and less often.
This evening, I travelled on a London Edinburgh service. The red wine ran out about half way to Edin (during only the second run of the trolley, around Tollerton), the second offering of tea and coffee was also about half way (2hrs plus into the journey), and the, er, meal, was served without the bread roll (which had been substitued for veg, previously, just as the salad had been served with half a tomato, previously), and the cheese platter is now down to a quantity of celery which doesn't require any counting.
I ate a 'snack' before boading and had soup when I got home. It was not 'a meal'. I haven't eaten as I would wish today (and they still tease us by having "Restaurant" printed on the outside of the "inconsistent micro snack car").
A) Inconsistent.
B) Slightly less each month.
So I post erratically and less often.
This evening, I travelled on a London Edinburgh service. The red wine ran out about half way to Edin (during only the second run of the trolley, around Tollerton), the second offering of tea and coffee was also about half way (2hrs plus into the journey), and the, er, meal, was served without the bread roll (which had been substitued for veg, previously, just as the salad had been served with half a tomato, previously), and the cheese platter is now down to a quantity of celery which doesn't require any counting.
I ate a 'snack' before boading and had soup when I got home. It was not 'a meal'. I haven't eaten as I would wish today (and they still tease us by having "Restaurant" printed on the outside of the "inconsistent micro snack car").
calc7
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I am on the 1335 York - Edinburgh. This is one of the xx30s that is extended past Newcastle. The crew has a mixture of accents but I think they're Newcastle-based (and have stayed on past Newcastle).
Boarded at York to see a rammed-full coach K (possibly because it's a December Friday?) Had to settle for my pre-booked "1" but wasn't too upset as it was forward facing on the east side.
I was hoping to try the new menu, however in classic EC style, all that was on offer was a cheesy jacket potato or the sandwiches (ham and egg or cheese and chutney). I opted for the jacket potato - it was ok, if not a bit bland. The salad as previously mentioned is dressed but the ratio of oil to balsamic vinegar is too high. The cake was "cherry Bakewell" - not bad at all. Crisps were offered in addition to hot food, as was a cold drink.
Food offered again after Newcastle with no attempt to restrict previously-served passengers. I was served 2 of each sandwich with crisps and a further alcoholic drink. No more runs of the trolley planned (it was dragged past almost empty on its return) so I approached the "kitchen" staff and was given a further spirit and mixer without haste.
Overall 7/10 (crap WiFi reception knocks off a point), just disappointed not be offered the new beef lasagne.
Boarded at York to see a rammed-full coach K (possibly because it's a December Friday?) Had to settle for my pre-booked "1" but wasn't too upset as it was forward facing on the east side.
I was hoping to try the new menu, however in classic EC style, all that was on offer was a cheesy jacket potato or the sandwiches (ham and egg or cheese and chutney). I opted for the jacket potato - it was ok, if not a bit bland. The salad as previously mentioned is dressed but the ratio of oil to balsamic vinegar is too high. The cake was "cherry Bakewell" - not bad at all. Crisps were offered in addition to hot food, as was a cold drink.
Food offered again after Newcastle with no attempt to restrict previously-served passengers. I was served 2 of each sandwich with crisps and a further alcoholic drink. No more runs of the trolley planned (it was dragged past almost empty on its return) so I approached the "kitchen" staff and was given a further spirit and mixer without haste.
Overall 7/10 (crap WiFi reception knocks off a point), just disappointed not be offered the new beef lasagne.
Butts
Veteran Member
At least you got a "spud" something hot and sandwiches - often it's only the latter if your lucky, heading North from York onwards.
Well done on sourcing the extra spirit !!!
Doing Darlington to Edinburgh in first today on the 1204, run of tea/coffee shortly after departure from Darlington. Nothing after Durham and they've just come around with tea/coffee after leaving Newcastle. As for loadings I'd say in Coach K we're looking at about two/three at best.
Follow up report: Departed Alnmouth about ten minutes ago and as yet no sign of tea/coffee also no sign of food at all this journey. Also the team started tidying up and putting out fresh mugs/mats/etc whilst we were still one hour and ten minutes away from Edinburgh.
Additional update: I decided to give up waiting to see if anything would turn up just before Berwick and went and enquired after the food. I was promptly presented with biscuits, cookies, a can of coke, crisps, ham & egg sandwiches and egg mayo & emmental rolls. So clearly they had plenty of food they just hadn't decided to bring it around!
Also of the food, now that I've got it, it's all quite nice and makes for a good lunch.
Follow up report: Departed Alnmouth about ten minutes ago and as yet no sign of tea/coffee also no sign of food at all this journey. Also the team started tidying up and putting out fresh mugs/mats/etc whilst we were still one hour and ten minutes away from Edinburgh.
Additional update: I decided to give up waiting to see if anything would turn up just before Berwick and went and enquired after the food. I was promptly presented with biscuits, cookies, a can of coke, crisps, ham & egg sandwiches and egg mayo & emmental rolls. So clearly they had plenty of food they just hadn't decided to bring it around!
Also of the food, now that I've got it, it's all quite nice and makes for a good lunch.
cjp
Member
The sad thing is that I expect you will not bother complaining as the "service", if this thread is anything to go by, was good and you at least got fed!:roll:
I suggest you alter your expectations. I shall be firing an email to East Coast at some point next day or so criticising the lack of a food service (unless you go and ask for it). Because, personally, whilst I was quite happy with what I got it doesn't really seem to be particularly right that when they advertise one of the perks of first class as being an at-seat service they then don't deliver it! And if they decided that, for whatever reason, they weren't going to do so it would have been nice for their to be an announcement saying that such items were available for collection.
They do provide what they advertise-ok normally after leaving London but still they do offer it. Problem is they have to have stuff ready for a swift crew Shane at certain locations so everything needs to be packed away/cleaned up etc.
As I have said before and no one seemed to understand(!) this is a train service, not a restaraunt. It's prime function is to get people from a to b. They sell first class tickets for the same reason other operators without any food service do-not for free meals and an unlimited free bar! Going first dies not garantee you one of your days meals and they don't advertise that it will! All the food and drink is complimentary-that means its a free gift from them. Your ticket price does NOT pay for it.
Plus if you got on at Darlington then chances are most food was sold out by then.
I know a few people who work as cabin crew with airlines and they get have interesting first class observations. The majority of first class customers turn the freebies down-maybe have a drink but say no to free food and other drinks rounds. Then you get the odd person who has obviously booked first class for the novelty and wants everything on offer-buzzing up the cabin crew for another drink, anymore food etc.
Not trying to be nasty with this but this is a train service. If they offer you any freebies then that's all good but its not something you can really complain about if you don't get anything. Complain to them if you like but its hardly likely to get anywhere and I would bet on an automatic generic response. The reason-they run a train service not a 5* hotel.
Your argument is nonsense tbh. They are advertising a food and drink service so they should provide a food and drink service - the food and drink is heavily advertised as a part of the FC experience, and cited as a reason to travel with them. Or are you saying companies should be able to get away with advertising services which they then don't provide?
Not sure as to what you are getting at as it seems all the people on here are asking for is to be offered what is advertised.
In your comparison with airlines the first class passengers are offered the food and drink even if they refuse it which appears to not always be the case on East Coast.
Completely irrelevant.
When you stand on the platform at an East Coast station and the train is announced for arrival, the announcer proudly states that a complimentary service is available for First Class passengers.
When you board the train, the on board announcer welcomes passengers from that stations and proudly states the same thing. And this is in addition to all the printed/online literature they throw around.
So after all of that, you still shouldn't complain if nobody makes an effort to provide a complimentary service?
It takes an hour and a half to pack up? I can understand why they wouldn't offer anything after Alnmouth (though I don't agree) but nothing after Newcastle? It isn't exactly a tiny halt and several new first class passengers joined the train there.
I'm well aware that it isn't a restaurant. It used to be but unfortunately no more. But really my argument here is that East Coast are not providing the service that they advertise. They advertise their catering as being a reason to upgrade. They had a whole ad campaign based on twenty five reasons to upgrade (provided above), fourteen of which related to catering and two to the at-seat service. They then don't actually provide what they advertised.
I stood outside the kitchen and I could see several full trays of sandwiches, crisps, biscuits/cookies and cans of drink. Stock supply was, for once, not an issue by any stretch of the imagination.
But I go back to my original argument from a few days back-if people on here know that they don't get exactly what is advertised (and there is small print to the advertising so not something the asa etc will deal with) then why do people keep booking 1st class expecting it and then complaining?!
theblackwatch
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Given that you know a few cabin crew and have made comparisons with airlines, have you any idea if it's quite a common practice for first class customers on airlines not to be offered any 'freebies' (as you call them) as appears to be the case with East Coast?
First of all they are freebies-you havnt paid for them with your ticket-that's why they are called complimentary.
What I meant with the cabin crew is that most first class (or whatever they call it) passengers are more than happy with what is offered-the odd drink off the trolly, food when offered etc-then you get some people (cabin crew often describe them as those who have win a competition or saved up for ages to get a first class fare etc-not my words before you start!) who arnt happy with that and instead of having a glass of wine off the trolly will ask for a while round of drinks-'and have you any crisps? Some nuts? What else have you got going free? Oh, I'll have one if those biscuits too please etc' then between trolly runs press the crew call buzzer things on planes to ask for more drinks, food, hot flannel, inflatable pillow etc and just take the mick.
East coast are not obliged to offer the freebies-they shouldn't (and don't) charge if you go to the buffet car to get them with a first class ticket.
Subject to availability and conditions and those conditions most probably state that if not offered you may ask at the buffet car.
davidgiles
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An at-seat service that you have to go and ask at the buffet car for?
An at seat service which is subject to availability and conditions. Plus the at seat service dies happen-just not from every single station - and it seems often only from London so they are sticking to the advertising.
Plus, say the advertised at seat service wasn't avaliable due to lack if crew would you prefer the train was instead canceled?
The East Coast page here on complimentary food/drink makes no mention of extra conditions, indeed it trumpets several times the at-seat service:
The only warning is a 'subject to availability' warning, which is fair enough (though there were no issues with availability on my journey on Saturday) and that they could substitute items on the menu. Nowhere (that I can see) does it mention any other conditions (beyond the seventy minute limit).
Can you show where this is indicated by East Coast?
I would expect them to make the common sense announcement that 'due to a crew shortage first class passengers should make their way to the cafebar to collect their complimentary items'.
East Coast said:
East Coast said:
The only warning is a 'subject to availability' warning, which is fair enough (though there were no issues with availability on my journey on Saturday) and that they could substitute items on the menu. Nowhere (that I can see) does it mention any other conditions (beyond the seventy minute limit).
Can you show where this is indicated by East Coast?
I would expect them to make the common sense announcement that 'due to a crew shortage first class passengers should make their way to the cafebar to collect their complimentary items'.
But you said you boarded at Darlington- now the at seat service may have been done after London and York in which case there is no false advertising. You were not denied any free food/drink so there is no problem there either. And I'm sure if you had asked any on board staff for food they would have fetched you some.
As I keep saying-it's a train, they have you free food and drink and once or twice in a journey they do offer at seat refreshments. You have no grounds to officially complain I'm afraid. Once again I bring your attention to the word complimentary.
I can't see what the issue is-you boarded a train that was into its journey, you asked for food and drink, they gave it to you. Had you asked staff as (or if) they passed you then they would have either directed you to the buffet or fetched you something.
As I keep saying-it's a train, they have you free food and drink and once or twice in a journey they do offer at seat refreshments. You have no grounds to officially complain I'm afraid. Once again I bring your attention to the word complimentary.
I can't see what the issue is-you boarded a train that was into its journey, you asked for food and drink, they gave it to you. Had you asked staff as (or if) they passed you then they would have either directed you to the buffet or fetched you something.
That statement completely baffles me. What is this whole London thing based on?
I can't help but thinking that you have now gone so far in that you are digging to try get out, or even trolling.
If you get on at datlington and the at seat service dosnt happen it dosnt mean it hasn't happened at all on that train-I'm saying that they may have provided it after kings cross and again after York but not after Darlington. Therefore they have not broken their advertising.
What baffled you?
Amazing.