London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

Just had a nice phone call from East Coast Trains, a gentleman called Neil (I think it might have been their Head of Communications, following my email to Karen Boswell their MD), telling me that the next East Coast Trains Directors' Forum will take place on Tuesday 12 February between noon and 3pm.

Details will appear on their website in due course.

Ah well Bungle will be able to pursue his "Lounge Pass" problems - and I may try and elicit some hope BP may at last grace The Breakfast Menu.

Well done PP

 

[Robinson]

Quick question - does anyone know whether the "Evening Meal" service on northbound services is significantly better than the "All Day Menu"? I'm hoping to book some EC 1st class Advances soon but the evening meal trains do come at a price, so I won't bother with them if they aren't a noticeable upgrade...

 

[ainsworth74]

Significantly better, portions are much more generous and there is at least one perhaps two additional choices as well as some sort of dessert.

 

[Butts]

Significantly better, portions are much more generous and there is at least one perhaps two additional choices as well as some sort of dessert.

Whats the current situation on the fabled "appetiser" - still a packet of peanuts ?

 

[Robinson]

Just booked Kings X-Edinburgh return APs, 1st class both ways, going up on the 1700 from the Cross. I noticed on the outward leg that I was unable to use the seat selector to get out of coach M, but I was able to move it to the quiet coach going the other way.

 

[ainsworth74]

Whats the current situation on the fabled "appetiser" - still a packet of peanuts ?

Or similar yes (I had a mini assortment of Thai biscuits once).

 

[GNER 91128]

Just booked Kings X-Edinburgh return APs, 1st class both ways, going up on the 1700 from the Cross. I noticed on the outward leg that I was unable to use the seat selector to get out of coach M, but I was able to move it to the quiet coach going the other way.

I've been getting that problem alot recently even on a near empty train, but a quick call to the web support team and they were able to sort out a reservation for the seat I wanted and a coupon to pick up from the machine at the station.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Whats the current situation on the fabled "appetiser" - still a packet of peanuts ?

Doesn't that pretty well sum up the level to which EC catering has relentlessly and miserably fallen?
Yes. You are served Peanuts.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I've been getting that problem alot recently even on a near empty train, but a quick call to the web support team and they were able to sort out a reservation for the seat I wanted and a coupon to pick up from the machine at the station.

I'm intending to catch the 07:10 Leeds to Aberdeen from Haymarket to Aberdeen next week. The seat selector wouldn't let me move from a table of 4 in coach L with one seat reserved on it to a single, showing almost every seat reserved. Is it usually very busy?
I'm also travelling all the way on the HC from INV to KGX. I couldn't reserve away from coach M. I assume all EC services to/from Inverness are extremely busy.

 

[Bungle73]

I've had the seat selection problem too. I ended up having to book another train!

 

[Butts]

I'm intending to catch the 07:10 Leeds to Aberdeen from Haymarket to Aberdeen next week. The seat selector wouldn't let me move from a table of 4 in coach L with one seat reserved on it to a single, showing almost every seat reserved. Is it usually very busy?
I'm also travelling all the way on the HC from INV to KGX. I couldn't reserve away from coach M. I assume all EC services to/from Inverness are extremely busy.

You may find a single seat that is not reserved in one of the other carriages -or someone may not turn up.

On the Inverness departure it will be not that busy to start off with but get busier as it gets further south.

When you booked the tickets was it on the EC Website ? - if you go for a single in the quiet coach you normally get one.

 

[MCR247]

I'm intending to catch the 07:10 Leeds to Aberdeen from Haymarket to Aberdeen next week. The seat selector wouldn't let me move from a table of 4 in coach L with one seat reserved on it to a single, showing almost every seat reserved. Is it usually very busy?
I'm also travelling all the way on the HC from INV to KGX. I couldn't reserve away from coach M. I assume all EC services to/from Inverness are extremely busy.

When you have the last seat in an advance ticket quota a fault won't let you change seats even though there are more availiable

 

[Robinson]

I've had the seat selection problem too. I ended up having to book another train!

I might well have done that, if I wasn't so keen to try the Evening Meal menu (the 1700 KGX-EDB is the last train I can get to make a safe connection to Helensburgh; the 1800 leaves just 8 minutes at Waverley to get the 2230 to Glasgow to try and catch the Helensburgh train up)...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

When you have the last seat in an advance ticket quota a fault won't let you change seats even though there are more availiable

Do they allow people to retrospectively change their reserved seats? I've never wanted to do so before and haven't heard of it happening...

 

[voyagerdude220]

I tried to change seats on EC's website. On both the Aberdeen and Inverness HSTs it would let me change seats, but there weren't any single seats at all, apart from the odd one facing backwards.

 

[Welshman]

I'm also travelling all the way on the HC from INV to KGX. I couldn't reserve away from coach M. I assume all EC services to/from Inverness are extremely busy.

On the basis of "if you can't beat 'em [on this interminable thread!], join 'em, here goes.

I treated myself to a free 1st-Class London King's Cross-Inverness & return journey last week [using-up accumulated "Rewards" points!].

The EC booking engine put me in coach "M" on both the northbound and southbound Highland Chieftains. Remembering the advice of several on here, I thought I'd altered my reservation to Coach "L" until I printed it out, and found I was still in Coach "M" I assumed I'd make a mistake with my attempt to alter it, until I read some of the more recent comments on here.

Come the day last Tuesday, I found 6 or 7 reservations together in coach "M" on the 12noon off the Cross, so found a seat at a table for four in coach "L" which was unreserved, and enjoyed most of coach "L" to myself all the way to Inverness. The conductor didn't bat en eyelid at my moving seat, and the train crew were most attentive.

During the journey, I enjoyed Cumberland sausage & mash, several rounds of chicken and stuffing sandwiches, even more rounds of egg & cress sandwiches ["they'll only go to waste, Sir", the waiter said], five cups of tea, two cups of coffee, three pieces of cake, two bags of crisps [and a partridge in a pear tree - No - sorry!], three glasses of red wine, one gin and tonic, and two cans of "Old Speckled Hen" before putting me and my liver to recover in an early bed in Inverness at 2030.

I spent the following day in Inverness [actually going to Portree courtesy of "Scottish Citylink" [if coach enthusiasts want a resume of the journey, I'll gladly oblige!].

The following day found me watching Inverness station come to life at 0740, waiting to be admitted to the 0755 to the Cross. Expecting to be able to move again into coach "L" and relative solitariness, I was amazed to find almost every first-class seat in all three coaches reserved [mainly by people travelling just to Edinburgh and partaking of the Highland Chieftain breakfast, so had to sit with everyone else in my allotted seat in coach "M"

Nevertheless, the breakfast was superb [eaten in the warmth of a "Mallard"-refurbished HST while watching the snow-ploughs and crawling traffic on the adjacent A9 - it doesn't get any better than this - and I was actually offered three pieces of toast in all!]; followed by potato and stilton flan after leaving Edinburgh, along with as much tea/coffee, alcohol and bottles of Harrogate water as I could manage, to arrive at the Cross spot-on at 1551, and not wanting anything else to eat or drink that day.

Very well worth the 0.10p it cost me! [it actually cost nothing - that was the price marked on the tickets.] Well done, East Coast.

 

[calc7]

That's a very reassuring tale, Welshman - thank you for sharing.

In practice, I would bet a very large sum of money that a guard would take no issue with your taking a different (and personally preferable) seat to your booked one. In fact, just the other day, I walked into 1st Class on a TPE 185 to witness a bloke walk up to my reserved seat, remove the reservation label and sit down. Needless to say I wasn't fussed.

On EC (and indeed Virgin) it is preferable in my experience to sit nearest the kitchen in order to get the best deal on food and drink.

 

[Bungle73]

On the basis of "if you can't beat 'em [on this interminable thread!], join 'em, here goes.

I treated myself to a free 1st-Class London King's Cross-Inverness & return journey last week [using-up accumulated "Rewards" points!].

The EC booking engine put me in coach "M" on both the northbound and southbound Highland Chieftains. Remembering the advice of several on here, I thought I'd altered my reservation to Coach "L" until I printed it out, and found I was still in Coach "M" I assumed I'd make a mistake with my attempt to alter it, until I read some of the more recent comments on here.

Normally it would give you an error message if you can't select a seat - at least it does when you book a normal ticket -so I'm assuming you did something wrong.

Come the day last Tuesday, I found 6 or 7 reservations together in coach "M" on the 12noon off the Cross, so found a seat at a table for four in coach "L" which was unreserved, and enjoyed most of coach "L" to myself all the way to Inverness. The conductor didn't bat en eyelid at my moving seat, and the train crew were most attentive.

During the journey, I enjoyed Cumberland sausage & mash, several rounds of chicken and stuffing sandwiches, even more rounds of egg & cress sandwiches ["they'll only go to waste, Sir", the waiter said], five cups of tea, two cups of coffee, three pieces of cake, two bags of crisps [and a partridge in a pear tree - No - sorry!], three glasses of red wine, one gin and tonic, and two cans of "Old Speckled Hen" before putting me and my liver to recover in an early bed in Inverness at 2030.

I spent the following day in Inverness [actually going to Portree courtesy of "Scottish Citylink" [if coach enthusiasts want a resume of the journey, I'll gladly oblige!].

The following day found me watching Inverness station come to life at 0740, waiting to be admitted to the 0755 to the Cross. Expecting to be able to move again into coach "L" and relative solitariness, I was amazed to find almost every first-class seat in all three coaches reserved [mainly by people travelling just to Edinburgh and partaking of the Highland Chieftain breakfast, so had to sit with everyone else in my allotted seat in coach "M"

Nevertheless, the breakfast was superb [eaten in the warmth of a "Mallard"-refurbished HST while watching the snow-ploughs and crawling traffic on the adjacent A9 - it doesn't get any better than this - and I was actually offered three pieces of toast in all!]; followed by potato and stilton flan after leaving Edinburgh, along with as much tea/coffee, alcohol and bottles of Harrogate water as I could manage, to arrive at the Cross spot-on at 1551, and not wanting anything else to eat or drink that day.

Very well worth the 0.10p it cost me! [it actually cost nothing - that was the price marked on the tickets.] Well done, East Coast.

Very nice!

 

[Blindtraveler]

that sounds like a good little trip!
Long may it continue!

 

[Robinson]

That's a very reassuring tale, Welshman - thank you for sharing.

In practice, I would bet a very large sum of money that a guard would take no issue with your taking a different (and personally preferable) seat to your booked one. In fact, just the other day, I walked into 1st Class on a TPE 185 to witness a bloke walk up to my reserved seat, remove the reservation label and sit down. Needless to say I wasn't fussed.

On EC (and indeed Virgin) it is preferable in my experience to sit nearest the kitchen in order to get the best deal on food and drink.

I have often wondered whether this would still be the case on an Advance ticket - as Advance reservations are compulsory, unlike those with walk-up.

Trying to get nearer the kitchen is indeed the reason why I am looking to change my reservation away from coach M

 

[marks87]

I have often wondered whether this would still be the case on an Advance ticket - as Advance reservations are compulsory, unlike those with walk-up.

Trying to get nearer the kitchen is indeed the reason why I am looking to change my reservation away from coach M

Plenty of tales from people on this thread taking a different seat to their reservation and there being no problems.

For Advance tickets, the reservation is more about being on the right train than anything else.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Thank you very much for your trip report Welshman, I enjoyed reading it. I'll add mine towards the end of the week.

 

[Welshman]

Thank you very much for your trip report Welshman, I enjoyed reading it. I'll add mine towards the end of the week.

And I do hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine.

 

[calc7]

I have often wondered whether this would still be the case on an Advance ticket - as Advance reservations are compulsory, unlike those with walk-up.

Trying to get nearer the kitchen is indeed the reason why I am looking to change my reservation away from coach M

I was talking about Advance tickets!

I would estimate I've used about 300 Advance tickets in the last couple of years. I probably sit in my reserved seat about 20% of the time, and I have not once had any sort of adverse comment from a guard - all they check is that you're on the correct train. Of course I wouldn't want to use my anecdotal evidence to draw a firm conclusion, no matter how convincing it may seem, but I really wouldn't be worrying yourself - just go and take a seat in "K".

 

[GNER 91128]

I ♥ coach K and J, closer to the food and drink.

 

[Butts]

I was talking about Advance tickets!

I would estimate I've used about 300 Advance tickets in the last couple of years. I probably sit in my reserved seat about 20% of the time, and I have not once had any sort of adverse comment from a guard - all they check is that you're on the correct train. Of course I wouldn't want to use my anecdotal evidence to draw a firm conclusion, no matter how convincing it may seem, but I really wouldn't be worrying yourself - just go and take a seat in "K".

Agreed , I have rarely sat in "M" and generally sit where I like with no adverse reaction from onboard staff.

"L" can be quite good as there is often a "4" unreserved even if the service is busy.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thank you very much for your trip report Welshman, I enjoyed reading it. I'll add mine towards the end of the week.

I'll second that , he achieved The Holy Grail of a near perfect service - even the HST Fridges played ball !!!

 

[calc7]

I'll second that , he achieved The Holy Grail of a near perfect service - even the HST Fridges played ball !!!

I'd also like to applaud the crew - some of the stingy ones with a grudge against life would have monitored the passenger-wise food and booze allocations and there's no way the good Welshman would have come away so happy.

 

[Welshman]

I'm a simple soul - the more red wine I consumed, the happier I became!

 

[HST Power]

I'm looking at the First Class fares between Stevenage and Peterborough yet I can't select the East Coast services, nor the Advance fares?

Are Advance's unavailable on this route?

This is for next week, so I did wonder if it was too late to pick an up Advance, but even if I selected dates in March I had the same problem.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'm looking at the First Class fares between Stevenage and Peterborough yet I can't select the East Coast services, nor the Advance fares?

Are Advance's unavailable on this route?

There are First Class Advances available on East Coast trains between Peterborough and Stevenage. All those that I can see currently available for arbitrary dates in March and April are priced at £20.10 each they don't represent great value for such a short journey.

However, this wonderful thread is really intended for a discussion of the First Class on-board service, so I wonder if you might receive a more detailled or helpful reply in the Fares Advice sub-forum.

 

[marks87]

Duncan Bannatyne was complaining to East Coast on Twitter about his trip yesterday.

This was the "food" he was given... https://twitter.com/DuncanBannatyne/status/293359038165569537

Other stuff had apparently run out "because of the weather".