• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

CrossCountry's catering offering (2015-2017)

Status
Not open for further replies.

ooo

Member
Joined
8 Jun 2015
Messages
707
Location
S
Onboard the 09:43 Penzance - Manchester Piccadilly XC Voyager today, this is XC's new pre-ordered hot meal options, on iPad and not certain how to attach more than one picture so will post separately, first up is the roast chicken dinner...
If I just saw this picture I definitely wouldn't think that it was from on a train.

How does it taste?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Ash Bridge

Established Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
4,222
Location
Stockport
If I just saw this picture I definitely wouldn't think that it was from on a train.

How does it taste?

Well two had the salmon and one said it was very tasty while the other though it a tad dry although was happy with the other items so suppose it's personal taste really, the chicken went down really well as did the ham hock...
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    405.5 KB · Views: 316

backontrack

Established Member
Joined
2 Feb 2014
Messages
6,399
Location
The UK
That gave a good hearty laugh. :p
Here's why eating elemental sodium is not a good idea.

That's in water. In the acidic environment of the stomach the reaction will be considerably worse. Don't try this at home.

Could be Francium ;):p:lol:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
wow all of them look really tasty.
Sam

Yep, certainly better than elemental Potassium! :lol:
 

Minilad

Established Member
Joined
26 Feb 2011
Messages
4,398
Location
Anywhere B link goes
The railuk world has imploded. Someone has given CrossCountry some credit. Whatever next? Someone might praise FGW for their handling of the rugby world cup trains
 

bnm

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2009
Messages
4,992
I don't know about FGW, but GWR did excellent work after the most recent game in Cardiff.
 

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
113,731
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
wow all of them look really tasty.

They do indeed, can someone give Serco a kick and point out that the Sleeper breakfasts should really be to that sort of standard?

That looks like First Class, does anyone know what they are served on in Standard?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The railuk world has imploded. Someone has given CrossCountry some credit. Whatever next? Someone might praise FGW for their handling of the rugby world cup trains

The sort of food and presentation appears to tally very much with DB getting involved and telling them to match the standard of the Bistrowagen! :)
 

Jonfun

Established Member
Joined
16 Mar 2007
Messages
1,254
Location
North West
That looks like First Class, does anyone know what they are served on in Standard?

It's like a plastic dish with a lid so it can be safely and easily brought down the train, like the type you might use if you'd cooked a batch of stew and were freezing a few individual portions. Same cutlery though.
 

Iskra

Established Member
Joined
11 Jun 2014
Messages
10,723
Location
West Riding
Wow, looks pretty decent. Well done to XC and I hope to see more of this across the rail network. This actually gives me a reason to deliberately book a journey on XC :o
 

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
113,731
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
Wow, looks pretty decent. Well done to XC and I hope to see more of this across the rail network. This actually gives me a reason to deliberately book a journey on XC :o

That and seat selection. VWC just added the latter - could they perhaps consider adding the former? I can think of quite a few journeys when I would take them up on it.
 

D1009

Established Member
Joined
22 Feb 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Stoke Gifford
I take it this offer is only available to those who book in advance, as a booking confirmation reference is a pre-requisite. How far in advance does the meal need to be ordered?
 

Ash Bridge

Established Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
4,222
Location
Stockport
I take it this offer is only available to those who book in advance, as a booking confirmation reference is a pre-requisite. How far in advance does the meal need to be ordered?

You need to order 72 hours minimum before your booked journey.
 

Ash Bridge

Established Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
4,222
Location
Stockport
72 hours? Crikey, I think there is room for some improvement on that.

Yes, although it's very early days yet so I suppose they are still just testing the market, and personally I don't think it would be quite so pleasurable eating such a meal on a fold down airline seat table in the more space restricted standard accommodation of a voyager, can't speak for XC HSTs as I've never had the pleasure.
 

HowardGWR

Established Member
Joined
30 Jan 2013
Messages
4,981
HTML:
Yes, although it's very early days yet so I suppose they are still just testing the market, and personally I don't think it would be quite so pleasurable eating such a meal on a fold down airline seat table in the more space restricted standard accommodation of a voyager, can't speak for XC HSTs as I've never had the pleasure.

IIRC, there were four of you. I assume you had table seats together then? It would not be much fun sitting next to a passenger eating a hot meal, would it?
 

D1009

Established Member
Joined
22 Feb 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Stoke Gifford
HTML:

IIRC, there were four of you. I assume you had table seats together then? It would not be much fun sitting next to a passenger eating a hot meal, would it?
May not be much fun, but people bring burgers and the like on to trains already.
 

mark-h

Member
Joined
14 Jan 2015
Messages
374
Chilled ready meals last a few days (assuming they are kept chilled) so it would seem possible to have some in stock on the train for purchase. They could be sold when the trolley passes and then delivered to the customer after heating.
 

Ash Bridge

Established Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
4,222
Location
Stockport
HTML:

IIRC, there were four of you. I assume you had table seats together then? It would not be much fun sitting next to a passenger eating a hot meal, would it?

But if you travel on Virgin West or East Coast in first class or if travelling on a long haul air journey, you are just as likely to be sat next to someone eating a hot meal at some point, so what is the difference?
 
Last edited:

D1009

Established Member
Joined
22 Feb 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Stoke Gifford
Chilled ready meals last a few days (assuming they are kept chilled) so it would seem possible to have some in stock on the train for purchase. They could be sold when the trolley passes and then delivered to the customer after heating.
Erm, do Voyagers have any form of refrigeration?
 

sheff1

Established Member
Joined
24 Dec 2009
Messages
6,060
Location
Sheffield
Thanks for the pictures Ash Bridge. I will definitely be looking to try this next time I have a suitable journey on XC.
 
Last edited:

Butts

Veteran Member
Joined
16 Jan 2011
Messages
11,841
Location
Stirlingshire
I can't see why people are raving about this !!!

Breakfast...2 Rashers of Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Egg, Tomato and Beans for the princely sum of £7 (No black Pudding :oops:)

Do you get Orange Juice , Toast and Coffee as well ?

The above is available FREE on Virgin East and West Coast Services.

Admittedly the Evening Meals look a bit better but at £8 a throw they should be.

£3.50 for a Scotch free on Virgin E/W Coast.

And of course on Virgin you don't have to order three days beforehand.

I think members have taken leave of their senses :p
 

Minilad

Established Member
Joined
26 Feb 2011
Messages
4,398
Location
Anywhere B link goes
But to get those things free you have to be travelling 1st class which will add more than £8 to the price of your ticket. And not everyone wants a Scotch
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
32,939
Location
Fenny Stratford
I can't see why people are raving about this !!!

Breakfast...2 Rashers of Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Egg, Tomato and Beans for the princely sum of £7 (No black Pudding :oops:)

Do you get Orange Juice , Toast and Coffee as well ?

The above is available FREE on Virgin East and West Coast Services.

Admittedly the Evening Meals look a bit better but at £8 a throw they should be.

£3.50 for a Scotch free on Virgin E/W Coast.

And of course on Virgin you don't have to order three days beforehand.

I think members have taken leave of their senses :p

free in FIRST CLASS those of us in scum class don't get owt for nowt!

The meals shown don't look too bad actually
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
Food on trains has been more expensive than eating in the high street for as long as I can remember, and probably always will. I don't think it's fair to compare XC's product with what is available in first class on VTEC or VTWC. I can't see this being a huge success, but the option to have some kind of warm meal is likely to appeal to some on a long journey.
 

Chrism20

Established Member
Joined
27 Feb 2013
Messages
1,400
I can't see why people are raving about this !!!

Breakfast...2 Rashers of Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Egg, Tomato and Beans for the princely sum of £7 (No black Pudding :oops:)

Do you get Orange Juice , Toast and Coffee as well ?

The above is available FREE on Virgin East and West Coast Services.

Admittedly the Evening Meals look a bit better but at £8 a throw they should be.

£3.50 for a Scotch free on Virgin E/W Coast.

And of course on Virgin you don't have to order three days beforehand.

I think members have taken leave of their senses :p

To be fair I don't think either of the Virgin long distance lines are comparable with XC and if either the EC or WCMLs didn't serve London the offering would be seriously curtailed.

Compared to what is currently available on XC that's a decent offering and £8 isn't that bad IMO especially when you consider that Tesco charge at least £3.65 for their finest ready meals. So to have it prepared for you and served at your seat I don't think £8 is unreasonable and going by the pictures it looks pretty good and not a cheap ping and ding.

The two meals and wine is also a cracking offerings it's available to first and standard.

Of course when you compare it to something that's free it's always going to be second best but having done at least 130 return journeys between the two virgins this year the portion sizes are woeful and the EC breakfast in particular is shambolic more and more often going by my recent experiences.
 

button_boxer

Established Member
Joined
12 Nov 2009
Messages
1,271
I take it this offer is only available to those who book in advance, as a booking confirmation reference is a pre-requisite. How far in advance does the meal need to be ordered?

Presumably the requirement for a booking confirmation reference means that this offering is only available to people who booked their journey on XC's own website (not on another TOC website, a third party like trainsplit, or at a station)? Expect confusion when someone who fell for trainline's advertising attempts to book food on XC and can't...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top