London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Starmill]

In bizarre contrast to my journey to Harrogate yesterday, the 1745 from Leeds today has not hot food... not that I'm doing any complaining!

It's ridiculous that journeys on the same route can offer from nothing whatsoever to all of that. I was offered additional drinks and even more sandwiches (which I was forced to turn down) before Doncaster!

 

[Iskra]

I did my first weekend first today on the 1503 London-Leeds and I was quite impressed. The service was great from the London crew, they were generous with everything. The drinks trolley arrived before food and the Pulled Pork sandwiches were nice and tasty and pre-packaged into 4's.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I've enjoyed all the dishes eated from the new menus, though we might just have to wait for rotation 4 now. (The 'festive first' reduced offer will be provided from Dec 19 to Jan 3).

The cous-cous dish was spectacular with its cumin tang despite its slightly odd appearance (and its lack of salad which seemed to have become a feature of EC meals recently). The pasta with beetroot (with salad) was excellent and piping hot the first time I tried it, but was cooler and the texture much less enjoyable the second time.

[There's certainly no place for that 'greek-style salad' any longer, now that this cold weather has arrived].

The new pies seem to be highly popular with passengers.

[nothing to do with catering, but I've just noticed that there is a VTEC competition to win tickets for two plus hotel accomodation and shopping vouchers to which the entry requirement is to answer this tough question:

Which river runs through Newcastle

1.River Tyne
2.River Nile
3.River Amazon]​

 

[FQ]

That is one tricky question!

Not! It's definitely Amazon. No! Nile. It's definitely not Tyne

 

[me123]

I thought people had given up on those pointless questions that my cat could get right, in lieu of just entering a prize draw. Haven't seen one of those in a while.

 

[Furrball]

My bad luck continues with food on East Coast services! No hot food available on 0952 Aberdeen to Kings Cross due to error loading. To add insult to injury pretty cold on here to with the air con blasting out cold air.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
According to a reply from VTEC regarding service today they are trialling a new method of service which in their words is to deliver a more restaurant like service.

 

[philjo]

I used my last ever 1st rewards ticket last week from Leeds to Stevenage on the 15:15.

The food was nice, served as we were leaving Wakefield. However it took about 45 minutes before any tea appeared which was a bit bizarre considering it was the afternoon TEA menu - of which I would have thought that tea was the essential element to accompany the food, not as an afterthought!
Previously they have served the tea alsmot before the train has left Leeds - we are going though Retford before any appeared, which meant that the seconds tea/coffee run was only a few minutes before I was getting off at Stevenage so I declined a refill.

 

[Bungle73]

which in their words is to deliver a more restaurant like service.

What does that mean? :?

 

[trainophile]

What does that mean? :?

They expect a tip?

 

[dave87016]

I think they might be following in VTWC pattern regarding hot drinks as I frequently use the 18:40pm from Glasgow to Preston and hot drinks are not served till after Carlisle

 

[backontrack]

That is one tricky question!

Not! It's definitely Amazon. No! Nile. It's definitely not Tyne

Oh. I thought it was Avon.

 

[IanXC]

According to a reply from VTEC regarding service today they are trialling a new method of service which in their words is to deliver a more restaurant like service.

My observations suggest they mean 4 distinct 'rounds', always in this order:

• Cold/Alcoholic drinks
• 'Mains' - sandwiches, hot option etc
• 'Desert' - cake/fruit/biscuits etc
• After dinner hot drinks (on one occasion with a chocolate)

That would seem to fit the description of a 'restaurant' service to me...

Couple of photos to whet your appetite...

 

[Tetchytyke]

Is that a new beer they're offering? Any good?

Or, if it isn't good, is it better than Old Speckled Hen?

 

[sprinterguy]

Is that a new beer they're offering? Any good?

Or, if it isn't good, is it better than Old Speckled Hen?

The "Hop On Board" ale was recently launched for Virgin Trains East Coast in late October. It's brewed by Rudgate of York, which means that it's fantastic, and far and away better than Old Speckled Hen! I'd probably categorise it as a golden bitter - I "sampled" it extensively on my last East Coast trip last month.

I really do like Virgin Trains' collaborations with local brewers on their East and West coast routes. I'm glad to see that the practice has been brought over to the East Coast.

 

[IanXC]

Is that a new beer they're offering? Any good?

Or, if it isn't good, is it better than Old Speckled Hen?

I rather like it tbh, I'm no expert tho! It's been on sale in the Foodbar for sometime (although it comes in larger bottles there!).

 

[sprinterguy]

I rather like it tbh, I'm no expert tho! It's been on sale in the Foodbar for sometime (although it comes in larger bottles there!).

Do they only do 330ml bottles of it in first class, then? That's interesting - I've only had it in the more usual 500ml bottles purchased from the Foodbar.

 

[IanXC]

Do they only do 330ml bottles of it in first class, then? That's interesting - I've only had it in the more usual 500ml bottles purchased from the Foodbar.

Exactly right, 330ml in first. Presumably a cost consideration, plus presumably helps stock control of the 'paid' Foodbar items.

 

[Butts]

Exactly right, 330ml in first. Presumably a cost consideration, plus presumably helps stock control of the 'paid' Foodbar items.

No problem, just ask to "double up"

I'd love to see the stock control on The Spirits as they are the same size paid or gratis

 

[marks87]

It seems Duncan Bannatyne isn't happy with the food on offer...

https://twitter.com/DuncanBannatyne/status/679305376462950400

No @Virgin_TrainsEC to Kings Cross. Food choice is so disgusting I think I will just do without

 

[FQ]

Bit rude to VTEC isn't he! If he's going to moan about the food after he knows what it'll be like to his taste then he shouldn't order it in the first place!

 

[Darandio]

Ah, but he paid for a ticket 'including food'.

His words, and a can of worms.

 

[rjholt]

I feel the past 6 months have been the worst ever - the pathetic 'all day' menu (chicken skewers/deli meats etc) are the pits. When EC had the line we had real pies, albeit bizarrely moving from being served with veg to salad.

Breakfasts remain good thankfully.

 

[Bungle73]

I feel the past 6 months have been the worst ever - the pathetic 'all day' menu (chicken skewers/deli meats etc) are the pits. When EC had the line we had real pies, albeit bizarrely moving from being served with veg to salad.

Breakfasts remain good thankfully.

I thought the Continental Platter was excellent. Very tasty.

 

[ainsworth74]

I thought the Continental Platter was excellent. Very tasty.

I quite liked the chicken skewers as well personally.

I think part of the problem is that in terms of portion size most of the all-day menu is now distinctly lunch sized. So if you're travelling in the middle of the day it's fine. But if you're travelling in the late afternoon/early evening when you might want a main meal you'll be out of luck unless your on a selected service out of Kings Cross.

 

[Starmill]

A while back we were discussing eggs.

I'll just leave this here...

[Image shows Eggs Florentine as served onboard a Pendolino Breakfast Service]

With apologies to Blindtraveller.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Nice of you to think of me! I have experienced the egg offering on WC and am suitably impressed. Not yet had the pleasure of EC First since the menu change.

BTW what is the reduced offering likely to be on the Mid Morning Southbound trip from Aberdeen?

 

[Iskra]

A while back we were discussing eggs.

I'll just leave this here...

[Image shows Eggs Florentine as served onboard a Pendolino Breakfast Service]

With apologies to Blindtraveller.

Wow, the eggs florentine looks stunning (for train food). I hope that's still on the menu when I travel VTWC in March!

 

[marks87]

What's the difference between Eggs Florentine and Eggs Benedict?

(Which is either a genuine culinary question, or a very funny joke about a biscuit and a Pope).

 

[me123]

Benedict has ham, Florentine has Spinach.

Have to say, I'm really impressed with the VTWC eggs based on what I can see. I've seen a lot worse served in much better circumstances. Would very much hope to give their service a go at some point.

 

[Butts]

Benedict has ham, Florentine has Spinach.

Have to say, I'm really impressed with the VTWC eggs based on what I can see. I've seen a lot worse served in much better circumstances. Would very much hope to give their service a go at some point.

Indeed, considering it is seemingly beyond Virgin East Coast to produce even a humble fried egg let alone the variety on display across country.