CrossCountry's catering offering (2015-2017)

[ainsworth74]

Are you referring to the BR Grease or the Benson ? , probably both pretty lethal

Just the Benson!

 

[yorksrob]

Not quite on a par with the InterCity Crosscountry Grill offering of days gone by then? But still a huge step in the right direction.

Yes indeed. Nice to sit there tucking in through the suburbs of Birmingham whilst the commuters looked on from their platforms

 

[sheff1]

No, the Bistro area trains already had hot meal stock on board before. Now instead of having them delivered down the train in a tray/dish thing, you can have them on a plate in the Bistro area.

Is the Bistro Area still available ? I couldn't find mention of it in the latest publicity.

 

[Jonfun]

Not at present for purchasing hot meals on the day.

As I understand it the pre-order hot meals are still available though on most services.

 

[sheff1]

Thanks for that.

Pity, as I will not know until the day before whether I will be travelling or not.

Was the Bistro idea not a success then ? How long did it last for ?

 

[Jonfun]

I can't say whether it was a success or not to be honest, I never saw it in the flesh. It may well come back. We'll have to wait and see

 

[yorksrob]

Shame if its gone.

I was tempted to try the evening meal as well but got bowled out by a Voyager !!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Shame if its gone.

I was tempted to try the evening meal as well but got bowled out by a Voyager !!

Yes, it really is a shame, let's just hope the pre-ordered meals do not follow suit as I'm looking forward to sampling the breakfast enroute to Cornwall in June.

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, it really is a shame, let's just hope the pre-ordered meals do not follow suit as I'm looking forward to sampling the breakfast enroute to Cornwall in June.

Yes, you'd need a decent breakfast going all the way to Cornwall !

 

[Jonfun]

Shame if its gone.

I was tempted to try the evening meal as well but got bowled out by a Voyager !!

The type of traction makes no difference to the food that's available, generally speaking; it was just how it was served for standard class passengers. On HSTs in the Bistro area it was served plated, on Voyagers it was served in a takeaway-style tray with a lid to enable safe carrying down the train.

As I understand it they're keen to maintain the pre-ordered meals system.

 

[yorksrob]

The type of traction makes no difference to the food that's available, generally speaking; it was just how it was served for standard class passengers. On HSTs in the Bistro area it was served plated, on Voyagers it was served in a takeaway-style tray with a lid to enable safe carrying down the train.

As I understand it they're keen to maintain the pre-ordered meals system.

That made it rather nicer than trying to eat in an airline seat !

 

[Jonfun]

Well, yes, obviously - that's why they did it. But if you're just after food rather than being too bothered about where you eat it that option is there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Much as I loved the old DB Bistrowagen, the fact that most people these days have more valuables in luggage (laptops etc), you're discouraged from leaving it unattended, and seats are in demand, I think the concept is less viable than it was.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Is the Bistro Area still available ? I couldn't find mention of it in the latest publicity.

No, it was a usual standard class area when I caught the 0740 Newcastle-Leeds HST yesterday.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Just a quick heads up to anyone interested, that the XC Pre Order Hot Meals Menu has been refreshed, new dishes such as slow cooked beef in red wine gravy with fondant potato & veg. plus new dessert options available, full details are now on the website.

 

[Skipness]

I would love to try XC's catering offers as I travel from Derby to Cornwall on a monthly basis at present.
However, as I use split ticketing and reservations my journey can be a version of musical chairs (without the music) especially at New Street sometimes even involving a move from one coach to another.

 

[ALEMASTER]

I would love to try XC's catering offers as I travel from Derby to Cornwall on a monthly basis at present.
However, as I use split ticketing and reservations my journey can be a version of musical chairs (without the music) especially at New Street sometimes even involving a move from one coach to another.

I'm presuming you are buying walk-up ticket types rather than advance purchase then, I would suggest buying from a ticket office rather than online and asking for a seat reservation for the full journey.

 

[JaJaWa]

I would love to try XC's catering offers as I travel from Derby to Cornwall on a monthly basis at present.
However, as I use split ticketing and reservations my journey can be a version of musical chairs (without the music) especially at New Street sometimes even involving a move from one coach to another.

You could use the text reservation service, and text CrossCounty the station codes (see details below) 10 minutes before you board to reserve a seat for the entire journey.

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tickets/ten-minute-reservations

To make a ten minute reservation (TMR) on the 09:30 from Birmingham New Street (BHM) to Cheltenham Spa (CNM), you would text TMR BHM CNM 0930 to the number 88008.

 

[387star]

Is the all day breakfast any good?

 

[Butts]

Is the all day breakfast any good?

No Black Pudding - outrageous

 

[Ash Bridge]

Is the all day breakfast any good?

This was served to me onboard a 221 on a Saturday morning back in June enroute from Stockport to Exeter, I see they have now added tomatoes, have to say the sausages were really tasty although I would agree with Butts about the lack of black pudding.

 

[387star]

I want to try this

I am not sure if I can reserve a seat to be eligible on priv might phone telesales to check

 

[Whistler40145]

Is there a restriction on the times the menu is available?

 

[Paul Kelly]

You could use the text reservation service, and text CrossCounty the station codes (see details below) 10 minutes before you board to reserve a seat for the entire journey.

You need to know your reserved seat 72 hours in advance to be able to order the food.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Is there a restriction on the times the menu is available?

It seems that it's available between 0600-2000 7 days a week on most Voyager/HST services, though obviously not on the Turbostar routes.

 

[Whistler40145]

Cheers Ash Bridge for your reply.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Having just visited the XC Trains website, it appears that the pre-order meal option is ceasing after the 31st May, they are advising passengers that (to quote) "the service is currently under review and passengers wishing to order after this date to check back soon for details of our exciting new offer" From a personal point of view it is a shame as having enjoyed these meals on several occasions I found them to be of decent quality, just wondering now what the replacement "exciting new offer" is going to be?

 

[chubs]

Not surprising.

Catering options at stations have really increased in choice and quality these past few years. Outside of enthusiasts very few people want to pay for a microwave meal.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not surprising.

Catering options at stations have really increased in choice and quality these past few years. Outside of enthusiasts very few people want to pay for a microwave meal.

I took up the option of a meal a month or two ago. I was the only order on the whole train.

 

[221129]

I took up the option of a meal a month or two ago. I was the only order on the whole train.

Hardly surprising, they only get an order for 1 every couple of weeks...