Should long-distance services offer free hot drinks?

[py_megapixel]

Should all passengers on long-distance services be offered a free hot drink?

There will generally be catering staff on board anyway, and all it would need is some teabags and instant coffee granules (probably in decaf/non-decaf variants). The marginal cost of providing it would be tiny - maybe a few tens of pence - and having been given a free drink, customers may feel more inclined to buy something to go with it (e.g. a biscuit).

It could also be used as a marketing point for the whole network, once the GBR brand takes over. Or it could be used as part of an "eco" campaign - "bring a reusable cup; get a free drink" sort of thing.

 

[Wolfie]

Should all passengers on long-distance services be offered a free hot drink?

There will generally be catering staff on board anyway, and all it would need is some teabags and instant coffee granules (probably in decaf/non-decaf variants). The marginal cost of providing it would be tiny - maybe a few tens of pence - and having been given a free drink, customers may feel more inclined to buy something to go with it (e.g. a biscuit).

It could also be used as a marketing point for the whole network, once the GBR brand takes over. Or it could be used as part of an "eco" campaign - "bring a reusable cup; get a free drink" sort of thing.

It doesn't happen on other forms of transportation. As such l really don't see why it should be offered on the railway.

Also, what is a long-distance service and how far should l have to be travelling to avail myself of this? Would a LNWR Euston to Crewe be long distance? If so should l get a free drink for travelling between two Trent Valley stations? If so why shouldn't someone on a Northampton to Birmingham service also get one?

 

[py_megapixel]

It doesn't happen on other forms of transportation. As such l really don't see why it should be offered on the railway.

I don't understand this logic. Shall we start reducing legroom on trains because long distance coaches are worse?

Also, what is a long-distance service and how far should l have to be travelling to avail myself of this? Would a LNWR Euston to Crewe be long distance? If so should l get a free drink for travelling between two Trent Valley stations? If so why shouldn't someone on a Northampton to Birmingham service also get one?

Does it really matter that much if someone gets a drink who is only travelling a short distance? The cost of providing it would be tiny and if it makes them more satisfied with their journey experience then that can only be a good thing.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't understand this logic. Shall we start reducing legroom on trains because long distance coaches are worse?


Does it really matter that much if someone gets a drink who is only travelling a short distance? The cost of providing it would be tiny and if it makes them more satisfied with their journey experience then that can only be a good thing.

So why shouldn't l expect a free drink on my two minute ride from Canonbury to Highbury & Islington?

 

[JonathanH]

Should all passengers on long-distance services be offered a free hot drink?

No. It will still cost money and not everyone wants one in any case. What about people who might want a free cold drink?

The cost won't actually be tiny. You would need to bring sufficient water on board, maintain stock, cope with different levels of demand, have someone to serve it. If the cost was not relevant, why are hot drinks sold at the prices currently charged?

Midland Mainline once offered free hot drinks. Did it encourage more people to travel? (It encouraged me to have one more hot drink than I might otherwise have done on the one occasion I availed myself of it.)

I personally don't get why (some) offices provide free hot drinks (but that will be because I don't drink them). What is it about tea and coffee that give drinkers of those drinks the right to feel that they should get it laid on for them, relative to other drinks?

 

[Whistler40145]

Personally, I find it totally irritating that Northern Rail don't offer refreshments on their longer distanced journeys e.g. Blackpool North to York

 

[py_megapixel]

So why shouldn't l expect a free drink on my two minute ride from Canonbury to Highbury & Islington?

Because there isn't already a member of catering staff on that train.

 

[Wolfie]

Because there isn't already a member of catering staff on that train.

But Strafford to Richmond is well over an hour so....

 

[py_megapixel]

But Strafford to Richmond is well over an hour so....

That seems like a rather facetious argument. It's clearly a local stopping service which will never have catering.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

 

[JonathanH]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

I did. It can't have been of enough commercial benefit to continue to do so as it was ditched before the 2007 franchise change. I seem to recall they used smaller cups for the free hot drinks.

 

[RT4038]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

Or maybe the fact that it is not done by their successors possibly shows it wasn't?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I did. It can't have been of enough commercial benefit to continue to do so as it was ditched before the 2007 franchise change.

Was it? I thought Stagecoach ditched it on taking over?

I seem to recall they used smaller cups for the free hot drinks.

They did, yes, though they would happily give you two.

 

[JonathanH]

Was it? I thought Stagecoach ditched it on taking over?

Ah, maybe it did survive up to the franchise change then - not able to check easily.

 

[arbeia]

Flasks don't bite.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Without trying to sound like a certain other poster, all intercity trains in China have boiling water dispensers at the end of each carriage, for tea and noodle making. There are a huge array of dried ramen available at stalls and shops in stations, and the trolley, and people will make them and eat them on the move.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Without trying to sound like a certain other poster, all intercity trains in China have boiling water dispensers at the end of each carriage, for tea and noodle making. There are a huge array of dried ramen available at stalls and shops in stations, and the trolley, and people will make them and eat them on the move.

Also a Soviet thing.

 

[Ianno87]

Why give something away for free when many people are perfectly happy to pay for it if they want it?

That’s what early days Ryanair twigged. They went from loss to profit when they twigged the stuff they were giving away for free could be sold instead.

 

[Trackman]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

I think VT did this in the very early days in Standard to impress.
Basically it was an old BR trolley with a gas geyser or something.
Nothing to write home about, plastic Maxpax type cups and terrible coffee, so stuck with tea. Still it was free!

 

[6Gman]

Should all passengers on long-distance services be offered a free hot drink?

There will generally be catering staff on board anyway, and all it would need is some teabags and instant coffee granules (probably in decaf/non-decaf variants). The marginal cost of providing it would be tiny - maybe a few tens of pence - and having been given a free drink, customers may feel more inclined to buy something to go with it (e.g. a biscuit).

It could also be used as a marketing point for the whole network, once the GBR brand takes over. Or it could be used as part of an "eco" campaign - "bring a reusable cup; get a free drink" sort of thing.

You'll need to talk me through this.

Available at the buffet? Or at seat?

Can see big problems with both approaches to be honest.

 

[ExRes]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

I don't know about a commercial benefit, the stuff was so disgusting it probably made passengers look for alternative ways of travelling, no wonder they were always so happy to be ripped off by station coffee shops

 

[AngusH]

I think Chinese trains (and Russia maybe?) offer free hot water from a dispenser.

Which can of course be used with a tea bag/coffee/soup/noodles if you provide it yourself.

I'd be quite pleased to see such a thing in the uk.

 

[yorkie]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

Indeed; you had to go to the buffet car and it probably boosted sales there.

Also GNER did the same thing on trains diverted via Carlisle.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Personally, I find it totally irritating that Northern Rail don't offer refreshments on their longer distanced journeys e.g. Blackpool North to York

The GWR Castle HST services to and from Cardiff, Bristol and Penzance don't have refreshments. Cardiff to Penzance is 5 to 6 hours!

 

[Parallel]

In recent years, up until COVID, I'd have said no.

The govenment have effectively implied that it's safer not to use public transport throughout the pandemic, which (I think) has led many to think public transport is a COVID risk which has caused irreversible damage. Leisure travel has come back quite strongly but if leisure travel falls away in the future and commuters don't return in large numbers, TOCs/GBR may become inventive and want to consider giving passengers the impression they're looking after them more, and this could be something (I can almost smell a Virgin Trains-esque 'Travel with us and get a free cuppa' marketing campaign) that could entice leisure (and possibly a few more commuters) travellers to use the services.

 

[Mikey C]

I'm pretty sure Russian and Chinese trains operating on 1-2 hour journeys don't have samovars at the end of the carriage! 1-2 days perhaps...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm pretty sure Russian and Chinese trains operating on 1-2 hour journeys don't have samovars at the end of the carriage! 1-2 days perhaps...

All long distance Chinese trains including all the high speed kit do.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Nobody has mentioned that Midland Mainline did do this, so clearly they thought it was of commercial benefit.

As I was told , in the last knockings of debate over the franchise "benefits" , it was thrown in as an "extra" , so yes , it was a commercial benefit.

 

[stevetay3]

Why are the free drinks dispensed in smaller cups you just get less water.

 

[Starmill]

I think that there would be a stronger case for the catering to be of improved quality and range. I also think that there would be a stronger case for hot drinks to be sold in "deals". For example ScotRail used to sell a hot drink and a biscuit for £2. I'd rather have something like that, consistently provided.