GWR at seat ordering

[43172]

Last week on my way home from work i noticed occipying the slot where paper seat reservations go there was a piece of paper with a QR code and a set of instuctions om how to use it. When i used the same timed service (1C80, 1204 Paddington to Penzance) yesterday though there was no sign of an at seat ordering service. Does anyone know more about it, if it was/is a trial or not, and what options were there? I would've tried it out but was not going far enough to feel the need to use it.

Text description:
GWR

At seat ordering

1) Open the camera app to scan the QR code

2) Enter your seat number

3) Select your items and checkout

 

[74A]

It was a trial. It is hoped to have it across the IET fleet sometime in the future. You just happened to travel on one of the test trains.

 

[mr_moo]

Interesting. Did you try to buy something? I'd be interested to know if it told you where the trolley was and thus whether it's likely to turn up in 2 or 15 minutes. I'd be hesitant about trusting that!

 

[pwharley]

Interesting. Did you try to buy something? I'd be interested to know if it told you where the trolley was and thus whether it's likely to turn up in 2 or 15 minutes. I'd be hesitant about trusting that!

Delivery will be within 20 minutes. If it's going to be longer, there will be an onboard announcement. See

Online Ordering

atseat.gwr.com

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks like that's the LNER version not requiring the wifi. Good, should be an improvement on the trolley!

 

[43172]

Interesting. Did you try to buy something? I'd be interested to know if it told you where the trolley was and thus whether it's likely to turn up in 2 or 15 minutes. I'd be hesitant about trusting that!

Sadly not, i was only onboard for 15 mins so didn't consider getting something. There was no announcement of the trolley or the trial, but boarding at Truro meant the trolley would've finished service or be near the end. I've seen long waits with the trolley so hope the trial is successful and it's rolled out full time, i'd imagine it'd give long distance passengers an option of when to get refreshments than hope the trolley turns up at that point.

 

[mr_moo]

Interesting. Thanks! With a potential 20 min wait I'd be hesitant unless on a longer journey, but it sounds good. My normal journey is Swindon to London or back which is a little under an hour, so by the time I've faffed with ordering and paying then waiting I'm 2/3 of the way to London potentially, but I might give it a try anyway.

 

[swt_passenger]

Meanwhile on the WCML they’ve given up with at seat ordering — don’t they talk to each other?

 

[mr_moo]

Of course not! That would be sensible, and this is the railway...

 

[Master29]

Looks like that's the LNER version not requiring the wifi. Good, should be an improvement on the trolley!

I think it will be a sizeable improvement on a trolley service that remains static most of the time with GWR due to crowding. Looks like they might have found a system that improves on a small buffet section after all but time will tell. So long as luddites like myself can bring myself to use it. I`m getting there.

 

[AngusH]

How does it work in terms of the actual delivery, does each order get a separate delivery?
or do they get grouped together and then someone walks down the train delivering multiple orders?

 

[DelW]

It will be interesting to see how this works (if it does) on a 2x5car train. Will both galleys be staffed, or will the app tell you it's not available if you're in the "wrong" set?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Meanwhile on the WCML they’ve given up with at seat ordering — don’t they talk to each other?

Both First as well.

 

[Master29]

It will be interesting to see how this works (if it does) on a 2x5car train. Will both galleys be staffed, or will the app tell you it's not available if you're in the "wrong" set?

It all remains to be seen.

 

[TJM]

Is hot food available? That's still my biggest annoyance as regards to removal of the buffet.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Both First as well.

Different situation, though. Other than it being a bit of a long walk from coach G or U, the buffet approach works fine on Avanti. Whereas the GWR trolley clearly does not.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Different situation, though. Other than it being a bit of a long walk from coach G or U, the buffet approach works fine on Avanti. Whereas the GWR trolley clearly does not.

Sure (although I’ve always been happy with the trolley as a regular traveller in both classes of the London Cardiff route) but if this is to be successful it will need to actually be available. The amount of times I’ve travelled Avanti and LNER only for the QR code on the back of the seats to lead me to a page saying “Sorry, not available, please go to shop”

 

[Melancholia]

Is hot food available? That's still my biggest annoyance as regards to removal of the buffet.

The only hot food they offer is porridge

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is hot food available? That's still my biggest annoyance as regards to removal of the buffet.

Have we not moved on from gristleburgers being desirable choices of food? Though TfW are fixing this by having a microwave in the catering area and GWR could do the same.

 

[TJM]

The only hot food they offer is porridge

Perhaps FirstGroup could consider applying to run the next prison contract..


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2023 ==

Have we not moved on from gristleburgers being desirable choices of food? Though TfW are fixing this by having a microwave in the catering area and GWR could do the same.

In their last days, Virgin used to do some pretty good options on the West Coast?

 

[Bletchleyite]

In their last days, Virgin used to do some pretty good options on the West Coast?

They had some microwave meals like chilli in a pot which were OK. Not hard to do with a microwave. But I don't think it's essential, as the demand for it is very low. That sort of pot meal is probably one of the better ideas because it can be hermetically sealed in the pot and so last as long as a can of food, which means you can keep a wider range and larger quantity in stock because they'll keep for well over a year. Whereas sandwiches tend to go off quickly, and gristleburgers are basically sandwiches.

I do miss the old 1990s XC bacon, sausage, egg and tomato breakfast roll though.

New thread to continue this line of discussion: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...rovision-be-improved-cost-effectively.245438/

 

[Towers]

Have we not moved on from gristleburgers being desirable choices of food? Though TfW are fixing this by having a microwave in the catering area and GWR could do the same.

GWR do have a microwave - plus an oven, a hob, a grill and a toaster in the 'catering area'!

 

[TJM]

GWR do have a microwave - plus an oven, a hob, a grill and a toaster in the 'catering area'!

Shame standard class passengers don't get to witness such delights - seems a bit silly you have to be lucky on a Pullman service..

 

[Parallel]

GWR do have a microwave - plus an oven, a hob, a grill and a toaster in the 'catering area'!

I don't believe the GW IETs are fitted with any fridges, which will limit the products on board that ideally should be kept chilled i.e. sandwiches or food which is heated up. I believe food like this can be out of the fridge for a couple of hours before it needs to be discarded, so GWR are a bit stuck with their food options for longer distance trips unless they want their food waste to increase, or Hitachi agree to fit refrigerators on board.

 

[banjo125]

I don't believe the GW IETs are fitted with any fridges, which will limit the products on board that ideally should be kept chilled i.e. sandwiches or food which is heated up. I believe food like this can be out of the fridge for a couple of hours before it needs to be discarded, so GWR are a bit stuck with their food options for longer distance trips unless they want their food waste to increase, or Hitachi agree to fit refrigerators on board.

All GWR IET's are fitted with Fridges in the kitchen area.

 

[CardiffKid]

All GWR IET's are fitted with Fridges in the kitchen area.

As they should be. Designing a kitchen without a fridge would be a major food hygiene failure.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As they should be. Designing a kitchen without a fridge would be a major food hygiene failure.

Depends rather on what food is processed there. If hermetically sealed or very fresh food/drink is used and is discarded promptly based on a risk assessment of how long it can be safely kept open at room temperature then it can be fine. Trolleys generally don't have a cooling provision (or if they do they have a coolbox, which can't be relied upon to cool properly and evenly).

How do you think we cater safely on a Scout camp? (The answer by the way is a lot of tinned stuff and fresh meat generally cooked very close to purchase, plus the milk in a bucket of water or similar and bought fresh each day).

 

[Master29]

Have we not moved on from gristleburgers being desirable choices of food? Though TfW are fixing this by having a microwave in the catering area and GWR could do the same.

I used to like my Casey Jones....They were quite nice I thought.

 

[CardiffKid]

Depends rather on what food is processed there. If hermetically sealed or very fresh food/drink is used and is discarded promptly based on a risk assessment of how long it can be safely kept open at room temperature then it can be fine. Trolleys generally don't have a cooling provision (or if they do they have a coolbox, which can't be relied upon to cool properly and evenly).

How do you think we cater safely on a Scout camp? (The answer by the way is a lot of tinned stuff and fresh meat generally cooked very close to purchase, plus the milk in a bucket of water or similar and bought fresh each day).

We’re talking about catering on trains and you’re imagining a kitchen (rather than a food storage area for non perishables) with cooking facilities and yet no fridge. Somehow I think this might make the on board offering worse rather than better.

Even the most basic on board shops have a fridge for chilled drinks and prepackaged sandwiches.

As has correctly been pointed out GWR trains have a fridge - as they should do - as part of an equipped kitchen on board a modern train which of course are relatively new in service.

As for camping, as someone who camps overnight 2-3 times a year, I’m fully aware of what you can cook on a camp fire and small gas stove but I’m not sure that’s relevant to attempting to improve the provision of drinks and food on board a train.

 

[Mag_seven]

This thread is specifically about GWR at seat ordering - if anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere.

thanks