London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Gaelan]

I'm taking LNER Leuchars to London this Friday (leaving 09:22, the 07:52 service from Aberdeen; "Dish" menu) and contemplating attempting to get a first class upgrade if it's relatively cheap.

Given the length of the service, it extends through both breakfast and lunchtime - any sense of which menu I'd get?

If it's the breakfast menu, is it worth the £10 upgrade? The options don't look particularly substantial.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I'm taking LNER Leuchars to London this Friday (leaving 09:22, the 07:52 service from Aberdeen; "Dish" menu) and contemplating attempting to get a first class upgrade if it's relatively cheap.

Given the length of the service, it extends through both breakfast and lunchtime - any sense of which menu I'd get?

If it's the breakfast menu, is it worth the £10 upgrade? The options don't look particularly substantial.

£10 to upgrade to First Class between Leuchars and London for the 6 hour journey is worth it aside from any catering I would suggest!

 

[Andy Pacer]

£10 to upgrade to First Class between Leuchars and London for the 6 hour journey is worth it aside from any catering I would suggest!

Indeed, thats fantastic value!

 

[Gaelan]

Indeed, thats fantastic value!

(to be clear I’m quoting the Seatfrog minimum bid here; I’ll know in a few hours time if the real price is remotely that cheap.)

 

[Andy Pacer]

(to be clear I’m quoting the Seatfrog minimum bid here; I’ll know in a few hours time if the real price is remotely that cheap.)

Aah, well that makes more sense!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

New menu from the 24/5. The "spinach and tomato fritatta with posh baked beans" sounds interesting and is something different for the mean "dish" breakfast.

Still a pathetic Deli menu, which stands for 98% of the former breakfast services out of King's Cross.

EDIT: Hang on, they've taken the English breakfast off of the Dish menu too! Since when? Really poor.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Still a pathetic Deli menu, which stands for 98% of the former breakfast services out of King's Cross.

EDIT: Hang on, they've taken the English breakfast off of the Dish menu too! Since when? Really poor.

Yes, LNER aren’t immune from the DfT cost cutting exercises I’m afraid. There are cuts to both LNER and Avanti catering in May (think the Avanti weekend breakfast cuts has previously been mentioned in here).

 

[Bungle73]

Still a pathetic Deli menu, which stands for 98% of the former breakfast services out of King's Cross.

EDIT: Hang on, they've taken the English breakfast off of the Dish menu too! Since when? Really poor.

The Full LNER was never on the Dish menu, only the Dine.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The Full LNER was never on the Dish menu, only the Dine.

Thank you for the information. Even more of a downgrade from the Virgin Trains EC (and early LNER) offering than I had realised then, for breakfast trains. I wouldn’t mind so much if they didn’t act like they’ve majorly improved the menus. Avanti are the same with their evening first class offering.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes, LNER aren’t immune from the DfT cost cutting exercises I’m afraid. There are cuts to both LNER and Avanti catering in May (think the Avanti weekend breakfast cuts has previously been mentioned in here).

Then they should just cut the menu and leave it at that, but to ham it up as if these changes are improvements is just verging on cheeky to be honest.

 

[Butts]

I think they should make alcohol available with the breakfast menu like they do on Aircraft - make up for the shortcomings ?

Bucks Fizz anyone !!

Do they serve alcohol from the the buffet early morning where you have to pay for it ?

Currently on my eighth Talisker Surge of the day in the Lounge at LHR awaiting a delayed flight to Jersey. (That's 4 doubles not 8 !!! 3 in EDI and one at LHR BA Lounges)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think they should make alcohol available with the breakfast menu like they do on Aircraft - make up for the shortcomings ?

Bucks Fizz anyone !!

Do they serve alcohol from the the buffet early morning where you have to pay for it ?

Currently on my eighth Talisker Surge of the day in the Lounge at LHR awaiting a delayed flight to Jersey. (That's 4 doubles not 8 !!! 3 in EDI and one at LHR BA Lounges)

To be honest, while the thought of most alcohol in the morning generally makes me feel queasy, I have genuinely often thought bucks fizz would be a marvellously classy addition to railway first class. I flew Emirates First and Qatar Business last month and on both flights asked for a weak bucks fizz after sleeping. The only drink drink I genuinely enjoy in a morning.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

The only drink drink I genuinely enjoy in a morning.

I didn’t think you did mornings…

 

[Iskra]

To be honest, while the thought of most alcohol in the morning generally makes me feel queasy, I have genuinely often thought bucks fizz would be a marvellously classy addition to railway first class. I flew Emirates First and Qatar Business last month and on both flights asked for a weak bucks fizz after sleeping. The only drink drink I genuinely enjoy in a morning.

Just champagne is a far better way to start the day, orange just ruins it.

I can’t see the take-up for Bucks Fizz being particularly high on a cold & dreary November morning Leeds-Aberdeen trip on the 0710… It would only really have the right clientele for it on weekends, and many of those people probably provide their own anyway.

LNER first class is more functional rather than classy these days.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I didn’t think you did mornings…

I do have mornings, they just take place a little later for me - usually between midday and 2pm Sometimes 11am if I got a good night's sleep

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just champagne is a far better way to start the day, orange just ruins it.

I can’t see the take-up for Bucks Fizz being particularly high on a cold & dreary November morning Leeds-Aberdeen trip on the 0710… It would only really have the right clientele for it on weekends, and many of those people probably provide their own anyway.

LNER first class is more functional rather than classy these days.

To be honest I always thought of it more suitable for Virgin Trains, rather fits with the glitzy brand which they themselves described on their website (rather ambitiously) as "rockstar treatment... with coffee," and I think considering the branding of Avanti's first class these days as a premium offering to differentiate from standard premium, it might work better there.

 

[Iskra]

To be honest I always thought of it more suitable for Virgin Trains, rather fits with the glitzy brand which they themselves described on their website (rather ambitiously) as "rockstar treatment... with coffee," and I think considering the branding of Avanti's first class these days as a premium offering to differentiate from standard premium, it might work better there.

Yes, Virgin was the brand that the idea instantly made me think of. Indeed, Avanti would work too- my last train champagne was on a Trenitalia Frecciarossa in Executive class, although sadly not for breakfast. I have had it on Italian hotel breakfast buffets however, so we may see it on Avanti yet…

 

[Westerndiesels]

If you take the 9.30am from Edinburgh to King's Cross, can you choose either breakfast or wait until 12 and have the lunch. Or is it dependent on leaving time? It arrives at 13.52.

 

[Gaelan]

(to be clear I’m quoting the Seatfrog minimum bid here; I’ll know in a few hours time if the real price is remotely that cheap.)

…and, in any case, Seatfrog opened to immediately "all seats sold out".

Saves me some money, I suppose! And to be honest (and controversial), I really don't find standard class on an 80x that bad at all.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If you take the 9.30am from Edinburgh to King's Cross, can you choose either breakfast or wait until 12 and have the lunch. Or is it dependent on leaving time? It arrives at 13.52.

I’d assume on that one you’d be served both, breakfast from the Scottish crew and lunch from the London crew that join at Newcastle and presumably just serve everyone aboard.

There is a rather unnecessarily stingy “Please choose only one” message on the menus. Clearly they know how unfulfilling and pittancey the offerings on the Deli menu are, and therefore guess people may assume they can mix and match options. I wouldn’t be so hard on the menu if one could

 

[Westerndiesels]

I’d assume on that one you’d be served both, breakfast from the Scottish crew and lunch from the London crew that join at Newcastle and presumably just serve everyone aboard.

There is a rather unnecessarily stingy “Please choose only one” message on the menus. Clearly they know how unfulfilling and pittancey the offerings on the Deli menu are, and therefore guess people may assume they can mix and match options. I wouldn’t be so hard on the menu if one could

Thanks for that. I wasn't being greedy honest lol, and as I'm heavier than I should be I've been eating in the eight hour period between 11am and 7pm which has helped shift a few pounds. If they did the lunch at 12 I think I could get away with a banana about 11, but if I've got no choice I'll happily change my routine for a day and have a fry up. I'll be off the plan once they start serving alcohol anyway. Oops.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thanks for that. I wasn't being greedy honest lol, and as I'm heavier than I should be I've been eating in the eight hour period between 11am and 7pm which has helped shift a few pounds. If they did the lunch at 12 I think I could get away with a banana about 11, but if I've got no choice I'll happily change my routine for a day and have a fry up. I'll be off the plan once they start serving alcohol anyway. Oops.

Of course you’re not being greedy. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to want more than one snack on a 4.5 hour journey, especially when you’ve paid first class fares which aren’t cheap, and even more so when the Deli and Dish menus have revolutionised ECML offerings so that they’re more stingy and unsatisfying than ever before!

I notice you said fry up. Please be aware that only selected trains which provide the lesser-spotted “Dish” menu offer a full breakfast now, as discussed a few posts above. I’d hate for you to look forward to one or change your plans accordingly for you to board a “Deli” or “Dine” service, where the only options are a small bacon roll or microwaved waffles with jam.

The 09:30 is indeed one of the very few breakfast trains to offer the “Dine” menu, which features the full English, but only on weekdays. On weekends, it’s the ”Dish” menu. Bacon roll, waffles, or porridge pot. “Deli” is the same, but without the waffles.

 

[Butts]

I think there should be a proper Breakfast on all 1st Class Services at the appropriate hour - like there used to be !!

Air certainly has an advantage here - if you have status Breakfast is available free of charge in the Lounge at EDI and LHR - also onboard in Club - to be perfectly honest the Lounge offerings are better than those on the aircraft.

Champagne as well if you want it and numerous other alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings.

There is just no comparison between LNER Lounges and BA ones.

People are being "sold a pup" on the Trains somewhat akin to Caledonian Sleepers marketing "bull**** of yore"

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think there should be a proper Breakfast on all 1st Class Services at the appropriate hour - like there used to be !!

Air certainly has an advantage here - if you have status Breakfast is available free of charge in the Lounge at EDI and LHR - also onboard in Club - to be perfectly honest the Lounge offerings are better than those on the aircraft.

Champagne as well if you want it and numerous other alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings.

There is just no comparison between LNER Lounges and BA ones.

People are being "sold a pup" on the Trains somewhat akin to Caledonian Sleepers marketing "bull**** of yore"

While I think LNER have ruthlessly reduced the quality, expecting free-flowing champagne without a big fare rise or supplement charge is not realistic.

 

[D6130]

While I think LNER have ruthlessly reduced the quality, expecting free-flowing champagne without a big fare rise or supplement charge is not realistic.

I think it would be more fair to say that the Department for Transport have ruthlessly reduced the quality.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think it would be more fair to say that the Department for Transport have ruthlessly reduced the quality.

Do you know that for sure though? These reductions came far before the infamous budget cuts.

 

[ainsworth74]

Do you know that for sure though? These reductions came far before the infamous budget cuts.

Some of them did but most of the biggies are post-Covid. In 2020 every service offered a full breakfast, so the current cut to the number of breakfast services is post-Covid. There had been reductions pre-Covid as I think the two menu rotations went around that time (having been four under East Coast and reduced to two by VTEC) but the real cut backs have been post-Covid I would have said.

But even then there has been improvements at other times. Weekends for example are night and day compared to before Covid. Pre-Covid all you could expect on a morning was a depressed Croissant, juice and a hot drink. Now you can get a bacon roll or vegan sausage roll. In the afternoon and evenings it was just cold sandwiches and soft drinks. Now there's hot food and alcoholic beverages. That's a very serious improvement to the offer compared to what it was before (and I believe LNER were the first to do this, Avanti followed in their wake).

Absolutely there have been cut backs. The full breakfast offer should be available on the majority of services (if not all). I do think that there should be at least two menu rotations again. The portion sizes could be better but I've never been left hungry on an LNER service (as long as the catering produced!). I think the glasses used are now comically small (yet spirits are still in 50ml measures, that's surely more expensive than a slightly larger glass of wine or juice?). I also don't buy that the quality of what is offered is any less compared to what it was before either.

But I do think sometimes people go a little overboard on their criticism. Some of it is absolutely valid (see the paragraph above) but lets not go crackers.

 

[Iskra]

Some of them did but most of the biggies are post-Covid. In 2020 every service offered a full breakfast, so the current cut to the number of breakfast services is post-Covid. There had been reductions pre-Covid as I think the two menu rotations went around that time (having been four under East Coast and reduced to two by VTEC) but the real cut backs have been post-Covid I would have said.

But even then there has been improvements at other times. Weekends for example are night and day compared to before Covid. Pre-Covid all you could expect on a morning was a depressed Croissant, juice and a hot drink. Now you can get a bacon roll or vegan sausage roll. In the afternoon and evenings it was just cold sandwiches and soft drinks. Now there's hot food and alcoholic beverages. That's a very serious improvement to the offer compared to what it was before (and I believe LNER were the first to do this, Avanti followed in their wake).

Absolutely there have been cut backs. The full breakfast offer should be available on the majority of services (if not all). I do think that there should be at least two menu rotations again. The portion sizes could be better but I've never been left hungry on an LNER service (as long as the catering produced!). I think the glasses used are now comically small (yet spirits are still in 50ml measures, that's surely more expensive than a slightly larger glass of wine or juice?). I also don't buy that the quality of what is offered is any less compared to what it was before either.

But I do think sometimes people go a little overboard on their criticism. Some of it is absolutely valid (see the paragraph above) but lets not go crackers.

East Coast brought in the all day hot food option, I believe

 

[ainsworth74]

East Coast brought in the all day hot food option, I believe

Sorry not sure what you mean? Could you be a bit more specific?

 

[Iskra]

Sorry not sure what you mean? Could you be a bit more specific?

You said LNER brought in all day hot food and alcohol, I’m saying that this option existed at least as far back as when the franchise was East Coast (follow-up operator to National Express East Coast).