dk1
Veteran Member
Thank you. I know I wasn’t going nuts lol.
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Reservations and catering on regional services
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Thank you. I know I wasn’t going nuts lol.
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Scotrail314209
Established Member
I think some trolleys being on the Edinburgh to Glasgow is because of the temporary timetable, a fair chunk of the Aberdeen services are missing from Glasgow Queen Street.
One of the Oban services are missing too, so I’d imagine it keeps them from sitting around on spare all day.
I have seen a few trolleys on the e2g recently, and it did stop for people in my carriage two or three times.
One of the Oban services are missing too, so I’d imagine it keeps them from sitting around on spare all day.
I have seen a few trolleys on the e2g recently, and it did stop for people in my carriage two or three times.
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Do TPE's trolley attendants still have the bizarre policy of trying to break the land speed record each time they make their way down the train?
I'm sure they'd sell more items if they didn't operate at "blink and you'll miss it" speeds!
I'm sure they'd sell more items if they didn't operate at "blink and you'll miss it" speeds!
dk1
Veteran Member
So good to hear mate.
nitten_travell
Member
- Joined
- 5 Feb 2016
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- 215
This is true, I took an (almost empty) service from Oban to Glasgow on Saturday and a few seats had bookings.
However, something has changed with the booking system since I last travelled as the join with the Mallaig service at Crianlarich is reported as a change at Crianlarich so two seat bookings were provided, Oban-Crianlarich and Crianlarich-Glasgow, both in separate coaches! It was also listed as destination Crianlarich on the boards at Oban station.
Transilien
Member
Does anyone know why Wales doesn’t have seat reservations on its rural routes like Scotland does?
It wasn't Rail Gourmet. It was some local operation with an Ice Cream manufacturer.
Flying Snail
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Dec 2006
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- 2,047
TfW dropped seat reservations entirely, hopefully they never return.
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
Interesting. It’s been a bit longer than that since I last used the shuttle, good to see it back.
Shame ScotRail don’t announce it, but I suppose it means it’s easier to cancel if they don’t have the staff
Carlisle – Newcastle and Barrow, and Sheffield – Scarborough as well.
Oh yes, especially Barrow !
Also more viable now it isn't a 144 where the cuppa would end up on the ceiling
Also more viable now it isn't a 144 where the cuppa would end up on the ceiling
Oh I had many a trip on a 144 with no tables and nodded off to drop a can of ale on the floor, due to lack of a table!
Fortunately the 144's had something that modern trains don't - paper towels, which were handy for the mop up.
Masbroughlad
Established Member
Northern Connect were going to have catering on routes.
I do hope that GBR will stipulate catering requirements for services going forwards. I hope that these will be more than snacks on longer distance journeys.
I know you can't put a kitchen car on a service for half a dozen people, but maybe a move to service, not just profit.
That said, well designed, value for money, highly marketed could probably make some money. Trains need to be fit for purpose - no more standing for long journeys. Lots of people travel on parts of XC - you could put a 5 star restaurant giving away meals, but if you can't get to them or sit down due to overcrowding, there is no point! Hence no demand, so let's not bother..... bit extreme, but trying to make a point.
Maybe a bistro type offering might work on longer journeys? Provide an area for people to sit and eat - but make sure there are enough seats on the train for people to sit down elsewhere. Sounds a bit like how things used to be.....
I do hope that GBR will stipulate catering requirements for services going forwards. I hope that these will be more than snacks on longer distance journeys.
I know you can't put a kitchen car on a service for half a dozen people, but maybe a move to service, not just profit.
That said, well designed, value for money, highly marketed could probably make some money. Trains need to be fit for purpose - no more standing for long journeys. Lots of people travel on parts of XC - you could put a 5 star restaurant giving away meals, but if you can't get to them or sit down due to overcrowding, there is no point! Hence no demand, so let's not bother..... bit extreme, but trying to make a point.
Maybe a bistro type offering might work on longer journeys? Provide an area for people to sit and eat - but make sure there are enough seats on the train for people to sit down elsewhere. Sounds a bit like how things used to be.....
Ianmel1969
Member
- Joined
- 18 Jan 2011
- Messages
- 97
There were trolly services on my Aberdeen to Inverness and Wick to Inverness trains at the weekend with the latter having seat reservations on.
The reservation system was changed mid-covid and trying to make reservations work in the middle of a wholesale fleet renewal would have been very difficult.
185
On Moderation
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 5,709
When not managed by those desperately keen to fund their own inflated salaries, or those trying to squeeze as much profit as possible, on board catering can be either self funding or lucrative, especially on longer distance regional trains which call at smaller stations with dire catering offerings. My point - there is much room for growth & expansion, many operators should be bringing it back. Less emphasis on first class freebies or booze - more food, soft & hot drinks - a focus on the £1 coffee - cheap instant makes a decent profit.
Markuk
Member
Means I will never get the train to Aberystwyth any more as I can't get a reservation. I will always drive now.
dk1
Veteran Member
That surprises me as I never reserve. Find it so stressful just incase someone is in my seat. Prefer to sit where I like.
Wouldn't you be boarding at International (and Aberystwyth on the return)? So you'd have the pick of the seats.
Markuk
Member
Boarding with 5 minutes time to change trains at int. Train is already full
northscots
Member
They were briefly on when scotrail was running a temporary timetable during the drivers pay dispute and fewer intercity trains were running
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Reservations and First Class apparently going from XC 170 services from December, with the physical First Class seating being removed as each 170 is refurbished.
Good news. It's not like reservations have actually been provided on these services for a while.
Yes, I enjoyed an excellent two course meal on such a service today. Then on Transpennine Express complimentary wine, beer and spirits were offered.
No reservations on the former. On the latter reservations dated for a week ago were in place, none of which seemed to correspond with the journeys being taken which caused a bit of confusion.
Travelmonkey
Member
To be fair they would be welcome on the MK IV sets especially the Gerald,
As for back to topic the trolley can be found on the Birmingham>Nottingham journeys but not that many, I tend to get something if they pass through,
It was Rail Gourmet for a long time. Then Elior until they withdrew catering altogether.
The Rail Gourmet staff used to sell Purbeck Ice Cream on 444s between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst in the summer. It was great. You could feel the morale of the passengers in the carriage improve as the seller came through.
DelW
Established Member
- Joined
- 15 Jan 2015
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- 6,012
No wonder SWR management got rid of them, they wouldn't want any passengers actually enjoying a journey on their trains.
SWR's whole ethos appears to be to make travel on their network as inconvenient, uncomfortable and generally unpleasant as possible, something they have been quite successful at over the last seven years.
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