London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[StrollerEd]

sandwiches just come around. we were served 2 slices each - but since I persuaded the other half to take a packed lunch and I'm getting earache that it's a waste of time because they are serving us food I'm not asking for more!

just passed a notice on the station that said: 'Load limited to one loaded Brute" - no comment, except how did they know I'd be travelling?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
other half volunteers that the shortbread was very nice ...

 

[sidmouth]

At last got a response from EC to my complaint re 70min rule (after forking out £124 1st return PBO - KGX
"I thank you for your email and would like to apologise for the time it has taken to respond.
*
"Currently there are no plans to change the 70 minute rule in regards to our complimentary food service. However, we are constantly reviewing feedback from our customer’s and your comments will be passed on to the relevant management.

 

[YorkshireRider]

sandwiches just come around. we were served 2 slices each - but since I persuaded the other half to take a packed lunch and I'm getting earache that it's a waste of time because they are serving us food I'm not asking for more!

Thats unlucky as the weekend is usually the only time you will actually get the 4 sarnies you are supposed to, as they should be prepacked on sat and sundays, RG must have delivered the platters instead as they didnt have any of the packs of 4.

 

[StrollerEd]

Yes, on open platters "egg or chicken?"

to which I was tempted to reply "which came first?"

But we had two of each, and swapped one each, therefore giving ourselves the dilemma of choosing which went first ...

Trolley returned within half an hour and we could have had another round each, but I need that packed lunch eaten some time today!

 

[amcluesent]

Hurrah, here's the trolley, bringing grub that's right gourmet!
Oh jings, that's no' looking clever; forgot it's a Sunday...
I'll ask for two bevvies, fancy a double
But crew says I'm stotious and "We don't want trouble"...
Elaine! Please bring back fine dining, like in GNER's heyday!

 

[caliwag]

Sorry peeps...these is positive feedback!

Good lady travelled YRK to KGX Friday with a work colleague (or so she says)!
She took her slimming breakfast with her, but he (pig) had the full English...no complaints.
On return, she enjoyed (yes enjoyed) a Tuna Nicoise and he enjoyed whatever he had (doesn't matter, beer was taken!) so the system worked and all were happy and will travel again...er until the next time! I expect feedback.

 

[Blindtraveler]

good to here it does, occasionally work!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
no offense to staff intended but from what others have said...

 

[thefab444]

Just goes to show that as long as the booze is free, a lot of people don't care about the quality/quantity of the food!

 

[amcluesent]

A new interpretation of 'the rules' tonight. No sandwiches loaded announced, which sets the tone.

Drinks trolley appears, i ask for g&t plus red wine 'for dinner'. Only one drink per trolley run, sir. I'll have a coke then. Can't do that, only water or OJ with another drink. OK, sigh.

WTF???

There goes the trolley, but pax remain plonkless,
RG not loaded, or crew just being useless?
Just be grateful for that cuppa,
Arriving LDS without my supper!
Elaine, now we're certain complaining is fruitless..

Used to relish the first class brekkers.
But EC ignores our pleas and letters,
That a dried-up pastry,
Is just a travesty.
Blame Elaine and her gang of wreckers!

 

[Failed Unit]

Sorry peeps...these is positive feedback!

Good lady travelled YRK to KGX Friday with a work colleague (or so she says)!
She took her slimming breakfast with her, but he (pig) had the full English...no complaints.
On return, she enjoyed (yes enjoyed) a Tuna Nicoise and he enjoyed whatever he had (doesn't matter, beer was taken!) so the system worked and all were happy and will travel again...er until the next time! I expect feedback.

It does enforce my views, people on the short journeys are happy us on the long ones are just hungry.

 

[andylloyd]

It does enforce my views, people on the short journeys are happy us on the long ones are just hungry.

Well I travel from Newcastle - Kings Cross next friday on the 1658.
Lets see what happens? This is from Edb so it should be fully loaded right?

 

[Blindtraveler]

not sure with first but STD wil certainly be
pritty full

 

[dcd]

on 19:00 Darlington to Kings Cross just got 2 quarter sandwiches and a piece of cake and they've run out of diet coke.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Leaving Kings Cross in the evening peak I shared a coach with 5 other passengers (Wednesday).
Menus not set out on the tables but used as a reference for the hosts on their trolleys.
The Cheese platter (which has been eroded progressively from 3 or 4 cheeses, a stack of assorted biscuits, butter, spread, celery, apple and pickle) is now: 2 crackers, 2 pieces of cheese and a small square of spread.

Crew as wonderful as ever, though

 

[DelayRepay]

on 19:00 Darlington to Kings Cross just got 2 quarter sandwiches and a piece of cake and they've run out of diet coke.

We have no diet coke
Said the trolley pushing bloke
Just lots of hungry folk
Who think our company's a joke
Elaine, fix it! It's broke!

 

[dcd]

on 19:00 Darlington to Kings Cross just got 2 quarter sandwiches and a piece of cake and they've run out of diet coke.

Crew been past again at York upon asking what they had hot was told quiche or Ham Salad (not hot) and was supplied very quickly with Ham Salad. No-one asked whether I was going 70 miles nor has anyone yet checked that I have a first class ticket or have reserved the reserved seat I am sitting in.

So things aren't so bad after all. No menus available so you have to ask which is why when they just bought sandwiches round I just took them.

 

[ainsworth74]

No-one asked whether I was going 70 miles nor has anyone yet checked that I have a first class ticket or have reserved the reserved seat I am sitting in.

It's 70 minutes not miles

 

[All Line Rover]

Today is my first experience of travelling with East Coast (I'm on an ALR) since the new offering started on the 22 May.

I traveled on the 10:35 HST service from London to Grantham (continuing to Leeds) - stopping at Stevenage only - which had the "Mid-Morning" service.

Overall I was VERY IMPRESSED. Tea/coffee was served promptly after departure from London King's Cross. A few minutes later a good quality (i.e. soft and buttery) warm croissant was served, which I had with some nice strawberry jam.

Upon departure from Stevenage, staff came round with the drinks trolley and took orders for any hot food (menus were already on the tables). I ordered: "Scrambled eggs with Craster smoked salmon on toasted bloomer bread." It was delicious. I have attached a picture of it to this post. (I didn't take a picture of the croissant, as a croissant isn't very exciting!)

Looking at the picture, you may think that it is a little unsubstantial. Let's not forget that it was free, it was 11am (so you're not going to want anything too substantial) and my journey was little more than an hour (please see near end of post for my view on longer journeys). (Although my journey was less than 70 minutes, the vast majority of services between Grantham and London take longer than this, which is why East Coast still offer the full service).

Let's also not forget that if I was travelling with Virgin (departing between 10am and 11am) I would be served the dreaded BACON ROLL - yes, a boring and frankly tasteless BACON ROLL!

Overall, I can say that East Coast are on par with and even exceed Virgin for the complimentary food during the Mid-Morning offering (and probably the Breakfast and All-Day offering from what I read on the menu - I'm looking at Rotation 4).

Some people complain about a full hot meal not being included in the All-Day offering, but all Virgin serve is a sandwich, so it's definitely as good - if not better!

Of course, I am still unable to comment on the Evening Meal offering. I will be unlikely to travel with East Coast for an Evening Meal since I can travel on the Arriva Premier Service instead!

Overall, in my opinion, the wrinkles seem to have been ironed out and the complimentary offering is very good on the whole. It is just as good as Virgin, and better in many ways. (The only exception being the Evening Meal, since it does seem unsubstantial and is only served on a limited number of services).

Hopefully East Coast will learn from Virgin, and Virgin from East Coast.

Having said that, I was only travelling from London to Grantham. The current offering is definitely sufficient for journeys of up to 3 hours, but probably isn't sufficient for London to Edinburgh journeys. East Coast may have to introduce a separate offering for the London to Edinburgh route, just like Virgin do for the London to Glasgow route.

I was also very naughty and pinched one of the menus - for reference purposes, of course.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Dare I say that the salmon thing didn't look very much?

I think you give the other side to the argument against what you are saying in the small type - for Kings Cross-Grantham, what you got was fine (certainly sounds more than VWC do!), but for a journey to Newcastle / Edinburgh / Inverness, would that level of service (bear in mind it lessens) be enough?

 

[All Line Rover]

but for a journey to Newcastle / Edinburgh / Inverness, would that level of service (bear in mind it lessens) be enough?

Newcastle - YES (more toast and croissant were to come after Grantham).

Edinburgh - MAYBE.

Inverness - NO! (Although I don't think East Coast want the Inverness route anyway!)

I'm sure the well-to-do Grantham commuters are happy, though!

 

[ainsworth74]

Overall, I can say that East Coast are on par with and even exceed Virgin for the complimentary food during the Mid-Morning offering (and probably the Breakfast and All-Day offering from what I read on the menu - I'm looking at Rotation 4).

That assumes that the hot option is actually loaded for the all-day offer

Some people complain about a full hot meal not being included in the All-Day offering, but all Virgin serve is a sandwich, so it's definitely as good - if not better!

Which might be true but unless I'm very much mistaken all Virgin's services (or at least the 390s) no matter where they start from offer the evening meal at the appropriate time. On EC unless you're on a service from KGX and on a selected service from KGX you get the all-day offer which as we've established isn't really much of a meal (when it's available).

Still having said that you've pretty much agreed with what I and everyone else think, that the morning offer on EC is good as is the all-day offer at around lunch time. But on an evening it really isn't enough (unless you're leaving KGX).

 

[Max]

Just had a discussion with a member of crew onboard the 0700 Hull-Kings Cross. I noticed that on the catering announcement they advertised the mid-morning offer rather than breakfast. I was told that this because "our train hasn't been fitted with the steam ovens yet" and breakfast won't be served until September on this service. Firstly, I'm
not sure what he meant by "our train" as it rotates every day doesn't it? Secondly, where is this lack of breakfast advertised? Finally, was his reason accurate?

 

[dcd]

Having just had a super-voyager Virgin cooked breakfast, I can definitely say that the East Coast one is the best Of the others I have had this week - The Scotrail sleeper comes second and the Virgin last. The Virgin plate was just a bit larger than my mobile phone and it's not an iphone. I also had to go and ask the staff who were sat reading the paper to bring bring it some time after it was ordered. I wondered why no-one else ordered a breakfast now I know.

 

[amcluesent]

>I traveled on the 10:35 HST service from London to Grantham ....<

IMHO, an HST and poor service of FC complimentaries are correlated. I now avoid the HST services for this additional reason.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Just had a discussion with a member of crew onboard the 0700 Hull-Kings Cross. I noticed that on the catering announcement they advertised the mid-morning offer rather than breakfast. I was told that this because "our train hasn't been fitted with the steam ovens yet" and breakfast won't be served until September on this service. Firstly, I'm
not sure what he meant by "our train" as it rotates every day doesn't it? Secondly, where is this lack of breakfast advertised? Finally, was his reason accurate?

This train is booked the EMT set everyday (mon-fri), however it failed the other morning and has been stuck at neville hill been worked on since so today and yesterday it has been a normal HST. The EMT set still has the old style ovens which can cook bacon but not the CSA pre-packed breakfasts so that train can only offer the mid-morning menu. So yes his reason was accurate however today it would have been possiable but im guessing they couldnt get the stock at short notice or management just decided to keep things consistant and leave the offer how its been as, as soon as the EMT set is repaired it will be back on that service.

 

[Max]

This train is booked the EMT set everyday (mon-fri), however it failed the other morning and has been stuck at neville hill been worked on since so today and yesterday it has been a normal HST. The EMT set still has the old style ovens which can cook bacon but not the CSA pre-packed breakfasts so that train can only offer the mid-morning menu. So yes his reason was accurate however today it would have been possiable but im guessing they couldnt get the stock at short notice or management just decided to keep things consistant and leave the offer how its been as, as soon as the EMT set is repaired it will be back on that service.

Very interesting, thanks for that YorkshireRider. I will make a note to book on it in
the future for IC70 seats and VP action! However, I can't help feeling that EC (and it's predecessors) have always given Hull a hard time. Without features such as power sockets and wifi that passengers come to expect, the set is hardly going to give passengers a good impression. Especially if breakfast is not provided as advertised! Are there plans afoot for a refresh and what will this consist of?

 

[YorkshireRider]

Yes the set is so they tell us going to have a refurbed kitchen and wifi by the end of September, however no plans to refurb the train to mallard standard as of yet. I think the idea of having fixed workings for it is so regulars know what to expect and from station Doncaster-Ldn avoid it, also they can take coach G out of the reservation system. Although i would agree thats not much good for Hull, Selby and Brough passengers who havent got much choice unless they do Hull trains. The rest of the workings for the day are York stopper there and back and the evening Lincoln service.

 

[Jock]

Hey Folks (i guess i should really say hello on my Second post).... again postive feedback (sorry to dampen the fire!)

I must say, i am well impressed with the new catering offer, however fully appreciate that some of you arent!

Ive not yet had an issue with the Sandwhiches.... unless ive just caught some really nice crews - ive always been offered 4!

However at the same time ive also been on certain trains when heading south to London where the Catering service has been near enough non-exssistant... would seem to be a lack of consistency amongst the depots for some reason, like everything else though - i guess this is just going to take a long time to get right.

 

[Essexman]

I suppose it depends what you're used to and what your expectations are.

If you didn't buy hot food before then free sandwiches is probably OK.
And if you used to buy breakfast having almost the same meal for free is OK too.

However -

I'm travelling York to London next week. Until May I'd have picked a train with at-seat dining, and usually gone first class, or if not standard & bought meal from buffet.
I tend to leave York between 17.00 & 18.00, so after day's work want a meal - and before I get home.
This time I'll travel standard and eat in York first, adding to total journey time and with less revenue for East Coast.

 

[Jeremy B]

I travel on EC frequently but mostly in standard however I treated myself to a 1st advance today & was traveling on the delayed (40mins) 16.25 Newcastle to KX. I found the service to be excellent & the lady on the trolley was very proactive offering me sandwiches & drinks every time she passed. I may have been lucky but I certainly didn't leave the train feeling hungry or that I was being denied anything. Returning Monday evening so will see out that fares.