The new LNER first class menu is expected to be available until 10th September 2025, after which it is expected to change again:
https://www.facebook.com/LNERail/po...QXzyG9oY5VNNYDvuXeAeAYcbMwXh22aWyT4JVf6QguQel
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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
- Thread starter MidnightFlyer
- Start date
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Blindtraveler
Established Member
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- 28 Feb 2011
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Interesting that they're doing another menu change quite quickly, presumably they're also going to switch to effectively the deli service on busy summer trains to and from Scotland as they have done for the last couple of years, I've never understood the logic for this other than perhaps the fact that they might have to regularly serve a completely full first class section on every trip during the height of the festivals, but surely they are geared to this. And if providing the full service is reliant on the train being 3/4 full or less before it completely falls over on itself, then it's a funny kind of offering if you ask me
Do staff get properly trained on how to run the service or is it all done on the job? Had a bizarre service yesterday.
First the crisps came, handed out from a big cardboard box which worked but didn’t feel very classy. Then food, then hot drinks, and then glasses were handed out *if* you wanted a cold drink, and finally the cold drinks cart came around. All a bit topsy turvy and doing glasses and then drinks separately rather than all at once seemed pretty inefficient, requiring two conversations with each customer - ‘will you be having a drink’, then later, ‘what drink would you like’!
First the crisps came, handed out from a big cardboard box which worked but didn’t feel very classy. Then food, then hot drinks, and then glasses were handed out *if* you wanted a cold drink, and finally the cold drinks cart came around. All a bit topsy turvy and doing glasses and then drinks separately rather than all at once seemed pretty inefficient, requiring two conversations with each customer - ‘will you be having a drink’, then later, ‘what drink would you like’!
Each staff member develops their own style, in my experience. Training is... intermittent.
No more porridge on dine trains, and no more swaps.
So I have had to order the "full" LNER and will simply leave part of it.
Is this a new policy? If it makes a difference, it appears to be a London crew.
Edit: only 1 cold drink, and 2 hot drink offerings, for a journey from York to Berwick!
So I have had to order the "full" LNER and will simply leave part of it.
Is this a new policy? If it makes a difference, it appears to be a London crew.
Edit: only 1 cold drink, and 2 hot drink offerings, for a journey from York to Berwick!
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No more swaps is very disappointing! I get it is probably easier to delivery, but for dietary reasons etc. it was handy. Hopefully you can still say for example Full LNER without Black Pudding or Sausage, which is then Gluten Free as an example. As opposed to, can I have some bacon instead.
Craig2601
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- 8 Jun 2017
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- 202
Seems to be the case now that only the Deli menu is offered at weekends, which is a little disappointing.
Hasn't been since Covid and even before it was very hit and miss as it depended on each individual crew.
Butts
Veteran Member
Hopefully it was just the Crew and not an official diktat.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
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- 28 Feb 2011
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I suspect because the deli menu is more extensive than it's ever been before. They have taken this decision for the purposes of simplification
It was served silver service style when I travelled last December. Someone behind me got extra black pudding, because someone else didn't want it.
Interesting! As I say I've not seen in it since Covid so was of the understanding it no longer happened.
No silver service for the last few years. However, exclusions of items for the full breakfast were noted. Quite amused by the person in front who started listing varius exclusions, then the staff member crossed it out on her notepad, and said just tell me what you'd like to have.
Clearly there has been...........
Chiltern006
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- 3 Oct 2018
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- 807
Just thinking back to LNERs first class lounge offerings in 2020, I seem to remember them having crisps, biscuits, popcorn, that orange loaf cake which was really nice, cans of coke (diet and normal) and fruit juices. Only thing left of that selection now is the crisps and biscuits (and hot drinks of course)
Orange & Apple juice are available at York lounge.
Butts
Veteran Member
Was this at Kings Cross?
Most of the others were "Tea and Biscuits" from memory apart from perhaps Edinburgh.
Chiltern006
Member
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- 807
Yeah, Kings Cross.
Willie Bee
Member
What meal would you get on a Monday morning service from Edinburgh (10:28) to Aberdeen (13:02)
It's the 'dine' menu, but would it be a late breakfast or an early lunch
The reason I ask, is that my wife is diabetic but she could probably kip our hotel breakfast if we were going to get something on the train not long after leaving Edinburgh.
It's the 'dine' menu, but would it be a late breakfast or an early lunch
The reason I ask, is that my wife is diabetic but she could probably kip our hotel breakfast if we were going to get something on the train not long after leaving Edinburgh.
That would be a shame as I usually swap out mushrooms for wilted spinach on the Full LNER
Usually from Edinburgh it changes from dine to either dish or deli (I think it's dish but not 100% sure).
Drink run and meal order taken just after Edinburgh with a further drinks run on leaving Dundee.
Willie Bee
Member
Oh dear !
But how can LNER on their website advertise this as 'DINE' even if you put in later stops, such as Haymarket or Kirkcaldy. Surely this is then false advertising.
Yes, they always say the food is complimentary, but folk always have an eye on the menu option when making a booking and deciding which train to catch
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Probably best to have something at the hotel too if she is diabetic, just in case the train provision isn’t offered or reduced/insufficient due to any staff shortage etc.
I will caveat that by saying I've not been on that service for a few months now and maybe I've just been unlucky with staff shortages the last half dozen times I've used it.
As an aside I'm sad that service won't be calling at Durham from December (Don't think it will start from Leeds either if memory serves me right).
EDIT: If it does turn out to indeed be dine it would the rest of the day menu as there is a crew change and new stock added at Edinburgh.
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The draft timetable has it calling at King's Cross (05:48), all LNER stations to York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick and all LNER stations from Edinburgh northbound and all LNER stations except Reston southbound, arriving at Doncaster at 00:30.
It means Stevenage will have two trains to Newcastle / Edinburgh four minutes apart, but with the (earlier) Lumo service arriving half an hour earlier.
Does that mean the 1818 ex Aberdeen will still call at Durham?
Assuming no changes for that service to the draft timetable, yes.
Thanks, actually makes sense to keep the Durham call on that one as it is the last service of the day between Newcastle & Durham currently.
It could just be that I had a poor crew; please do report back!
LNER say/do all sorts of things that are misleading. There isn't anyone who can stop them.
As mentioned on previous threads, it's an integral part of the deal; anything that was advertised as being provided and influenced your choice to upgrade has a value.
Being "complimentary" isn't the get-out some people think it is.
Consumer law and complimentary items
(Previous thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/now-that-consumer-law-applies-what-happens-if-complimentary-catering-is-unavailable.136244/ ) Relevant extracts http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/50/enacted 50 (1) Every contract to supply a service is to be treated as...
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