London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[YorkshireRider]

I agree the restaurant should have a trial come back, one Leeds service and 2 anglo-scots on an evening, a bit like the FGW set up, that way if you are that bothered then aim for that service, with the current complementary service still to continue in FC on these services. This way you can truely gage demand against the complementary offer, the trial could last for 3/4 months on a strict use it or lose it basis, if i was a betting man id say you'd lose it. (this would not include tickets which included the meal, you pay for it). I reckon best services are 1700, 1900, 1903 with it being open to both standard and first. Advertise it well and give it a target of on average 16/17 covers, if it cant on those trains then bye bye, point proved.

 

[Failed Unit]

That should not be a problem on the 1700 service, they frequently turned passengers away on it. Likewise by the 2nd sitting at York you often missed out as there was no food left. I always found 1700 a little early for a full meal but went to the first sitting just because if you waited you either got nothing or risked what you wanted not existing. When you get home at 2200 the last thing you want to think about is cooking. The 1600 Edinburgh - London service normally ran out of food - not one I would risk if getting on a York. Supply on the trains I used was less than demand but a lot of people - would suggest 50% did not pay, they had a voucher as it was included in the ticket price. But considering the cost of an anytime first return and the fact east coast get all the revenue they were probably still up when passengers opted for the dine and go.

Dave Newcaste - I think you should also offer Eliane a date for dinner, see if she heads to the first place selling food still open on arrival at Newcastle.

 

[blackfive460]

Hasn't this gone on long enough?
Isn't it time for something a bit stronger to make the point?
A bit of national press publicity perhaps?
Unfortunately I'm not in a position to be able take part or to do anything about it but I'd have thought that the press would be interested to see, photograph and report on a group of first class passengers turning up at Kings Cross for an early evening service carrying various take away meals; pizza, Chinese, fish & chips, whatever.
Just a thought.

 

[Blindtraveler]

oo the creative juices are flowing today! yorkshire rider, what a great idea, lets all pelt E C with Emails encouraging friends and coleegs to do likewise and see how it goes. If successftll the trial could be expanded to add maybe a dinner service on the inverness and as failed unit points out the 16:00 from EDB? This could happen after a cupple of months if loadings were good and if that too worked then maybe include the 14:5
from aberdeen also? Agree though that 2 or 3 services to start with is the way to go as is the thing of everyone pays. If reintroduced perminantly dine and go etc could return. think also a dinner date for E C management in newcastle and a bit of takeaway action!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Probably all pie in the sky but if it did happen it would be best, September-December, traditionally the busiest time of year. It shouldnt be a problem for the chef to still send the hot option on the all day menu out at the same time as it is pretty simple (as long as both ovens are working).

 

[bennorthyork]

Please can someone let me know what the first class food offering will be tomorrow on the 18.03 London - Keighley? Also, does the 07.06 Keighley - London serve the full breakfast? Should I be able to find this info on the East Coast website? Thanks

 

[YorkshireRider]

Please can someone let me know what the first class food offering will be tomorrow on the 18.03 London - Keighley? Also, does the 07.06 Keighley - London serve the full breakfast? Should I be able to find this info on the East Coast website? Thanks

Yes the full breakfast is available on the 0706 and the 1803 will offer the full evening meal, we are currently on roation 3 menu, i cant remember what the evening meal is off the top of my head but on your way down on the 0706 just look at the evening meal page on the menu. You should get a little snack with the first drinks run, then your main meal and the dessert trolley will follow later in the journey with a choice of a sweet tart or cheese and buscuits.

 

[All Line Rover]

Let the pictures conclude my post - Does the image in your avatar, StrollerEd, suggest a satisfying conclusion to the day?
And . . .
Does my image, below (click to enarge), suggest a satisfying conclusion to a long day? (use the water bottle for scale)?

Looking at Dave's picture again, that "meal" reminds me of Virgin's absolutely disgusting "smoked salmon tart" that they serve for Breakfast on Super Voyager services. It really is disgusting. If I'd eaten any more of it I think I'd have thrown up!

 

[Super Sprinter]

Apart from sandwiches on the 1747, what else can one expect in terms of snacks and drinks etc?

 

[ainsworth74]

Apart from sandwiches on the 1747, what else can one expect in terms of snacks and drinks etc?

Alcoholic drinks (wine, beer, cider), tea/coffee, soft drinks, orange juice, cake, crisps and I think some fruit.

Also there should be a hot snack available (not sure what it is currently) and also I think a Ham Hock Salad (cold but tasty).

 

[YorkshireRider]

Apart from sandwiches on the 1747, what else can one expect in terms of snacks and drinks etc?

The drinks trolley will pass twice, offering beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, food wise it will be sandwiches (egg&cress and chicken ceaser), crisps, carrot&pinapple cake, fresh fruit and the hot option feta & red pepper tart (see DaveNewcastle's picture for size). Tea and coffee will come round 2/3 times. Im listing the food for this menu rotation assuming that you are travelling before next wens. No salad on evening menu.

 

[All Line Rover]

The drinks trolley will pass twice, offering beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, food wise it will be sandwiches (egg&cress and chicken ceaser), crisps, carrot&pinapple cake, fresh fruit and the hot option feta & red pepper tart (see DaveNewcastle's picture for size).

So that's the feta tart? Well it doesn't look very appetizing to me, and it definitely doesn't look any better than Virgin's "Light Bites" sandwiches. Does it actually taste nice?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Virgin's "Light Bights"

Please stop spelling it like this!

 

[gordonthemoron]

is the hot option always vegetarian? Some of us are carnivores

 

[YorkshireRider]

So that's the feta tart? Well it doesn't look very appetizing to me, and it definitely doesn't look any better than Virgin's "Light Bights" sandwiches. Does it actually taste nice?

I think the tart in Dave's picture is the cauliflower cheese one but the feta one is of the same size, i think they are all very nice, just very small, ok for shorter journeys or lunch but not for an evening meal, but as i say the mystery shop feedback has pointed this out, it also pointed to the fact staff were not engaging with customers enough and that only food from the trolley was being offered in first class when staff should be mentioning the menu and hot options/salads. There is to be a full review next month so lets see.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

is the hot option always vegetarian? Some of us are carnivores

On the all day and evening menu, yes. Evening meal menu has a meat/fish option.

 

[ainsworth74]

is the hot option always vegetarian? Some of us are carnivores

This! How hard would it be for the all day offer to have something like a burger or a lasagne or just a pie? Those are all things that can be cooked up in a oven and would be a massive improvement to the current all day offer.

 

[Super Sprinter]

This! How hard would it be for the all day offer to have something like a burger or a lasagne or just a pie? Those are all things that can be cooked up in a oven and would be a massive improvement to the current all day offer.

Thank you!

This is exactly what I said. Someone posted saying that the service quality would still not be equal.

That may be true, but at least you would get a hot EVENING meal.

 

[All Line Rover]

Please stop spelling it like this!

Oh dear. Post corrected.

I would have to change my ways if I worked for Virgin, especially if it was in their marketing/website department!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Oh dear. Post corrected.

I would have to change my ways if I worked for Virgin, especially if it was in their marketing/website department!

Don't worry, their Rail Group won't exist after next winter anyway!

 

[All Line Rover]

Don't worry, their Rail Group won't exist after next winter anyway!

We'll see, Matt, we'll see. I don't want to make any predictions!

By the way, Yorkie has asked me not to mention Virgin's franchise in any thread unrelated to the subject, because everyone seems to go off on a tangent!

 

[Blindtraveler]

bkt we can mention there food and imgunna have to admit that having had both within a month, EC's breakfast is better

 

[All Line Rover]

bkt we can mention there food and imgunna have to admit that having had both within a month, EC's breakfast is better

What? Better to Virgin's?

The "Mid-Morning" breakfast is definitely better than Virgin's. The "Great English Breakfast" also seems to be better. (Well, it would be difficult to make it any worse! :roll I still have high opinions of Virgin though because I always go for the delicious smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

 

[Failed Unit]

I remember in the dim and distant past going on a Virgin train and think this meal is OK, not objectionable in any way - just a little small you can tell it is complementary! Oh if only I knew! At least when the restuarants ran you got what you paid for!

One thing that east coast seem to forget as well is that many of thier customers it makes little difference if they pay for the meal or have it included in the ticket price. Most companies allow a £25 meal as part of the expensis policy if you are travelling and not expected to arrive home after 2000. So most people on the Edinburgh and Newcastle route may not have paid themselves, their employers may be happy (or maybe not as the need to buy and expense food in the evening)

It is such a shame East Coast felt they needed to copy Virgin when many Scottish travellers avoided Virgin because the service was better on east coast!

 

[Furrball]

When the 25 reasons advert was run I submitted a complaint to the ASA regarding a number of aspects of it.

I have today received a response. In summary

Based on the information provided, it appears you have a valid point . . . we have instructed the advertiser to change the advert.

We have asked them to include the limitation that some services listed are not available at the weekend.

Now, obviously this promotion has finished but it does mean there is a mark against East Coast so any future advertisements that are 'unclear' may be looked at in closer detail!!!

 

[Failed Unit]

When the 25 reasons advert was run I submitted a complaint to the ASA regarding a number of aspects of it.

I have today received a response. In summary



Now, obviously this promotion has finished but it does mean there is a mark against East Coast so any future advertisements that are 'unclear' may be looked at in closer detail!!!

Not with the current UK laws, look at the amount of compliants Ryanair get upheld.

 

[ainsworth74]

I remember in the dim and distant past going on a Virgin train and think this meal is OK, not objectionable in any way - just a little small you can tell it is complementary! Oh if only I knew! At least when the restuarants ran you got what you paid for!

Out of curiosity when did restaurants finish on the WCML? Was it upon privatization or with the introduction of 390s or even before privatization?

 

[Failed Unit]

Out of curiosity when did restaurants finish on the WCML? Was it upon privatization or with the introduction of 390s or even before privatization?

The certainly had gone before the pendo, I think scrapping the restuarant was one of virgins first actions. Remember under BR many of the pullmans in the evening were for 1st class only, although it is first class passengers who are revolting. I don't remember the rebellion on west coast but then when you look at east coast GNER improved it whereas virgin went directly from BR

I bet the east coast staff get sick of the "how we miss GNER"

 

[lyesbkz]

I travelled on a so-called 'Breakfast' service this morning and received absolutely nothing apart from coffee or tea "refills", not even a biscuit to go with the coffee let alone any sign of breakfast :\

 

[YorkshireRider]

I travelled on a so-called 'Breakfast' service this morning and received absolutely nothing apart from coffee or tea "refills", not even a biscuit to go with the coffee let alone any sign of breakfast :\

Assuming this is not a commute of less than 70mins then you need to complain about this.

 

[ainsworth74]

The certainly had gone before the pendo, I think scrapping the restuarant was one of virgins first actions.

Interesting thanks, I assumed that it would have been at privatization but just wanted to be sure.