London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

QUOTE=HST Power;786671]Maybe they could save on supplies by serving drinks every alternative stop, rather than every stop, as was the case aboard my service a few weeks ago. I'd already had three cuppas by the time we'd got to York. [/QUOTE]

The problem is with the booze (or lack of it ) not so much the hot beverages. If they keep up the service you describe theyll need to install extra toilets

 

[HST Power]

The problem is with the booze (or lack of it ) not so much the hot beverages. If they keep up the service you describe theyll need to install extra toilets

Then maybe they should only serve alcoholic beverages from the restaurant car...

 

[Butts]

Then maybe they should only serve alcoholic beverages from the restaurant car...

Virgin seem to manage it so why not East Coast ?

 

[HST Power]

Virgin seem to manage it so why not East Coast ?

I don't know, maybe they just don't like alcohol.....

 

[snail]

If they keep up the service you describe theyll need to install extra toilets

It's not obligatory! Just.Say.No.

 

[Marton]

I have been using this 'service' since May and have had some terrible experience for my almost £300. the only good thing seems to be the breakfast which i have had going both North and South.

So far evenings Northbound has also been reasonable, the hot evening meal is adequate, if a bit uninspiring, but at least there are potatoes and vegetables.

The drinks can be very variable - it seems to depend on the crew, most are new and really don't have any concept of customer service.

Southbound is awful after a day at work there is no hot meal, just the quiche and a tiny bit of salad, no potatoes, no bread and no pudding. In the old regime the dining area was frequently full and tended to be sold out by York.

As to drinks southbound, one after York then its all over; is it better on a stopping train?

Christopher Garnett and GNER must be turning in their graves to see what 'service' has become. One or two old crew members still have the passenger on their ageneda.

 

[Darandio]

Christopher Garnett and GNER must be turning in their graves to see what 'service' has become. One or two old crew members still have the passenger on their ageneda.

When did Christopher Garnett pass away then? hock:

 

[HST Power]

When did Christopher Garnett pass away then? hock:

He left GNER in August 2006.

 

[Darandio]

But he isn't exactly turning in his grave, is he. Thats what I was referring to.

 

[YorkshireRider]

He left GNER in August 2006.

With his tail between his legs after a stupid unsustainable bid all but killed GNER.

 

[HST Power]

But he isn't exactly turning in his grave, is he. Thats what I was referring to.

I wasn't sure either, I didn't want to say he was alive and make myself look stupid......

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . If they keep up the service you describe theyll need to install extra toilets

But they actually REMOVED a toilet during the re-working of the 1st class accomodation in order to provide additional module/cart spaces (and the little 'crew' seating area).

Then maybe they should only serve alcoholic beverages from the restaurant car...

Which would require UN-DOING all that work - this whole thread is about the catering facilities which replace the (sadly missed) restaurant cars!

When did Christopher Garnett pass away then? hock:

He is currently, to the best of my knowledge, a board Member of Transport for London, the National Railway Museum and other non-rail interests.

 

[YorkshireRider]

But they actually REMOVED a toilet during the re-working of the 1st class accomodation in order to provide additional module/cart spaces (and the little 'crew' seating area).

Only at the bottom of coach M on HSTs, there was never a toilet at the north end of coach K on the mark IVs.

 

[jon0844]

It's not obligatory! Just.Say.No.

I tried. On my last EC journey (pre May 22) they kept offering tea and coffee and I said 'I should really stop' and they said 'Why?' so another refill.. and another..!

 

[HST Power]

B
Which would require UN-DOING all that work - this whole thread is about the catering facilities which replace the (sadly missed) restaurant cars!

Well on second thoughts, better forget about my post!

I tried. On my last EC journey (pre May 22) they kept offering tea and coffee and I said 'I should really stop' and they said 'Why?' so another refill.. and another..!

I can fully understand, I had the same experience! Though the thing is, if you're paying good money for a First Class ticket, why miss out on the chance to get some freebies?

 

[Butts]

Well on second thoughts, better forget about my post!



I can fully understand, I had the same experience! Though the thing is, if you're paying good money for a First Class ticket, why miss out on the chance to get some freebies?

Shame they are not as efficient handing out the alcohol....

 

[jon0844]

For the Weekend First upgrade, I doubt I drank enough tea to get my money back - but I tried. Well, the staff tried anyway!

Can you not just go to the bar and order drinks, then show your first class ticket? Is there an official limit to what you can have? Is this advertised?

 

[HST Power]

Is there an official limit to what you can have?

I promise to test this theory to the bare maximum when I return to Newcastle at Christmas!

 

[StrollerEd]

is the USP of FC travel really unlimited booze?

another flaw in the complimentary catering offering methinks, which risks upsetting other passengers who have paid for FC to have peace and quiet.

 

[G123T]

is the USP of FC travel really unlimited booze?

another flaw in the complimentary catering offering methinks, which risks upsetting other passengers who have paid for FC to have peace and quiet.

I agree with you on this. The only reason I will travel first is to get away from the noise/crowds/drunks. Slightly worried by those saying they aren't getting enough alcohol - hoping that those that like heavy drinking aren't upgrading for free unlimited alcohol otherwise it will end up as bad as standard.

 

[jon0844]

You can't make it unlimited - nor should it be - but EC should state the limit so people know what they can or can't expect. For a really long journey, one or two alchoholic drinks per hour isn't necessarily over the top (especially if the beers are in small cans).

 

[ainsworth74]

Have to say on the alcohol issue I guess I've just been lucky so far as on all my trips so far I would say the volume and frequency of delivery has been about spot on. The crews I've had have done a drinks run after most stations unless there are a bunch close together (say Darlington, Northallerton and York they would do a run after Darlo and York but not bother with Northallerton). If we have a long period of non-stop running then they seem to bring the trolley round every half-hour or so and they've always seemed happy to hand out new drinks on each run (even if you've not finished your first).

 

[StrollerEd]

I recall traveling back on evening and having to co-exist with an already well-oiled crowd - in both SC and FC - going North from a day out at the York Races.

In a pub, resturant or some similar, their custom could be refused - how easily when "its in the ticket". Mind you asking them to leave the premises is easier too!

I'm traveling EC next week. And will fancy a tipple on the way back ..

 

[jon0844]

But if someone wishes to pay, they can buy as much as they want?

 

[ApAp]

For the Weekend First upgrade, I doubt I drank enough tea to get my money back - but I tried. Well, the staff tried anyway!

Can you not just go to the bar and order drinks, then show your first class ticket? Is there an official limit to what you can have? Is this advertised?

The product is different at the bar (bigger cans and a slightly different range of drinks, also different wines) so they'd definitely not give you them for free. Although I think my idea of sending in a receipt to customer relations for any food/drink you have to buy from the buffet along with the first class ticket may help to show how inadequate their offering is.

But please don't overdo it, if you send in a receipt for 20 Stellas on a London - Leeds ticket they might conclude they'd rather not have you in first anyway. But buying a 4 pack of beer doesn't seem excessive at all.

Another drawback of limiting the alcohol is that if you quite like Pedigree (which is served in 1st class) you can't buy this one in the buffet. I think the cider is better in first than at the buffet too, but I don't know about that.

 

[jon0844]

To be honest, unless I chose to get Weekend First or found a very cheap advance ticket, I'd not consider going FC on EC at all now.

I'd opt for standard, use my 3G dongle to get online (so not have to endure the hit and miss Wi-Fi that I'd have to pay for in standard) and bring my own food/drink.

It would mean no gamble as to what I may or may not get, and I'd have saved a few quid in the process. If I wanted anything more, I'd walk to the shop.

 

[ApAp]

To be honest, unless I chose to get Weekend First or found a very cheap advance ticket, I'd not consider going FC on EC at all now.

Weekend First for £25 just doesn't seem worth it to me. I was never too fond of weekend travel anyway but was happy when NXEC introduced their first class at seat menu to certain weekend services, now you get the equivalent of a Sainsburys £3 meal deal as the weekend first offering (assuming you visit Sainsbury's when they're running low on stock so there's only two sandwiches to choose from).

Weekend First is now worth only about £10:
£3 for the complementaries
£15 for the better seat
-£1 for the WiFi
-£7 for the fun of having to approach the buffet in the wrong direction and having to fight through the crowds to get to the back of the queue

 

[rmt-driver]

I tried. On my last EC journey (pre May 22) they kept offering tea and coffee and I said 'I should really stop' and they said 'Why?' so another refill.. and another..!

Shame there not so generous with the booze.. It really is bad

 

[Bon Accord]

With his tail between his legs after a stupid unsustainable bid all but killed GNER.

Let's not forget that the bottom falling out of Sea Containers had no small part to play in it all.

 

[HST Power]

Weekend First for £25 just doesn't seem worth it to me

It is for me, because since the timetable was revised Saturday is now the only day I can go to Newcastle via Stevenage without having to go into London. The frequency of my trips to the North is set to rocket, and with Standard Class crushed about 90% of the time going First is well worth it if you can sit by yourself and have some breathing space. The Wi-Fi is very useful and the connection speeds are quite good, but as I said, the best thing about going on a Saturday is there's no need to go to Kings Cross. Stevenage is only two stops away and the train leaves at around seven, so I can be up there in Newcastle for around ten o'clock providing there's no engineering work, or steam trains on the line......