London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[marks87]

Yes, but what about when the crew changes? How can the new crew know who the old one have and haven't served?

 

[Furrball]

From a conversation on the EastCoast forum last week my understanding is that you should be offered something from the trolley on each pass through the train, and that any ADDITIONAL requests are at the discretion of the train crew, but unless there are stock shortages, or you are obviously being greedy, they should be honoured.

 

[Blindtraveler]

interesting

 

[ainsworth74]

and that any ADDITIONAL requests are at the discretion of the train crew, but unless there are stock shortages, or you are obviously being greedy, they should be honoured.

I once asked for more toast and was refused as "you're only allowed it once". I struggle to believe that a) I was being greedy and b) there was a stock shortage as I could see the toast and they were heading back to the kitchen having done the last food run of the trip! Really wish EC would finally nail the consistency with this.

 

[Blindtraveler]

well as its been going on since May it would make sense!

 

[wintonian]

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious, but how do new crews know what you have and haven't had?

Surely it's too much hassle to keep track of seat numbers and destinations? And indeed, there's no guarantee that's accurate if you're sitting in the seat of someone who hasn't turned up.

In my case that is neither here or there as the same person who came round with the food trolley after Edinburgh was still coming round with it after York.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I once asked for more toast and was refused as "you're only allowed it once".

Those may be the exact same words used after I asked.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Those may be the exact same words used after I asked.

I've heard that phrase myself.

Really wish EC would finally nail the consistency with this.

The most consistent feature of 'the offering' is its inconsistency.

 

[Furrball]

This relates to drink rather than food but:

Every train service has a journey card provides instructions for the crew to follow at each stage of the trip. This enables us to provide both a consistent and efficient service.

However within reason and subject to there being no stocks issues we do ask our crews to exercise their discretion in providing extra drinks with the objective of ensuring great customer service.

 

[Essexman]

Today was my first experience of East Coast's weekday complimentary first class service - since they stopped at-seat dining from menu I haven't thought it worth paying the extra.

10.56 Darlington - Kings Cross.

I'd expected bacon rolls but they didn't come round until after York by which time it was all day offer. Menus not on table and presented to people who had to make immediate choice.
I didn't fancy the hot choices but the 4 sandwiches (egg and ham & cheese) plus crips & cake were fine.
Staff I must say were friendly and helpful.

Overall OK but I'd rather have been able to order ham egg & chips and paid for it.

 

[Butts]

This relates to drink rather than food but:

Does it contain the instruction "do not on pain of death issue more than one drink per visit"

I wonder if they have the same instructions in the Cafe Bar - ie don't SELL someone more than one scotch or we may run out, as customer service is so important. Somehow I doubt it

 

[Blindtraveler]

mmmm scotch
did a a pendo up WCML from CAR lastnight and although I was too late for dinner and cupple of sandwitches, a hot drink followed by 3 beers (bad day) were consumed on the run up to EDB
SHOWED eC up sadly

 

[Butts]

mmmm scotch
did a a pendo up WCML from CAR lastnight and although I was too late for dinner and cupple of sandwitches, a hot drink followed by 3 beers (bad day) were consumed on the run up to EDB
SHOWED eC up sadly

Yes I read you very subtle....substitute scotch with Whisky

I agree Virgin don't seem to have read the EC Catering "for tightwads" Script-thank God.

 

[AlterEgo]

mmmm scotch
did a a pendo up WCML from CAR lastnight and although I was too late for dinner and cupple of sandwitches, a hot drink followed by 3 beers (bad day) were consumed on the run up to EDB
SHOWED eC up sadly

A hot drink followed by beers on a tilting train?

Brave!

 

[Blindtraveler]

was rather chilly at CAR lastnight so gulped a warm cuppa tea but was overjoyed at the drinks trolley coming!
Pendos only stop tilting after carstairs but v smooth otherwise despite the wind and large amount of water around.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
and it were a stupidly cheep AP too

 

[ainsworth74]

10.56 Darlington - Kings Cross.

I'd expected bacon rolls but they didn't come round until after York by which time it was all day offer.

This is something that gets on my nerves. It seems that most crews can't be bothered serving food after Darlington and before York which means in essence when you board at Darlington you will actually be given the offer as it is from York rather than as it should be from Darlington. So if you board the 09:25 at Darlington you should get the full breakfast offer (as indicated on the timetable) but I would gamble you will in fact get the mid morning offer instead (as is indicated from York).

 

[Blindtraveler]

inconsistancy again!

 

[Mainliner]

On delayed 0928 service fom NCL-KGX. "Complete power failure" in catering coach at Doncaster - no more hot food or drinks.

Good thing I've got a flask of Earl Grey tea

 

[edinight]

Does anyone have an idea of the menus on today, and on Thursday?

 

[amcluesent]

I've been in the cheap seats for a while, so a few belated notes on the newish evening menu.

Drinks trolley and tea/coffee came down promptly on leaving KGX. The spicy peanuts are more appetising that the wee tubs of something with black bits in. EC seemed to have stopped making a point of opening the miniatures and cans, so you could detrain with them. I kept to G&T so can't comment on the vino.

For sarnies, asking for 'two of each' didn't cause hyper-ventilation. TBH the egg is nice, the chicken remains too bland and dry. Crisps are back to being in bags, rather than faffing about serving from a bowl.

The fish pie and chips was produced quickly, although I'd have preferred the chips being left to cook a minute or two longer. Good size chunky chips and short-crust pastry pie in the Higgidy Pie style. Quite filling.

Good selection of cake slices, biscuits, fruit and mince pies, although the later are a wee bit too much pastry.

A 2nd tea/coffee was offered before reaching PBO.

All in all, quite acceptable!

 

[142094]

Just made a booking using the £25 offer, so expecting a good breakfast and lunch on an 8 hour journey in 1st.

 

[Bungle73]

I've been in the cheap seats for a while, so a few belated notes on the newish evening menu.

Drinks trolley and tea/coffee came down promptly on leaving KGX. The spicy peanuts are more appetising that the wee tubs of something with black bits in. EC seemed to have stopped making a point of opening the miniatures and cans, so you could detrain with them. I kept to G&T so can't comment on the vino.

For sarnies, asking for 'two of each' didn't cause hyper-ventilation. TBH the egg is nice, the chicken remains too bland and dry. Crisps are back to being in bags, rather than faffing about serving from a bowl.

The fish pie and chips was produced quickly, although I'd have preferred the chips being left to cook a minute or two longer. Good size chunky chips and short-crust pastry pie in the Higgidy Pie style. Quite filling.

Good selection of cake slices, biscuits, fruit and mince pies, although the later are a wee bit too much pastry.

A 2nd tea/coffee was offered before reaching PBO.

All in all, quite acceptable!

The crisps were in bags on my last trip, and that was back in October, before the menu change.

 

[Blindtraveler]

i too am impressed with the latest offer and hope that the lack of negative comments encourages them to think plane and simple next menue change.

The fact this thread is finally dying a death is further proof of this. That said, i stil believe it has potential for thread of the year with nearly 125 (apt as the menue is offered on HSTs) pages of observation and comment on what was a disaster but has now been put rite.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
my bad, over 125 pages
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
thanks to MattE2010 For starting it!

 

[Platform 1]

It depends on how many posts you choose to view per page.

For me there are only 38.

 

[AlterEgo]

Just made a booking using the £25 offer, so expecting a good breakfast and lunch on an 8 hour journey in 1st.

If you're going on the Chieftain you may be rudely disappointed...

 

[Blindtraveler]

true. A megathread none the less!

 

[AlterEgo]

This will be my vote for Thread of the Year

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes mine too I think. It's been long, informative, had some creative discussion, a bit of fun and games as well as input from front line staff. What more do you want?

 

[All Line Rover]

...mince pies, although the later are a wee bit too much pastry.

That is highly subjective. I personally prefer lots of shortcrust pastry and little filling.

The "revised" offering does sound more appetizing, anyway. I will have to try it sometime, and see how it compares to the old At-Seat Dining!

Also, do any regular East Coast travellers think that First Class loadings are higher than before? I appreciate that the frequent sales make it hard to judge.

 

[142094]

If you're going on the Chieftain you may be rudely disappointed...

Aberdeen - KGX. Plus just realised I've booked for a Saturday as well :-x

Still, going for the ride and not just the food.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

i too am impressed with the latest offer and hope that the lack of negative comments encourages them to think plane and simple next menue change.

The fact this thread is finally dying a death is further proof of this.

I can't agree that the lack of posts on here implies any contentment, either by passengers or the Company -
it may simply imply an unwillingness to repeat oneself, or
that passengers who used to happily pay to dine now remain in Standard and put up with a cellophane wrapped mush of goo plus panino, or
that passengers who used to happily pay to dine eat properly wherever they can (elsewhere and not on board EC).

Here's a recent, er, meal that I, er, enjoyed from the new menu:-

This was described as "vegetarian shepherd's pie" (not the most inviting of descriptions, but always worth a punt. It had a high proportion of brown lentils (which I actually enjoy more than most folk). My fellow passengers have criticised this dish on the dryness of the pastry, though I found that the oil from the carrots adequately dealt with that complaint.
Please notice the lack of any other vegetables - no potatoes nor greens.
Other have been quite positive about the salmon dish (sorry I don't have a picture at present) which even has a twist of lemon, which of course we all enjoyed before May as standard.
Long gone are the chocolates after the desert and the hot finger towels. And the soup after that unfornate risk-assessment of its hazards.
The cheese platter remains an arbitrary combination of cheeses, wafers, celery, apple and thin air. The latter dominates.

My silence never implies consent!

On another note, the former habit of some staff responding to questions such as "What do you have?" or "What may I have?" used to be met sometimes with a sharp "Its in the booklet on page <nn>.".
Well, no more. The booklets don't tell you what might be acually available on your actual service. this is how East Coast have dealt with the complaints that their offering on-board often fails to meet the offering advertised. They leave the offering as unpredictable, vague and erratic and remove the descriptions of what might actually be on-board. A smart move - if you can't deliver even the mediocre substitute for a meal that you describe, then lower the expectations of customers, but don't for a moment improve the delivery.
I think this might be a good example of what is meant by the phrase "the lowest common denominator".

No Blindtraveller, its not going away, and its not getting better, and I'm now getting home regularly to cook a proper meal after stepping off an East Coast service. Their wonder spin factory aka Karen Boswell has done well in finding a new twist on the word 'fast'.