London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Blindtraveler]

mk4s, antiquated? Guessing you like voyagers!
seriusly though, I have done Wick to London by rail with the bulk of milage being sleaper and it was great, not during the day though!

 

[jon0844]

Do you really pay £10k to go to New York? My fare to Tokyo was around £5,500 Upper Class - and that included being picked up and taken home by a limo (and time in the club house).

The service was amazing. It wasn't my money, but the company that had paid expected me to have good service.

Sure, some people with those full priced open tickets may be on expenses but what about those that aren't? Is the service only designed for those on advance tickets, and to hell with those fat cats who get their fares paid for anyway? A pretty ropey business model, but clearly that isn't the case.

I am stunned to hear that EC designed all of this to get more people to buy first class advance tickets - when surely there aren't many seats on any given train? And if you want more cheap seats, then why offer anything at all? I'd be happy for my bigger seat and Wi-Fi.

I'm probably buying an advance ticket and using the money I've saved to buy something before I board, or from the buffet car. For any long journey, I'll be taking a sandwich and drink, or a coffee, when boarding. With my Bite card, the prices at the station aren't even that crazy.

Should I want the first class experience, I am perhaps somewhat stupid in hoping for a far superior service on an Intercity service. I don't expect it on a commuter train, nor do I (personally) need anything on a journey of around 20 minutes. But get me on a train for 4, 5 or 6 hours and if I paid £400, I'd be livid to get served some of the stuff shown in the photos on here - or be told that it's one drink and that's it.

 

[bengolding]

Do you really pay £10k to go to New York? My fare to Tokyo was around £5,500 Upper Class - and that included being picked up and taken home by a limo (and time in the club house).

The service was amazing. It wasn't my money, but the company that had paid expected me to have good service.

Sure, some people with those full priced open tickets may be on expenses but what about those that aren't? Is the service only designed for those on advance tickets, and to hell with those fat cats who get their fares paid for anyway? A pretty ropey business model, but clearly that isn't the case.

I am stunned to hear that EC designed all of this to get more people to buy first class advance tickets - when surely there aren't many seats on any given train? And if you want more cheap seats, then why offer anything at all? I'd be happy for my bigger seat and Wi-Fi.

I'm probably buying an advance ticket and using the money I've saved to buy something before I board, or from the buffet car. For any long journey, I'll be taking a sandwich and drink, or a coffee, when boarding. With my Bite card, the prices at the station aren't even that crazy.

Should I want the first class experience, I am perhaps somewhat stupid in hoping for a far superior service on an Intercity service. I don't expect it on a commuter train, nor do I (personally) need anything on a journey of around 20 minutes. But get me on a train for 4, 5 or 6 hours and if I paid £400, I'd be livid to get served some of the stuff shown in the photos on here - or be told that it's one drink and that's it.

£10k sounds about right - my brother recently flew with BA to JFK for £9400 - this is the fully flexible BA First ticket. I've got a Private Suite on a Singapore A380 to Sydney for considerably less in January.

As per my previous post, I was quite livid not to be told about the hot option on the way back to Kings Cross last week, paying £269 for a flexible return. Rather than the hosts advising customers of its availability, only those customers 'in the know' were asking for it. Even politely asking for a second G&T was met with 'only one drink per trolley run, Sir'. The trolley only came round once between York and Kings Cross - a 2h25m journey!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Yes you can pay £10,000 on BAs first, not to be confused with their club class or virgin atlantics upper class. There are loads of first advance tickets available on off peak trains, not so many on early peak trains.

 

[JB1601]

I think three hours on a train (even in 1st Class) is about my limit.

Using the Scottish example once you start considering Aberdeen, Inverness or Wick only a masochist would take a train.

Being a smoker I may be biased

Haha - we've just booked a trip to Aberdeen in the new year on the £25 first class offer! Gonna be the longest journey we've ever done (bar sleepers), planning to load up with DVDs, books and download a few iPlayer progs beforehand! Although it's a long way it's half the price of the bargain berths available at that point. Presume you must get fed/watered at least twice on that length of journey?

 

[calc7]

Not a patch on Virgin.
On the 1848 LIV-EUS, coffee on departure, chilled drinks at Runcorn (wine and a spirit) and another glass of wine on request to a passing host. Only just left Crewe and very content with the offerings thus far.

 

[amcluesent]

A few observations from today's run PBO-KGX

From PBO, nice yoghurt offered, OJ, coffee, croissant (warmish), but no jam in sight

From KGX, a wee bit eccentric for what would be a premier service to EDB, they did the coffee and sarnie/food order runs, then the drinks trolley. After all these months, don't they know the drinks cart goes down first? Anyhow food looked decent (roast beef or chicken pie), although the '70 minute' rule seems to linger on as they asked for destination. It can't be logistics, as the plates were all cleared by PBO. Sarnies were tasty and two of each (cheese or tuna) were provided without argy-bargy. No cake slices on sarnie trolley, just biscuits.

 

[theblackwatch]

Travelling back on the 20.00 ex King's Cross as I type this, and I have to say I'm quite impressed this evening. Tea/coffee was, as usual, served before Finsbury Park, and my food order was also collected by that time. There was a choice of tuna or cheese sandwiches, chicken & mushroom pie with fries, or jacket potato with leeks and cheese sauce with mixed leaves. Having already had a 3 course Christmas Dinner earlier today I opted for the jacket potato option, and struggled to eat it all. It was properly cooked too, not microwaved.

So, no complaints from me tonight!

 

[Blindtraveler]

i have also just completed a bargain AP trip and enjoyed the pie and a cuppa tea. Have they finally learned?

 

[Max]

Travelled on the 0904 KGX-LDS this morning as far as Donny, have to say I was very happy with the service. Tea and coffee was provided straight away upon departure, followed immediately by the food order and toast. Asked if I could have brown and white but was told one only (oh well, not a major issue).

Food was served by Welwyn and was very tasty, particularly the bacon and sausage. Not as good as the old restaurant breakfast but the ingredients were clearly decent quality (and since I had only paid just over £20 I wasn't complaining!).

After Peterborough further drinks and pastries were offered (a nice touch, and better than simply wasting the food!). Wifi was good throughout and the staff were pleasant.

All in all a decent trip, perhaps things are on the up!

 

[Blindtraveler]

3 good reps in a row? this thread has been discovered.

 

[TRAINLINCS]

Journeyed return Newark to Leeds today. 07.14 from Newark - full breakfast excellent no problems.
No through trains for return journey. Chose 13.15 from Leeds changing at Doncaster to 13.53 to Newark.
Offered a cup of tea at Wakefield and immediately on boarding at Doncaster.I did not expect a meal on short journeys but East Coast Website say that non alcoholic drinks AND snacks will be provided on journeys of 70 minutes or less.Non existant today.I queeried this with the staff as they sat in their compatment before arriving at Newark and was told that their bosses dictated when they did their trolley runs and could only give out food/snacks on these occasions.This makes the service very much a lottery as to where you get on.With this way of working there is no way that the advertised offer can be given.
This is the first time I have tavelled 1st for short journeys but have always been pleased and satisfied with service on long trips.
What do others think?

 

[Blindtraveler]

that when this was launched we were given the impression that even short distance pacs would be entitled to a bit more than a cuppa reguardless of the station they boarded at.

 

[calc7]

Journeyed return Newark to Leeds today. 07.14 from Newark - full breakfast excellent no problems.
No through trains for return journey. Chose 13.15 from Leeds changing at Doncaster to 13.53 to Newark.
Offered a cup of tea at Wakefield and immediately on boarding at Doncaster.I did not expect a meal on short journeys but East Coast Website say that non alcoholic drinks AND snacks will be provided on journeys of 70 minutes or less.Non existant today.I queeried this with the staff as they sat in their compatment before arriving at Newark and was told that their bosses dictated when they did their trolley runs and could only give out food/snacks on these occasions.This makes the service very much a lottery as to where you get on.With this way of working there is no way that the advertised offer can be given.
This is the first time I have tavelled 1st for short journeys but have always been pleased and satisfied with service on long trips.
What do others think?

I would be interested to know the proportions of passengers travelling on Advance and FSR/FOR tickets.
This fastidious, bean-counting attitude really risks losing the market for the open ticket holders. Though, at the same time, two types of First Class wouldn't work very well operationally either.
With regards to Max's post about toast - will an extra slice really dent the company accounts? It could have the opposite effect for passengers (or their companies) paying £400+ for a FOR.
I am a leisure and business traveller. Whilst a business traveller is probably not too fussed about getting good value for money (moral hazard and all that), attitudes like this (which are seldom experienced on Virgin) risk damaging the established customer base.
As for the lottery you mention - I don't expect a trolley and coffee run after every stop, but it must be a kick in the teeth for those boarding at intermediate stations; especially when the lottery itself is a lottery (some teams are far more conscientious than others), and again risks damaging the market paying for more reasonably-priced open tickets on these shorter flows.

 

[jon0844]

I am sure most of the EC business in the peaks are commuters/business users who are probably now used to the service, but for everyone else (namely people like me), I can say that from reading this and seeing the photos, I am never going to go first class unless it is cheaper than a standard ticket.

I may not be that important to EC, but I thought they wanted more people to go first class - and not simply on advance tickets. If they wanted more revenue in the quiet times, they should have come up with a weekday first upgrade, on a first come first served basis, or something.

I'd never pay extra for the supposed service when it's a gamble as to whether I'll actually get anything (or what I'd see as value for money). I've also said before, I wouldn't chance poor service and know I could have brought my own food and drink. I'd not fly and expect them to apologise and say there was no service (and if they ever did have a situation like that, they'd tell everyone before boarding and probably issue something at the gate).

EC needs to be consistent. If they have no choice but to scale back the service as a whole to ensure it's always at a certain level, that has to be more favourable. Otherwise, I can see loads of people just turning the food and drink down as they'll have taken their own. I'd like to see how many regular EC passengers in first class take advantage of the service now.

 

[Blindtraveler]

i can tell you on the ABD - EDB Flow, home to some vvv cheep APs hense my using it there are a number of regulars who you get to know and they are indeed declinining the offer as it does vary a lot!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Chrismas eve, NY eve and NY day will be just the normal weekend offer, no booze. Sorry for my inaccurate info earlier in the thread.

 

[Mainliner]

On 19.00 KGX-EDB - no hot food, due to "failure of ovens".

Fitters were trying to fix a power problem at KGX, didn't manage, left 8 mins late.

 

[calc7]

On 19.00 KGX-EDB - no hot food, due to "failure of ovens".

Fitters were trying to fix a power problem at KGX, didn't manage, left 8 mins late.

I'm on the 1830 KGX-EDB. Not to rub it in, but full dinner served and eaten!

 

[Mainliner]

I'm on the 1830 KGX-EDB. Not to rub it in, but full dinner served and eaten!

I'm OK, I had my own

 

[amcluesent]

Likely the best you can do KGX-PBO

Coffee
G&T + peanuts
4 Sarnies
Crisps
Red wine
Mince Pie

(The coke was cadged from the FC lounge)

 

[calc7]

On 19.00 KGX-EDB - no hot food, due to "failure of ovens".

Fitters were trying to fix a power problem at KGX, didn't manage, left 8 mins late.

Likely the best you can do KGX-PBO

Coffee
G&T + peanuts
4 Sarnies
Crisps
Red wine
Mince Pie

(The coke was cadged from the FC lounge)

How did you manage two alcoholic drinks?

 

[amcluesent]

How did you manage two alcoholic drinks?

The 'line' I mentioned about 500 posts ago..."A G&T now and could I have a glass of wine for the food coming later, please?"

 

[calc7]

The 'line' I mentioned about 500 posts ago..."A G&T and could I have a glass of wine for the food coming later, please?"

That's my usual line on Virgin but I didn't realise it worked on EC.
Will have to try on the next round of food (if there is one). Currently at Northallerton.

 

[amcluesent]

That's my usual line on Virgin but I didn't realise it worked on EC.

Often enough to make it worth trying, and it is Crimbo!

 

[Jeremy B]

Likely the best you can do KGX-PBO

Coffee
G&T + peanuts
4 Sarnies
Crisps
Red wine
Mince Pie

(The coke was cadged from the FC lounge)

Do you really need all this for a 50min journey or is it a case of wanting it just because you can have it

 

[amcluesent]

Do you really need all this for a 50min journey...

Yep. I had a baguette and salad for lunch and won't have anything else when I get home (apart from the banana I also cadged from the FC lounge )

N.B. I was bit vexed that, unlike Tuesday's service, they hadn't come through with the cheese board by the time we pulled into PBO. That blue cheese is quite tasty...

 

[calc7]

I don't think that's particularly unreasonable.
The lady next to me who was also travelling to PBO (on the 1830) simply had a vodka/coke and some shortbreads.
It should be down to personal choice, not limiting everybody with ridiculous scientific management on the maxim that everybody is a freeloader. Somebody might be able to drink 2 glasses of wine in 70 minutes...let them.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'm on the 1830 KGX-EDB. Not to rub it in, but full dinner served and eaten!

Well, really. I would NEVER make such a hurtful post on this forum. That's just gloating and actually humiliating to Mainliner.


By the way, I was on the 18:00 where "full dinner" was served and eaten. (Tee Hee). Here's my main and cheese platter:-




(I seem to have messed up the images, sorry. Main is a Jacket Potato with Salad, Cheese platter is 2 cheeses, 3 crackers and a stick of celery)
All very enjoyable, but I must add my usual proviso. These are in no way acceptable as a full evening meal. I usually tell people on here that I treat these as snacks and get home to cook another meal; this evening, exceptionally, I had time to eat a filling bowl of soup and a savoury lite meal in a cafe before boarding the train.

Note that the cheese board (which always manages to omit one vital element), this evening omitted the butter/spread. (But a whopping 3 crackers offset by countless (just one) sticks of celery!). That came with a 3 hour journey which cost me well over £100.

Chrismas eve, NY eve and NY day will be just the normal weekend offer, no booze. Sorry for my inaccurate info earlier in the thread.

That's a shame. I'll be on the last southbound out of Edinburgh on Xmas Eve and was expecting a bit of a party atmosphere (even if I have to provide the hats, crackers and mince pies myself!). Sounds like there's only going to be a crew of one in FC, then. That is NOT a party!

 

[calc7]

Well, really. I would NEVER make such a hurtful post on this forum. That's just gloating and actually humiliating to Mainliner.

It was only meant in jest. I have suffered from this problem in the past myself, so I do feel the sympathy. Particularly when the offer is "complimentary" so apparently no compulsion to reimburse customers who are not provided with it.
Anyway, to clear the air, sorry Mainliner.