London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[calc7]

Hi guys

Newbie here - going to do KGX to EDI (or LEU or DND) in July. It's been years since I last went up the East Coast - previous times in NXEC and GNER so no experience of the recent first class offerings. I've found all the corporate pages and menus, but want to know how much/many items I'll get on the whole journey, and especially how many drinks! Any tips on how to make the wine keep flowing?

Russ

Variable. My personal suggestion is to get a train that stops at Peterborough or Newark - this way you won't be expected to make your first drink last until York. Don't expect more than three or four drinks between London and Edinburgh. See my recent reports for how the catering offer has seemingly improved (ie more than one 'serving').
Also, by July, this information may well be redundant.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

All I will add to calc7's post is that if you are travelling at weekends then even that degree of trolley service will not be available. Coffee/tea biscuits, sandwiches, flapjacks and soft drinks, but alcohol and hot pannino will only be available over the counter at the Cafe Bar; and at a price (despite the impression you'll get from the publicity and the claims on the concourse at Kings Cross.

 

[jon0844]

When the new concourse opens at King's Cross, there will be loads of places to get good food and drink before travelling anyway. Some will accept the Bite card for 20% off too, if they're operated by SSP.

 

[Blindtraveler]

and for info, the hungry traveler from EDB can now use the new escalaters which have replaced Waverley steps to quickly access princes maul food court, rather than the frequently crouded temperary walkway. Theres McDonalds, KFC, Harry Ramsdon, Subway, Coffee Stop and O'Brians in addition to the facilities on the station. Appologies for off topic but I notice the famous Scone Express is home to a lot of cheep lastminute FC advances and I dont like to think of fellow members going away fammished!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
oh and on Waverley Bridge at the top of both north and South Ramps is an all you can eat chinese buffet called Jimmy chungs.

 

[Goldfish62]

Variable. My personal suggestion is to get a train that stops at Peterborough or Newark - this way you won't be expected to make your first drink last until York. Don't expect more than three or four drinks between London and Edinburgh. See my recent reports for how the catering offer has seemingly improved (ie more than one 'serving').
Also, by July, this information may well be redundant.

I had my first 1st Class meal experience on Friday, travelling KX to Leeds on the 1903. I have to say I found nothing to complain about. Main course of vegetarian cottage pie (a little strange as it was encased in pastry!) with veg, followed by rhubarb crumble and custard, with two cans of beer. I was full and well-watered by Leeds!

Coming back on Sunday there were sandwiches, crisps, some chocolate thing and enough servings of coffee to keep anyone awake for a week! I was still hungover from the night before so didn't want any alcohol anyway.

Not up to the standard of the much-missed GNER restaurant, but much better than the bad press it seems to have got.

 

[calc7]

Question: Does anybody have any information on number of food/cold drinks trolley passes on the Harrogate/Bradford/Skipton terminators?

 

[Yew]

I had my first 1st Class meal experience on Friday, travelling KX to Leeds on the 1903. I have to say I found nothing to complain about. Main course of vegetarian cottage pie (a little strange as it was encased in pastry!) with veg, followed by rhubarb crumble and custard, with two cans of beer. I was full and well-watered by Leeds!

Coming back on Sunday there were sandwiches, crisps, some chocolate thing and enough servings of coffee to keep anyone awake for a week! I was still hungover from the night before so didn't want any alcohol anyway.

Not up to the standard of the much-missed GNER restaurant, but much better than the bad press it seems to have got.

I would say similar for my trip, its a shame we couldnt have the cureent offer then in the evenings some paid for top ups. (think emt all day menu) to make running more dinner services economical (the staff are there anyway)

 

[John @ home]

Does anybody have any information on number of food/cold drinks trolley passes on the Harrogate/Bradford/Skipton terminators?

I have not had happy experiences with EC's Kings X - Bradford service. See no hot food, staff shortage, Police attendance and just one cup of coffee.

 

[bnm]

John @ home, you are not the only one who is unhappy at only being allowed one cup of tea. The world's second best golfer is also miffed at East Coast's poor service in 1st Class.

From twitter:

WestwoodLee
If you do happen to travel east coast trains and pay £249 for a 1st class ticket please be aware you're only allowed 1 cup of tea!pathetic!

https://twitter.com/#!/WestwoodLee/status/169814642393231360
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Apparently Mr Westwood has now got a second cuppa after someone retweeted to East Coast.... cough.... ahem.... who me?

Not sure EC should be trying to deflect criticism with humour, even if it did raise a smile with me:

http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/ectweets.jpg

 

[Blindtraveler]

discusting! Even eazyjet sell you a 2nd if you want one. I know thats paying for it but still! Come on EC, Shocking!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
was in standard on the 09:52 off ABD today and when wating at the bar could hear some FC pax wining about limmitted toast.
Are we board yet?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Overheard from passenger travelling at the weekend, following repeated announcements promoting the 'Weekend Menu' :
"That's not a menu. Its a sandwich.
Since when has a sandwich and a small piece of cake been a menu?".

The latest element of on-board catering to dissapear from what's left of the, er, 'Evening Menu' is the cheese platter.

 

[Bungle73]

How is it not a "menu"?

Menu:

a list of the food that you can eat in a restaurant [or in this case, on a train]

 

[GNER 91128]

Good service so far on the 14:00 EDB - KGX. They've been around with tea and coffee twice and cold drinks once + afternoon tea.

Update: more tea or coffee after Newcastle and another round of cold drinks and afternoon tea after Durham.

Further update: tea or coffee after Darlington and more cold drinks and other sacks leaving York.

Last update: Some more sandwiches and other bits offered after Newark along with a cold drink option shortly followed by tea/coffee.

I've been very happy with the service on my journey despite that there was no hot option offered (which I was kind of expecting). There's definitely been enough to keep anyone going.

 

[calc7]

Good service so far on the 14:00 EDB - KGX. They've been around with tea and coffee twice and cold drinks once + afternoon tea.

You're lucky that's not the dreaded Scone Express - the 14:30.

 

[GNER 91128]

You're lucky that's not the dreaded Scone Express - the 14:30.

I am pleased I didn't travel on that one. It seems I've been pretty lucky on the 14:00! (see above)

 

[Blindtraveler]

respondin to what Dave said, since when did the cheeze go?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

respondin to what Dave said, since when did the cheeze go?

I'll have to ask to be sure, but it must be in the last week or so. The only option on the Evening Meal menu after a 'main' is now cake.*

More significantly, perhaps, there hasn't been a Chef on board when I've been on a service offering an "Evening Meal" in the last few days. If we assume that only Chefs are authorised to use knives, then there won't be anything on offer that is chopped and preppep in the kitchen; just drizzling the balsamic and placing packets of spiced nuts on the table (which the CSAs can do, and one of the CSAs was indeed heating the 'meals'). I'm travelling outside the 'Evening Meal' times tomorrow so may not be able to add much news.
Confusingly, the wrapped paper napkin with the slit to contain 2 knives and a fork still contains 2 knives and a fork. Its a mystery what the second fork could be used for if there's no cheese platter after a 'main'.

*Despite the above explanation, there was no cake yesterday evening. Here is my dessert:-

 

[YorkshireRider]

Sounds like a simple case of substituting the evening meal menu with the evening menu due to no chef available, in the same way sometimes on a morning the breakfast menu may have to be substituted with the mid-morning one for the same reason. These procedures are on heath and saftey grounds agreed between the company and union. The cheese and dessert option have not been withdrawn on the evening meal trains.

 

[Blindtraveler]

are I did wonder, thanks for that. Would certainly b a major gaff to take that away.

 

[Goldfish62]

I'll have to ask to be sure, but it must be in the last week or so. The only option on the Evening Meal menu after a 'main' is now cake.*

More significantly, perhaps, there hasn't been a Chef on board when I've been on a service offering an "Evening Meal" in the last few days. If we assume that only Chefs are authorised to use knives, then there won't be anything on offer that is chopped and preppep in the kitchen; just drizzling the balsamic and placing packets of spiced nuts on the table (which the CSAs can do, and one of the CSAs was indeed heating the 'meals'). I'm travelling outside the 'Evening Meal' times tomorrow so may not be able to add much news.
Confusingly, the wrapped paper napkin with the slit to contain 2 knives and a fork still contains 2 knives and a fork. Its a mystery what the second fork could be used for if there's no cheese platter after a 'main'.

*Despite the above explanation, there was no cake yesterday evening.

There was both cheese and proper pudding available last Friday.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The cheese and dessert option have not been withdrawn on the evening meal trains.

That is very good to hear - it will be coincidence that I have been travelling while 'Evening Meals' were offered but no Chef was present and the 'menu' slips had no offer of cheese plate.
Thanks for the clarification.

 

[ainsworth74]

Sounds like a simple case of substituting the evening meal menu with the evening menu due to no chef available, in the same way sometimes on a morning the breakfast menu may have to be substituted with the mid-morning one for the same reason.

I thought one of the big selling points of this was that the breakfast menu wouldn't need a chef on all services as some would just use preprepared meals rather than cooking from scratch?

 

[Bungle73]

I thought one of the big selling points of this was that the breakfast menu wouldn't need a chef on all services as some would just use preprepared meals rather than cooking from scratch?

What about the cooked breakfast they trumpet about?

 

[ainsworth74]

What about the cooked breakfast they trumpet about?

That's what I meant. The idea was that on some services there would be a chef that would cook the breakfast from scratch whilst on all the rest there would be a preprepared breakfast (which is identical to the chef prepared one) that a CSA could cook in the oven then tip out onto a plate and serve. It's part of the reason why we've lost things like being able to choose between fired and scrambled eggs as well as I assume losing black pudding and beans.

 

[YorkshireRider]

I thought one of the big selling points of this was that the breakfast menu wouldn't need a chef on all services as some would just use preprepared meals rather than cooking from scratch?

Yes if the service is booked not to have a chef the breakfast will be loaded with pre-packed 'CSA' breakfasts which can be done in the oven by CSAs. What i meant is if a chef goes sick or is just not available on the morning sometimes the RG depot just doesnt have any more of these CSA breakfasts left in stock and without a chef we are not allowed to cook raw ingredients (except bacon as long as we are wearing a clean apron). Therefore we revert to mid morning menu.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's part of the reason why we've lost things like being able to choose between fired and scrambled eggs as well as I assume losing black pudding and beans.

Correct, the idea being its the same on all breakfast trains.

 

[ainsworth74]

What i meant is if a chef goes sick or is just not available on the morning sometimes the RG depot just doesnt have any more of these CSA breakfasts left in stock and without a chef we are not allowed to cook raw ingredients (except bacon as long as we are wearing a clean apron). Therefore we revert to mid morning menu.

Ahh that would make sense my apologies in hindsight it's rather obvious what you mean

 

[ainsworth74]

At the end of January, inspired by a suggestion from SickyNicky that he made at the Manchester Fares Workshop I decided to FOI East Coast (it's nice having a train company that's susceptible to FOIs ) and made a somewhat wide ranging request for information (I subscribe to the school of 'if you don't ask you don't get'):

Dear East Coast Main Line Company Limited,

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act to ask
firstly for all staff briefing documents that have been distributed
(or are to be distributed) in relation to the provision of the
first class complementary offer (by briefing documents I mean items
such as handbooks, memos, power point presentations, other
audio/visual presentations and any other types of documents held
relating to this query).

I would also like to request copies of any internal correspondence
between East Coast management relating to on train catering and any
external correspondence between East Coast management and the
Department for Transport relating to on train catering as well as
any correspondence between East Coast management and Members of
Parliament relating to on train catering. The time span for the
copies of the requested correspondence should be at least the last
two years (as in January 2010 to January 2012).

I would also like to request copies of questions and results of any
passenger surveys that have been conducted during East Coast's
operation of the Inter City East Coast franchise (as in November
2009 to January 2012) relating to first class catering provision.

Finally I would like to see copies of financial records relating to
first class catering (as in the restaurant service, at-seat dining
service and the present complementary offer) over the last two
years (as in January 2010 to January 2012). This should contain at
the least a break down of the costs and revenue that catering has
provided over the requested time period.

Yours faithfully,

I received a response today (which I've attached in pdf form) telling me that my request would cost to much to fulfil so they've offered me an alternative list of documents instead and I've agreed to that proposal. I think the list they've offered broadly matches what I wanted and should still make for some interesting reading. I shall update this thread (assuming people are actually interested!) when I get the information from them.

 

[Butts]

Can't wait to see the section in the training manual on -

"how to avoid giving anything but the bare minimum away to conserve stock" - particularly with regard to-

"One slice or one" when handing the toast out....

"Would you like a chaser to go with your beer sir "

Can't wait well done in procuring the information

 

[drevil0208]

I travelled on the dreaded "scone express" yesterday from York to Kings Cross. I have to say, I was actually quite impressed. They made 2 rounds with the sandwich/cake trolley, 2 rounds of the drink trolley, and at least 4 or 5 with tea/coffee. It seemed every time I had finished consuming something, they would be around with the next item.

And considering the time of day (3:00), the afternoon tea to be exactly what I needed.

I'm teavelling on a First Class britrail pass, so at the end of my trip I will post my first class experiences with all of the TOCs. Currently in First Class on the 8:00 from London to Norwich, definitely the worst of the "main line" first class trains I've been on.

 

[Furrball]

Told by crew on 10:00 KGX - ABD that the next trolley run not until after York. Fair enough for food but surely tea and coffee should be offered on a slightly more frequent basis?