Catering on New Cross Country

[voyagerdude220]

Hi all,

I just want to create a quick poll, in order to find out what the majority of Rail UK members feel that the New Cross Country Voyagers should provide, catering wise.

 

[me123]

I'm not sure if they should alter it, but I like the shop idea. I can't stand trolleys getting in people's way, trolley pushers pushing trolleys past potential customers, and you can go whenever you want. And, on XC services, the train isn't so long that it is too far to walk to the shop.

EDIT: I've voted without changes because I can't really think of any.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I'm not sure if they should alter it, but I like the shop idea. I can't stand trolleys getting in people's way, trolley pushers pushing trolleys past potential customers, and you can go whenever you want. And, on XC services, the train isn't so long that it is too far to walk to the shop.

That's exactly what I think as well.

It's just that one or two people, including Tom, said in the thread called "New Cross Country" that the shop should be ripped out, in favour of around 10-15 more seats.

 

[Ascot]

I'm happy with the shop and this is from a commuter point of view (not just me but other people i know) and not from a "non-user" point of view.

 

[Tom]

Singling me out I see.

Anyway - unless they are going to build more Voyager trailer cars there have to be ways in order to gain extra seating. Virgin lost the franchise for buying some of the most appalling trains for the job of running XC.

Most of the XC services have pauses in their journey which are long enough to get off and buy something from a station shop such as a Pumpkin Cafe or something similar.

 

[Dennis]

Most of the XC services have pauses in their journey which are long enough to get off and buy something from a station shop such as a Pumpkin Cafe or something similar.

And loose your seat.....

 

[Gizmogle]

The shop should stay as it is. If its not broken, don't fix it.
Overall people seem to be happy with the shop, and the fact that you can get up and buy food when you want and be able to take your time choosing what you want. Whereas with a trolley, you feel rushed to buy what you want, so that the trolley can carry on and serve other people.
If they're adding more coaches to the trains anyway, then do they really need to remove the shop?

 

[Techniquest]

Leave it as it is, but perhaps sell useful new things such as batteries (you never know how annoying it is to be on a long XC move or many moves on XC without breaks and have no batteries for a CD player or MP3 player until it happens to you...), which they seem to do on 390s. That's the only change I'd propose, otherwise it should stay.

As for long enough stops at stations to purchase goods, that wouldn't work at Bristol Parkway, as it would involve a move through the barriers to queue up for supplies at the limited choices, in which time the train WOULD be gone. Temple Meads sees a lot of Voyager runs with time to spare, but often it is not enough to get up and run to the shop. Done it on a 180 before on a FGW move because staff shortages didn't allow us any refreshments all the way home otherwise (3 hours and more on a 180 without a drink? Stuff that, done Oxford to Hereford on a Turbo without a drink when desperately needing one before, it's horrible), but that stop at Reading allowed us some time for me to jump off, grab a bottle of Diet Coke and back on (would have bought drinks at Sainsburys at Paddytoon if I'd known!). But on XC many stops are for less than 2 minutes. Not enough time to bail, grab a baguette/sandwich and drink as well as getting back on!

 

[Tom]

And loose your seat.....

Reservations are rather handy....

 

[Gizmogle]

And loose your seat.....

I always leave my coat or something on my seat so that no one sits in it or just ask someone to make sure it's not taken while I'm away

 

[Callufrax]

The shop should stay as it is. If its not broken, don't fix it.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Tom]

Just cross-posting from the other thread; in the poll I voted for a modified version to be fitted - possibly similar to the class 444 buffet. This would while keeping onboard facilities in a central location allow extra seating to be fitted onboard.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Full restaurant service like BR used to do

 

[me123]

And loose your seat.....

Again, I find it is always essential to reserve on long-distance trains. On top of that, buying an advance reserved seat ticket almost always costs less.

 

[mattmarsden]

A modified version of the shop would be better. The best way to find out good what there should be is to ask the very people that use it!!!

Matt

 

[Mojo]

The shop will not be replaced entirely with seats. Most of it (but not all) will be luggage space, ever noticed there's no windows in there

 

[The Snap]

Reservations are rather handy....

What if you can't reserve a seat?

I think the shops on Voyagers (and Pendolinos) are perfectly OK. Like Gizmogle said, if it aint broken don't fix it...

 

[Max]

Personally I find shops on Voyagers an absolute pain. They are so small, and just a couple of people queueing can cause huge bottlenecks. However, this is, to be honest, an original design flaw. They should never have been put in the middle of standard class, but between first class and standard class. This would firstly make it much easier for first class customers to get their complimentary refreshments, and would also eliminate most of the bottlenecks, as first class customers would have no reason to walk through to standard and vice versa.

However, I disagree with the idea of replacing them with a trolley. Having travelled on TPE a good number of times, I can safely say that I have never been particularly tempted by their food selection on the trolley. If going long distance, a cold sandwich just doesn't do it for me. However, I have frequently been tempted to buy one of Virgin's burgers, which are much more satisfying and a pretty decent price too. It's also nice to be able to get up and stretch your legs a bit on a long journey - go to the buffet/shop, grab a drink, that kind of thing. It helps to pass the time. But removing the shop will remove this small pleasure!

Anyway, stuff off a trolley is never as nice. No proper coffee, drinks unchilled, chocolate melted and no hot food choice. And a trolley on a Voyager will be an absolute nightmare! Getting it through those stupid doors where you have to push buttons on both side of the carriage join? Dodging round bags and squeezing through the ridiculously narrow aisles? Fat chance! :roll:

 

[theblackwatch]

And a trolley on a Voyager will be an absolute nightmare! Getting it through those stupid doors where you have to push buttons on both side of the carriage join? Dodging round bags and squeezing through the ridiculously narrow aisles? Fat chance! :roll:

Not forgetting all the passengers stood up in the aisles and vestibules! Oh no, I was forgetting, they'll all be sat down now there are an extra 16 seats in the set.....(what about the other 50 who are stood!).

Personally I think the shop needs a redesign. As Max says, a couple of people queing causes problems getting through. Much better would be something simple along the lines of the old BR micro-buffets - there is in my view no need for a curved counter, and racks selling books and magazines which, if people want them, they can buy before they travel or bring one along. The shop is, in typical Virgin style, something which seems to be designed to look nice, but in reality is not very practical or serve its purpose well. I assume it was designed to tempt people to use it - sorry, that doesn't work for me, to get me to the buffet, you need sensibly priced food and drink, and around £5 for a burger and coffee doesn't class as VFM in my book.

 

[Jim]

The shop should be modified, have you every been behind the counter on 1, I tell you, it is flipping small allready!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

As Max says, a couple of people queing causes problems getting through. Much better would be something simple along the lines of the old BR micro-buffets - there is in my view no need for a curved counter, and racks selling books and magazines which, if people want them, they can buy before they travel or bring one along. The shop is, in typical Virgin style, something which seems to be designed to look nice, but in reality is not very practical or serve its purpose well. I assume it was designed to tempt people to use it - sorry, that doesn't work for me, to get me to the buffet, you need sensibly priced food and drink, and around £5 for a burger and coffee doesn't class as VFM in my book.

Hit the nail on the head!

 

[devon_metro]

The ideal solution is to have a new buffet coach but that won't happen. If the shop is removed there is luggage space which will allow a trolley through the train as pax have somewhere to dump their stuff!

 

[voyagerdude220]

I had a Chicken Burger on 390 026 one weekend a few weeks ago, between Motherwell & Carlisle, and payed £3.50 for it.

It was a little expensive, but fantastic!

I never eat at Mc Donalds etc, as that kind of food is crap (to put it politely), but the hot food on VT is simply great..

I also have the urge to get a hot bacon roll on Voyagers on the weekend, when the snack boxes don't feature a nice sandwich.

I always grab a sachet of sauce with the food, but never use it because the food rarely needs it.

Edit: Is it me, or are ALL the hot burger style baps on FGW disgusting?

 

[Max]

Personally, I find the food on VXC pretty good. It's on the pricey side, but so are all the TOCs sadly!

However, I still think the freshly prepared bacon sandwiches on GNER are a million times better than the Virgin ones

 

[me123]

I was on a FSR train to Dundee one morning and the teas were, for this ride only, 30p a cup!!! Amazing, but has sadly not been repeated.

 

[voyagerdude220]

However, I still think the freshly prepared bacon sandwiches on GNER are a million times better than the Virgin ones

I've only once travelled on GNER, and when I did, I had a 3-course meal in the restaurant, which I admit was very good indeed.

 

[Jonfun]

I think a modified shop would be better, more similar to the traditional 'Buffet car' - it's extremely cramped as it is.

 

[Jim]

The VT Bacon Rolls are better than FGW 1's, but in the new "Express Café's" they do Steak and Onion Pannini's, which are very nice, and rival some of the GNER stuff

MML's hot food is pretty poor, as you only get a small roll!

My fav Rail food has to be the Egg & Red Leicester Pannini on GNER though

 

[Galvanize]

My fav Rail food has to be the Egg & Red Leicester Pannini on GNER though

Yep, it's better than the one that MML offers, overpriced and very small, most of the melted cheese had stuck to the packet already

 

[virginjon]

The idea of ripping the shops out as now been scrapped, because Bombardier won't let Arriva do it to their Voyagers.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The idea of ripping the shops out as now been scrapped, because Bombardier won't let Arriva do it to their Voyagers.

Really?

If this is true (I'm not calling you a lier or anything) i'm going to be VERY happy now

TBH, i wasn't too worried about the New XC, mostly due to the better services between Manchester & Bristol, but the removal of the shop, for me, would be a big blow.