Catering on Virgin

[DeeGee]

I might be travelling Stockport-Milton Keynes on a Wednesday night, about tea-time.

What can I expect to be available to me as a Standard class passenger? Is it any good?

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Its ok. Nothing complimentary, you have to go to the shop for any food which is just bobstandard cheapo microwave on the go stuff. Drinks are there as well as crisps, confectionery and nuts etc All for a highish price. Sorry if you were thinking of at seat meal service

Seats are fine, table seats better.

 

[pinguini]

Stuff like sandwiches, burgers, soft drinks, tea/coffee, beer, wine. Other snack type foods chocolate, crisps etc.

 

[sprinterguy]

Stuff like sandwiches, burgers, soft drinks, tea/coffee, beer, wine. Other snack type foods chocolate, crisps etc.

If you go to the shop to buy it, I might add. I cannot recall seeing a trolley very often in standard class on my former daily commute with Virgin, and even if there is one I don't believe that it will stock the full range of products that are available from the shop.

 

[calc7]

I think the positive is that (in a 9-coach Pendo, anyway), nobody is more than 2 coaches away from the shop.

Compare that to an EC electric set, where customers in coach B have a trek to get to the buffet coach.

 

[dvboy]

If you go to the shop to buy it, I might add. I cannot recall seeing a trolley very often in standard class on my former daily commute with Virgin, and even if there is one I don't believe that it will stock the full range of products that are available from the shop.

Some Virgin services have a member of staff take orders for the shop.

 

[sprinterguy]

Some Virgin services have a member of staff take orders for the shop.

That’s quite interesting, I’ve seen that happen once or twice on the Chiltern loco-hauled sets, but never in all my days of travelling with Virgin.

 

[calc7]

I've seen it no more than half a dozen times in countless journeys.

 

[DarloRich]

Standard rip off train microwave rubbish. Take your own food.

 

[Yew]

Standard rip off train microwave rubbish. Take your own food.

I guess Rail Gourmet supply virgin? Although it is on the rails, its definitely not gourmet. Which is a shame really

 

[Lampshade]

Standard rip off train microwave rubbish. Take your own food.

It's not that bad

 

[tsubaki]

It's not that bad

It is. The first time I was presented with the "Little Box of Snacks" I honestly thought the catering were making some kind of surrealist joke, especially the matchstick-sized piece of chocolate.

Now however I realise that it is Branson's dirty protest against losing the franchise.

 

[Hellfire]

Some Virgin services have a member of staff take orders for the shop.

I've only seen that once and I guess it may have been because no one was going to the shop.

I only do a two hour journey and would rather buy something on the station.

Given Virgin has always tried to market itself as being something that bit better, it certainly does not try very had in the Standard class catering area. Tea and coffee with those horrible little plastic containers of pretend milk and they still haven't learned that microwaving bacon rolls just turns the bread into cardboard.

Does anyone know if Virgin actually makes money from its Standard class catering or would it be tempted to replace the shop with seats.

On a positive side they do sell half bottles of a very acceptable Chilean Sauv Blanc.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

and even if there is one I don't believe that it will stock the full range of products that are available from the shop.

Usually just hot drinks, I don't even think it stocked cold or soft ones.

I think the positive is that (in a 9-coach Pendo, anyway), nobody is more than 2 coaches away from the shop.

Compare that to an EC electric set, where customers in coach B have a trek to get to the buffet coach.

However if for some reason there's no First Class Host on your 11-car Pendo to wherever one weekend, and you're in K, you have an 8-coach walk for a cup of coffee. Also don't forget back pre-VHF there was no weekend at-seat service at all, which always entailed the passenger having to walk from First to Standard. Imagine being in K and doing London-Glasgow on that!

It is. The first time I was presented with the "Little Box of Snacks" I honestly thought the catering were making some kind of surrealist joke, especially the matchstick-sized piece of chocolate.

Now however I realise that it is Branson's dirty protest against losing the franchise.

I believe the snackboxes you are referring to have been around a lot longer than the West Coast malarkey has, so I'm not quite sure how it's a protest, unless Beardy was able to see a good few months into the future, and the ensuing debates over it all.

 

[rebmcr]

It is. The first time I was presented with the "Little Box of Snacks" I honestly thought the catering were making some kind of surrealist joke, especially the matchstick-sized piece of chocolate.

Now however I realise that it is Branson's dirty protest against losing the franchise.

The snack boxes are for weekend and non-meal times in 1st. We're talking about the onboard shop in Standard.

 

[dk1]

I always buy onboard with Virgin. Personally find it very good for hot food choice aswell as the sandwich meal deals. I also find that availability is quite reliable.

 

[extendedpaul]

I used to frequent the buffet on most of my longer journeys but now usually buy from one of the station catering outlets before I board. The 20% Bite discount card brings prices down to a reasonable level especially when they accept it against one of the deals.

 

[DeeGee]

Thanks folks.

Normally I'd go for the catering outlets on-station as well, but on this occasion, if I take the train as timetabled, I've got just over the minimum connection at Stockport and won't be in MKC until nearly 10pm. I'll be a bit short of time getting anything before departure either.

I "might" self-cater...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I always buy onboard with Virgin. Personally find it very good for hot food choice aswell as the sandwich meal deals. I also find that availability is quite reliable.

You are Richard Branson's PR Officer, and I claim my £5 prize.

 

[dk1]

You are Richard Branson's PR Officer, and I claim my £5 prize.

Wish i was

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Weekend snack box anyone ...

My best story is someone who bought a Cornish pasty from the "award winning shop" to find it was an iceberg of hard frozen filling inside.

Always bring my own frankly from M and S or similar - or home made sausage and chutney sarnies (home made chutney too ..)

 

[Pumbaa]

I think the prices of Virgins onboard shop are the most reasonable of any TOCs currently, in terms of value for money.

 

[ainsworth74]

Weekend snack box anyone ...

I'd rather not to be honest, once was quite enough...

VT's weekend service really is terrible in first class especially compared to EC.

 

[Roverman]

It got worse. They've ditched the croissant for some bread thing with bits of chocolate in it.

Bearing in mind they employ a host at weekends I see no reason why they couldn't microwave some bacon and offer rolls and theres certainly no reason why they can't offer cereals!

The lunchtime snack packs are quite nice if you're a fan of cheese and crackers!

 

[calc7]

I'd rather not to be honest, once was quite enough...

VT's weekend service really is terrible in first class especially compared to EC.

Only once?

Agreed - the offering is rather insulting but the prices do reflect that.
EC - DON-KGX £15 reasonable; LDS/YRK-KGX £25: horrific!

 

[Butts]

I'd rather not to be honest, once was quite enough...

VT's weekend service really is terrible in first class especially compared to EC.

The Virgin "Afternoon Tea" boxes are not to bad - for a snack

Is the company name "Rail Gourmet" - a contradiction in terms

 

[DarloRich]

The Virgin "Afternoon Tea" boxes are not to bad - for a snack

Is the company name "Rail Gourmet" - a contradiction in terms

A trades descriptions act prosecution waiting to happen - surely

 

[dave87016]

I usually tend to travel first class on weekdays on pendos, I like the cooked breakfast on virgin, never been disapointed by it, but I think East Coast edge it has they have more variety, and you can usually get plenty of toast whereas Virgin offer u one round.

I travelled standard the other day on a pendo and bought a sandwich meal deal, got to say the amount of filling on the sandwich was very poor!!

 

[dieselbashdave]

The chicken salad sub, tomato soup (Campbells cuppasoup) and Walkers crisps isn't bad for a train. A bit pricey but it's tasty enough and I can't fault it at all. This was on the 221/SV. Personally I'd bring a homemade sandwich as it's better value for money (you know what us Scotchmen are like) but if you want a visit to the Virgin shop I'd say go for it as the quality is good enough. I think they also do wines as well if you fancy that . Of course you could also stand in the vestibule, that'll either make you dizzy from the tiilting or the bog-fumes

 

[tsr]

I travelled standard the other day on a pendo and bought a sandwich meal deal, got to say the amount of filling on the sandwich was very poor!!

My own experiences of RailGourmet sandwiches are not as bad - I'd say I've been really quite lucky, though, as I've heard bad reports from non-enthusiast passengers!