East Coast Standard Class improvements?

[ApAp]

I've not travelled standard class a lot recently thanks to company policy allowing first class if the business trip cuts into your personal time (a sensible policy) and my escape card getting 20% off all advance tickets.

So the last time I travelled standard the train still had National Express on the side. I knew you could get a nice burger at the buffet if there was a chef on-board (i.e. the not publicised buffet version of the first class at seat offering).

In the press release for the new timetable, East Coast say:

“The launch of an improved complimentary at-seat service in First Class will build upon improvements already made in Standard Class.”

So what has improved? I know they got rid of free wifi in standard, but can't think of any announcements of improvements.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I've not noticed any improvements at all and I use EC once a month and invariably use the buffet. I'll check tomorrow

 

[stut]

The wi-fi is much improved for no longer being free, FWIW.

Plus, the economic downturn is making it far easier to get a table to yourself.

 

[junglejames]

Isnt the range in the Buffet beter now? All those hot meals. Were they available before?

 

[ApAp]

Isnt the range in the Buffet beter now? All those hot meals. Were they available before?

I wouldn't call them standard class improvements though as they're also available in first class on train as well as the lounge at KGX.

I've not really noticed much improvement in the wifi since the north end of the train has had to pay for it. They did have 'super speedy wifi' adverts in first class for a while after they started charging standard but the speed was still a joke - the ads quickly vanished. Unless they prioritise paying (i.e. standard) customers for bandwidth then I can imagine many people annoyed at what they get for their money.

Things were slow in the GNER days, but never as slow as now due to less people using the wifi back then.

 

[junglejames]

I wouldn't call them standard class improvements though as they're also available in first class on train as well as the lounge at KGX.

I've not really noticed much improvement in the wifi since the north end of the train has had to pay for it. They did have 'super speedy wifi' adverts in first class for a while after they started charging standard but the speed was still a joke - the ads quickly vanished. Unless they prioritise paying (i.e. standard) customers for bandwidth then I can imagine many people annoyed at what they get for their money.

Things were slow in the GNER days, but never as slow as now due to less people using the wifi back then.

Going by what your saying then, nothing is an improvement in standard if 1st already has it.
Of course the good range of hot meals was an improvement in standard. Yes you already had it in 1st, but did you in standard? If not, then its an improvement for standard.
With your argument, lets use a hypothetical case. If in a years time they were to also offer free meals to standard class passengers (yes i know it isnt happening), then your argument says that it wont be an improvement because 1st already have it. Well again, it would be an improvement.

 

[ApAp]

Going by what your saying then, nothing is an improvement in standard if 1st already has it.
Of course the good range of hot meals was an improvement in standard. Yes you already had it in 1st, but did you in standard? If not, then its an improvement for standard.
With your argument, lets use a hypothetical case. If in a years time they were to also offer free meals to standard class passengers (yes i know it isnt happening), then your argument says that it wont be an improvement because 1st already have it. Well again, it would be an improvement.

No what I mean is the hot meals (the microwave ones) were introduced as a buffet item, i.e. were available to first and standard at exactly the same time. Therefore it wasn't specifically a standard class improvement it was introduced to both classes at the same time.

Whatever happened to the NXEC franchise commitment to serve hot food at seat in standard? Did they ever try this? Done right that would be a true improvement in standard (I believe NXEC introduced the ability for standard to buy the 'first class at seat' meals from the buffet from day one as well, just they never promoted that). The trains that offer this appear as 'Hot Buffet' on the list of facilities on the EC booking engine.

So from May things are getting worse for standard, less trains with a trolley and also no restaurant that they can use. They may also lose out on the rarely advertised ability to get real chef prepared hot food from the buffet.

 

[silentone]

They did, and still do on some services, provide toasties at-seat in Standard. They have to be sold within 20 minutes and by the end of the 20 mins they are soggy (having been in a foil bag for the duration). They did make way to providing hot meals at-seat in Standard but overtime that idea was abandoned for various reasons.

The quality of food available to Standard Class has improved, although its probably less in quality in some areas from GNER's prime.

 

[ApAp]

They did, and still do on some services, provide toasties at-seat in Standard. They have to be sold within 20 minutes and by the end of the 20 mins they are soggy (having been in a foil bag for the duration). They did make way to providing hot meals at-seat in Standard but overtime that idea was abandoned for various reasons.

The quality of food available to Standard Class has improved, although its probably less in quality in some areas from GNER's prime.

A proper at seat service would be taking advantage of those EPOS systems and taking orders via the trolley which would then be delivered to their seat after the first class orders were fulfilled (the EPOS system is supposed to support stock management so it should reduce the issue of people ordering out of stock items).

Am I right in thinking the EPOS allows you to input a seat number and the order will be wirelessly sent to a printer in the kitchen area?

The only reason I said their food should be delivered after first class is just so they can market the first class as premium, although in reality it'd be first come first serve, just if two orders arrived in around the same time the first class one would be done first.

 

[Yorkswatcher]

I havent seen any improvements travel a few times a week. The wifi is still slow but you do get 15 mins free in standard.

It might be that where are more cleaners on services these days.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Am I right in thinking the EPOS allows you to input a seat number and the order will be wirelessly sent to a printer in the kitchen area?

Yes, that's how it is supposed to work.
In theory, there's the potential for a 'toilet roll' of printed orders, at various stages of progress or completion!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Unless your elderley or disabled i dont see the big deal in getting up and walking to the buffet for hot food? Maybe if NX had been thinking more about how much they should pay for the franchise and less about hot food at seat in standard (which was always a stupid idea) they may still be around.