EMT 1st All day Meals

[Yew]

Hey all, Just a quick one here.


EMT have an all day menu on their MML services. On monday the 12th September im taking the 10:28 service to STP.

a) the menu should be available, right?
b) how would I go about ordering (ask the guy with the trolley? go to the 'buffet?)
c) is this available on all trains? even the meridian I took a few months ago, that had about 10 people on it?

 

[MCR247]

They don't come around and ask, you need to ask them

It isn't available on services with the trolley symbol in the EMT TT

 

[Yew]

Aha, it has the 'steaming saucer, or possibly bowl of soup' icon so it will be available.

Should I ask as the trolley comes round? or go to the buffet car?

 

[maddeningcrowds]

Ask "can I order from the menu?" when they serve you coffee.

 

[All Line Rover]

They don't come around and ask, you need to ask them

In my experience they do ask you if you want anything off the menu when they serve drinks.

 

[ainsworth74]

In my experience they do ask you if you want anything off the menu when they serve drinks.

And in my experience they don't and you do have to be proactive ask them directly to order food

 

[Yew]

In my experience they do ask you if you want anything off the menu when they serve drinks.

And in my experience they don't and you do have to be proactive ask them directly to order food

I think I remember being asked if I wanted anything off the menu (this was a Sunday though, so he might have said trolley). And I assumed the just meant off the little trolley menu. I'll ask if I can order off the menu. Also I'll take a careful note of what he says. Then possibly write an email to emt suggesting they should push it more.

 

[WillPS]

I think I remember being asked if I wanted anything off the menu (this was a Sunday though, so he might have said trolley). And I assumed the just meant off the little trolley menu. I'll ask if I can order off the menu. Also I'll take a careful note of what he says. Then possibly write an email to emt suggesting they should push it more.

RailGourmet are strongly rumoured to be losing their contract imminently, with the return of the buffets.

 

[ainsworth74]

RailGourmet are strongly rumoured to be losing their contract imminently

Who are EMT going to source their food from in that case as it seems like RailGourmet are the only people that supply TOCs with food?

 

[WillPS]

They may well continue to supply goods but not staff/trolleys.

 

[wintonian]

And in my experience they don't and you do have to be proactive ask them directly to order food

And in my 1 and only experience of EMT they didn't know if food was available or not! :roll:

 

[bb21]

There is no ordering off the First Class menu at weekends as First Class is not staffed and free tea and coffee are offered from the trolley when it comes through and the trolley attendant notes down the quantity which they will then bill EMT for.

During weekdays if they don't ask then tell them when served tea/coffee. I find the First Class hosts to be quite efficient in serving drinks and complementary snacks so you shouldn't have to wait long after boarding.

 

[wintonian]

There is no ordering off the First Class menu at weekends as First Class is not staffed and free tea and coffee are offered from the trolley when it comes through and the trolley attendant notes down the quantity which they will then bill EMT for.

During weekdays if they don't ask then tell them when served tea/coffee. I find the First Class hosts to be quite efficient in serving drinks and complementary snacks so you shouldn't have to wait long after boarding.

Not when I did it in March.

If you wanted tea or coffee you had to actually stop them and ask and then you ended up with 3/4 of a cup - the rest went on the table/ floor, either way it was difficult to get any more than a grunt out of them.

Oh and the only ‘snacks’ were those horrible pre packed biscuits.

All in a carriage where it was rather difficult to tell where 1st ended and STD started due to the lack of a dividing partition.

Very sloppy and slap dash I thought. :roll:

 

[Essexman]

I've found that more often than not they ask if you want to order from the menu, but if not I just ask when they bring drinks round. What is annoying is that if you want a drink other than tea, coffee, juice or water you have to wait for the trolley to come round, which means you might be served lunch before any chance to buy accompany drink. Hence now buy a bottle of coke at the station that I would previoulsy have bought on the train. Hopefully the trolleys will go & the buffets return.

 

[tom1649]

The service in first class was excellent in Midland Mainline days. It's a real shame things have gone downhill since.

 

[Essexman]

I know they don't have at seat service at weekends but travelling to Nottingham I was offerred tea or coffee by the person who checked my ticket (guard I think). Cold drinks she said I'd have to buy from the trolley but that never made it to first class.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The service in first class was excellent in Midland Mainline days. It's a real shame things have gone downhill since.

Yes MML were very good. It seems that first class catering seems to be going down hill on all mainline services.
But I was surprised on a local journey last year on TPE from Preston to Man Picc, how good the first class was, I was offered 2 coffees and two breakfast rolls, all complimentary,the journey is only about 45 mins, very imppressive, bigger firms take note. The best service though was Wrexham and Shropshire which is now sadly defunct.

 

[bengolding]

If only EMT could bring back 'First Premier' style service that was offered years back on Midland Mainline.

A few evening peak northbound services out of St Pancras, e.g. 1655, offer an 'enhanced' service. This includes cheese and biscuits, the quality of which is even inferior to what Virgin offer after their Evening Meal!

 

[bb21]

Not when I did it in March.

If you wanted tea or coffee you had to actually stop them and ask and then you ended up with 3/4 of a cup - the rest went on the table/ floor, either way it was difficult to get any more than a grunt out of them.

Oh and the only ‘snacks’ were those horrible pre packed biscuits.

All in a carriage where it was rather difficult to tell where 1st ended and STD started due to the lack of a dividing partition.

Very sloppy and slap dash I thought. :roll:

I didn't say they were good quality

Anyway I think you ended up on a 5-car Mermaid none of which have a proper partition between Standard and First.

 

[wintonian]

I didn't say they were good quality

Anyway I think you ended up on a 5-car Mermaid none of which have a proper partition between Standard and First.

And to think I was booked onto a HST.

 

[Yew]

When I saw a 5-car meridian, and a HST across the platform once. Then I saw my Ticket was for coach G, I was Very Nearly into the HST before I checked the coach letters in the meridian

 

[TomE]

I've just travelled on the 11:55 EMT service from St Pancras to Sheffield in 1st.

Before we had even pulled out of St P I had a cup of tea, biscuit and water and within 5 minutes of leaving one of the first class hosts was walking through taking food orders. I can recommend the ploughmans, very tasty!

I use EMT at least once a month and the service has never been anything but excellent. I've never had to ask for food, having always been asked if I would like something. They have always been on time and only ever about 5 minutes late arriving due to hold ups on route. Free Wi-Fi in first is a bonus.

I have no connection to EMT, other than being a very satisfied customer!

Tom.

 

[telstarbox]

Yes MML were very good. It seems that first class catering seems to be going down hill on all mainline services.
But I was surprised on a local journey last year on TPE from Preston to Man Picc, how good the first class was, I was offered 2 coffees and two breakfast rolls, all complimentary,the journey is only about 45 mins, very imppressive, bigger firms take note. The best service though was Wrexham and Shropshire which is now sadly defunct.

Easy when there's only ~15 seats in 1 carriage though!

 

[bengolding]

I've just travelled on the 11:55 EMT service from St Pancras to Sheffield in 1st.

Before we had even pulled out of St P I had a cup of tea, biscuit and water and within 5 minutes of leaving one of the first class hosts was walking through taking food orders. I can recommend the ploughmans, very tasty!

I use EMT at least once a month and the service has never been anything but excellent. I've never had to ask for food, having always been asked if I would like something. They have always been on time and only ever about 5 minutes late arriving due to hold ups on route. Free Wi-Fi in first is a bonus.

I have no connection to EMT, other than being a very satisfied customer!

Tom.

To be far to EMT, they do offer some excellent value First Advance fares. Not sure if they still offer the reasonable quality light meals, which were recently reduced in price. Are you aware you can now use EMT First Lounges (a £5 supplement is payable at St Pancras between 4-7)?

 

[TomE]

To be far to EMT, they do offer some excellent value First Advance fares. Not sure if they still offer the reasonable quality light meals, which were recently reduced in price. Are you aware you can now use EMT First Lounges (a £5 supplement is payable at St Pancras between 4-7)?

I'm lucky I know several months in advance when I'm going to travel so I vary rarely pay over £38 return for a 1st class ticket. Having looked at East Coast you'd struggle to get a one way ticket for that! I haven't used the lounge at St Pancras yet, I usually stop at AMT for a cheeky hot chocolate

Tom.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Yes MML were very good. It seems that first class catering seems to be going down hill on all mainline services.
But I was surprised on a local journey last year on TPE from Preston to Man Picc, how good the first class was, I was offered 2 coffees and two breakfast rolls, all complimentary,the journey is only about 45 mins, very imppressive, bigger firms take note. The best service though was Wrexham and Shropshire which is now sadly defunct.

TPE offer free bacon rolls? ? Where do they cook them?

 

[ainsworth74]

Where do they cook them?

There is a hatch in the floor which is opened with a T-Key. Underneath this hatch is a grill which bacon can be cooked on. The grill itself is mounted directly on top of one of the QSK19 engines and as long as the engine is running the excess heat generated is transferred to the grill to enable cooking.

Disclaimer: Some or all of the above may or may not be inaccurate fantasy. Believe at your own risk. Also did you know the word gullible is written on the ceiling above you?

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

TPE offer free bacon rolls? ? Where do they cook them?

No they were not hot bacon rolls, but cold ones with butter and jam and surprisingly very good, especially when it was not expected along with the tea & coffee. It all came from the trolley and a very pleasant steward.

 

[Bungle73]

No they were not hot bacon rolls, but cold ones with butter and jam and surprisingly very good, especially when it was not expected along with the tea & coffee. It all came from the trolley and a very pleasant steward.

Jam?

 

[MCR247]

Thats what I thought