EMT catering

[howittpie]

I have travelled on EMT on a return journey from London [STP] - Nottingham [NOT] today and it appears that the trolley is not an at seat service at weekends as in both direction it was parked in the buffet and the counter was open for service. I believe this is an experiment for weekends only. At least it meant I could get a cup of coffee before Leicester northbound for a change.

 

[trentside]

I have travelled on EMT on a return journey from London [STP] - Nottingham [NOT] today and it appears that the trolley is not an at seat service at weekends as in both direction it was parked in the buffet and the counter was open for service. I believe this is an experiment for weekends only. At least it meant I could get a cup of coffee before Leicester northbound for a change.

Were the trains you used fairly busy? Quite often when services are busy the catering service will be done from the buffet as it wouldn't be practical to try and get the trolley through the train. I've heard this referred to as a 'static trolley' service to avoid using the term buffet.

 

[howittpie]

The trains were very quiet 10.15 northbound which was quieter than normal and 17.28 southbound which is always very quiet there was only 2 passengers in coach D!!. The tm said it is an experiment has passengers in standard had complained the trolley was not reaching them on a weekend as it often took to long to serve the first class passengers.

 

[tsr]

I've actually suspected this might be a good idea for some time now, so I'm glad to hear that they're putting it into practice. To state the obvious: if passengers like it better, they'll probably buy more, so this might well become a permanent fixture.

 

[Rick1984]

Supposedly on the EMT service between norwich and liverpool there is a trolley service from nottingham going west. never seen this fabled trolley in about 4 journeys.

 

[telstarbox]

Do you mean at all or just from Nottingham? Going west, trolleys tend to come on at Sheffield and off at Stockport.

 

[dk1]

Do you mean at all or just from Nottingham? Going west, trolleys tend to come on at Sheffield and off at Stockport.

Just gets shorter & shorter. Was Nottingham to Stockport.

 

[ainsworth74]

Going west, trolleys tend to come on at Sheffield and off at Stockport.

That has to be a contender for catering being available for the shortest proportion of the journey hock: The total journey time from Norwich to Liverpool is approximately five hours and thirty-five minutes. Yet the trolley is only on board for approximately fourty-seven minutes! That's less than fifth of the total journey time!

 

[Robinson]

On the one and only time I've done that line (on a Saturday evening Manchester-bound service), the trolley was on from Nottingham. Admittedly that was about 3 years ago, on a unit which still carried its former TPE livery...

 

[WillPS]

The trolley was completely suspended in 2009, but was shortly after reinstated between Nottingham and Stockport only. It has recently been extended to Liverpool.

 

[sidmouth]

Lack of catering is another reason not to use EMT between Peterborough and Liverpool.

 

[telstarbox]

That has to be a contender for catering being available for the shortest proportion of the journey hock: The total journey time from Norwich to Liverpool is approximately five hours and thirty-five minutes. Yet the trolley is only on board for approximately fourty-seven minutes! That's less than fifth of the total journey time!

True although passengers are more likely to use the trolley on an occasional long journey than a daily hour-long commute. It may be more economical for the trolley to be on SHF - SPT (where it crosses over and works back on a return service) than for the whole journey. Most long-distance passengers would have use of the trolley although it doesn't help if you're travelling Norwich to Sheffield for example.

 

[calc7]

I was on this service the other day (the 1652 from Liverpool, and it was a double 158 so bags of room, presumably gets busy at Manchester) and there was a trolley on from Liverpool to past Manchester. I agree with the other views though - Norwich to Sheffield is a long time for no catering!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I have travelled on EMT on a return journey from London [STP] - Nottingham [NOT] today and it appears that the trolley is not an at seat service at weekends as in both direction it was parked in the buffet and the counter was open for service. I believe this is an experiment for weekends only. At least it meant I could get a cup of coffee before Leicester northbound for a change.

Thats exactly what I had when I went to London yesterday. The TM announced that there will be a static trolley service located in the buffet car and I went and I got a Bacon butty which was cooked in the kitchen. I though EMT scrapped the whole buffet car idea and used it for seats and then just use a trolley throughout

 

[ainsworth74]

I though EMT scrapped the whole buffet car idea and used it for seats and then just use a trolley throughout

You might be thinking of XC where they removed the buffets and replaced it with bike/luggage space. EMT have indeed closed their buffets (though there seems to be a move to reopen them on occasion) but they've not been removed.

 

[Jatos]

Mmm, I like the buffet bars when they increase food stock and food options, to be honest, I think something like the buffet bar works best when it is done in the same fashion as Virgins shops.

However, the trolley service does of course provide more convenience.