FGW First Class food service

[All Line Rover]

Just a quick question.

The FGW website says "complimentary light refreshments are served at your seat" in First Class.

Does anyone have any idea what these "complimentary" items are, as nothing more is said? And would it be feasible for I (a person who eats a fair bit) to do a London to Plymouth/Penzance First Class journey on these "complimentary" items alone? How about London to Cardiff?

I don't fancy buying anything from the "express" Cafe, because I think it's quite pricey and you can't get the 20% discount like you can with East Coast. I think East Coast's current "chargeable" items look better anyway.

I've never actually travelled with FGW before, but wish to do so in First Class before doing my FC ALR later this year. I don't want to waste my time travelling with FGW on my ALR if they are nothing special, so wish to try it out beforehand.

Thanks.

PS. Does anyone have any more info on East Coast's new complimentary weekday service? I've been wanting to book for weeks, but won't do so until they publish a timetable! I will join at York (going northbound), and their customer services department are unable to tell me if, to be served breakfast, the train must leave York before 10am, or if it must have left London before 10am.

 

[Greenback]

You cna get juice, water, tea, coffee, nuts (I think) and biscuits. On my last FC FGW journey they had stopped providing Coke/Diet Coke and crisps, much to my disappointment!

I didn't see any Friday afternoon wine either! And not because it wasn't Friday!

 

[Urban Gateline]

If you think that's bad, try SWT, you won't get any complimentary refreshments in their First Class, only a wider seat and power point!

 

[All Line Rover]

You cna get juice, water, tea, coffee, nuts (I think) and biscuits. On my last FC FGW journey they had stopped providing Coke/Diet Coke and crisps, much to my disappointment!

I didn't see any Friday afternoon wine either! And not because it wasn't Friday!

I don't like crisps, but no Coke!! That's ridiculous! (It's only 50p a can from Tesco anyway!)

 

[Greenback]

I don't like crisps, but no Coke!! That's ridiculous! (It's only 50p a can from Tesco anyway!)

Yes, I had always had a can before, one used to last me all the way from Cardiff to London! Now I have at least four cups of tea instead!

There was a thread on this somewhere, where it was alleged that customers were taking them off the train to drink later (crime of the century?), which is why it was stopped, but from my own experiences while working for FGW, I have reached my own conclusions about what was going on!

 

[All Line Rover]

If you think that's bad, try SWT, you won't get any complimentary refreshments in their First Class, only a wider seat and power point!

Yes, but SWT doesn't go all the way to Penzance! (And it's used mostly as a commuter service, although I appreciate that FGW is too between Reading and Paddington.)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Yes, but SWT doesn't go all the way to Penzance! (And it's used mostly as a commuter service, although I appreciate that FGW is too between Reading and Paddington.)

They did!!!!

Furthest you can go now on SWT is Weymouth (444) or Exeter St Davids (158/159), both with First Class as described.

 

[All Line Rover]

Yes, I had always had a can before, one used to last me all the way from Cardiff to London! Now I have at least four cups of tea instead!

There was a thread on this somewhere, where it was alleged that customers were taking them off the train to drink later (crime of the century?), which is why it was stopped, but from my own experiences while working for FGW, I have reached my own conclusions about what was going on!

Oh who cares about that! I pinch stuff too from VT's First Class lounges (mainly a "few" Eat Natural Bars)! But I like them so much I'll have eaten them all on the train by the time I've arrived at my destination!

The staff at Manchester Piccadilly also help themselves to the drinks/snacks, but then again I'd do to if I work there, and why not? It can't cost that much!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They did!!!!

Furthest you can go now on SWT is Weymouth (444) or Exeter St Davids (158/159), both with First Class as described.

Look of shock.

I'm not old enough to remember that!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Look of shock.

I'm not old enough to remember that!

They ended (to Torbay, Plyouth and Cornwall) in December 2009! They were culled back to Exeter in order to be able to have enough stock for an hourly service Exeter-Salisbury-Waterloo.

 

[TEW]

You cna get juice, water, tea, coffee, nuts (I think) and biscuits. On my last FC FGW journey they had stopped providing Coke/Diet Coke and crisps, much to my disappointment!

I didn't see any Friday afternoon wine either! And not because it wasn't Friday!

There's other snacks as well; crisps, cereal bars, fruit cake, cinnamon whirls.

 

[Greenback]

I was refused crisps! And I don't like the other things! I think the offering is now deliberately including nothing I like except tea!

It's a conspiracy - everyone's against me!

 

[thefab444]

If you think that's bad, try SWT, you won't get any complimentary refreshments in their First Class, only a wider seat and power point!

Not true, you (in theory) get a free hot drink on long distance services arriving into Waterloo before 1000 on weekdays.

 

[bengolding]

FGW used to offer complimentary wine in their Paddington lounge on Fri afternoons. All of my recent FGW journeys have been earlier on Fridays, so I can't confirm if Friday wine has gone on board. Having used the EC Kings Cross lounge recently, I was advised they will also offer complimentary wine there on weekday afternoons from May. I suppose it makes the Lounge upgrade a little more value!

I routinely see Standard customers moving that way from coaches G and H after boarding (esp at New St), taking a copy of the Independent/FT with them or a bottle of water from the centre fridge. Is that considered as theft?

 

[TEW]

I was refused crisps! And I don't like the other things! I think the offering is now deliberately including nothing I like except tea!

It's a conspiracy - everyone's against me!

That's odd, it isn't the same crisps that you can buy from the buffet, its smaller packets and a different brand. Friday night wine finished quite a while ago.

 

[truckman060473]

Talking of food on FGW there was an announcement today (Sunday) on the service to Carmarthen that the buffet was open with the usual description of what they had to offer, plus the words "hot bacon rolls are now half price"! never heard about reduced prices on any train before!!

 

[animationmilo]

Talking of food on FGW there was an announcement today (Sunday) on the service to Carmarthen that the buffet was open with the usual description of what they had to offer, plus the words "hot bacon rolls are now half price"! never heard about reduced prices on any train before!!

Was it the last train to Carmarthen, I know the 22:45 London-Swansea quite often has half price sandwiches as its the last SWANSEA service.

 

[Bedpan]

Yes, I had always had a can before, one used to last me all the way from Cardiff to London! Now I have at least four cups of tea instead!

There was a thread on this somewhere, where it was alleged that customers were taking them off the train to drink later (crime of the century?), which is why it was stopped, but from my own experiences while working for FGW, I have reached my own conclusions about what was going on!

That's a lame excuse, all they have to do is pop open the can when they serve it!

 

[truckman060473]

Was it the last train to Carmarthen, I know the 22:45 London-Swansea quite often has half price sandwiches as its the last SWANSEA service.

Yes. 17.33 from Llanelli to Carmarthen. It's usually 17.21 from Llanelli.

 

[Flamingo]

Many points raised here.

Friday wine has gone a few years now, as have cans of fizzy drinks.

Most staff were not sorry to see the back of the Friday wine, it was the source of many problems.

Current offerings (weekdays) are:
- Drinks: Water, still & sparkling, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Apple and Blackberry juice, Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey Tea, Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Camomile tea, Peppermint tea

- Snacks (depending on time of day): Pan au choclate, cinnamon Danish pastries, Eat Natural yoghurt bars, oranges, bananas, four types of biscuits, fruit cake, ready salted crisps, salted peanuts.

I think I have everything covered with that list. Weekends is a bit less, no cake pastries, fruit or bars, fruit juices or hot chocolate.

We used to get certain passengers on the £10 weekend first upgrade who would come up to the buffet and demand 6, 12, or even 24 cans of fizzy drink.

Last run of the day, sandwiches go onto "Happy Hour" prices, when they do so is at the discretion of the Customer Host, the reduction is pre-programmed into the system.

 

[All Line Rover]

They ended (to Torbay, Plyouth and Cornwall) in December 2009! They were culled back to Exeter in order to be able to have enough stock for an hourly service Exeter-Salisbury-Waterloo.

I was confused about whether they served Plymouth because of this "advance fares" map on SWT's website (which is obviously outdated, even though it says Jan 2010!): www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/advancefaresmapjan10.pdf.

I've got to admit that that's a LONG journey to receive a London Midland style First Class! Particularly as it takes the long way round from Waterloo.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Many points raised here.

Friday wine has gone a few years now, as have cans of fizzy drinks.

Most staff were not sorry to see the back of the Friday wine, it was the source of many problems.

Current offerings (weekdays) are:
- Drinks: Water, still & sparkling, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Apple and Blackberry juice, Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey Tea, Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Camomile tea, Peppermint tea

- Snacks (depending on time of day): Pan au choclate, cinnamon Danish pastries, Eat Natural yoghurt bars, oranges, bananas, four types of biscuits, fruit cake, ready salted crisps, salted peanuts.

I think I have everything covered with that list. Weekends is a bit less, no cake pastries, fruit or bars, fruit juices or hot chocolate.

We used to get certain passengers on the £10 weekend first upgrade who would come up to the buffet and demand 6, 12, or even 24 cans of fizzy drink.

Last run of the day, sandwiches go onto "Happy Hour" prices, when they do so is at the discretion of the Customer Host, the reduction is pre-programmed into the system.

I don't think I'll be going with FGW much on my ALR then. Although I'm still going to do a journey on them beforehand, to try out the seats.

 

[tinselworm]

Came back from Paddington on the 2103 yesterday, was offered tea, coffee, cappuccino hot chocolate etc, nuts, biscuits, small cakes in plastic wrappers, still or sparkling water, choice of crisps! Maybe I was having a good day because the lady in the Sloe bar in the station gave me some discounts and then the lady on the train said she'd give me one of each as they were restocking when they were getting back to [stn]BRI[/stn]!

 

[TEW]

Weekends is a bit less, no cake pastries, fruit or bars, fruit juices or hot chocolate.


Last run of the day, sandwiches go onto "Happy Hour" prices, when they do so is at the discretion of the Customer Host, the reduction is pre-programmed into the system.

Weekends tends to depend on what is in the buffet, there is usually hot chocolate though.

In the Paddington First Class lounge there's a few different types of nuts offered which aren't offered on board, along with fruit, biscuits, fruit juice and hot drinks. The coffee in the First Class lounge isn't just instant coffee like on board either.

 

[Essexman]

Once East Coast go to complimentary food the FGW Travelling Chef will in my view be the best major TOC catering.
In first class you get it served on a china plate with metal cutlery, so it is effectivley an at-seat restaurant service.
Shame it's not on every train though.

I'll be having probably my last experience of East Coast's proper dining service tomorrow.
Am off to get Glasgow sleeper shortly, then after a couple of meetings, on to Inverness on the Chieftan to fulfil long held ambition for dinner travelling through Highlands (sadly at-seat & not restaurant and have had to buy first class ticket but it still counts). 40 minutes in Inverness then back on sleeper.

 

[mickey]

That's odd, it isn't the same crisps that you can buy from the buffet, its smaller packets and a different brand.

It's quite normal to offer different sizes/styles/brands for complimentary items - it helps with stocktaking and to make sure the products aren't accidentally mixed together. Or sold 'on the side'.

 

[w1bbl3]

Once East Coast go to complimentary food the FGW Travelling Chef will in my view be the best major TOC catering.
In first class you get it served on a china plate with metal cutlery, so it is effectivley an at-seat restaurant service.
Shame it's not on every train though.

Can't say I'm a massive fan of the travelling chef lunchtime menu, the baguettes are no better than the food you can get at Paddington, Reading etc.. The omelette is bit on the small side and rather plain, now the burger is very good for a burger but tbh more choice is needed on board. East coast microwave snacks/meals offer a better range.

The breakfast menu is superb but not served on trains from south Wales arriving in Paddington before 8:30am unlike current east cost services, which is a real shame.

Now FGW Pullman dinning really is fantastic best on the network by miles.

 

[TEW]

The old lunchtime menu certainly was much better, it had more hot meals rather than just baguettes, although the baguettes are still nice and well presented in First Class.

 

[ApAp]

I'm sure FGW still operates a proper restaurant on a few trains. Anyone got any views on it - how does it compare to EC?

 

[mr williams]

I'm sure FGW still operates a proper restaurant on a few trains. Anyone got any views on it - how does it compare to EC?

Very few survive - the last I saw there were three each way on the Plymouth line. The last South Wales route restaurants went 2/3 years ago and to Temple Meads about 6/7 years ago.

I cam across an old timetable from 1994/95 and in those days no fewer than 27 trains offered restaurant service to/from either Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway!

 

[Greenback]

South Wales restaurants have gone, sadly!