Has anyone been on the curry train to Corbridge?

[OLJR]

The Valley Junction Indian restaurant at Corbridge station offers a 'curry train' service where you get on at Newcastle or Carlisle, have a drink and a starter on the train and by the time you arrive at Corbridge your meal is ready.

Here is the link. Has anybody tried it? It sounds quite fun.

 

[gazthomas]

The Valley Junction Indian restaurant at Corbridge station offers a 'curry train' service where you get on at Newcastle or Carlisle, have a drink and a starter on the train and by the time you arrive at Corbridge your meal is ready.

Here is the link. Has anybody tried it? It sounds quite fun.

Just took a look at the website, novel idea!

 

[185143]

Next forum meal maybe?
Just an idea, I'm too far away to get home sadly

 

[sprinterguy]

I haven't done the "curry train" specifically, but based on what I know of the restaurant I'd give it a go.

Shame they can't do such a service heading down the valley from Corbridge, would have saved a bit of time the last time I was en route to the Boathouse!

 

[Carlisle]

Those curry trains must have been operating for a long time now as I can recall them running back in the mid 90s

 

[BlueFox]

When I've been on that train I've had to stand from Newcastle to Corbridge, because one coach was dedicated to restaurant customers leaving the other half of the train very overcrowded.

 

[yorkie]

Next forum meal maybe?

Looking at the price, I suspect not

At £38.50 per person, it looks cheaper to "split"

We are looking for suggestions for forum meal venues, though at present we only have regular established monthly meals in Yorkshire and London, but other venues are a possibility, but they'd need to be a little less pricey unfortunately.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I've been on the curry train, but only on the way to Carlisle and not as a curry passenger. No formal reservations preventing use of seats in the "curry train" bit, but a very aggressive waiter putting most people off. No, ta.

The sight of watching people trying to drink fizz and eat canapes, whilst looking stylish, on a bouncing 142 was pretty funny though

 

[OLJR]

I took the curry train to and from Corbridge tonight with my family.

It was absolutely epic!

We met a chap from the restaurant, Avi, under the clock at Newcastle Central Station just before 6pm. Avi was easy to identify because he was wearing a shiny Indian style white jacket and carrying a cooler and box with the restaurant's logo.

Avi was well-known to station staff, who let us through the barriers without needing to see our tickets. We went over to platform 7 and boarded the 18.24 to Carlisle, calling at Metro Centre, Wylam, Prudhoe, Stocksfield and Corbridge.

The train was in good order, clean and newly upholstered so credit to Northern where it is due. The train left on time and seat factor was approximately 75% and a full ticket check was carried out. The restaurant received a 26% discount on tickets.

Avi handed us the menus and offered some drinks. We all enjoyed some Prosecco, Coca-Cola and/or Cobra Beer while the Tyne valley whizzed by and we chose our food from the menu, ably assisted by Avi. Arrival at Corbridge was bang on time just after 7pm.

The food, drink and hospitality was all excellent. At a little over GBP 50 per head including drinks it is quite pricey, but so much fun that it was well worth it.

We headed back to Newcastle at approximately 22.25, arriving a little over 35 minutes later. This time we were on an older train but the interiors were still in good condition. Seat factor was a little over 25% and a full ticket check was carried out.

Overall: recommended