London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[takno]

If you look on the LNER app and find your service it'll tell you.

Also available by doing a ticket search on the website if don't want to install an app

 

[ajrm]

N.B. The tagine is 'available Monday to Friday and only on selected services', but these don't seem to be defined anywhere so it's an element of potluck.

It's another element of potluck to add to all the others! What a farce.

 

[Sealink]

The new menus are now avaliable on the LNER website.

Looks like Dine is rebranded as Signature, and there is no longer a Deli menu.

The chef prepared dish is a Chicken Tagine.

I think this is good news*. Inverness now gets th Signature menu both ways, before Southbound was Dine and Northbound was Dish.

What does everyone else think?

*Will certainly simplify things behind the scenes at LNER

 

[Egg Centric]

I think this is good news*. Inverness now gets th Signature menu both ways, before Southbound was Dine and Northbound was Dish.

What does everyone else think?

*Will certainly simplify things behind the scenes at LNER

It seems that there's still 2 categories of Deli/Dish service, but you don't know which it is, it's all called Dine but just "selected services" actually are!

(Also not keen on this particular menu myself but that's more of a personal preference thing. Pie without meat???)

 

[westv]

If you look on the LNER app and find your service it'll tell you.

Oh yes, I see that. Thanks

 

[Willie Bee]

My wife and I travelled from EDB to NCL last night

I had the Mexican bean wrap, and she had the grazing box .. both were nice

 

[danshrimp]

I arrived at the first class lounge for the 1740 LDS-KGX earlier and was told to get straight on the 1640 - with the storm coming their priority has been to get everyone moving ASAP. Luckily I not only found myself a spare solo seat in First, but a Signature menu on it, rather than the Dine I expected to be having this evening. Result!

Was asked if I wanted anything from the menu. Ordered the chef's specials: pie and treacle sponge. The very friendly woman then responds "Oh those are chef's meals, they're just when we have a chef on board, it would be nice if we did but we don't!". I got the chicken tagine instead which was absolutely lovely, as was the dessert pot, and I was plied with other goodies, but I can't help but wonder why they bothered putting out Signature menus when they were literally offering the Dine service?

 

[Andy Pacer]

I arrived at the first class lounge for the 1740 LDS-KGX earlier and was told to get straight on the 1640 - with the storm coming their priority has been to get everyone moving ASAP. Luckily I not only found myself a spare solo seat in First, but a Signature menu on it, rather than the Dine I expected to be having this evening. Result!

Was asked if I wanted anything from the menu. Ordered the chef's specials: pie and treacle sponge. The very friendly woman then responds "Oh those are chef's meals, they're just when we have a chef on board, it would be nice if we did but we don't!". I got the chicken tagine instead which was absolutely lovely, as was the dessert pot, and I was plied with other goodies, but I can't help but wonder why they bothered putting out Signature menus when they were literally offering the Dine service?

Looks nice that. And quite a decent portion by the look of it compared to some of the fairly recent offerings.

 

[800Travel]

I arrived at the first class lounge for the 1740 LDS-KGX earlier and was told to get straight on the 1640 - with the storm coming their priority has been to get everyone moving ASAP. Luckily I not only found myself a spare solo seat in First, but a Signature menu on it, rather than the Dine I expected to be having this evening. Result!

Was asked if I wanted anything from the menu. Ordered the chef's specials: pie and treacle sponge. The very friendly woman then responds "Oh those are chef's meals, they're just when we have a chef on board, it would be nice if we did but we don't!". I got the chicken tagine instead which was absolutely lovely, as was the dessert pot, and I was plied with other goodies, but I can't help but wonder why they bothered putting out Signature menus when they were literally offering the Dine service?

They were probably expecting a chef - was anything showing on the LNER journeycheck? Usually says there if a service is downgraded

 

[Angmering1974]

but I can't help but wonder why they bothered putting out Signature menus when they were literally offering the Dine service?

All companies over promise and under-deliver these days. Though fairly understandable yesterday! Also these customer service hosts are on like ~£28k basic...they're not employing experienced maitre d's

Seems like you had a fairly decent trip though!

 

[Failed Unit]

I must admit - LNER are a yet again showing the lack of customer focus here. (I assumed we asked for this information to be hidden from us as well) - I can't find it anywhere on thier website. There app does show it. However what about people that are purchasing tickets on other providers websites? All they get to see is the standard restuarants to all passengers.

In some hours there are 4 trains per hour between London and York for example, someone may actaully chose to pay more / use a slower service of the better catering. I don't want to have to use the LNER app to find this out. Why don't they just publish it (or put in on the timetable like they used to, including where the service is between)

Typical LNER - why hide this?

 

[Andy Pacer]

Typical LNER - why hide this?

Why not ask them?

 

[Failed Unit]

Why not ask them?

i will - they wont give a straight answer (as they never do)

 

[Andy Pacer]

i will - they wont give a straight answer (as they never do)

Thanks, be interesting to hear their response.

 

[Sealink]

I arrived at the first class lounge for the 1740 LDS-KGX earlier and was told to get straight on the 1640 - with the storm coming their priority has been to get everyone moving ASAP. Luckily I not only found myself a spare solo seat in First, but a Signature menu on it, rather than the Dine I expected to be having this evening. Result!

Was asked if I wanted anything from the menu. Ordered the chef's specials: pie and treacle sponge. The very friendly woman then responds "Oh those are chef's meals, they're just when we have a chef on board, it would be nice if we did but we don't!". I got the chicken tagine instead which was absolutely lovely, as was the dessert pot, and I was plied with other goodies, but I can't help but wonder why they bothered putting out Signature menus when they were literally offering the Dine service?

That looks like a fat bigger serving than I've had on my last trips. The plate looks twice the size!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Shortage of Chefs?

https://pda.jcheck.com/lner/problems?referer=home&incidentsSection=rail&type=service

Currently shows "Due to a crew shortage today, the First Class chef prepared meal will be replaced with an alternative offer" amongst others, three northbound trains out of London Kings Cross to Edinburgh this evening:
17:30/18:00/18:30.

 

[Segedunum]

Shortage of Chefs?

https://pda.jcheck.com/lner/problems?referer=home&incidentsSection=rail&type=service

Currently shows "Due to a crew shortage today, the First Class chef prepared meal will be replaced with an alternative offer" amongst others, three northbound trains out of London Kings Cross to Edinburgh this evening:
17:30/18:00/18:30.

Indeed no chef available.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Indeed no chef available.

Rather unfortunate to have three consecutive chefs unavailable for duty. Possibly something they ate.....

 

[Porty]

If you look on the LNER app and find your service it'll tell you.

...under "journey info" then "service details".

 

[Helvellyn]

It seems that there's still 2 categories of Deli/Dish service, but you don't know which it is, it's all called Dine but just "selected services" actually are!

I posted on another thread but whilst the standardised Christmas menu was in place over December we obviously had the full timetable recast haopen. So LNER will have lost a lot of information on how busy certain services are.

Having Dish, but stating the Tagine may not be available on all services (basically making it Deli) gives them flexibility to alter the offering discretely/sneakily (delete according to your cynicism levels). Likewise removing Brunch simplifies things because I believe they identified specific services where Brunch worked before introducing it.

Be interesting to see later in the year as LNER have the analysis on if loadings/bookings for the new timetable are settling down to any patterns whether the Deli/Brunch menus reappear.

My only other comment is that it's another year where LNER have "embraced" Veganary and are pushing it to all customers. A mushroom pie for the Chef prepared Signature offering is pretty rubbish, meaning the only meat option is really the Chicken Tagine.

 

[tram21]

My only other comment is that it's another year where LNER have "embraced" Veganary and are pushing it to all customers. A mushroom pie for the Chef prepared Signature offering is pretty rubbish, meaning the only meat option is really the Chicken Tagine.

But the Mushroom pie was LOVELYYY!! And the treacle tart was even better!

But it was surprising how few people actually picked the chef's options on my seevice though.

 

[Deerfold]

My only other comment is that it's another year where LNER have "embraced" Veganary and are pushing it to all customers. A mushroom pie for the Chef prepared Signature offering is pretty rubbish, meaning the only meat option is really the Chicken Tagine.

They'e not very good at Veganuary - they don't offer any vegan desserts except fruit, which they don't always have.

The croque monsieur and grazing box both contain meat.

 

[westv]

My only other comment is that it's another year where LNER have "embraced" Veganary and are pushing it to all customers. A mushroom pie for the Chef prepared Signature offering is pretty rubbish, meaning the only meat option is really the Chicken Tagine.

It's cheaper for them so what the customer might want is irrelevant as far as LNER are concerned.

 

[leightonbd]

New timetable for me: we have a 1930 and a 2003 from London to Edinburgh. First, is this true (I’m thrilled if it is) and second, I believe the offering is the Dish, but are the trains busy? I need to book a trip in March.

Background - I’ve always thought that an 8 pm ex London to Ed was a sleeper-killer, which it probably is for me (at least to Ed, I am sometimes on the Highlander too) - just wanted to check it’s real!

 

[Segedunum]

New timetable for me: we have a 1930 and a 2003 from London to Edinburgh. First, is this true (I’m thrilled if it is) and second, I believe the offering is the Dish, but are the trains busy? I need to book a trip in March.

Background - I’ve always thought that an 8 pm ex London to Ed was a sleeper-killer, which it probably is for me (at least to Ed, I am sometimes on the Highlander too) - just wanted to check it’s real!

Both services indeed exist - though the 2003 is occasionally curtailed at Newcastle when Network Rail need longer overnight to do engineering works. This is agreed well in advance though - so if you're able to book it, its scheduled to operate. When it doesn't, a service that normally terminates at Newcastle (the 1733 IIRC) is extended to Edinburgh to keep things balanced at the depots. The 1930 is less commonly affected by such alterations.

As for loadings, with it being January its difficult to tell what it'll be like in March, but the 2003 tends to be very, very lightly loaded north of Newcastle. At the minute, not too many trains are meeting the 'busy' threshold (70%+ reserved) each day, though doubtless as we get out of January this will increase. The usual one that pops up of an evening in the 'busy' list is the 1800 Kings Cross to Edinburgh.

 

[800Travel]

LNER advertising a Burns Night menu on some services across Facebook and WhatsApp.

Burns Night First Class Menu - Friday 23 & Monday 26 January

On Friday (23rd) & Monday (26th), we will be serving a special menu item on our Signature PM services to celebrate Burns Night.

Haggis neep & tattie pie with a whisky sauce will temporarily replace the woodland mushroom pie dish.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard to enjoy this new dish

We will also be offering all our First Class customers Mrs Tilly’s Scotch tablet, as an additional sweet treat, on all services from Friday 23rd through to Monday 26th.

 

[leightonbd]

A nit-pick: LNER in their PDF menu list all their suppliers. One of these is Nairn’s gluten free oatcakes, cited as being from Lanarkshire. The last time I looked Nairns (including, I thought, the then new gluten-free lines) were firmly in Peffermill in Edinburgh, as they always have been. They are fine oatcakes wherever you buy them (supermarket own-brands, etc) but I think this is a mistake by LNER?

 

[leightonbd]

Both services indeed exist - though the 2003 is occasionally curtailed at Newcastle when Network Rail need longer overnight to do engineering works. This is agreed well in advance though - so if you're able to book it, its scheduled to operate. When it doesn't, a service that normally terminates at Newcastle (the 1733 IIRC) is extended to Edinburgh to keep things balanced at the depots. The 1930 is less commonly affected by such alterations.

As for loadings, with it being January its difficult to tell what it'll be like in March, but the 2003 tends to be very, very lightly loaded north of Newcastle. At the minute, not too many trains are meeting the 'busy' threshold (70%+ reserved) each day, though doubtless as we get out of January this will increase. The usual one that pops up of an evening in the 'busy' list is the 1800 Kings Cross to Edinburgh.

Thanks - I have booked the 2003. Great to have that wider choice. Not going till early March but I’ll report at the time.

 

[Chrism20]

A nit-pick: LNER in their PDF menu list all their suppliers. One of these is Nairn’s gluten free oatcakes, cited as being from Lanarkshire. The last time I looked Nairns (including, I thought, the then new gluten-free lines) were firmly in Peffermill in Edinburgh, as they always have been. They are fine oatcakes wherever you buy them (supermarket own-brands, etc) but I think this is a mistake by LNER?

I think the gluten free ones are made in Midlothian at Newtongrange rather than Peffermill.

 

[Deerfold]

A nit-pick: LNER in their PDF menu list all their suppliers. One of these is Nairn’s gluten free oatcakes, cited as being from Lanarkshire. The last time I looked Nairns (including, I thought, the then new gluten-free lines) were firmly in Peffermill in Edinburgh, as they always have been. They are fine oatcakes wherever you buy them (supermarket own-brands, etc) but I think this is a mistake by LNER?

I suspect someone has skimmed their website and seen they were founded in Lanarkshire.