London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Blindtraveler]

id say not. And on t the subject of fun and games, I know they wernt popular but hope someone (you know who you are) wil pen a short limerick now things have improved and perhaps another if thread of the year comes our way?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
dave, yes I agree things are not what they used to be but to expect anything like that again is I fear wildly optimistic.

 

[Bungle73]

I can't agree that the lack of posts on here implies any contentment either by passengers or the Company - it may simply imply an unwillingness to repeat oneself, or that passengers who used to happily pay to dine now remain in Standard and put up with a cellophane wrapped mush of goo plus panino, or that passengers who used to happily pay to dine eat properly wherever they can (which will not be on EC).
Here's a recent, er, meal that I, er, enjoyed from the new menu:-
View attachment 9195
This was described as vegetarian shepherd's pie (not the most inviting of descriptions, but always worth a punt. It had a high proportion of brown lentils which I actually enjoy more than most folk). My fellow passengers have criticised this dish on the dryness of the pastry, though I found that the oil from the carrotts adequately dealt with that complaint.
Please notice the lack of any other vegetables - no potatoes nor greens.
Other have been quite positive about the salmon dish (sorry I don't have a picture at present) which even has a twist of lemon, which of course we all enjoyed before May as standard.
Long gone are the chocolates after the desert and the hot finger towels.
The cheese platter remains an arbitrary combination of cheeses, wafers, celery, apple and thin air. The latter dominates.

My silence never implies consent!

Pastry? What sort of "Shepherd's Pie" has pastry? :?

And is that mashed potato on top? It doesn't look like it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

hmmm good point

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . yes I agree things are not what they used to be but to expect anything like that again is I fear wildly optimistic.

I agree that it might be folly to expect that we'll ever see the return of silver service catering (though I remain to be persuaded that it could not be viable), but I refuse to accept the unsubstantiated arguments that it is not possible to provide adequate meals on-board (whether they are sold or 'complimentary').

Pastry? What sort of "Shepherd's Pie" has pastry?

None. That is none until East Coast chose to redescribe reality in their own skewed perceptions.

 

[Blindtraveler]

again agree with your thoughts. Best outcome would be First winning the franchise and rolling out traveling sheff GW Style

 

[Butts]

Does anyone know if its "restricted fayre" over x-mas and NY - I'm doing Falkirk to Durham on 29th December and York on 4th January.

My "fayres" were extremely restricted so I wouldn't really moan if the catering was less than normal.

 

[Bridge189]

again agree with your thoughts. Best outcome would be First winning the franchise and rolling out traveling sheff GW Style

The NX offer followed the FGW style and that was slaughtered on here.

 

[Blindtraveler]

not sure if a 2nd airing would be so badly recieved however. Butts, I suspect the weekend offer myself perhaps with a bar service for a festive tipple or 2?

 

[amcluesent]

Whoever wins the TOC franchise, they could then sub-let catering on the fleet to keep competition going. Maybe have Pizza Hut, Phat Pasty, Mr Cod, Greene King Meet & Eat franchises on the various sets.

If you've put in £100K for the catering franchise on 6 sets, your're likely to pull the stop out on service and quality.

 

[Blindtraveler]

or a toby carvery or spoons? Mmmm

 

[Butts]

not sure if a 2nd airing would be so badly recieved however. Butts, I suspect the weekend offer myself perhaps with a bar service for a festive tipple or 2?

Ah well I'll "Drink to that" BT....perhaps only once

 

[Blindtraveler]

wel if you were offered more than 2 the regulars might get upset and we cant have that!

 

[Butts]

wel if you were offered more than 2 the regulars might get upset and we cant have that!

My £13.85 advanced 1st Singles are worth a Bottle of Champagne at least

 

[Blindtraveler]

definately!

 

[blackfive460]

The fact this thread is finally dying a death is further proof of this.

Or could it be, as in my case, that many who used to travel FC now travel in standard?
I did have one EC FC ride back before the menu change (well, it was very cheap) and wasn't impressed ('Two sandwiches? *long pause* Or three? - the most I've ever had!). Other than that I've been FC on Virgin which I thought better than EC; Standard Premier on E* for the first time which I thought was good considering I was on a 99€ London Spezial and FC around Germany and Austria where, other than on ÖBB's Railjet services, all you get is a free newspaper.
I may try EC's FC again in the New Year but only if it's cheap enough and, with the number of emails I get from EC offering cheap FC, it probably will be.

 

[YorkshireRider]

It will be normal menu up to and including the 24th (Christmas eve will run a full menu even though it is a saturday with the exception of evening meal services). Then 27th-3rd Jan will be a reduced menu which will be the mid-morning menu until about 1030am and then the normal weekend offer from 11am with the addition of booze. Full service resumes on the 4th. You can get weekend first from the 24th til the 2nd.

 

[telstarbox]

Does anyone know what Virgin's FC catering will be like over Christmas?

 

[Butts]

Will the thread reach 2000 and 2012 ???

Surely it warrants exceeding that "bus services in darlington" one or whatever it is
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It will be normal menu up to and including the 24th (Christmas eve will run a full menu even though it is a saturday with the exception of evening meal services). Then 27th-3rd Jan will be a reduced menu which will be the mid-morning menu until about 1030am and then the normal weekend offer from 11am with the addition of booze. Full service resumes on the 4th. You can get weekend first from the 24th til the 2nd.

Having paid £13.85 for my Advanced 1st from Falkirk to Durham I object to "weekend 1st fellow freeloaders" coming onboard :cry:

 

[amcluesent]

I'm travelling FC on 24th and 27th, PBO-EDB, will be calling for the drinks trolley as often as possible. Have taken the opportunity to move my reserved seat close to the food prep. area to get 1st dibs

 

[Butts]

I'm travelling FC on 24th and 27th, PBO-EDB, will be calling for the drinks trolley as often as possible. Have taken the opportunity to move my reserved seat close to the food prep. area to get 1st dibs

If only you could call for it (like on a plane)- mind you with the stock they carry one carriage would wipe it out

 

[wintonian]

Does anyone know what Virgin's FC catering will be like over Christmas?

Practically non existent after breakfast on the 23rd.

Light bites on the 23rd then the weekend offer until new year.

First class tickets are only £2 more than standard ones at the moment so I might as well go in First when I travel up, but wouldn't otherwise

 

[Blindtraveler]

this has clearly been given a good bit of thought by EC

 

[jopsuk]

thr 3rd is a bit of an odd one- being a normal working day in England, but a Bank Holiday in Scotland.

 

[Blindtraveler]

and I know many here wish we could have it at another time when theres more to do grrr!

 

[StrollerEd]

Or could it be, as in my case, that many who used to travel FC now travel in standard?

for short journeys from Edinburgh or other side trips I go standard. For what would be long journeys (>3hrs) then I fly. I have done some FC long trips and I have lowered my expectations so am less dissatisfied

Edit: Having just posted I saw my sig. and was reminded of the meals I used to enjoy - and was prepared to pay for - on those longer journeys

 

[Blindtraveler]

i notice that Failed unit hasnt been around for a few months and wonder what his thoughts are?

 

[Butts]

I think what East Coast and Virgin should do is kick all the freeloaders (like me) out of 1st Class and put them in Coach F (bring it back) for a subprime 1st Class for advance ticket holders, ALR's, railcard holders etc.

Then in the "real 1st Class" where people have paid a proper fare massively up the standard with steaks and fine wines etc and really compete with Airline Lounges/Airlines.

If there are any "leftovers" they can chuck us peasants in Coach F a few scraps

 

[jon0844]

Not sure about railcard owners, but I can see a cut down service for advance ticket holders. I'd be happy with that too, as I may want the extra space and Wi-Fi but could happily buy food/drink. In fact, I'd probably rather have the extra choice and loads more cash in my pocket to treat myself!

 

[Blindtraveler]

mite work!

 

[ainsworth74]

Another thought that occurs would have been to expand the Scottish Executive ticket to other journeys (Newcastle - London, Leeds - London and York - London would be the obvious examples) and that ticket has food included in the price. Whilst everyone else (including those on advance tickets) had to pay for the food. That way you get the whole appeal of free food in first class for the biggest business markets (I assume those are anyway) but would have avoided the decline in quality that we've seen.

I also would have axed the restaurant and converted those services to at-seat dining and probably cut back the number of at-seat dining services (did we really need trains leaving London at 21:00 offering such an extensive menu?). Basically I think there are plenty of ways to get what EC want (free food to appeal to business people/reduced costs) without sacrificing (too much at least) what we had. However that option didn't seem to be on the agenda.