London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Furrball]

Full breakfast for the first time today - not too bad. But toast served sometime after and stone cold. Maybe I have been having my toast wrong all this time!?!?!

Lager currently drinking - not cold!!!!!

 

[Butts]

Yeah I'm in the single seat club too - nothing more annoying than sitting at a 4 and then being stuck opposite someone with legs as long as the BFG kicking into you, spreading their stuff out across the table more than they should etc. Just not worth it - those little individual seats are perfect, and since EC have allowed you to choose your seat I always grab one of those.

If someone does sit opposite you in a 4 the most annoying thing is if they don't sit diagonally opposite so you can both stretch your legs out - unless it's an attracive young lady of course

With regard to the "fat and toast" jibes - I am not fat but 6'3" and require the space or legroom - hence the reason I need more than one slice of toast to fill my big frame

 

[General Zod]

Once again I witnessed all the "suckers" sitting in their reserved seats in the correct coach leaving me a choice of a "4" anywhere on the train

On both journeys "coach class" was rammed with people standing - having paid £40 return I couldn't resist a slight chortle.

I travel XC more often than EC and on occasions I've seen Ticket Inspectors on the former make sure that people are sitting in their reserved seats If they are not then the pax have been kindly directed to their correct seat. Could you get PF'ed if you sat where you shouldn't ? I'm going EC in a few weeks so what are the chances that if I'm not in my reserved seat I will get penalised ?

 

[calc7]

I travel XC more often than EC and on occasions I've seen Ticket Inspectors on the former make sure that people are sitting in their reserved seats If they are not then the pax have been kindly directed to their correct seat. Could you get PF'ed if you sat where you shouldn't ? I'm going EC in a few weeks so what are the chances that if I'm not in my reserved seat I will get penalised ?

About as much as the chance of receiving 2 slices of toast or more than one drink between London and York.

Joking aside, next to nothing - assuming you don't sit in somebody else's reserved seat or it's absolutely rammed. The fact they let you choose seats on the booking system helps matters.

 

[ainsworth74]

ICould you get PF'ed if you sat where you shouldn't ? I'm going EC in a few weeks so what are the chances that if I'm not in my reserved seat I will get penalised ?

I suppose theoretically it is possible that if you were travelling on an advance and you weren't sitting in the reserved seat you could be penalised (probably required to buy a new ticket) as one of the condition you've agreed to is that you will sit in the reserved seat on the reserved train (obviously this only applies on TOCs which actually do seat reservations). However in practice no-one has ever been charged (as far as I or anyone on the forum) is aware for not sitting their seat. So I would say feel free to seat where ever you want.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Indeed.
I can safely say that I rarely bother to find the 'reserved' seat and certainly never bother to sit in 'M' on East Coast where every one else is booked. I can usually have 'K' to myself if I want peace and quiet. Why should any of the staff care?

 

[amcluesent]

Yep, EC don't bother about you sitting in another vacant seat

 

[General Zod]

I've got an EC Advance 1st KIngs Cross - Inverness and it is on a table for 4. Unfortunately, I tried in vain to change my seat reservation but the flash software on the EC web page does not seem to function correctly. If possible I would like to move to a single seat / table configuration. If I asked politely when boarding would the TM let me change seats provided the seat of choice was not taken ?

 

[AlterEgo]

If I asked politely when boarding would the TM let me change seats provided the seat of choice was not taken ?

I'm sure he'd have no objection, but if I were you I'd just sit wherever you like as long as the seat isn't reserved.

 

[Butts]

I'm sure he'd have no objection, but if I were you I'd just sit wherever you like as long as the seat isn't reserved.

Avoid M and try and get into K would be my advice.

 

[YorkshireRider]

If its on the direct Inverness service there will be no K, i would go for the airline seats in the north part of coach L.

 

[Furrball]

FIRST CLASS SUCCESS STORY AS THOUSANDS UPGRADE ON EAST COAST TRAINS

From East Coast on Twitter - caps are all theirs!

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us...ry-as-thousands-upgrade-on-east-coast-trains/

FIRST CLASS SUCCESS STORY AS THOUSANDS UPGRADE ON EAST COAST TRAINS
• Highest number of First Class journeys for five years on the East Coast route
• Sustained rise in First Class travel – up 21% in ten months following new service launch
• New timetable and complimentary food and drinks behind success
Train operator East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks service and new timetable has helped to achieve the highest number of First Class journeys for five years.

East Coast’s figures also show that between the end of May 2011 and 4 February 2012, passenger journeys made in First Class rose by 21% compared with the same period in 2010-11 – representing an additional 253,000 passenger journeys in First Class.

Journey numbers in First Class on East Coast’s busiest route between Leeds and London have been rising even faster. Between the end of May and 4 February 2012, the number of First Class journeys made on this route was up by 31% compared with the same months in 2010-11.

The train operator’s flagship capital-to-capital route linking London and Edinburgh, saw an even larger 36% rise in First Class journeys, again between the end of May and 4 February 2012, compared with the same months in 2010-11.

Business travellers on the key battleground route with the airlines, ditched the ‘plane for the train thanks to East Coast’s key advantages – city centre to centre travel, complimentary Wi-Fi and the new complimentary food and drinks service, plus more services including a ‘Flying Scotsman’ prestige express linking the Scottish and English capitals in just four hours.

In contrast, East Coast First Class journeys grew by 3% in the entire year from April 2010 to March 2011, before the new First Class service was introduced.

East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell said: “These new figures confirm that the increase in passenger journeys we saw within weeks of the launch of the new First Class customer service was only the beginning.

“Since then we’ve seen impressive passenger numbers in First Class – now at the highest for five years – showing that not only are many people voting with their feet and trying us out, but that they are coming back for more.

“A significant proportion of the First Class journey growth is coming from the sale of our best-value First Advance tickets, which demonstrates that our competitive fares and good customer service make a winning combination.

“Following this good start, we’ll continue to work hard to improve the consistency of our customer service – and welcome more people on-board in First Class.”

East Coast launched substantial improvements to its First Class customer service from Sunday 22 May 2011, including a new complimentary food and drinks service, featuring hot meals on weekday morning and evening trains, and a new Quiet Coach.

From the same date, East Coast also introduced its new timetable, adding 117 extra services every week and more than three million additional seats to the timetable. The timetable also reintroduced return services from London to Harrogate for the first time in 20 years, and a new daily service between Lincoln and London.
ENDS.

Notes to Editors:
Detailed research to gauge customer reaction to East Coast’s improved First Class Complimentary service was commissioned by the train operator, and carried out independently by market research consultancy Outlook, a month after the new timetable and First Class customer service were introduced in May 2011.

The results showed that four out of five customers surveyed in First Class were pleased with the style and quality of service on board the train, while three quarters of those asked liked the complimentary food and drinks on offer.

Customers also welcomed the inclusion of healthier food options within the complimentary menu, and East Coast’s partnership with the National Trust on its locally-sourced cake range also won praise.

The launch of East Coast’s new timetable and complimentary food and drinks service was supported by a high-profile television advertising campaign, showing household names Vic Reeves and Rory Bremner enjoying the speed and comfort of First Class travel with East Coast.

First Class Advance one-way fares between London and Edinburgh with East Coast start from £47.50 – including a spacious and comfortable reserved seat, unlimited free Wi-Fi and East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks service during the journey. The train also offers city centre to centre travel – and some of the best scenery on Britain’s railway.

So 20% are not pleased with the style and quality of service and 25% disliked the complimentary food and drinks on offer!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

By adding an additional 117 journeys per week, you'd expect passenger numbers to increase.
Wouldn't you? (Its wonderful how a PR writer can make the obvious consequence appear to be a surprise or a boast).

As for the increased proportion of passengers travelling in First Class, that wouldn't have followed from the Company's massive promotions of very low cost fares by any chance? (I've managed 4 journeys in First for fares between £0 and £10 in the past year - as a consequence of those promotions).

Where does the scientific the rigour in statistical analysis go to when the Communications Department come along?

 

[Butts]

By adding an additional 117 journeys per week, you'd expect passenger numbers to increase.
Wouldn't you? (Its wonderful how a PR writer can make the obvious consequence appear to be a surprise or a boast).

As for the increased proportion of passengers travelling in First Class, that wouldn't have followed from the Company's massive promotions of very low cost fares by any chance? (I've managed 4 journeys in First for fares between £0 and £10 in the past year - as a consequence of those promotions).

Where does the scientific the rigour in statistical analysis go to when the Communications Department come along?

Public Relations Claims are somewhat akin to those advertisers who put a mud sodden white shirt on a 30 degree wash with it miraculously coming out in pristine condition ....

Basically Bullsh*t

Lies damn lies and statistics.

I suspect a lot of the extra traffic has been generated by freeloaders like me

It would be interesting to see stand alone figures for Open Returns - if they are making inroads in that market then that would be a financial success.

 

[calc7]

It would be interesting to see stand alone figures for Open Returns - if they are making inroads in that market then that would be a financial success.

What % do they get from a NCL-London SOR? My guess is they'd rather people travelled on advances! And when they miss the train they can sell them the SOS anyway!

 

[YorkshireRider]

But open tickets were never the aim, a business will either allow that on expenses or it wont, free food wont change that. It was always the advance ticket (mainly lesuire) market they were going for (or freeloaders if you want to put it that way). Advance tickets are 100% EC revenue and isnt shared by ORCATS so its decent revenue for the company. Yes there is lots of spin, some fare promotions although none really of late and extra services (goes to show what a complete waste of time the Glasgow trains were) but the offer will be here until well into 2014 and i imagine this thread will too.

 

[TRAINLINCS]

Was booked on 1528 from Newcastle to Newark yesterday which was cancelled. Advised to travel on 1625 from Newcastle which was packed to the rafters because of the cancellation and 2 hours plus delays to other services from the north. As usual sat in Coach K but chose wrong today as the trolley started in Coach M and did not arrive until just before York by which time all the hot options had been eaten and all that was left was a few tuna sandwiches crisps and biscuits .No complaints though as these loadings could not have been predicted and at least by choosing first class I was able to attain a comfortable seat unlike those unfortunate to be travelling 2nd class all paying good money to sit sqashed in a corner or toilet doorway on the floor.

 

[Blindtraveler]

i have to agree with others that thats all spin and hype. it anoys me that they can shout about that when I actually had to ask twice for some tea between NCL and EDB on the Glasgow train earlier. Grrr makes me mad!

 

[theblackwatch]

Was booked on 1528 from Newcastle to Newark yesterday which was cancelled.Advised to travel on 1625 from Newcastle which was packed to the rafters because of the cancellation and 2 hours plus delays to other services from the north.As usual sat in Coach K but chose wrong today as the trolley started in Coach M and did not arrive until just before York by which time all the hot options had been eaten and all that was left was a few tuna sandwiches crisps and biscuits.No complaints though as these loadings could not have been predicted and at least by choosing first class I was able to attain a comfortable seat unlike those unfortunate to be travelling 2nd class all paying good money to sit sqashed in a corner or toilet doorway on the floor.

Also worth remembering that due to your delay you will be entitled to some 'delay repay' compensation.

 

[TRAINLINCS]

Thankyou theblackwatch. I sent the the claim forms and tickets off yesterday. They should have a large postbag.

 

[Marton]

I sent the the claim forms and tickets off yesterday.They should have a large postbag.

Even bigger after yesterday's tragic deaths and delays

 

[amcluesent]

today as the trolley started in Coach M

Something of a 'first' today on one of the premiere evening services out of KGX, the food trolley started in K and the drinks began in M. I'd have preferred the other way around, TBH, as a habitué of K.

Where they crossed, the crews shook hands etc.

 

[142094]

Not a good day yesterday due to the suicide at Killingworth - although can't really do much about catering when things like this happen.

I'm in 1st tomorrow ABD - KGX so will report back.

 

[calc7]

Where they crossed, the crews shook hands etc.

Amusing post - enjoyed that one!

 

[amcluesent]

Train operator East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks service and new timetable has helped to achieve the highest number of First Class journeys for five years.

• Highest number of First Class journeys for five years on the East Coast route
• Sustained rise in First Class travel – up 21% in ten months following new service launch
• New timetable and complimentary food and drinks behind success

The train operator’s flagship capital-to-capital route linking London and Edinburgh, saw an even larger 36% rise in First Class journeys, again between the end of May and 4 February 2012, compared with the same months in 2010-11.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Train operator East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks service and new timetable has helped to achieve the highest number of First Class journeys for five years.

Er, isn't that exactly the same 'Media Boast' that we've just been deconstructing and have found to be misleading?

[Apologies to East Coast Main Line Company Limited for maybe in recent posts having given the impression that the Company has implemented a brave and innovative programme of improvements which deliver better catering, greater comfort and more services with much of this being at no additional expense to the passenger. Posts including my own may have implied that the Company has achieved great improvements in performance, service frequency, catering and quality of customer satisfaction. I personally wish to apologise for having given those impressions and will admit that those defamatory remarks were made without a trace of evidence or documented fact.

The truth is that the evidence clearly demonstrates that DOR t/a ECML Ltd has struggled hard with a difficult business in difficult times and has wisely chosen to reduce its service to passengers and to reduce its catering to passengers and to increase its prices and to widen the gap between promoted prices and on-board prices and has distanced itself from the 'difficulties' of providing catering, and often does not provide the catering promoted and has prosecuted more passengers than its predesessor and has become a beacon of excellence in media spin to transform failure into sucess by the mere force of words. Tn fact, the 'Media Release' referred to lacked robust statistical evidence and will have done so with the deliberate attempt to mislead, confuse, bewilder, decieve or even to impress customers with the Company's performance.

Having had the opportunity to re-read the Company's 'Media Statement' again I admit that there is not the merest thread of evidence to support my erroneous suggestions of the Company's exemplary performance and I withdraw, with a full apology any slur upon the Company that may have been construed from those posts. It is quite clear that the Company has some magnificent creative skills.

I apologise too to readers of this forum for any confusion over my views of ECML Co Ltd.]

 

[Blindtraveler]

a slight hint of sarcasm there sir?

 

[IanXC]

Looking at these figures for First Class journeys:
Overall TOC: Up 21%
London-Leeds: Up 31%
London-Edinburgh: Up 36%

My question is given that Leeds and Edinburgh must be key destinations in the franchise, which routes have seen increases less than 21%, and indeed have any seen a fall?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Previously, 6 return journeys each day to Glasgow, now 1.
They mainly carried air and were slow, each tying up stock and crew for half a working day.

Is that what you're looking for? That's the key to unlocking the statistical analysis/spin which allows the same Company with the same stock to claim more services and more passengers. That single change allowed so many more services to be operated on busy routes and for so much more revenue to be earned.

 

[Blindtraveler]

bet since FHT upped there game the FC loadings to hull are lower esp as that train for a good while had reduced catering due to the nonstandard buffet and kitchen