New TPE first class menu

[speedy1]

A few Sundays ago I got a TPE train in First Class from Manchester Piccadilly to Preston as part of a much longer journey. I loved the comfortable seat and appreciated the bottle of water which had been placed on the table, but we got offered nothing at all until we passed Leyland, less than 5 minutes before we arrived at Preston when they came through with biscuits and crisps. There were only about 6 of us in First. The two catering people just spent the time chatting to each other in the little galley area.

In general in first class outside of the "full service" first class like morning LNER services into London, it pays to be proactive and ask them for stuff (often you get a sarcastic comment or a huff about having to do some work or an insinuation that they were just about to do the rounds, but just ignore them )

 

[ainsworth74]

No the Edinburgh to Newcastle route has had a slight improvement.

Breakfast time its a bacon roll or crumpets and rest of the day its a cheese and ham toastie or toasted teacake (I've possibly got the crumpet and the teacake mixed up)

Nothing exciting but a definite improvement on previous. Pretty sure the bacon roll is just the same as it is on the west coast route.

Oh that's good news!

 

[Justin Time]

Caught the 11:02 Newcastle-Manchester Piccadilly on Tuesday. The coast to coast menu features a Yorkshire pasty “handcrafted in Malton”. It looked really good, however the inside was around 25% air. What was left was that brown/greyish mush that you get in budget pasties.
As a Yorkshireman bred and born, I’m slightly miffed that this poor offering bears the name it does.
2 ladies opposite me went for the Chicken and Yorkshire chorizo jambalaya. They left most of it!

 

[speedy1]

Caught the 11:02 Newcastle-Manchester Piccadilly on Tuesday. The coast to coast menu features a Yorkshire pasty “handcrafted in Malton”. It looked really good, however the inside was around 25% air. What was left was that brown/greyish mush that you get in budget pasties.
As a Yorkshireman bred and born, I’m slightly miffed that this poor offering bears the name it does.
2 ladies opposite me went for the Chicken and Yorkshire chorizo jambalaya. They left most of it!

IIRC they announced a big revamping Jan last year and I thought at the time it wouldn't last a year before it gets downgraded.

You've also got to laugh at a USA dish with Spanish style meat made in Yorkshire being served on a northern English/Scottish rail operator. Did AI come up with that idea?

Tbf I'm surprised they didn't use the temporary service change (it usually runs Liverpool to Newcastle) to not serve any hot food at all

 

[Willie Bee]

No the Edinburgh to Newcastle route has had a slight improvement.

Breakfast time its a bacon roll or crumpets and rest of the day its a cheese and ham toastie or toasted teacake (I've possibly got the crumpet and the teacake mixed up)

Nothing exciting but a definite improvement on previous. Pretty sure the bacon roll is just the same as it is on the west coast route.

Yes, see my post #144

 

[Justin Time]

IIRC they announced a big revamping Jan last year and I thought at the time it wouldn't last a year before it gets downgraded.

You've also got to laugh at a USA dish with Spanish style meat made in Yorkshire being served on a northern English/Scottish rail operator. Did AI come up with that idea?

Tbf I'm surprised they didn't use the temporary service change (it usually runs Liverpool to Newcastle) to not serve any hot food at all

Cant disagree with what you’ve said there. If you read the descriptions on the menu it’s all estate agent speak, bigging things up if you know what I mean.
The service change is just until Friday. In all fairness I was offered a choice from either the breakfast or rest of the day menu. I’d set my mind on the pasty. We all make mistakes.

 

[dodecahedron67]

The first class menu has massively fallen off in my opinion. I used to try and snaffle as many freebies as I could at the end of a host’s shift if I was working the train further but now I just don’t bother

 

[Andy Pacer]

The first class menu has massively fallen off in my opinion. I used to try and snaffle as many freebies as I could at the end of a host’s shift if I was working the train further but now I just don’t bother

Maybe thats why

 

[scottish rider]

I was looking at taking the 18:15 Newcastle - Edinburgh when returning north after a day trip in a couple of weeks time. Does it have the full Express Plus menu in First Class? I suspect it should be the last northbound one with catering, but thought I would check before booking in case others had knowlege of what is offered. Thanks

My trip was delayed to recently but I can confirm there was a full catering service - choice of cheese and ham toastie or toasted teacake in 1st along with choice of snacks (biscuits/crisps) and drinks. Not as extensive a choice as LNER but decent value for the ticket cost in my view

 

[Butts]

My trip was delayed to recently but I can confirm there was a full catering service - choice of cheese and ham toastie or toasted teacake in 1st along with choice of snacks (biscuits/crisps) and drinks. Not as extensive a choice as LNER but decent value for the ticket cost in my view

Good to hear.

Does anyone know if the Cumberland "Mega Sausage" has returned to the breakfast or has the "chipolata style" temporary replacement become a permanent enhancement ?

 

[A S Leib]

What, if any, catering is there in first class for the 07:35 Doncaster to Stockport (08:06 from Sheffield) on Saturdays?

 

[Polarbear]

What, if any, catering is there in first class for the 07:35 Doncaster to Stockport (08:06 from Sheffield) on Saturdays?

At best, there may be a trolley service with cold snacks. No hot food on the south Pennine route I’m afraid.

 

[A S Leib]

At best, there may be a trolley service with cold snacks. No hot food on the south Pennine route I’m afraid.

That's fine; it would be a journey from Newcastle to Stockport so I'd get LNER catering anyway, but I wanted to know what there'd be on the second part.

 

[speedy1]

Done the Coast to Coast menu a few times this week. First has been quite busy between Piccadilly and Leeds. Overall a very decent offering IMO.

Mixed service standards but generally OK. Some great hosts out there. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want as they pass by.

Wines are very good and strong by modern UK standards - the red is 13.5%! Go easy. Love the biscuit selection - can't recall seeing any cake unfortunately.

Bacon either great or drier than the Sahara even after attempted salvaging with butter. Very very nice when not nuked to death. Ditto the waffle. They sometimes have leftover breakfast items still available after 11am so do ask

The Jambalaya is hilariously bad: dry, not much meat, and don't think the supplier has ever even seen real chorizo. Order a cup of hot water to splash over it to improve it a bit.

Cheese board very tasty. Burrito Bowl good too. Pasty smelt pretty good. Teacake looks incredibly sad but is quite popular.

IMO too much hot food on the menu that takes an age to cook and deliver to all the people. I think they are concerned about safety and things get nuked to death more often than not, so a bit pointless.

Order burrito bowl or cheese board if you're on a shorter hop/don't like dry food.

 

[Iskra]

Done the Coast to Coast menu a few times this week. First has been quite busy between Piccadilly and Leeds. Overall a very decent offering IMO.

Mixed service standards but generally OK. Some great hosts out there. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want as they pass by.

Wines are very good and strong by modern UK standards - the red is 13.5%! Go easy. Love the biscuit selection - can't recall seeing any cake unfortunately.

Bacon either great or drier than the Sahara even after attempted salvaging with butter. Very very nice when not nuked to death. Ditto the waffle. They sometimes have leftover breakfast items still available after 11am so do ask

The Jambalaya is hilariously bad: dry, not much meat, and don't think the supplier has ever even seen real chorizo. Order a cup of hot water to splash over it to improve it a bit.

Cheese board very tasty. Burrito Bowl good too. Pasty smelt pretty good. Teacake looks incredibly sad but is quite popular.

IMO too much hot food on the menu that takes an age to cook and deliver to all the people. I think they are concerned about safety and things get nuked to death more often than not, so a bit pointless.

Order burrito bowl or cheese board if you're on a shorter hop/don't like dry food.

These trains have been busier this week due to Victoria being closed, so there are less services and some are diverting to Piccadilly, hence first class is busier.

I’ve also travelled a few times in the last couple of weeks, I’ve found the service very good. I’ve enjoyed the cheeseboards, and the waffle was surprisingly good for breakfast (and they gave me crumpets as well!)