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 )
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New TPE first class menu
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Justin Time
Member
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!
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
Member
Yes, see my post #144
Justin Time
Member
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.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
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
Member
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
Established Member
Maybe thats why
scottish rider
Member
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2012
- Messages
- 45
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
Veteran Member
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 ?
Polarbear
Established Member
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.
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.
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.
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Iskra
Established Member
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!)
voyagerdude220
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2005
- Messages
- 4,300
Apologies for the bump this thread..
However, it appears as if the "Transpennine Kitchen Breakfast" or whatever it was known as in the old menu has been scrapped in their recently changed First Class West Coast menu.
www.tpexpress.co.uk
I could be in a minority here, but I don't think it's a crowd pleaser having some aspects of the new menu, e.g. Chilli Jam, Hot Honey etc. i.e. I'd happily scoff a Sausage Roll, but not a hot honey one.
Why can't they just call Eggs Benedict it's proper name? "Eggs Benny" doesn't sound professional to me.
However, it appears as if the "Transpennine Kitchen Breakfast" or whatever it was known as in the old menu has been scrapped in their recently changed First Class West Coast menu.
TransPennine Kitchen | Coast to Coast menu
Read our TransPennine Kitchen - Coast to Coast menu which is available when you travel First Class between Newcastle and Liverpool with TransPennine Express. Complimentary snacks, & drinks await!
www.tpexpress.co.uk
I could be in a minority here, but I don't think it's a crowd pleaser having some aspects of the new menu, e.g. Chilli Jam, Hot Honey etc. i.e. I'd happily scoff a Sausage Roll, but not a hot honey one.
Why can't they just call Eggs Benedict it's proper name? "Eggs Benny" doesn't sound professional to me.
Iskra
Established Member
I think a lot of the menu items sound nice, but the deletion of the Full English is a big loss and I’d be more likely to travel with Avanti or LNER at breakfast time because of that.
Andy Pacer
Established Member
Subject to finding a train that serves the Full LNER
Butts
Veteran Member
What was the spin on removing the Full English ?
"By popular demand" a la BA "enhancements"
Iskra
Established Member
If travelling North, I’d be much more likely to head over to the WCML and travel with Avanti. They have a decent breakfast offering and the scenery is phenomenal.
If heading South, you’ve got a lot of choice of LNER trains from Yorkshire, so should be able to find one that’s suitable. Alternatively, you could just have a much better full english in a Cafe and then travel STD and save the money- the full English is the only thing that has any value on LNER, the coffee is grim and the Azuma first class is functional rather than luxurious.
Iskra
Established Member
Probably cost or preparation time for a solo host, but it can’t be saving much and seems a big step down in the offering.
The full English wasn't very enticing and personally I didn't see many people ordering it. Often got offered it for an early lunch too as they had leftovers. It usually came out the microwave very chewy and with not much moisture left. The waffle (gone) was very good, but again, didn't see many people ordering it.
I would love to see how they manage eggs benedict !
Love the look of that beef shin though.
I would love to see how they manage eggs benedict !
Love the look of that beef shin though.
Iskra
Established Member
That’s weird, I never had an issue with it and it seemed popular. The veggie breakfast stuff was always the least popular by my understanding.
Eggs Benedict used to be excellent on Avanti, so it could be good on TP.
Don't Avanti have more of an actual kitchen? TPE seems to just have a microwave with one setting: molten lava. It seems particularly well designed at ensuring no moisture is left. I've rehydrated dishes with a cup of hot water before