On-train catering

[Butts]

Really impressed with Avanti’s catering this morning, particularly compared to LNER last week. Basically seem to be running the weekend service pre-COVID (cold choices such as cheese and crackers/sandwich etc, with crisps and an Ugly) but with beer (both pale ale and lager), cider and wine available in addition to the usual hot drinks, Pepsi and water.

Sounds similar to my experience.

Has anyone tweeted LNER to ask why they have not "opened the bar" when AVANTI have ? (I'm not on twitter)

Let's apply some pressure to the "tightwads"

 

[greyman42]

Sounds similar to my experience.

Has anyone tweeted LNER to ask why they have not "opened the bar" when AVANTI have ? (I'm not on twitter)

Let's apply some pressure to the "tightwads"

I would of thought that you will just get some ridiculous answer about "keeping safe".

 

[westv]

I would of thought that you will just get some ridiculous answer about "keeping safe".

Or "we have passed on your comment"

 

[takno]

Or "we have passed on your comment"

What LNER are actually saying on Twitter is that they expect it to go back to normal when social distancing is dropped. Personally I think that's a bit late, but then I think most of the rules they've put in and stuck by throughout are entirely unjustified, so keeping the whole pointless shower going for another month is hardly surprising.

 

[dk1]

So many spare catering crews on GA that as well as buffet & trolley on the main line, some staff have been taking a trolley out on the Norwich-Stansted route.

 

[Scotrail314209]

So many spare catering crews on GA that as well as buffet & trolley on the main line, some staff have been taking a trolley out on the Norwich-Stansted route.

That warrants it, giving it's around 2 hours long.

 

[dk1]

That warrants it, giving it's around 2 hours long.

Yes & no really. Maybe more so now they run through to Stansted but that’s not exactly a busy airport right now. Anglia Railways provided catering on all Norwich-Cambridge services when introduced in 2002 but only lasted around 2-3 years as unviable for much of the day.

 

[PauloDavesi]

In view of the losses the rail industry is making, and the need for massive subsidies from the taxpayer, is it really sensible to spend public funds providing free alcohol?
Surely the industry should be reducing the losses incurred while meeting their contractual service obligations.

 

[Butts]

What LNER are actually saying on Twitter is that they expect it to go back to normal when social distancing is dropped. Personally I think that's a bit late, but then I think most of the rules they've put in and stuck by throughout are entirely unjustified, so keeping the whole pointless shower going for another month is hardly surprising.

What's the added risk of handing out a can of cider rather than a can of coke ? - it's bollocks !!

Are people telling them Avanti are handing out booze and if so what is their response ?

 

[Tezza1978]

In view of the losses the rail industry is making, and the need for massive subsidies from the taxpayer, is it really sensible to spend public funds providing free alcohol?
Surely the industry should be reducing the losses incurred while meeting their contractual service obligations.

100% disagree - the rail industry needs to encourage passengers back and spend/upgrade to first class and one of the benefits of travelling by train instead of by car is catering/the ability to have a beer or glass of wine or two on a long journey. Penny pinching on stuff like this/ retaining silly limited catering/no alcohol rules on long distance services will reduce passengers returning and cost the railways far more financially. And its not "public money" going on the booze - passengers pay for it in fares!

 

[takno]

In view of the losses the rail industry is making, and the need for massive subsidies from the taxpayer, is it really sensible to spend public funds providing free alcohol?
Surely the industry should be reducing the losses incurred while meeting their contractual service obligations.

It's not free. You have to spend a really quite large amount of money on a first class ticket. It would take a dedicated liver and a really attentive steward for the train company to not end up ahead on the deal.

 

[dk1]

Bittern Line catering today now too. GA certainly taking trolleys where they’ve rarely been before haha.

 

[johntea]

Grand Central have a new at seat catering ordering system now, they were promoting it on the early doors Bradford - Kings Cross service this morning by offering a free coffee to anyone that tried it out!

 

[D6130]

XC do have a decent first class catering offer

I travelled on three XC services over the weekend - all in standard class on HSTs - and I'm not certain of what the first class offer was, but on all three trains the hosts announced the availabilty of refreshments for collection at the pantry in Coach B.....including teas, coffees, alcoholic beverages, snacks and a limited range of sandwiches. If anyone is interested, the trains concerned were:

Saturday 22nd May: 1V50, 09 11 LDS-TAU (43 301 + 43 357) & 1S51, 13 53 TAU-BRI (43 207 + 43 378)
Sunday 23rd May: 1S55, 16 40 BPW-LDS (43 303 + 43 285)

Avoiding Voyagers at all costs, I managed to rack up a fair bit of HST mileage around a family reunion in Bristol. (Apologies if this last bit is OT.....Mods, please feel free to move it to another thread if necessary).

 

[route101]

I travelled on three XC services over the weekend - all in standard class on HSTs - and I'm not certain of what the first class offer was, but on all three trains the hosts announced the availabilty of refreshments for collection at the pantry in Coach B.....including teas, coffees, alcoholic beverages, snacks and a limited range of sandwiches. If anyone is interested, the trains concerned were:

Saturday 22nd May: 1V50, 09 11 LDS-TAU (43 301 + 43 357) & 1S51, 13 53 TAU-BRI (43 207 + 43 378)
Sunday 23rd May: 1S55, 16 40 BPW-LDS (43 303 + 43 285)

Avoiding Voyagers at all costs, I managed to rack up a fair bit of HST mileage around a family reunion in Bristol. (Apologies if this last bit is OT.....Mods, please feel free to move it to another thread if necessary).

The unoffcial XC HST buffet. I never understood why they never installed a buffet counter on them HSTs.

 

[221129]

The unoffcial XC HST buffet. I never understood why they never installed a buffet counter on them HSTs.

Because there is nowhere to put one.

 

[Butts]

Just had an e-mail from LNER encouraging me to come back on their "Alcohol Free Trains" - are they Quakers or what?

Also Lounges still offer no refreshments according to the website but someone did post that was not the case at Kings Cross.

I must book immediately

 

[johntea]

I am travelling on LNER next Sunday and certainly intend to have a few alcoholic drinks, based on previous experiences last year I doubt the actual on board crew will bat an eyelid! (if they're even to be seen in the first place!)

 

[greyman42]

I am travelling on LNER next Sunday and certainly intend to have a few alcoholic drinks, based on previous experiences last year I doubt the actual on board crew will bat an eyelid! (if they're even to be seen in the first place!)

I have openly drank alcohol on a number of LNER services and the staff did not bay an eyelid.

 

[dk1]

I would just decant my beer into a reusable mug. I’m more confused as to why LNER catering would wish to lose out on extra revenue in 1st class at weekends & Standard at all times.

 

[Carlisle]

The unoffcial XC HST buffet. I never understood why they never installed a buffet counter on them HSTs.

Because XC made an initial franchise commitment righty or wrongly to switch entirely to trolley services so additional seating could be installed in place of a buffet counter.

 

[Yew]

In view of the losses the rail industry is making, and the need for massive subsidies from the taxpayer, is it really sensible to spend public funds providing free alcohol?
Surely the industry should be reducing the losses incurred while meeting their contractual service obligations.

Given that it is part of the standard offering for the service provided, and first class passengers pay above the odds and contribute significantly to the bottom line of many rail operators, yes it is.

 

[ainsworth74]

Travelled with LNER in Standard Class on Saturday and used the at-seat ordering function. Was a little fiddly as you have to sign up rather than just order and pay but once I got over that it was smooth sailing. Ordered a bacon roll (no sauces offered but see later) and tea (you can choose how many milk cartons and sugar sachets you want). There was also an option to leave comments in which I requested a plastic cup (for the tea bag!) which was duly provided so I suspect if I'd asked for some ketchup in that box it would have been provided. Order rocked up about five minutes or so after ordering. Very civilised and I think I'll be using it again in the future!

Used XC in First Class on Sunday and they had what seemed to basically be their typical pre-pandemic afternoon weekend catering on the go. Customer host came round regularly offering hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks. No sandwiches but those are a bit hit and miss in my experience on weekends with XC.

 

[westv]

Travelled with LNER in Standard Class on Saturday and used the at-seat ordering function. Was a little fiddly as you have to sign up rather than just order and pay but once I got over that it was smooth sailing. Ordered a bacon roll (no sauces offered but see later) and tea (you can choose how many milk cartons and sugar sachets you want). There was also an option to leave comments in which I requested a plastic cup (for the tea bag!) which was duly provided so I suspect if I'd asked for some ketchup in that box it would have been provided. Order rocked up about five minutes or so after ordering. Very civilised and I think I'll be using it again in the future!

What was the bacon in the roll like? Ok or mostly fat?

 

[ainsworth74]

What was the bacon in the roll like? Ok or mostly fat?

It was actually the bread that was the issue! It was obviously nuked in the microwave as it was a standard class one but the bread was extremely crusty. Now I like a bit of crusty bread but that was as bit much. The bacon itself though was fine.

 

[kez19]

Travelled with LNER in Standard Class on Saturday and used the at-seat ordering function. Was a little fiddly as you have to sign up rather than just order and pay but once I got over that it was smooth sailing. Ordered a bacon roll (no sauces offered but see later) and tea (you can choose how many milk cartons and sugar sachets you want). There was also an option to leave comments in which I requested a plastic cup (for the tea bag!) which was duly provided so I suspect if I'd asked for some ketchup in that box it would have been provided. Order rocked up about five minutes or so after ordering. Very civilised and I think I'll be using it again in the future!

Used XC in First Class on Sunday and they had what seemed to basically be their typical pre-pandemic afternoon weekend catering on the go. Customer host came round regularly offering hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks. No sandwiches but those are a bit hit and miss in my experience on weekends with XC.

Is their much on the menu (LNER), as I keep checking site doesn’t seem much unless it’s changed but site hasn’t? (I’m using first class next week) but wondered about maybe ordering if need be?

 

[ainsworth74]

Is their much on the menu (LNER), as I keep checking site doesn’t seem much unless it’s changed but site hasn’t? (I’m using first class next week) but wondered about maybe ordering if need be?

Not sure about first class as I was travelling in standard. Also didn't look much beyond breakfast which was basically just bacon roll and porridge! What's on this page looks similar to what was on offer from what I can recall.

 

[kez19]

Not sure about first class as I was travelling in standard. Also didn't look much beyond breakfast which was basically just bacon roll and porridge! What's on this page looks similar to what was on offer from what I can recall.

I think it’s just the same, the only thing I fancied on returning was the Sausage in the roll (par porridge), but since my travel is after 4pm it’s just biscuits crisps water/teas coffees - shame really as I may have used it.

 

[Luke McDonnell]

Just asking if TP have catering on LIV-NCL service as I am travelling LIV-YRK at the weekend so just asking if I should buy before I board or will they have hot drinks etc on the train. The trainline and RTT show that there should be catering on this service

 

[williamn]

No TPE catering at all based on last week’s experiences.