Pullman Dining - weekends?

[Muzer]

Is the Pullman Dining service (both the normal one and the current limited one) available at weekends? The website doesn't make it clear.

Hopefully I'll be able to use it if Dawlish is open by the end of next week (how's that going? I've been a bit out of the loop, not had much time to be on the forum recently), or if not, maybe I can go on the limited one.

 

[FQ]

Is the Pullman Dining service (both the normal one and the current limited one) available at weekends? The website doesn't make it clear.

Hopefully I'll be able to use it if Dawlish is open by the end of next week (how's that going? I've been a bit out of the loop, not had much time to be on the forum recently), or if not, maybe I can go on the limited one.

They're hoping the line will be open on April the 4th.
Crazy.

 

[Be3G]

Unless things have changed since I last checked, Pullman services only run during the week – to cater first and foremost for business travellers, presumably. Even the travelling chef sees a somewhat reduced service at weekends too.

 

[DarloRich]

They're hoping the line will be open on April the 4th.
Crazy.

why "crazy"?

 

[berneyarms]

Pullman is Monday/Friday only.

There's a limited Travelling Chef service on certain trains Saturdays.

Look at the printed pdf timetables to see what catering is available.

 

[455driver]

They're hoping the line will be open on April the 4th.
Crazy.

The line is in, the signalling arrangements have been sorted (not fixed), there are a couple of ECS moves in the middle of the night to get stock at the right locations and everything else is ready for a full service starting on Friday morning.

Not exactly crazy but each to their own! :roll:

 

[FQ]

Yes but judging by the terrible damage it is amazing at how they got it back up that Quickly.

 

[455driver]

A bloke down the pub told me that there have been 300 people working on it, 200 during the day and 100 at night.

Tne repairs have been done amazingly quickly, thats for sure.

 

[TEW]

Many years ago you did get the odd Pullman on Weekends. You don't even get any Travelling Chef on Sundays. I'm sure there'd be a market for Travelling Chefs on Sundays considering how busy some services are. On a Saturday morning it used to be common for the 0747 from Plymouth to run out of all the Travelling Chef items.

 

[455driver]

It all comes down to the costs of employing more staff to cover the weekend shifts.

 

[Muzer]

Excellent. One last question - will they still serve you on the relatively short journey from Reading to Taunton? (Assuming there's enough space by Reading, given I won't have a First Class ticket - I expect it might be quite busy on a Friday... I'll see).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Actually, that's a point - how likely is it to get a seat on the 1831 at Reading on Standard class on the Friday? Guessing not very - would it be better to catch the later train, or go from Paddington instead? I might reorder my trip slightly to accommodate this if so.

 

[mr williams]

Many years ago you did get the odd Pullman on Weekends. You don't even get any Travelling Chef on Sundays. I'm sure there'd be a market for Travelling Chefs on Sundays considering how busy some services are. On a Saturday morning it used to be common for the 0747 from Plymouth to run out of all the Travelling Chef items.

The last weekend restaurant was a Sunday lunchtime Paddington to Penzance via Bristol with an early evening restaurant on the return working via Westbury.

It was certainly still running c. 2002 as I used it on a break to Cornwall. The lamb was excellent and they had to put on a second sitting due to demand.

 

[LowLevel]

It all comes down to the costs of employing more staff to cover the weekend shifts.

That covers in a nutshell a lot of the reason first class is reduced at weekends in general on most TOCs - you can have staff on a 5 day week working Monday - Friday, or a 4 day week covering each other's rest days just M-F, if you want to do weekends it gets very complicated and significantly more expensive - not worth it for a load of people on cheap advances and weekend firsts, unfortunately.

 

[higthomas]

That covers in a nutshell a lot of the reason first class is reduced at weekends in general on most TOCs - you can have staff on a 5 day week working Monday - Friday, or a 4 day week covering each other's rest days just M-F, if you want to do weekends it gets very complicated and significantly more expensive - not worth it for a load of people on cheap advances and weekend firsts, unfortunately.

I get the idea that shifts would be more difficult to arrange, although clearly it is possible with a bit of effort, since there are still staff who work on the weekends, but why would It matter what ticket people are on, since they pay for the food without regard to what ticket they are using?

 

[455driver]

A very good question, the meals available are more likely to be sold to people on full price 1st class tickets, most people on cheaper Advance fares or weekend 1st will bring their own food on and just get as many freebies as possible from the buffet.

 

[DarloRich]

I get the idea that shifts would be more difficult to arrange, although clearly it is possible with a bit of effort, since there are still staff who work on the weekends, but why would It matter what ticket people are on, since they pay for the food without regard to what ticket they are using?

Because the profitability of the service will virtually disappear at the weekend as most people will be on cheaper tickets rather than the expensive peak time/business travel tickets that fill the first class carriages during the week.

Therefore the TOC’s reduce staffing/ on board service provision to an appropriate level. The staffing, material costs and support costs required to run a “full” service offering on the weekends will make it economic madness to do so as there will be no return.

 

[higthomas]

Therefore the TOC’s reduce staffing/ on board service provision to an appropriate level. The staffing, material costs and support costs required to run a “full” service offering on the weekends will make it economic madness to do so as there will be no return.

But this being first-great western, I thought that the 'full' first class offering was just a bigger seat, less people and maybe some free tea. The pullman is not part of it, although of course those in first class do get first dibs.
If what 455driver thinks is true, then that would be a good reason, but it makes me wonder why they don't really offer the travelling chef then on weekends, as this is the kind of food that those who travel on weekends are looking for i.e. cheaper.

 

[455driver]

On Saturdays there are 7 travelling chef services listed.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/...-Great-Western-Food-and-Drink/Travelling-Chef

 

[berneyarms]

Not sure if those lists are fully up to date - the timetable pdf files are correct however.

 

[Muzer]

So how busy is the Pullman's in the evening services from London? Am I likely to get a seat at Reading in standard class on either of them or should I attempt to go from London instead?

 

[TEW]

On Saturdays there are 7 travelling chef services listed.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/...-Great-Western-Food-and-Drink/Travelling-Chef

But it is a much reduced menu that is offered.

So how busy is the Pullman's in the evening services from London? Am I likely to get a seat at Reading in standard class on either of them or should I attempt to go from London instead?

As far as I know they do get very busy, and you would be best off going from London to guarantee a spot in the restaurant.

 

[LateThanNever]

But this being first-great western, I thought that the 'full' first class offering was just a bigger seat, less people and maybe some free tea. The pullman is not part of it, although of course those in first class do get first dibs.
If what 455driver thinks is true, then that would be a good reason, but it makes me wonder why they don't really offer the travelling chef then on weekends, as this is the kind of food that those who travel on weekends are looking for i.e. cheaper.

Quite. Every motorway services points to the demand. The management at Great Western do not seem to be very adventurous....

 

[455driver]

How many commuters will call into the services for a full breakfast on the way to work?
How many businessmen will stop at the services for a 3 course lunch or dinner?

I think the management have got it about right.

 

[LateThanNever]

How many commuters will call into the services for a full breakfast on the way to work?
How many businessmen will stop at the services for a 3 course lunch or dinner?

I think the management have got it about right.

It's called the train travel experience. You don't have the time to have a full breakfast if you're driving. But oh heaven! - you do if you're on the train!

 

[455driver]

It's called the train travel experience.

Tell that to the accountants in charge!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Even if FGW wanted to put travelling chef/Pullman on a Sunday, if Sunday is not currently part of the chefs/restaurant hosts roster then you are going to have a hell of a job convincing a union rep to put them in without some large incentives.

 

[JB_B]

So how busy is the Pullman's in the evening services from London? Am I likely to get a seat at Reading in standard class on either of them or should I attempt to go from London instead?

I've only used the current incarnation of Pullman Dining (after all but the Plymouths were dropped) a handful of times but every time has been almost full or full with people turned away.That's travelling from the West, off-peak (standard class) - I'd be surprised if the peak departures from Paddington aren't usually full by Reading if not before.


Last September we came up from Penzance and I thought we were very lucky to get a spot - dining car was full as soon as it opened after Plymouth and plenty were turned away at Exeter - this was quite a full train and also somewhat delayed by overhanging branches causing an obstruction towards Taunton (before the first of last year's proper storms but it was already getting quite blowy.) There was a bit of bemusement when the TM jogged through the restaurant heading west and then she came back through brandishing a handsaw - NR were on the scene but they hadn't brought a saw of their own(!).

 

[broadgage]

So how busy is the Pullman's in the evening services from London? Am I likely to get a seat at Reading in standard class on either of them or should I attempt to go from London instead?

I use the 18-03 from Paddington regularly and observe that later in the week that the Pullman is often full when the train calls at Reading.
On a Monday or Teusday you will probably be lucky, but dont count on it.

If determined to dine I would advise boarding at Paddington. If finances permit, it would be best to purchase a first class ticket and book a dining seat.

Presuming that you get a seat, it is possible to take a full meal between Reading and Taunton, but will be a bit rushed. Be certain to advise the crew that are alighting at Taunton.

And as others post, Pullmans have not run at weekends for many years.

 

[Muzer]

OK. I've rearranged my trip slightly so I can get on it from Paddington. I'm getting into Paddington at about 1741 (off the ex-Greenford train) - assuming it's on time, hopefully this will be early enough to get a seat. It's a Friday, so yeah, likely to be busy.

 

[BestWestern]

Quite. Every motorway services points to the demand. The management at Great Western do not seem to be very adventurous....

The vast majority of weekend travellers, both in first and standard class, are on advance tix. Many of these people have paid a very low price for their journey, including many of those in first class. In addition, services can become very busy, again in both classes of accomodation. That isn't a good background against which to offer a premium dining service; the space is better used go accomodate passengers and is hardly the relaxed environment one would expect for such a dining experience, and most of the passengers are unlikely to want to spend significant sums on a 'posh' meal.

The current arrangement works pretty well.