Routes that previously had catering trolleys.

[Route115?]

Gatwick Express certainly had them in the late 80s.

I vaguely remember Travellers Fare station division putting a trolley on a Charing X to Dover service in 1985 - I worked on the management team at the time. I'm not sure how long it lasted for.

 

[Ash Bridge]

A catering trolley service of hot & cold drinks and snacks was provided on certain services on the Southport - Stockport (and beyond) route by Regional Railways I can remember during the the first half of the 1990s, this was frequently operated by class 142 railbuses too!

 

[AY1975]

I vaguely remember Travellers Fare station division putting a trolley on a Charing X to Dover service in 1985 - I worked on the management team at the time. I'm not sure how long it lasted for.

Indeed, as mentioned in entry #18 of this now closed thread from 2020 on the withdrawal of buffet cars on the South Eastern Division: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ng-before-the-central-division-did-so.208322/

It sounds as if it didn't last long, although by the early 1990s under Network SouthEast, most fast Kent Coast trains seemed to have them. I think the OP is mainly concerned with the post-privatisation era, though.

 

[RPI]

My first job on the railway was as a catering steward for Wessex Trains/Wales and Borders, all of the long distance Alphaline services had catering, but our diagrams also included a lot of infill work like Exmouth to Paignton which we never actually bothered doing.

 

[warwickshire]

Thames Trains and First Great Western Link, had them on the Turbos on the London Paddington to Stratford upon Avon services throughout upto and including December 2004, prior to Chiltern Railways taking over which then had nothing.

Even the through services to Bicester Town had them as well from London Paddington.

Oxford to London Paddington turbo services had them as well.

Notably Oxford in Thames Trains and First Great Western link Days, had a large rail catering, depot their, more than sure it was Rail Gourmet

 

[dk1]

Another route that previously had catering from 2002 until around 2006 was Norwich-Cambridge under Anglia Railways and NXEA. All but the last two services in each directions on Mondays to Saturdays offered a trolley service.

Fast forward almost 20 years and it’s going to be trialled for three months on selected services on the route (now most run through to Stansted Airport) to see if it’s worthwhile. It wont be advertised in advance as will be covered by spare or staff volunteering to cover.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Similar to the Settle & Carlisle trolley service provided by volunteers, the Penistone line music trains also had refreshments provided by volunteers. Usually from a static trolley in the opposite end of the 144 to where the band was.

 

[dk1]

Although Stansted Express had catering until around 10 or so years ago it was never staffed or operated by NXEA or GA unlike the Norwich- London Liverpool St & Norwich-Cambridge routes which were both operated in house by the on board catering department.

 

[45Fox]

Gatwick Express certainly had them in the late 80s.

I'm pretty certain Gatwick Express had them from the start, as a dedicated service, in 1984.

 

[yorksrob]

I wonder when was the last time any of the routes currently operated by Northern had trolleys? (Settle & Carlisle excepted, of course; the current trolley being operated by volunteers).

A 13-year-old boy asked me if there was a trolley on the Northern service via Harrogate last week; I suspect that service has never had one!

I'm sure I remember a trolley turning up on the Whitby train one Saturday. Must have been experimental as I only encountered it on one occasion (may have been run by the people running Middlesbrough buffet at the time).

From what I can find, the Bentham line had a trolley trial (planned) for twelve Fridays and Saturdays last summer, presumably under the same basis as the Settle & Carlisle one.

Sorry (and a bit surprised) I missed that.

 

[greyman42]

The trolley in Standard class seems to have been scrapped on LNER.

 

[hexagon789]

The trolley in Standard class seems to have been scrapped on LNER.

Around COVID-time, so a few years ago now.

Essentially replaced by the at-seat ordering system in Standard Class.

 

[dk1]

The trolley in Standard class seems to have been scrapped on LNER.

Replaced by at-seat ordering. No trolley service since 2020.

 

[route101]

Glasgow to Carlisle on Scotrail had a trolley for a short while.

 

[gaillark]

St. Pancras to Bedford (class 317's) [BedPan] had them in Network SouthEast days.
The trolley operation was based from Luton and operated by Traksnak.

 

[Belperpete]

So are TfW the last TOC to still be using trolleys?

Off the mainline, the Ffestiniog seems to have given up with trolleys, but still using them on the Welsh Highland.

 

[hexagon789]

So are TfW the last TOC to still be using trolleys?

Off the mainline, the Ffestiniog seems to have given up with trolleys, but still using them on the Welsh Highland.

ScotRail still have trolleys.

 

[The exile]

ScotRail still have trolleys.

As do GWR - unless they’ve gone in the last few weeks (leaving them entirely without catering)

 

[hexagon789]

As do GWR - unless they’ve gone in the last few weeks (leaving them entirely without catering)

And TPE come to think of it.

 

[yorksrob]

St. Pancras to Bedford (class 317's) [BedPan] had them in Network SouthEast days.
The trolley operation was based from Luton and operated by Traksnak.

I can imagine that could be quite popular even today. It's quite long with all the stops.

 

[route101]

ScotRail still have trolleys.

If you catch one ... hit and miss

 

[hexagon789]

If you catch one ... hit and miss

I'd say 90-95% of the time one of the listed services does convey its trolley.

I've also seen trolleys on non-listed workings.

 

[Ostrich]

---

South Western Railway had catering until January 2021 on the following trains:

• London Waterloo to Bristol Temple Meads / Exeter Saint Davids / Salisbury trains (onboard between London Waterloo and Salisbury only)

---

I seem to recall catering trollies west of Salisbury, at least as far as Axminster, but happy to be corrected.

 

[CHESHIRECAT]

I was steward on Gatex 1985; did 4 r/t a day!
Very rewarding 999 iykyk !

Management also sent one trolley down to Ramsgate and we night stopped and brought one back in morning!

 

[WAB]

Off the mainline, the Ffestiniog seems to have given up with trolleys, but still using them on the Welsh Highland.

The narrower profile of the Ffestiniog coaches meant that table service was generally preferred to avoid damage to the carriages. Trolleys did briefly appear in the 70s and the 90s, and again during Covid, but have never really stuck around.

 

[EYFanatic]

When what was then First Transpennine Express operated some Hull-Scarborough services, a trolley service was provided but it didn't last long - maybe about three months so I presume a trial

I am sure others will correct me, but didn't the loco hauled club trains in and out of Blackpool from Manchester and Southport have a trolley service?

 

[Anonymous10]

So are TfW the last TOC to still be using trolleys?

Off the mainline, the Ffestiniog seems to have given up with trolleys, but still using them on the Welsh Highland.

Gwr still have them on intercity routes to london.

 

[Highlander1]

Its odd - I assumed they'd all been withdrawn, but then a few weeks ago a random trolley came through (well, it had a staff member with it) - no sales, and a few people staring as if they'd seen a unicorn. And since that day, I have never seen one again.

Queen St to Waverley used to be common. Catering crews would do a triangle route from Aberdeen/Inverness down to Glasgow, across to Edinburgh and back North again with Glasgow/Edinburgh crews filling in the gaps. That's all stopped now.
If there's a spare member of hospitality staff in Glasgow or Edinburgh they are often sent out on normally uncovered services such as Glasgow to Edinburgh Express or on a Glasgow to Dundee stopping service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

The trolly service seems to be a 50/50 on the InterCity services. Rarer in the earlier morning in my experience.

Transport Scotland mandate which Intercity trains should be covered. It's generally trains that start their journey between 8am and 5pm.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

If you catch one ... hit and miss

Most daytime Intercity services have them

 

[James H]

Southeastern had catering until December 2010 on the following trains:

• London Bridge / London Cannon Street / London Charing Cross / London Victoria to Hastings trains (onboard for the entire route)

I was on a Southeastern Charing Cross to Hastings train last Tuesday when an announcement was made about a catering trolley passing through.

I suspect that the guard had intended to trigger a generic announcement about keeping aisles clear of luggage but picked the wrong code.

 

[Class999999]

I was on a Southeastern Charing Cross to Hastings train last Tuesday when an announcement was made about a catering trolley passing through.

I suspect that the guard had intended to trigger a generic announcement about keeping aisles clear of luggage but picked the wrong code.

Sometimes the driver / guard does this as a windup to each other on emptier trains