Serco for Sleeper

[Greenback]

I think I'll give that breakfast a miss, thanks! Has anyone got any pictures of a nicer looking version?

 

[thealexweb]

That breakfast looks very similar to Asda's offering. Even the plastic tray look like the correct colour and dimensions.

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webs...r-shooping-_-Food-image#/product/910000876997

 

[Altnabreac]

Have no forum members been on the Caledonian sleeper since Serco took over the franchise, I was looking forward to finding out how things differ from First Scotrail, I hope to book mid June on the Fort William shortly.

A relative did Inverness - London on the first night of the Franchise. He uses Sleeper 20+ times a year so is an old hand.

He said it was little changed from before but he felt the food quality was slightly better (had the haggis) and the big change was the quality of the bedding which was much improved.

Overall he thought it was looking like an improvement in quality.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That breakfast doesn't look fit for human consumption. If that's an improvement I would hate to have seen the previous incarnation.

Very similar to that one. Basically a miserly microwave meal. I had the impression Serco were switching to properly cooked plated food so that is highly disappointing.

Have they switched to paper cups for the coffee? That might actually be an improvement as when I used it they wanted the cups back before we had even got to MKC, while I'd rather have had longer to finish my coffee. We found a solution in the end of pouring it into one of the water "glasses" but I thought it rather silly when they've got all day to clean stuff up before it's needed again that evening.

 

[Greenback]

That breakfast looks very similar to Asda's offering. Even the plastic tray look like the correct colour and dimensions.

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webs...r-shooping-_-Food-image#/product/910000876997

That reminds me why I don't go to Asda!

Perhaps Serco need a bit more time to bring their improvements in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perhaps Serco need a bit more time to bring their improvements in.

I would imagine so, though I do wonder if they should have kept the status quo for a bit while they worked out how to do it with any quality. As I think calling a £2.50 microwave/airline style meal "Highland Gamekeeper's Breakfast" is rather a bit of over-selling - that title rather gives the impression of a substantial plated affair rather more similar to that served in First Class on the IC operators.

 

[Greenback]

I think there's quite a bit of poetic licence in that title!

 

[387star]

That breakfast doesn't look fit for human consumption. If that's an improvement I would hate to have seen the previous incarnation.

 

[bnm]

That breakfast looks very similar to one I had in police custody many years ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That breakfast looks very similar to one I had in police custody many years ago.

Whatever happened to porridge?

 

[DEE-DE]

They actually charged me £7.50 for that breakfast. The Scotrail one was a bit worse but was only £4. Just checked but I don't actually have a photo of the previous cooked breakfast.

 

[Greenback]

£7.50? That's outrageous! I'd feel far more cheated having paid that amount when it used to be £4!

Presumably the extra £3.50 is to pay the gamekeeper?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They actually charged me £7.50 for that breakfast. The Scotrail one was a bit worse but was only £4. Just checked but I don't actually have a photo of the previous cooked breakfast.

Near enough the same if I recall.

I would be seriously hacked off to be charged £7.50 for that.

 

[DEE-DE]

I've found a post on this forum which shows what the cooked breakfast used to be: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1892369. And just found out that back then you used to get orange juice and a roll as well which is not included anymore.

On Scotrail every attendant had their own method of telling people how bad the cooked breakfast was and recommending the continental instead.

 

[Agent_c]

Any word on the evening meals? Last time I remember being charged £5 or so for a microwaved burger that is sold in Asda for £1. Same brand (Rustlers) too.

 

[me123]

I've never been on the sleeper, but that's disappointing to say the least. I was always under the impression that the sleeper delivered a premium product - at least the advertising implies that it's a premium product. I think didldidi would be embarrassed to sell that breakfast.

Given that East Coast can do a cooked breakfast on their trains that, whilst I'm sure it was at least partly microwaved, looked much better (and tasted pretty good too), I can't see why the Sleeper can't do something similar?

 

[Clip]

I wonder if theyre having trouble actually fitting something to the current stock they are using which is preventing them from doing a plated breakfast and such like?

 

[DarloRich]

here is the previous breakfast offered on the sleeper:

The Highland Mainline by DarloRich2009, on Flickr

 

[Clip]

Is that a croissant porridge juice and tea? Whats behind the tea pot?

 

[DarloRich]

I've never been on the sleeper, but that's disappointing to say the least. I was always under the impression that the sleeper delivered a premium product - at least the advertising implies that it's a premium product. I think didldidi would be embarrassed to sell that breakfast.

Given that East Coast can do a cooked breakfast on their trains that, whilst I'm sure it was at least partly microwaved, looked much better (and tasted pretty good too), I can't see why the Sleeper can't do something similar?

Because the facilities on the sleeper are very limited indeed, at least for hot food. They have some sort of microwave in the lounge car (where they can rustle up a decent haggis neeps & tatties ) while i dont think there is anything much food prep wise in the sleeper car pantry:

Glasgow Central - The Caledonian Sleeper by DarloRich2009, on Flickr

Is that a croissant porridge juice and tea? Whats behind the tea pot?

there was some kind of bacon/breakfast roll thing - it was damp but ok

 

[me123]

I'm surprised - I thought if they were doing haggis neeps and tatties they'd have something a bit more functional!

Hopefully the new stock has better facilities planned, because against competition from Ryanair and easyJet, the only way you're going to successfully market the Sleeper is as a premium product. And when BA offers better breakfasts, something's gone horribly wrong!

 

[rosschap]

On the new "Caledonian Sleeper Travel Guide and Timetables" it states:

Breakfast options include:
Gamekeeper’s Highland breakfast – sausages, bacon, mushroom, haggis, black pudding, potato scone and eggs

The guide can be found here https://www.sleeper.scot/images/PDFS/Travelguide2015.pdf

Not mean to sound harsh but I have to agree with me123 above. I am booked to travel on the Cally on Monday and I certainly expected a more premium product. Also, seeming as the contents of the "Gamekeeper’s Highland breakfast" are different in the guide to in real life, is Serco falsely advertising?

 

[Clip]

Because the facilities on the sleeper are very limited indeed, at least for hot food. They have some sort of microwave in the lounge car (where they can rustle up a decent haggis neeps & tatties ) while i dont think there is anything much food prep wise in the sleeper car pantry:

Glasgow Central - The Caledonian Sleeper by DarloRich2009, on Flickr



there was some kind of bacon/breakfast roll thing - it was damp but ok

Ahh so they really dont have much room to be installing stuff - maybe a proper fitout of how they do it on an airplane is coming before they get their new stock on the lines?

A damp bacon roll sounds very novel

 

[DarloRich]

I'm surprised - I thought if they were doing haggis neeps and tatties they'd have something a bit more functional!

Hopefully the new stock has better facilities planned, because against competition from Ryanair and easyJet, the only way you're going to successfully market the Sleeper is as a premium product. And when BA offers better breakfasts, something's gone horribly wrong!

I haven't seen in the lounge car food prep area but i cant imagine they have much equipment other than perhaps a commercial microwave. The food is decent and can be washed down by a few Deuchars followed by a choice of single malts.

I dont get it for the breakfast anyway

Ahh so they really dont have much room to be installing stuff - maybe a proper fitout of how they do it on an airplane is coming before they get their new stock on the lines?

I assumed they must be going to do something along those lines

A damp bacon roll sounds very novel

i think it had egg in as well, i may once have had one with a sausage based substance included

 

[Clip]

Ha ha brilliant. Ive never really been a fan of what is called a continental breakfast - I want a fry up with beans and toms on it too.

For £2.50.

 

[DarloRich]

Ha ha brilliant. Ive never really been a fan of what is called a continental breakfast - I want a fry up with beans and toms on it too.

For £2.50.

A man after my own heart (attack ! )

 

[38Cto15E]

As someone has already alluded to, the Breakfast looked like a Police custody breakfast, Serco don't run the Caledonian Sleeper and Police custody do they?

 

[Blindtraveler]

They do run a prison, or maybe more than one not sure, if that helps?

 

[Agent_c]

As someone has already alluded to, the Breakfast looked like a Police custody breakfast, Serco don't run the Caledonian Sleeper and Police custody do they?

I think they do prisoner transport...

 

[sprinterguy]

A damp bacon roll sounds very novel

Oh, as a previous victim, I assure you that the "soggy sandwich of sadness", as the missus and meself came to christen it, of the Caledonian Sleeper is no laughing matter.

I was feeling more than somewhat queasy that morning having imbibed copiously of the Laphroig in the lounge car the previous evening and then sitting on the sink sharing a bottle of mead with myself until somewhere north of what I think was probably Oxenholme, but I can quite confidently say that was the worst bacon sandwich I have ever had in my life to date. And that includes the alternate offering that a "café" in Fort William provided me later that same morning, where the bacon was deep fried without question. hock:

See below for a picture of the missing, offending, item from DarloRichs' photo. No matter how much I love a breakfast that consists of meat piled on top of meat (with a side of beans), when you're on the Caledonian Sleeper, you chose the Continental breakfast option!