Trolley service on Pendolinos

[Hellfire]

I travel on VT from Preston to Euston each week and, in about one trip out of five on the way back, trolley service appears in cattle class.

Given that this is not a regular thing does it happen a) because they have a spare crew member and a trolley or b) because no one is bothering with the shop on a two hour journey and they want to boost sales.

Even less often a member of the catering crew will walk through Standard taking orders and bringing them back. Doesn't seem to be any discernible pattern to this though.

I'm just wondering whether the shops on these services are getting enough custom to make them worthwhile considering I see more people boarding with pre-purchased food these days. Shop prices are pretty high compared with station outlets.

 

[harz99]

I travel on VT from Preston to Euston each week and, in about one trip out of five on the way back, trolley service appears in cattle class.

Given that this is not a regular thing does it happen a) because they have a spare crew member and a trolley or b) because no one is bothering with the shop on a two hour journey and they want to boost sales.

Even less often a member of the catering crew will walk through Standard taking orders and bringing them back. Doesn't seem to be any discernible pattern to this though.

I'm just wondering whether the shops on these services are getting enough custom to make them worthwhile considering I see more people boarding with pre-purchased food these days. Shop prices are pretty high compared with station outlets.

I suspect (b), however it surely must be a joint effort between all the onboard catering staff not just the member(s) in the shop, maybe first class is dead on those services you have used?

 

[1E05]

I've read somewhere (can't remember exactly) but a trolley service should make it's way through ALL standard coaches on ALL pendo services. But I've only ever been on two such services. I'm not too sure whether that applies to voyagers though.

 

[transmanche]

Given that this is not a regular thing does it happen a) because they have a spare crew member and a trolley or b) because no one is bothering with the shop on a two hour journey and they want to boost sales.

On the VT website it just says: "On some Pendolino services, there's a trolley service bringing food and drinks to your seat."

So my guess is that it's a)...

 

[rownd]

Might depend on the time of day. I've taken early-ish (7/8am) Scottish services towards London that have been on trolley service with the shop closed between Glasgow and Warrington BQ, then the shop opened once past there. On later journeys the shop operated throughout.

 

[Qwerty133]

I've read somewhere (can't remember exactly) but a trolley service should make it's way through ALL standard coaches on ALL pendo services. But I've only ever been on two such services. I'm not too sure whether that applies to voyagers though.

either an edited Wikipedia article or somewhere in firsts plans