VTEC - new onboard crewing system

[westv]

What about hot food?

I'm with the normal folk today and I haven't heard any announcements.

 

[cf111]

Distinctly unawesome lack of catering in standard on today's southbound Chieftain at least to Edinburgh due to a lack of staff. A lesser spotted BTP Constable is on the platform I'm assuming to keep the starving hoards in order as they trudge to WHSmith.

 

[xotGD]

No trolley on the "Airedale Executive" this morning due to crew shortage.

Have they figured out that the trolley does not make enough money to justify an extra crew member, so this is a profit-based trolley cancellation policy?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No trolley on the "Airedale Executive" this morning due to crew shortage.

Have they figured out that the trolley does not make enough money to justify an extra crew member, so this is a profit-based trolley cancellation policy?

I figure it's just that they don't have spare staff (as it's not safety critical), so if one is missing so is the trolley.

 

[cf111]

Disaster, nothing in first on the Chieftain either. The possibility of bacon rolls later, maybe, from the depleted but cheery crew as we pass through Costa del Cairngorm.

 

[ainsworth74]

That's been an on and off problem for a while now. Seems to be due to the HST fridges sometimes not keeping the food at a safe temperature (breakfast is loaded at Edinburgh the night before).

 

[Alan2603]

That's been an on and off problem for a while now. Seems to be due to the HST fridges sometimes not keeping the food at a safe temperature (breakfast is loaded at Edinburgh the night before).

Today's lack of food is purely down to staffing on the Chieftain.

From the VTEC website:

07:55 Inverness to London Kings Cross due 15:51

Facilities on the 07:55 Inverness to London Kings Cross due 15:51.
Catering is reduced between Inverness and Edinburgh A limited First Class offer and no Standard Class catering is available.
This is due to a shortage of on train staff.

I am pleased I took an earlier train down to London from Edinburgh, on which at least an attempt was made to serve food in First Class with a much depleted crew (again). No trolley service for those is Standard again though.

Speaking with one of the crew, there is currently zero resilience if anyone goes sick etc. The default position is firstly to cancel the standard class trolley, then reduce the First Class service. Then to offer nothing!

Alan

 

[ainsworth74]

Ah yes I didn't have chance to look at the website.

 

[cf111]

That's been an on and off problem for a while now. Seems to be due to the HST fridges sometimes not keeping the food at a safe temperature (breakfast is loaded at Edinburgh the night before).

I have been unfortunate enough to experience the dreaded cursed fridges from Inverness, I don't normally mind because I often take porridge for my breakfast and that is usually the backup plan. The bacon roll did appear but it had transformed into a bacon sandwich because no rolls were loaded!

Today was due to a lack of staff, there were three catering staff for the whole train and no chef. From Edinburgh there was no hot food only very limited cold sandwiches due to a "technical issue", in standard the buffet was open but they asked over the PA for passengers to have either exact change or use their cards.

The staff were very good and doing what they could but I did get the impression from speaking with them that they are embarrassed at the regularity of this now, the guards on both legs ended up helping in first class when they could.

 

[Furrball]

And yet VTWC are introducing more trolleys. Was quite surprised to see one on the 0840 Glasgow to Euston service on Monday. Apparently it is something they are trialling. Seemed only to be as far as Carlisle though as no sight of again!

 

[Chrism20]

And yet VTWC are introducing more trolleys. Was quite surprised to see one on the 0840 Glasgow to Euston service on Monday. Apparently it is something they are trialling. Seemed only to be as far as Carlisle though as no sight of again!

I hope they haven't went to the expense of buying trolleys for this trial when their sister along the Euston Road has about forty of them sitting idle.

 

[theironroad]

Today's lack of food is purely down to staffing on the Chieftain.

From the VTEC website:



I am pleased I took an earlier train down to London from Edinburgh, on which at least an attempt was made to serve food in First Class with a much depleted crew (again). No trolley service for those is Standard again though.

Speaking with one of the crew, there is currently zero resilience if anyone goes sick etc. The default position is firstly to cancel the standard class trolley, then reduce the First Class service. Then to offer nothing!

Alan

You'd think they'd try to sort the catering out before announcing new gimmicks like bidding for for first class seats shortly before train departure as reported on BBC news app today.

 

[ainsworth74]

Well that's what I've come to expect from VTEC to be honest! They seem (and I'm talking about management here not staff on the ground to be clear) to be very interested in talking a good talk about the service and what they'll deliver but actually care very little about following up those words with actions. Indeed even delivering a solid, reliable and good service seems to be of little interest to them!

Anyway, if anyone does want to discuss the new bidding system then please use the existing thread which can be found here. Thanks!

 

[route101]

And yet VTWC are introducing more trolleys. Was quite surprised to see one on the 0840 Glasgow to Euston service on Monday. Apparently it is something they are trialling. Seemed only to be as far as Carlisle though as no sight of again!

Dont Virgin have Catering staff based at Carlisle ? I seen a member of staff get on a VT pendo northbound at Carlisle last week .

You get trolleys on the Pendos in standard rarely, used to see them now and then , sometimes someone comes round taking orders .

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Well, folks, this is what thermos flasks were invented for.

 

[Blindtraveler]

And me thinks as winter draw s in and people are less happy to just drink water that they will be the way forward on this piece of railway.

 

[skyhigh]

I've heard from a colleague that first class lounge staff are next to be cut. Has anyone heard anything about that?

 

[96tommy]

Got the 07:37 from Selby as far as Kings X this morning and was surprised to find a trolley come through. Twice. Only about the 2nd time this calendar year I've had one on a VTEC

 

[47271]

I've heard from a colleague that first class lounge staff are next to be cut. Has anyone heard anything about that?

Other than at King's Cross, where there's two on if you're lucky, aren't the lounges already covered by multi tasking station staff? I can't see what there is to cut.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes that's my impression.

 

[Mojo]

I've heard from a colleague that first class lounge staff are next to be cut. Has anyone heard anything about that?

When I used the lounge at Kings + on Tuesday it was absolutely filthy, every table that was vacant was piled high with disused paper cups and biscuit/crisp wrappers. About 10 Min before I was about to leave I noticed an ISS cleaner walking around tidying up, whereas I am sure when I used to visit it was an East Coast employee that did the cleaning up.

I also found strange that they only have "paper" cups in the lounge, even for cold drinks. If they are going to damage the environment by providing disposable equipment at least provide something that is appropriate like plastic, not the same thing you are supposed to drink hot drinks out of.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Overbidding clearly coming back to bite us all! Interestingly though VTEC seam to be dishing out the pain and hardship to all, where its normally just STD plebs that suffer.

Perhaps the coffee machines and bottled water will soon be replaced with a sink, hot water boiler and jar of Tesco value?

 

[TUC]

On the.0700 Leeds-Kings Cross this morning-one of VTEC's busiest journeys-it was announced that the buffet was closed for present, but that an announcement would be made later in the journey. That announcement never came. Presumably the staff were being deployed serving breakfast in 1st class.

I'm currently on the 1540 Grantham-Leeds and again its been announced that the buffet is currently closed but that it will open later in the journey. Given that there is only just over an hour to Leeds I'll be interested to see whether this actually happens.

I know Virgin only own 10% of the company, but they have strongly linked their brand with it. They are running the risk of significant reputational damage and need to take action.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Agreed, this level of customer service is far below any other brand they are in any way associated with.

 

[TUC]

I'm currently on the 1540 Grantham-Leeds and again its been announced that the buffet is currently closed but that it will open later in the journey. Given that there is only just over an hour to Leeds I'll be interested to see whether this actually happens.

Just left Doncaster and still announced as closed so it's safe to say no it is not going to open.

 

[Chrism20]

The speed in which it's deteriorating is what's surprising me the most. NXEC was painfully slow in consideration

 

[Blindtraveler]

And I dont ever recall it getting quite as bad iether!

 

[FQTV]

Though I am right at the back of the queue when it comes to being charitable towards the Train Operating Company equivalent of a Saniflo, was it not the case that Virgin West Coast almost deliberately ran things down in the first throes of the WC franchise, in order to maximise the 'impact' of the Pendolinos that they bought for the country out of the goodness of their bearded hearts?

 

[Chrism20]

Though I am right at the back of the queue when it comes to being charitable towards the Train Operating Company equivalent of a Saniflo, was it not the case that Virgin West Coast almost deliberately ran things down in the first throes of the WC franchise, in order to maximise the 'impact' of the Pendolinos that they bought for the country out of the goodness of their bearded hearts?

I remember the rolling stock getting to the point that it was bad and stuff used to regularly pack in and the service was maybe reduced.

I don't remember it getting to the point that the first class or standard buffet were reduced to the point that it just didn't happen. From what I remember there was more chance you wouldn't get to your destination than not getting your breakfast.

 

[Blindtraveler]

My hazy teenage memories of it were that crews on trains and staff elsewhere were excillent and it was generally just stock going wrong in 1 way or another.