Worst Catering

[306024]

That's a very controversial diet, wonder what the nutritional value of that lot is

 

[yorksrob]

I have had marvelous Icecream on the S and C before, a real trat. Also their trolley does loveley coffee and nice cakes.

Yes - the blackcurrent is particularly delicious !

 

[47271]

That's a very controversial diet, wonder what the nutritional value of that lot is

Well, quite, I think my point has been proved with that list!

What I'm talking about is the decline in the possibility of being served a square meal onboard. I don't mean fancy silver service but just something tasty that fills you up on a three or four hour journey in First Class, not an unreasonable expectation. If CS can manage it with a microwave - and so it seems ATW - then the ever diminishing quality and portion size of the others using full kitchens is pretty poor.

I'm especially thinking of VTEC over the past year, but I still contend that nothing's more disappointing than that TPE 'Enjoy Any Time' effort.

 

[DarloRich]

VTEC sell Yorkshire tea. That makes their catering superb

 

[yorksrob]

Well, quite, I think my point has been proved with that list!

What I'm talking about is the decline in the possibility of being served a square meal onboard. I don't mean fancy silver service but just something tasty that fills you up on a three or four hour journey in First Class.

You mean like a sort of travelling chef

I must admit, an endless stream of snacks is no substitute for a proper meal, even if one has to pay a little extra.

 

[HowardGWR]

That's a very controversial diet, wonder what the nutritional value of that lot is

I think I counted up to a day's calorie allowance for an adult male before I got halfway through the list!

The amount of salt content, if poured into a bath, would enable one to float in the bath.:roll:

 

[LOL The Irony]

I travelled from Euston to Wilmslow on thursday in VT first class. Their food advertisement needs some refining for the lesuire traveller! I got a Nando's from Euston only to find out they were serving food on-board! I had an excellent sausage sandwich on the way there though. And I had Nando's spicy chips so it made up for missing out

 

[Jonfun]

I kept politely declining but they insisted!

So, they seem pretty generous to me. Then again, I do know a lot of XC and GWR staff, so maybe that helped.

In many cases these days, rightly or wrongly, on quiet trains if a lot of food goes to waste at the end of the day the company will use it to justify putting less on in the first place which stitches up the catering crews for when the train is actually busy. So It's often better to get rid of it where possible.

 

[306024]

Move to Poland (before it's too late). Many long distance trains still have proper dining cars, for both classes of travel. Very nice freshly prepared chicken salad the other day for just £3.30.

 

[Robertj21a]

That's very interesting to hear you say GWR have gone downhill in First Class. Only last week I travelled with them and received on that day:

Lemonade
Scone with Jam (That one was with XC)
Lucozade Orange
Fruit Cake
Fruit Cake (again)
Banana Muffin
Tea
Popcorn
Crisps
Sprite
Lucozade Original
Tea
Even more Fruit Cake
Honeycomb Cookies
Honey Muffin
More Popcorn
Sparkling Water
Salted Peanuts
Coffee
Golden Oat Crumbles
More sparkling water
More honeycomb cookies
Even more honeycomb cookies
Even more honeycomb cookies
More Golden Oat Crumbles!
Even more Golden Oat Crumbles!
Diet Coke
More coffee
Roasted Peanuts
More salted peanuts
Those honeycomb cookies again!
More crisps
More popcorn
Still Water
Sausage, Bacon and Egg muffin (That one was with XC)

I kept politely declining but they insisted!

So, they seem pretty generous to me. Then again, I do know a lot of XC and GWR staff, so maybe that helped.

Good heavens, what a pile of early death ! - or were you onboard for a fortnight ?

 

[yorksrob]

Good heavens, what a pile of early death ! - or were you onboard for a fortnight ?

To be fair, I did notice a sparkling water in there somewhere!

 

[lejog]

That's very interesting to hear you say GWR have gone downhill in First Class. Only last week I travelled with them and received on that day:

Lemonade
Scone with Jam (That one was with XC)
Lucozade Orange
Fruit Cake
Fruit Cake (again)
Banana Muffin
Tea
Popcorn
Crisps
Sprite
Lucozade Original
Tea
Even more Fruit Cake
Honeycomb Cookies
Honey Muffin
More Popcorn
Sparkling Water
Salted Peanuts
Coffee
Golden Oat Crumbles
More sparkling water
More honeycomb cookies
Even more honeycomb cookies
Even more honeycomb cookies
More Golden Oat Crumbles!
Even more Golden Oat Crumbles!
Diet Coke
More coffee
Roasted Peanuts
More salted peanuts
Those honeycomb cookies again!
More crisps
More popcorn
Still Water
Sausage, Bacon and Egg muffin (That one was with XC)

I kept politely declining but they insisted!

So, they seem pretty generous to me. Then again, I do know a lot of XC and GWR staff, so maybe that helped.

Good god, so much junk food. Summarizes why I avoid on-board catering like the plague, I value my health.

Talking of which I'm glad to see Leon have finally moved out of London with a branches at New Street and Piccadilly. I managed to take a perfectly good breakfast on the last Virgin service I caught out of Piccadilly rather than the on-board rubbish available in cattle class.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Actually I have a very healthy diet, obviously I didn't eat all of it! I barely ate any, just had the Muffin with XC and the drinks. They just gave me paper bags and I took them all home and stored them in the cupboards!

 

[StephenHunter]

Found the portions on CS small, but the food was great.

 

[221129]

Well I'll probably be shot for this but my experience albeit limited of CS catering was not good. 2 bites of the 'bacon roll' and i couldnt face any more. Complete contrast to the XC offering after.

 

[Clansman]

I found Transpennine the worst, simply through the lack of options, especially on a journey like Manchester to Edinburgh, which in my opinion, should be operated by Virgin.

Best has got to be Caledonian Sleeper for the quality of food on offer, although perhaps me being a Scot and loving Haggis, other TOCs don't really stand a chance. Although to be fair, VTEC isn't far behind. I could murder their Macaroni & Cheese or and Chicken Curry any day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Re CS, the best way to give the feel of quality even with microwaved meals is to do stuff that microwaves well - things like haggis, stew, curry, chilli, spag bol etc - and packet cold stuff like the cheeseboard - and serve it on proper crockery with proper cutlery and proper cups and glasses. The DB BistroCafe concept is very similar. Such a concept I think would sell quite well on longer distance services while still keeping well (presumably it could be packed for indefinite life like tinned stuff and therefore a stock kept on board of most of the base items).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good god, so much junk food. Summarizes why I avoid on-board catering like the plague, I value my health.



Talking of which I'm glad to see Leon have finally moved out of London with a branches at New Street and Piccadilly. I managed to take a perfectly good breakfast on the last Virgin service I caught out of Piccadilly rather than the on-board rubbish available in cattle class.

Leon are excellent, best salads I have had.

 

[NSE]

I can't help but feel I'm on a train for the journey, not for the food, so I don't expect anything from the catering. I do think it's right to have some form of provisions available on long distance services, but only enough so I don't die if I didn't have a chance to grab some food from a supermarket before hand. I've only ever bought an occasional drink or maybe some crisps if I'm hungry.

 

[route101]

I found Transpennine the worst, simply through the lack of options, especially on a journey like Manchester to Edinburgh, which in my opinion, should be operated by Virgin.

Best has got to be Caledonian Sleeper for the quality of food on offer, although perhaps me being a Scot and loving Haggis, other TOCs don't really stand a chance. Although to be fair, VTEC isn't far behind. I could murder their Macaroni & Cheese or and Chicken Curry any day.

Yeah them TPE should be operated by Virgin , was on TPE other night and didnt buy anything of trolley couldnt face crisps and a warm beer ,didnt see any sandwichesthough .

Think the concept of buying hot meals onboard in standard is good , CS does this and i saw a few do it in the seated coach .

 

[Sankey Wire]

Found the portions on CS small, but the food was great.

I enjoyed supper on the sleeper back in October, but the cooked breakfast was awful. I think I'll play it safe with porridge next time!

 

[Shell]

Back when the Government-run East Coast was still a thing (god those were the days), I once got seven free alcoholic drinks in First Class between Aberdeen and Newcastle - along with two square meals, and a small snack with every drink. My partner who I met upon arrival pointed out that I was noticeably tipsy!

I unfortunately haven't had a chance to travel first class with them since Virgin took over, but I did note pretty shortly after that the quality of the food in the buffet car had dropped significantly. I'm now a lot more careful to buy a sandwich from the WH Smiths in the train station before departure.

 

[47271]

I enjoyed supper on the sleeper back in October, but the cooked breakfast was awful. I think I'll play it safe with porridge next time!

The cooked option isn't as bad as it was in the days of First, that really was rank, but be aware that smoked salmon and scrambled egg is the choice of the regulars.

 

[xotGD]

I found Transpennine the worst, simply through the lack of options, especially on a journey like Manchester to Edinburgh, which in my opinion, should be operated by Virgin.

Best has got to be Caledonian Sleeper for the quality of food on offer, although perhaps me being a Scot and loving Haggis, other TOCs don't really stand a chance. Although to be fair, VTEC isn't far behind. I could murder their Macaroni & Cheese or and Chicken Curry any day.

Off topic, but I was having the same issue with someone yesterday:

It's macaroni cheese, not macaroni and cheese. You don't say spaghetti and bolognaise, do you?

On topic, I think buy before you board, or making up some pieces at home, is usually the better option. As for on-train coffee, definitely best avoided.

 

[trainmania100]

Unfortunately my local rail services don't provide onboard catering
Southern have even stopped the "trolly service of drinks and light refreshments"
Pft

 

[sheff1]

Leon are excellent, best salads I have had.

I tried Leon once, at Kings Cross. Overpriced, mediocre fare served by staff who seemed very keen that people ate up and left asap. Never again.

 

[randyrippley]

I still look back with fond memories on pre-Virgin WCML services when on an evening train you could travel second class, go and have a meal and enjoy first class all the way to London
Excellent food (usually griddled venison was the favorite) and a very good wine selection. Back in those days the BR wine cellar had an outstanding range.
When Virgin took over the catering went to pot, the wine range went down market and eventually decent meals for us oiks were banned. And then came the Pendolinos and things became worse

 

[Millisle]

Unfortunately my local rail services don't provide onboard catering
Southern have even stopped the "trolly service of drinks and light refreshments"
Pft

D

No catering is indeed the answer to the OP on longer routes.

 

[Blindtraveler]

VTEC sell Yorkshire tea. That makes their catering superb

This is the saving grace for me on VTEC, a propper cuppa is hard to get on the railway but despite all their other shortcomings they have managed it. Actually you get a nicer cuppa off the buffet than you do in First now on VTEC.

 

[DarloRich]

I don't get why anyone would buy more than a brew and a kit kat on board or perhaps a sandwich at the outside. Just get to Greggs or a local supermarket and stock up before your board. The prices on board are excessive and the quality low.

This is the saving grace for me on VTEC, a propper cuppa is hard to get on the railway but despite all their other shortcomings they have managed it. Actually you get a nicer cuppa off the buffet than you do in First now on VTEC.

they should both be Yorkshire tea but it may be stewed in the pots in FC. MUCH better than any PG Tips/Tetley/Typhoo AN Other brand.

Best tea money can buy.