Wrexham & Shropshire catering consultation

[CallySleeperKid]

From the Wrexham & Shropshire website (Catering Consultation), This company really seem to put the paying punter first, its nice to see.



The position today

Wrexham & Shropshire is the only train company in the country to offer a full dining service on every train we run.

A complimentary two course meal is available to first class passengers, freshly cooked on-board using locally sourced ingredients.

In standard class, a full buffet service is available serving drinks, sandwiches and a range of freshly cooked snacks such as sausage sandwiches.

Standard class passengers are also able to buy the first class meals, however they are subject to availability on the day.

What next?

We want to continue to improve our catering service. We’ve got some ideas of our own, but we would like your views before we do anything.

Our key idea is to harness the power of new technology to revolutionise on-train dining, a much-loved but often neglected part of the passenger experience on modern trains.

We know that our first class dining is highly thought of by our first class passengers, and we know that the range of drinks and snacks we serve at the buffet counter is also very popular.

However, in keeping with most train companies, the full choice of hot meals is available for first class passengers, and standard class passengers can only enjoy a full meal subject to availability.

Our solution

Our proposed idea is to offer standard class passengers a full choice of freshly cooked meals as part of the online booking system.

Passengers booking tickets online will be offered a menu of starters and main courses, all created from locally sourced ingredients. They will then be sent either a text message or an email confirming their reserved seat, while the on-board staff will be sent details of the passenger’s name, order and location. When the passenger travels, they will be served a delicious freshly cooked meal directly to their seat without having to do anything else.

There’ll be no need to queue at the buffet, no need to fiddle for change – and the meal of choice will be guaranteed.

What do you think?

We’d like to know your views. What do you think of this idea? What else could we do to further improve our catering services?

To take part in our catering consultation, please fill in the form below. Every entry competed will be entered into a draw to win a pair of first class return tickets between any two Wrexham & Shropshire stations – including a full cooked meal.

 

[merlodlliw]

I am also impressed. To think the worst and lose this to a 158 trolley
serving look warm tea, unthinkable, but I am biased in favour of real
food served in a real dining car.

 

[ukrob]

My first (rather cynical) thought after reading the thread title, but not the thread, was that they want to lead passengers to say they would like the 'convenience' of a trolley, then if a DMU from Chiltern turned up in the future, they would be able to say "but it is what customers said they want" if there was a backlash.

I was pleasantly surprised - what they are suggesting is a nice simple idea.

 

[robert2000]

As a chester resident, ive always used virgin, but usually the buffet bar is closed on the train. does the WSMR have its buffet bar closed at certain times during the trip.

 

[nedchester]

As a chester resident, ive always used virgin, but usually the buffet bar is closed on the train. does the WSMR have its buffet bar closed at certain times during the trip.

Not that I've noticed.

 

[ukrob]

As a chester resident, ive always used virgin, but usually the buffet bar is closed on the train. does the WSMR have its buffet bar closed at certain times during the trip.

That is very strange. Do you really mean 'usually'?

 

[robert2000]

well i sit in the back train of the 2 vogayers which are coupled together at chester, maybe the buffet in the front train is open.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

have you ever considered giving the front 5 coaches a try?

 

[robert2000]

well you would have thaught the rear of the 2 trains would have the buffet open since it has come from holyhead.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Have you tried at various points throughout the journey? It may be shut - for example - between Chester and Crewe because of a crew change or stock taking?

 

[robert2000]

i get off at crewe. to change for a LM train to euston.

the buffet on a virgin train was open once when i went to llandudno junction.

 

[tsubaki]

i get off at crewe. to change for a LM train to euston.

the buffet on a virgin train was open once when i went to llandudno junction.

I use the W+S fairly regularly (every couple of months) and I have never seen the buffet car closed.

As for this, its a wonderful idea both in terms of its convienience and its cunning, assuming of course they make allowance for people without food sitting near people with food who suddenly develop a hankering for food of their own.