XC Catering

[Chrism20]

Interesting , do you know what services these are ?
Im pretty sure VTEC offer catering between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Heck i was on the 2000 from Edinburgh to Queen st on a Sat and there was no catering or first class service

One of them is 1S35 which is the 1312 from Edinburgh. It usually has a trolley on it although the last couple of times I've been on it it's been a static trolley in coach A which is one of the issues that was raised earlier in the thread.

It forms the 1500 from Glasgow to Bristol so I'm guessing that service will also have a trolley available.

That's the only XC service I usually use between Edinburgh and Glasgow so not sure what other ones have a trolley.

VTEC have a full service between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the mornings as they are usually clearing the plates when I get on at Edinburgh. I'm not sure about northbound though - mainly due to never paying attention as I'm getting off at Edinburgh.

 

[AlterEgo]

Two of the XC Edinburgh to Glasgow weekday services have catering (and the associated return journey).

They don't need to sell that much to cover a few hours payroll.

They do. I would estimate it costs about £50 to employ a person for three hours selling stuff from a trolley.

"Payroll" isn't the only cost involved in employing staff.

 

[All Line Rover]

Bumpf from company yesterday contradicts somewhat though what was said by RMT after the meeting, that both STD and FC would both served by same central kitchen/galley via trolley.

If the kitchen/galley is towards the centre of the train, does this mean that the leading first class carriage won't be in the daft Pendolino Coach K layout with a massive kitchen and only 10-odd seats for passengers?

 

[dk1]

If the kitchen/galley is towards the centre of the train, does this mean that the leading first class carriage won't be in the daft Pendolino Coach K layout with a massive kitchen and only 10-odd seats for passengers?

Those seats aren't for passengers. The crew make that more than obvious

 

[route101]

One of them is 1S35 which is the 1312 from Edinburgh. It usually has a trolley on it although the last couple of times I've been on it it's been a static trolley in coach A which is one of the issues that was raised earlier in the thread.

It forms the 1500 from Glasgow to Bristol so I'm guessing that service will also have a trolley available.

That's the only XC service I usually use between Edinburgh and Glasgow so not sure what other ones have a trolley.

VTEC have a full service between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the mornings as they are usually clearing the plates when I get on at Edinburgh. I'm not sure about northbound though - mainly due to never paying attention as I'm getting off at Edinburgh.

The VTEC towards Glasgow , the buffet shuts before Carstairs ! The XC HST does not have catering to Glasgow , would be nice if it had a buffet CAR!

 

[father_jack]

If the kitchen/galley is towards the centre of the train, does this mean that the leading first class carriage won't be in the daft Pendolino Coach K layout with a massive kitchen and only 10-odd seats for passengers?

It's not clear yet what the configuration will be.

 

[dk1]

Got me thinking of how free & easy things where in the days of Regional Railways. Rightline Catering even used one of their Norwich based staff to trial a trolley on peak East Suffolk line workings after requests from guards (3-car class 101s at the time often in pairs) & even once covered the 19:00 Norwich-Liv St & return after the failure of ICOBS to provide a staff member. That was organised at a moments notice by the duty station supervisor (just asked the girl arriving on the inbound Liverpool Lime St at 18:35 after she'd already done a 12hr shift & she agreed !£!£!).

 

[Class 170101]

If it was still BR the XC services would be covered by Scotrail Catering staff based in either Dundee or Aberdeen (or indeed Glasgow), now that its split it creates another interface which is clearly inefficient.

 

[route101]

If it was still BR the XC services would be covered by Scotrail Catering staff based in either Dundee or Aberdeen (or indeed Glasgow), now that its split it creates another interface which is clearly inefficient.

Dont think now Scotrail would have any catering provison at Glasgow Central ! Stranraer and Carlisle services i think use to have catering ! Always thought the 380 services via cartstairs would welcome catering

 

[randyrippley]

If it was still BR the XC services would be covered by Scotrail Catering staff based in either Dundee or Aberdeen (or indeed Glasgow), now that its split it creates another interface which is clearly inefficient.

And the food would have been excellent.
Pan fried venison with an outstanding choice of wines. I wonder where that wine collection went?

 

[ScotTrains]

Dont think now Scotrail would have any catering provison at Glasgow Central ! Stranraer and Carlisle services i think use to have catering ! Always thought the 380 services via cartstairs would welcome catering

Scotrail are introducing catering on the GSW route to Carlisle. Can't remember when it is to start.

 

[dk1]

Also plans to re-introduce catering on selected Norwich-Cambridge services as a prelude to extending to Stansted.

 

[Class 170101]

Also plans to re-introduce catering on selected Norwich-Cambridge services as a prelude to extending to Stansted.

All based at Norwich I'm sure. So don't expect coffee on the 06:05 Cambridge to Norwich.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Dont think now Scotrail would have any catering provison at Glasgow Central ! Stranraer and Carlisle services i think use to have catering ! Always thought the 380 services via cartstairs would welcome catering

In BR days that would be for Intercity to / from London surely?

 

[dk1]

All based at Norwich I'm sure. So don't expect coffee on the 06:05 Cambridge to Norwich.

Would only be on selected not all trains & yes, only on trains that can be crewed from Norwich.

 

[Class 170101]

Would only be on selected not all trains & yes, only on trains that can be crewed from Norwich.

Sorry meant all catering is based at Norwich.

 

[Butts]

I happened upon an XC menu online and the description of their paid for £7odd Breakfast did not sound much better than the free offering VTEC/WC.

Also why don't they provide free alcohol in 1st Class.

No one in their right mind would travel 1st Class on XC if the route is covered by Virgin Services. Three or four scotches gives you a "£14 Cashback" straight away.

 

[BanburyBlue]

I happened upon an XC menu online and the description of their paid for £7odd Breakfast did not sound much better than the free offering VTEC/WC.

Also why don't they provide free alcohol in 1st Class.

No one in their right mind would travel 1st Class on XC if the route is covered by Virgin Services. Three or four scotches gives you a "£14 Cashback" straight away.

Was particularly annoyed at this when they were both Virgin - not sure how they could get away with it. Free beer on Virgin WC, Free OJ on Virgin XC!!

 

[Butts]

Was particularly annoyed at this when they were both Virgin - not sure how they could get away with it. Free beer on Virgin WC, Free OJ on Virgin XC!!

Indeed, outrageous, it should be a condition of the franchise award that Alcohol is free on all 1st Class Long Haul Journeys.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Was particularly annoyed at this when they were both Virgin - not sure how they could get away with it. Free beer on Virgin WC, Free OJ on Virgin XC!!

Virgin XC didn't have first class, they had club class

 

[Butts]

Virgin XC didn't have first class, they had club class

Well in that case it should have been Malt Whisky and not Bells or Grouse

 

[Sniffingmoose]

I say always always buy food before you get on. Mondays lack of catering experience taught me a real lesson. There can be a multitude of reasons why the catering offer does not appear. I was on the Northbound Highland Chieftain in 1st class all the way to Inverness on Monday, I did not eat before I boarded at York. Guess what, there was no food in first class. This was due to VTEC still getting over the disruption from the day before. So the whole train including the First Class coaches was so severely overcrowded with people standing, luggage, dogs, musical instruments and push chairs the catering staff could not get down the train nor could you get to the buffet counter. After Edinburgh the staff did come down and serve the rest of the day menu but the portions were so small that as soon as we arrived in Inverness 1 hour late I was still Hungry. So its a good job Morrisons is still open late near Inverness railway station. I must say it was a great atmosphere though, a real war time survival spirit on the train.

 

[Butts]

I say always always buy food before you get on. Mondays lack of catering experience taught me a real lesson. There can be a multitude of reasons why the catering offer does not appear. I was on the Northbound Highland Chieftain in 1st class all the way to Inverness on Monday, I did not eat before I boarded at York. Guess what, there was no food in first class. This was due to VTEC still getting over the disruption from the day before. So the whole train including the First Class coaches was so severely overcrowded with people standing, luggage, dogs, musical instruments and push chairs the catering staff could not get down the train nor could you get to the buffet counter. After Edinburgh the staff did come down and serve the rest of the day menu but the portions were so small that as soon as we arrived in Inverness 1 hour late I was still Hungry. So its a good job Morrisons is still open late near Inverness railway station. I must say it was a great atmosphere though, a real war time survival spirit on the train.

Without the tabs to pull you through it

 

[387star]

are the pre order meals available in conjunction with priv rate tickets?

 

[dk1]

are the pre order meals available in conjunction with priv rate tickets?

I don't know of any Priv rates on catering in the UK unless it's for the TOC that you work for.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I don't know of any Priv rates on catering in the UK unless it's for the TOC that you work for.

£5 on VTEC allows access to the food offer....

 

[dk1]

£5 on VTEC allows access to the food offer....

Oh yes, I'd forgotten that one which is for 1st class free travel I believe. On GA we get around 20% off at the buffet car (not alcohol though which seems odd if day off) and we get hot drinks for £1. Does not apply to staff from any other TOC or safeguarded BR staff.

 

[Agent_c]

Let's reverse the question.

Why don't XC provide catering if it's so obviously in their interests (as some assert) to do so?

Because they can't be bothered phoning scotrail and making an arrangement to bring on supplies (and maybe borrow a staff member)

 

[Jonfun]

Because they can't be bothered phoning scotrail and making an arrangement to bring on supplies (and maybe borrow a staff member)

Wouldn't that cost more than just staffing it in-house? I hardly think Scotrail will have more catering staff sitting spare than XC do.

 

[ScotTrains]

If the new timetable proposal goes ahead, then the Aberdeen leg will be in the afternoon. I would imagine this should make it much easier to include catering staff onboard.
The Glasgow legs should really have catering too, especially during peak times and during the day.