XC on board catering?

[caliwag]

A question really...

My good lady is travelling FC on the 18.30 Birmingham to York...that's the Southampton to Newcastle.

Should she have expected comp hot/cold food at least until Sheffield?

Thanks anyone

 

[David10]

Should be hot & cold food up until 2000 Mon-Fri only.

 

[caliwag]

Many thanks for the swift reply D10...cannot imagine it runs Soton to Newcastle with nothing however...poor do.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Seems there was nothing from Birmingham and she's cold...bloody bus company!

 

[DeeGee]

Is that "until 2000 Mon-Fri" route specific?

I'm travelling on the Plymouth-Aberdeen service next Saturday- albeit just three stops. Will there really have been no hot food at any point on the train?

 

[ainsworth74]

Is that "until 2000 Mon-Fri" route specific?

I'm travelling on the Plymouth-Aberdeen service next Saturday- albeit just three stops. Will there really have been no hot food at any point on the train?

Unless you're in first class then there won't be anything hot, though I do think they trialled bacon butties in the morning but I don't know if that still continues and from what I recall they sold out very quickly (mostly because they only stocked a very small number). Also it is route specific as it's only available on services operating through Birmingham to/from Plymouth, Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading and Bournemouth.

 

[DeeGee]

Is there going to be any kind of buffet, or is it trolley only, then?

 

[ainsworth74]

Is there going to be any kind of buffet, or is it trolley only, then?

Trolley only, the buffets were removed a few years ago to make more space for luggage and following a customer survey that suggested that people wanted a trolley rather than a buffet.

 

[CC 72100]

Is there going to be any kind of buffet, or is it trolley only, then?

XC is trolley only. Just depends where you're travelling of course. I'm not sure what they do up near Aberdeen, but there is no catering Plymouth - Penzance on Cornwall-bound trains (not relevant, but an example of how it works away from the 'core' bit of the route)

 

[ainsworth74]

Just depends where you're travelling of course. I'm not sure what they do up near Aberdeen, but there is no catering Plymouth - Penzance on Cornwall-bound trains (not relevant, but an example of how it works away from the 'core' bit of the route)

On the SW - Scotland services the trolley runs between Plymouth and Edinburgh.

 

[CC 72100]

On the SW - Scotland services the trolley runs between Plymouth and Edinburgh.

Thought there'd be a bit up North without a trolley in a similar way South of Plymouth is trolley-less. Can't say I've ever used XCs catering, but worth being aware of.

 

[David10]

Is that "until 2000 Mon-Fri" route specific?

I'm travelling on the Plymouth-Aberdeen service next Saturday- albeit just three stops. Will there really have been no hot food at any point on the train?

There is no catering north of Edinburgh or south of Plymouth. Otherwise all trains should have a trolley until 2000, 7 days. Hot food only available in 1st on weekdays.

 

[D1009]

Trolley only, the buffets were removed a few years ago to make more space for luggage and following a customer survey that suggested that people wanted a trolley rather than a buffet.

They may have said that was the reason, but the real reason is that they realised trolleys are more profitable than buffets.

 

[bnm]

I do like that CrossCountry call their trolley operatives "Retail Services Managers".

Who exactly are they managing? My definition of a manager is someone in charge of a team of people. Do these trolley operatives get a comparable management salary to, say, that of a High Street retail manager?

I'll answer that myself: CrossCountry top out at around £21,000 p.a. High Street you can expect to top out around £35,000 p.a.

Managers in name only.

 

[mallard]

I do like that CrossCountry call their trolley operatives "Retail Services Managers".

Who exactly are they managing? My definition of a manager is someone in charge of a team of people. Do these trolley operatives get a comparable management salary to, say, that of a High Street retail manager?

I'll answer that myself: CrossCountry top out at around £21,000 p.a. High Street you can expect to top out around £35,000 p.a.

Managers in name only.

That kind of thing is common in retail/catering. A number of my friends were "managers" at the local McDonalds back when we were at school...

 

[basfordlad]

I remember back in the days of Intercity Cross Country when you get a decent meal on proper china plates. cloth on table going from Birmingham up to Scotland on a IC125. Must have been around 98/99.

Would this have been a common thing back then? or would it have been service and time dependent?

 

[ainsworth74]

Must have been around 98/99.

That would have been Virgin CrossCountry not ICXC and I'm not sure that Virgin kept that sort of service for long after taking over the franchise.

 

[sprinterguy]

What does the first class catering on Crosscountry actually offer?

I have been given the impression from friends of mine who have travelled first class with XC that you should count yourself lucky if you manage to get your hands on an uninspiring cheese sandwich. The mention of a "hot" food offering makes me curious: Is there more than what I have been led to believe up there in the higher reaches of Crosscountry first class travel?

 

[ainsworth74]

What does the first class catering on Crosscountry actually offer?

You can find menus here. However, as I understand it (and your friends have told you) that it is very very hit and miss as to if these hot options will be available. I've also been lead to believe that the quality of the dishes is poor at best as they're cheap microwave jobs what with Voyagers not having a proper kitchen (something which 222s on much shorter journeys do have!).

 

[sprinterguy]

You can find menus here. However, as I understand it (and your friends have told you) that it is very very hit and miss as to if these hot options will be available. I've also been lead to believe that the quality of the dishes is poor at best as they're cheap microwave jobs what with Voyagers not having a proper kitchen (something which 222s on much shorter journeys do have!).

Thanks very much for the link. I'm glad to see that the bacon sarnies still survive. I managed to grab one on what I think was the one and only time I've travelled first class with XC, and I found it to be fairly reasonable, which by the look of that menu, is probably the highest accolade it would be appropriate to award XCs' catering
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I remember back in the days of Intercity Cross Country when you get a decent meal on proper china plates. cloth on table going from Birmingham up to Scotland on a IC125. Must have been around 98/99.

Would this have been a common thing back then? or would it have been service and time dependent?

I never travelled in first class on the XC network that far back, but I have gained the impression since then that such a service would not be provided on all Intercity (or early Virgin) Crosscountry services. I have a feeling that the longest haul services such as the "Devon Scot" and the "Cornish Scot" offered a more substantial catering service, though I don't know for certain.

 

[laird]

ICXC Had an at seat offering in Standard Class and First Class coincidentally under the brand "Voyager". It operated similarly to the enhanced at seat service "Standard Plus" that I think a few of the other operators tried on peak services.

The Voyager Class ticket entitled you to a seat in the standard class section of a HST buffet car (standard class being at the First Class end of the carriage), window labels identified the area as for Voyager ticket holders only. A meal was served, a snack later in the journey, tea and coffee came in china cups. A Host was provided to serve food and assist with luggage. Optionally for a further upgrade a First Class Voyager Ticket could be purchased, the service was the same as the "Voyager Class" but now the passenger was seated in the First Class carriage of the HST.

I think somewhere I may have a mug, menu from the Devon Scot and voucher leaflet (promoting it to Plymouth-Glasgow sleeper customers).

As a ticket related promotion it was only available on the longest services and then only for passengers travelling several hours.

Post Virgin taking over the franchise it was Tea, Biscuits (cake at Christmas time) until the 47s and HSTs gave way to Voyager trains.

 

[dk1]

XC is trolley only. Just depends where you're travelling of course. I'm not sure what they do up near Aberdeen, but there is no catering Plymouth - Penzance on Cornwall-bound trains (not relevant, but an example of how it works away from the 'core' bit of the route)

That is always very poor. A recent trip from St.Erth to Bristol Parkway saw the train very busy throughout & no trolley til Plymouth. By this time everybody wanted something & the poor chap finally got to us after Taunton

 

[caliwag]

As the opening poster, I thought I'd report back.
Seems there were no hot drinks, nor food from Birmingham...on a service from Soton to Newcastle, for goodness sake! Arrival at Sheffield allowed passengers (intercom advice) to buy coffee etc from the platform buffet as there was 9 mins waiting time...Buy mind you, for FC passengers!!

Surely this is very poor. Hasn't Derby got supplies?...even a hot water bowser!

All in all, a very poor level of service.

 

[Bridge189]

Thanks very much for the link. I'm glad to see that the bacon sarnies still survive. I managed to grab one on what I think was the one and only time I've travelled first class with XC, and I found it to be fairly reasonable, which by the look of that menu, is probably the highest accolade it would be appropriate to award XCs' catering
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I never travelled in first class on the XC network that far back, but I have gained the impression since then that such a service would not be provided on all Intercity (or early Virgin) Crosscountry services. I have a feeling that the longest haul services such as the "Devon Scot" and the "Cornish Scot" offered a more substantial catering service, though I don't know for certain.

I don't think ICXC ever had the same level of catering as the likes of EC/WC/MML/GW as is still reflected today because it has no "London" status.

When Virgin brought the Voyagers out they had china crockery in First class in the beginning but the dishwashers prooved a challenge at best and the XC network was deemed too logistically complicated/not enough premium traffic to justify off-board washing so it was ditched.

The biggest blunder was ditching the shop and the range that went with them. Hopefully a buffet will be included in the voyager extension as strongly rumoured.

 

[bnm]

In 1986 InterCity had the following menu (see link below) on offer on the newly introduced Cross Country services from the South Coast to the North West via Kenny O. Available to all and you were seated in the buffet car:

http://andygibbs.zenfolio.com/p853553453/h21CC9D92#h21cc9d92 (then click for larger image)

Also worth reading is the British Rail press release following the inauguration of InterCity services via Kenny O:

http://andygibbs.zenfolio.com/p853553453/h21CC9D92#h1e29ab58

 

[DeeGee]

The shop used to be OK. I suppose it's not as profitable as squeezing a load more seats on, though.

 

[ainsworth74]

I suppose it's not as profitable as squeezing a load more seats on, though.

Only they didn't fit many more seats (if any) it's used for luggage storage but I find it's often fairly empty as people won't use it as they don't want to be out of sight of their luggage (and who can blame them what with all the announcements warning them against the 'dangers' of not watching their luggage).

 

[sprinterguy]

The shop used to be OK. I suppose it's not as profitable as squeezing a load more seats on, though.

The shop was removed primarily to provide space for the large luggage area. It was not possible to fit seats into this area, as there are no windows along the section of the body where the shop previously was. Only eight extra seats were "squeezed in" compared to the original layout, and this was mainly done by repositioning the seats within the existing length of the seated section of the saloon so that they were closer together, rather than extending the length of the seating area to any great extent, which is why a number of the electronic reservation displays no longer match up with the positions of seats.

 

[222007]

Surely this is very poor. Hasn't Derby got supplies?...even a hot water bowser!

Nope Derby has nothing. Our service centers are based at Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham and Plymouth, i cant remember whether there's one at Bristol as well.

 

[WCML]

Don't touch the Sausage and Egg sandwiches they offer. My word they are disgusting. I'm starting to feel ill just thinking about that sorry excuse for food I had the misfortune of tasting. Yuck!

The first class offering is shocking for an inter city service. Expect a hot drink or a very small can of pop with those horrendous buttery Walkers biscuits, anything else is a bonus.

 

[Bristol Rover]

Would agree with the consensus - the catering is dreadful. Used to take the train down to Exeter and Taunton on cheap first class fares.

On an HST the trolley often never appears in the whole journey (even down to Newton Abbot I've never seen the damn thing).

Invariably now I drive.