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On-train catering

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Watershed

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What's taken so long?
The usual "we need to do a risk assessment" excuse.

Meanwhile most other TOCs got on with it. And pubs etc. had table service at all times they were allowed to be open.

XC had catering back during August 2020. I thought trolleys had resumed for a long time now or was it a static service?
It was a static service.
 
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dk1

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The usual "we need to do a risk assessment" excuse.

Meanwhile most other TOCs got on with it. And pubs etc. had table service at all times they were allowed to be open.


It was a static service.
As said, better late than never but still.
 

Mainline421

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I actually preferred the traditional buffet style service on XC during Covid. Meant you could get refreshments when you want them instead of having to wait for the trolley, and it didn't block the aisle when you didn't want them.
 
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221129

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The usual "we need to do a risk assessment" excuse
You would be wrong.

During COVID there were supply issues that meant a lot of the hot water pots for the trollies and delivery to train boxes were still awaiting repair or replacement. For most of the last 6 months all the service centres only had a very small supply of these if they were lucky. Given that every trolley requires 6 it took some time to reliably build up the stock required.
 
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Watershed

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You would be wrong.

During COVID there were supply issues that meant a lot of the hot water pots for the trollies and delivery to train boxes were still awaiting repair or replacement. For most of the last 6 months all the service centres only had a very small supply of these if they were lucky. Given that every trolley requires 6 it took some time to reliably build up the stock required.
Well that's not what I've been told, but there we go. Had catering never been suspended (and with hindsight, I struggle to see why that was ever a proportionate measure given that catering remained open during lockdowns 2 & 3) this situation wouldn't have been reached.
 

Mally66

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It's not even really the fact booze isn't available for sale (or free in first class) that annoys me with LNER, it's the fact it's completely banned. Same on ScotRail. I'd usually stop at a nice craft beer bottle shop on the way to the station and buy a few cans of something interesting to drink while watching the world go by but that remains verboten even now.
As I was led to believe the reason for the alcohol ban onboard these services was to prevent people getting too close to each other after drinking? ie hugging, touching, etc. Inebriated people become more tactile after a few bevvies. This in turn would of assisted in the spread of Covid!
 

greyman42

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As I was led to believe the reason for the alcohol ban onboard these services was to prevent people getting too close to each other after drinking? ie hugging, touching, etc. Inebriated people become more tactile after a few bevvies. This in turn would of assisted in the spread of Covid!
It was never implemented in my experience.
 

D6130

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It was never implemented in my experience.
Nor in mine. At the end of July, my wife and I travelled from Glasgow to Inverness on a 170-operated morning service and on arrival at Stirling, two middle-aged couples - presumably friends and/or neighbours, who were spending the long-weekend in Inverness - sat down at the table opposite us and proceeded to lay out their picnic, including copious quantities of Prosecco and other wines, which they consumed most of the way to the Highland Capital. The conductor passed through the coach at least three times and didn't bat an eyelid.
 

westv

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It seems that Hull Trains lack of standard class catering is now permanent.
 

westv

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What do they knock out for Free in 1st these days ? - it's been years since I was on one of their services.
The last time I used them in September it was either a "sausage" or bacon roll and tea/coffee/water.
Sandwiches at other times.
 

Mally66

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The last time I used them in September it was either a "sausage" or bacon roll and tea/coffee/water.
Sandwiches at other times.
I think the offering in First Class depends on whether the catering is in house or contracted out to an outside contractor? I'd imagine the fee for supplying freebeies to first class would be negotiated and built into the contract? There is such a variation across Toc's. Imo Avanti West Coast gives the best offering currently.
 
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Well that's not what I've been told, but there we go. Had catering never been suspended (and with hindsight, I struggle to see why that was ever a proportionate measure given that catering remained open during lockdowns 2 & 3) this situation wouldn't have been reached.
I can vouch for this a Retail Service Manager on-board. We had to rely on the 1st class hot water jugs as replacement for the trolley water pots. These would not fit on the trolley so we were unable to utilise the trolley until the pot lids were replaced. The delay was caused by the cargo boat that got blocked a while back. The replacement lids were on that boat I’m led to believe..
 

westv

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Apart from Hull Trains are there any other TOCs that still haven't brought back catering in standard class?
 

route101

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Only seen catering on select West Highland services. Makes me wonder if catering will come back on other routes.
 
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