London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

Butts · 24 Sep 2021

greyman42 said:
Yes.

Is there actually anyone not certified insane that prefers The Hitachi Ironing Board Express to the GWR Armchair Express ?

Could they have designed the new Azuma with seats as good as it's predecessor ?

Now it has been acknowledged how poor the Azuma Seats are will there be an improvement when Mark II arrives ?

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trebor79 · 24 Sep 2021

Butts said:
Could they have designed the new Azuma with seats as good as it's predecessor ?

Of course. In fact Hitachi specified different seats but the DfT insisted upon Fainsa Sophia for reasons of a tiny cost saving.

Bungle73 · 24 Sep 2021

Just seen this tweeted in reply to someone on Twitter....

LNER said:
I am sorry for any dissapointment Alison, we're looking to reintroduce hot meals in First Class within the next month. ^Charlene

takno · 24 Sep 2021

To be fair, the new menu does have a reasonable range of sandwiches, and a couple of hot sandwich options. It would have been nice if they'd done food, abd maybe another booze run, but two lots of sandwiches and a couple of beers in 2.5 hours wasn't bad, and covered the 5 quid more than standard it cost just fine

Bungle73 · 24 Sep 2021

What I don't understand is why they appear to not have the slightest clue when it's going to happen. What are they waiting for? Are they throwing a die each week and when it lands on a six that's when it'll happen?

ainsworth74 · 24 Sep 2021

Bungle73 said:
What I don't understand is why they appear to not have the slightest clue when it's going to happen. What are they waiting for? Are they throwing a die each week and when it lands on a six that's when it'll happen?

Social media team have no idea. I'd be surprised if the people actually in charge of catering didn't have some sort of idea/plan. They just may not be sharing it with the social media team.

DeeGee · 27 Sep 2021

Stormaggeddon said:
I find the head cushion pushes my neck out at a strange angle, but by removing it and using as a "booster cushion" it lessens both the hard seat and neck issue. They're only held on with a strip of velcro so fairly easy to do. Just have to make sure to put it back when alighting.

So there's going to be a load of head cushions which have been used as lumbar support?

In which case, I don't think I want one at all.

Do they recline? And if so, do they recline, aeroplane-style, into the space for the seat behind?

ainsworth74 · 27 Sep 2021

DeeGee said:
Do they recline? And if so, do they recline, aeroplane-style, into the space for the seat behind?

They do recline but within their own space so the person behind doesn't lose any space (the base slides basically).

Goldfish62 · 27 Sep 2021

ainsworth74 said:
They do recline but within their own space so the person behind doesn't lose any space (the base slides basically).

As has been the case since reclining seats were introduced on Britain's railways all those decades ago. 8-)

Bungle73 · 27 Sep 2021

Just seen LNER say in reply to someone on Facebook that the lack of spirits in First is due to "going through a change in suppliers" and that "they'll be back in the near future".

takno · 27 Sep 2021

Bungle73 said:
Just seen LNER say in reply to someone on Facebook that the lack of spirits in First is due to "going through a change in suppliers" and that "they'll be back in the near future".

I could believe that. They certainly aren't being stingy with any of the other drink, and if supply chains have been focused on the type of alcohol people drink at home there might not be a huge quantity of miniatures to be had at the moment.

Butts · 27 Sep 2021

takno said:
I could believe that. They certainly aren't being stingy with any of the other drink, and if supply chains have been focused on the type of alcohol people drink at home there might not be a huge quantity of miniatures to be had at the moment.

Well it does not seem to be a problem for Avanti or British Airways ?

westv · 27 Sep 2021

Goldfish62 said:
As has been the case since reclining seats were introduced on Britain's railways all those decades ago.

It's a pity that airline seats can't do the same.

Butts · 30 Sep 2021

westv said:
It's a pity that airline seats can't do the same.

A lot of them don't reline at all these days.

Extremely important on Long Haul to get a seat where no one can recline on you.

As for Trains the demise of HST's was the death knell for decent First Class reclining Seats.

Bungle73 · 1 Oct 2021

Just been away for a few days to Lincoln. Had the New York Deli Sandwich on the out trip, which was pretty nice. On the train back a few hours ago I opted for the hot ciabatta. I was surprised how big it was. I expected it to be on the small side but it was massive! No menus on the table for either journey (even though we were asked to consult them prior to departure from Lincoln, which was odd). And I was bit thrown by the fact that everything was on one trolley, rather than separate trolleys, and it was all hidden away. I also think the new glasses are far too small in capacity.

yorksrob · 1 Oct 2021

Butts said:
As for Trains the demise of HST's was the death knell for decent First Class reclining Seats.

Since the EMR HST's were removed, I always feel this overwhelming sense of mourning and gloom whenever I buy a ticket to or from London.

Goldfish62 · 2 Oct 2021

Butts said:
As for Trains the demise of HST's was the death knell for decent First Class reclining Seats.

The Mk 4s, which are still in service, have exactly the same seats as the HSTs did.

Bungle73 · 4 Oct 2021

Now it's become "by the end of the year"!! :rolleyes:

Stormaggeddon · 4 Oct 2021

Bungle73 said:
Now it's become "by the end of the year"!!

Did they confirm which year?

westv · 4 Oct 2021

Bungle73 said:
Now it's become "by the end of the year"!!

It's almost farcical.
In addition Hull Trains still doesn't have any standard class catering even though they have it in 1st. :rolleyes:

Bungle73 · 5 Oct 2021

I've just been on the website and now all traces of an ETA have been removed from the info for the Dish menu. Now all it says is "The brand new Dish menu will be coming soon. We're working behind the scenes to bring you this delicious new menu into First Class"............................

Butts · 5 Oct 2021

Bungle73 said:
I've just been on the website and now all traces of an ETA have been removed from the info for the Dish menu. Now all it says is "The brand new Dish menu will be coming soon. We're working behind the scenes to bring you this delicious new menu into First Class"............................

Well I hope it's worth waiting for !!

38Cto15E · 6 Oct 2021

If any BM's travel on LNER regularly can they please send me a PM.

Bungle73 · 6 Oct 2021

I guess I won't be getting my cooked breakfast next week then..............

38Cto15E · 6 Oct 2021

On my journey to Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, the staff came round with the cold drinks and I asked if I could have two. (It was late morning and very few people were drinking alcohol.)
The host said, "If I have any left when I come back after serving everyone, I will drop you one off". I replied "Don't forget" and smiled. When he passed back, nothing, although the cart was still well stocked.

No big deal, I will walk up to Coach G (not very elegantly) and buy a couple of cans. The cans sold are larger than the complmentary ones. Anyway with the carrier bag and the cans on my table it was clear I had been to the cafe bar and bought the two cans.
The outcome was that between Newcastle and Berwick a can was dropped off without asking for one, so I saved that for my nightcap.

Butts · 6 Oct 2021

Well next week I am flying from Edinburgh to London Club and coming back the same day 1st Class on LNER so it will be an interesting comparison with regard to Lounges and the actual conveyance level of service provided.

ge-gn · 14 Oct 2021

Hi All.

Hoping to travel First Class between either Stevenage or Grantham and Shipley on a Seatfrog upgrade at tomorrow.

Just wondering if there is any benefit from a service point of view from getting on board at Stevenage or Grantham?

ie, will I likely be served more times if I board at Stevenage, making the additional cost of travelling from there worthwhile?

TIA.

TT-ONR-NRN · 14 Oct 2021

ge-gn said:
Hi All.

Hoping to travel First Class between either Stevenage or Grantham and Shipley on a Seatfrog upgrade at tomorrow.

Just wondering if there is any benefit from a service point of view from getting on board at Stevenage or Grantham?

ie, will I likely be served more times if I board at Stevenage, making the additional cost of travelling from there worthwhile?

TIA.

No. They’re quite stingy these days and rarely serve twice between London and Newcastle, let alone Stevenage and Shipley.

Butts · 14 Oct 2021

Just got off the 1400 KGX to Aberdeen service at Edinburgh Waverley........

On departure from KGX full drinks alcoholic/soft and food run - Had NY Deli S/W Crisps and Cake plus Can of Becks

One hour in Tea & Coffee Run - with biscuits

On departure from York.....alcohol/soft drinks run with snacks only

On departure from Newcastle ...Tea & Coffee run with biscuits

On departure from Berwick upon Tweed ..alcohol/soft drinks run

Just about acceptable for a 4hr 30minute journey - but they didn't offer main food after initial run, was expecting it at Newcastle but they were targeting people who got on only.

Suspect it probably reappeared ex Edinburgh after I got off.

Weirdest aspect was the booze run after Berwick - never known that before.

westv · 15 Oct 2021

I'll guess that LNER made their chefs redundant the same as Hull Trains probably made some of their catering crew redundant. LNER first class hot meals can't start again and Hull Trains can't start standard refreshments until staff are hired - which is taking more time than expected.
I may be wrong at that guess though.

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