First Class meal times Wigan to Glasgow and back.

[Vespa]

As mentioned I'm wondering what time would Avanti be serving meals ?

Travelling next month first time with Avanti.

I'm Glasgow bound 08.38 Friday
Back Tuesday 16.40 Wigan return.

If you have travelled at these times I would be interested to know your experiences.

Thanks

 

[30907]

No recent experience, sorry, but according to the timetable on the Avanti website
https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/timetables/plan-your-journey/timetables
breakfast service continues to beyond Carlisle, so perhaps service after Preston?
On the return hot food service is advertised south of Preston, so you're out of luck there (it changed some years ago IIRC).

 

[Vespa]

Mmm thanks for the heads up... I suppose I could ask the serving staff on board that I'm getting off at Wigan "would they be able to provide anything or earlier meal ?"

If you don't ask, you don't get. This will be my first time using Avanti so will judge from that.

 

[causton]

More than likely you won't get anything Wigan - Preston. Maybe a tea or coffee on the northbound run but that'll be it.

You'll get offered breakfast after Preston, and a sandwich/hot snack between Glasgow and Carlisle.

If you are lucky there will be more tea/coffee/drink runs afterwards.

(This is based on my experience!)

I see what @30907 means - looks like you won't get a hot meal. They usually spend the 10 minutes between Preston - Wigan getting ready for service, I doubt you'll see anything after they clear the cups away around Lancaster...

 

[Vespa]

Quite disappointing not to get anthing hot before Wigan considering I paid first class.

 

[30907]

Quite disappointing not to get anthing hot before Wigan considering I paid first class.

You are getting the service as advertised.

 

[voyagerdude220]

(it changed some years ago IIRC).

You're certainly right- The 16:40 used to offer hot evening meals to passengers joining at Glasgow/Motherwell. Possibly also to those joining at Carlisle/Penrith.

I also notice a couple of changes- 16:30 Euston to Glasgow used to offer hot evening meals to those joining at Euston- now it's only offered north of Preston.
16:57 Euston to Glasgow doesn't seem to offer hot evening meals at all at any point- I'd feel very annoyed if I used that train- particularly considering how expensive fares would be.

 

[Vespa]

Interesting, unless I'm travelling end to end like Liverpool to London or London to Glasgow, guess I'll be travelling 1st Class North and Cattle Class coming back if I'm joining a Glasgow service part way in future, I'll certainly be hoovering up the first class lounge to get my moneys worth.

 

[route101]

You're certainly right- The 16:40 used to offer hot evening meals to passengers joining at Glasgow/Motherwell. Possibly also to those joining at Carlisle/Penrith.

I also notice a couple of changes- 16:30 Euston to Glasgow used to offer hot evening meals to those joining at Euston- now it's only offered north of Preston.
16:57 Euston to Glasgow doesn't seem to offer hot evening meals at all at any point- I'd feel very annoyed if I used that train- particularly considering how expensive fares would be.

Is there any way to get or ask for meal if your doing Euston to Glasgow on the 1630?

 

[VT 390]

Mmm thanks for the heads up... I suppose I could ask the serving staff on board that I'm getting off at Wigan "would they be able to provide anything or earlier meal ?"

If you don't ask, you don't get. This will be my first time using Avanti so will judge from that.

When ever I have used Glasgow to Euston services the catering crew have changed over at Preston and then prepared the meals, though I don't know if this is on every service. So I think it would be very unlikely that you would get served a meal before then as they will not be prepared.
Not to do with meals but I would recommend using the first class lounge at Glasgow as I think it is one of the better West Coast ones, although I have not been there since Avanti took over.

 

[30907]

Is there any way to get or ask for meal if your doing Euston to Glasgow on the 1630?

Yes. Ask when they come round after Preston when hot meal service starts.

 

[snail]

Is there any way to get or ask for meal if your doing Euston to Glasgow on the 1630?

The routine on the couple of Avanti services I have Seat Frogged between Preston and London is
- drinks trolley
- cold food / snacks or order hot food if available (3 choices M-Th, 1 choice Fri)
- coffee / tea
- dessert / sweet snacks
- drinks trolley

So on the 1630 you should be offered a cold sandwich or salad not long after departure then after Lancaster offered a hot food selection.

I found the lack of coffee compared to VT disappointing - but the one cup I did have wasn't that great anyway.

 

[route101]

The routine on the couple of Avanti services I have Seat Frogged between Preston and London is
- drinks trolley
- cold food / snacks or order hot food if available (3 choices M-Th, 1 choice Fri)
- coffee / tea
- dessert / sweet snacks
- drinks trolley

So on the 1630 you should be offered a cold sandwich or salad not long after departure then after Lancaster offered a hot food selection.

I found the lack of coffee compared to VT disappointing - but the one cup I did have wasn't that great anyway.

I see ,im almost always on the morning services from Glasgow.

 

[Vespa]

Just arrived in Glasgow, had a British breakfast, two cups of coffee and two bottles of spring water, not much has changed from Virgin apart from Avanti branded headrest covers and table mats.

Staff attitude so so, minimum wage attitude.

Hoovered up the Glasgow First Class lounge at least

 

[Mike99]

Just arrived in Glasgow, had a British breakfast, two cups of coffee and two bottles of spring water, not much has changed from Virgin apart from Avanti branded headrest covers and table mats.

Staff attitude so so, minimum wage attitude.

Hoovered up the Glasgow First Class lounge at least

View attachment 74336 View attachment 74337

Whats, minimum wage attitude?

 

[Vespa]

Whats, minimum wage attitude?

Doing the bare minimum to the job description, no effort, no attempt to be customer friendly, brusque.

That sort of thing.

 

[route101]

Doing the bare minimum to the job description, no effort, no attempt to be customer friendly, brusque.

That sort of thing.

Only done first a few times on WC and brusque is the word that describes the service i had , was a scottish crew too.

 

[Vespa]

Travelled back today got served a sandwich and a packet of crisps, at least I got a glass of red wine


Don't think I'll be back to Glasgow for a while so I'm making the most of it.

Going London next Sunday, so fully expect Sunday service, still hoovering up the first class lounge facilities.


First class Hoovering

 

[CHESHIRECAT]

Just arrived in Glasgow, had a British breakfast, two cups of coffee and two bottles of spring water, not much has changed from Virgin apart from Avanti branded headrest covers and table mats.

Staff attitude so so, minimum wage attitude.



Hoovered up the Glasgow First Class lounge at least

View attachment 74336 View attachment 74337

Minimum wage ?? Think £25k on joining....!!

 

[Starmill]

Doing the bare minimum to the job description, no effort, no attempt to be customer friendly, brusque.

That sort of thing.

It's not as though this is rare or unusual? This is a train company we're taking about. It's not Premier Inn or Pizza Express, or any of the other similar companies who depend on consistent good service from the front line staff to survive.

 

[Vespa]

In spite of £25k, a salary which I find hard to believe still minimum wage attitude.