YorkshireBear
Established Member
- Joined
- 23 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 8,703
I too am glad to see that Pullman services are to be retained on the new trains.
It is however IMHO a most regrettable downgrade to remove buffets. A so called intercity train with only a trolley for standard class.
On another forum some years ago I proffered as an opinion, and later stated as a fact that "the new trains wont have buffets"
Such negative views were widely criticised "how do you know, the design is not yet finalised" and so on.
The new trains are now being built and some will soon be in service, they do not have buffets. What a surprise.
Just how far along a full length train will a trolley get, before running out of supplies ?
And most of the fleet are half length and will allegedly run in pairs when required, meaning that the trolley will be in the other half, (no gangways between units on new trains remember)
It was an "essiential requirement" of the design of the new trains that a buffet could be retrofitted in the future, but I don't think that anyone really believes that it will happen.
Some of the criticism was deflected by stating that a second batch of new trains were being built for longer distance services to Cornwall and that these "could" have buffets. Well in theory they COULD but they WONT.
Welcome to the future.
I personally think there is a tendency amongst rail enthusiasts to over state the importance and value in buffets to normal passengers.
For instance my wife who has no interest at all in railways much prefers a trolley so she doesn't worry about her belongings.