GWR Pullman Dining - Reservations

[Toller Station]

I will be traveling in the UK on a First Class Britrail pass and see that as part of my travels I could use one of the GWR services out of Paddington that has the Pullman dining. Now, in the past when I had meals served in a dining car I would have a seat on the train and then go up to the dining car for the meal. How does the GWR system work? I know I should make a reservation in the dining car but should I also reserve a ticket in a non dining car carriage or is the dining seat yours for the journey? Also on luggage while I won’t have a huge amount of luggage I will have some. Does the dining carriage have any luggage storage?

 

[MrJeeves]

You should make a Pullman reservation online for your journey, but the seat should be yours for the whole journey, at least every time I've ridden on board.

Services to Swansea have their last orders much later than the services to Plymouth, so it's possible that they may seat new passengers to eat and politely hint for you to free your table, but I couldn't tell you for sure.

The dining carriage(s) is/are simply normal carriages with some tablecloths, so they have small luggage space above seats and racks at the ends of the carriages. If they're only using the end carriage on a lightly loaded train, there's wheelchair spaces which inevitably, rightly or wrongly, get filled with luggage if no wheelchair passengers are on board. There's also spaces between sets of 4 seats where you can lay large suitcases on their side or stand smaller suitcases upright.

 

[Toller Station]

Thank you, that’s an excellent answer.

 

[Jan Mayen]

I advise a reservation. In the dining car. I'd also advise one in a non-dining carriage if boarding at a station before service has started (for example, lunch service on the up train from Plymouth wasn't announced until Totnes).
If they are using coach L, thus doesn't have racks. It does have overhead racks, between seats, behind seats and under seats. As noted above by Mr Jeeves, also the wheelchair bay.

 

[RPI]

If you have a valid first class ticket you should be fine, it's only generally standard class passengers who may have to move back to their seats after the meal.

 

[Toller Station]

Again thanks for the response which are very useful. I understand about not moving back after the meal with a valid First Class ticket but before service has started? As my initial post suggested I will be departing from Paddington. When does service start? I am looking at the 1303 Paddington to Plymouth, midweek, which I would leave at Exeter SD. The GWR website says last orders at Reading so I presume service must start shortly after leaving Paddington?

 

[Dak31]

Again thanks for the response which are very useful. I understand about not moving back after the meal with a valid First Class ticket but before service has started? As my initial post suggested I will be departing from Paddington. When does service start? I am looking at the 1303 Paddington to Plymouth, midweek, which I would leave at Exeter SD. The GWR website says last orders at Reading so I presume service must start shortly after leaving Paddington?

Can't speak for lunchtime but last night (1836 ex PAD) they were taking orders pretty much immediately, certainly within 10 or so mins of departure. It was also absolutely full and turning people away.

 

[sh24]

ex Paddington they'll seat you straight away, but you might be waiting in a short queue on the platform.

ex Plymouth, you'll be asked to take a seat in the regular first class coach until they call you for dining. Totnes and after, you take your seat immediately.

 

[Toller Station]

Thanks for both posts, now I’m set.

 

[FenMan]

I've been tempted to catch a Devon-bound Pullman dining service at Reading, but it's unclear to me if "last orders at Reading" means no deal (or meal) for me. Advice appreciated!

 

[sh24]

If you join at Reading with a reservation, no problem. If you join without, then you'll get served if they have space and if they aren't short on food (which occasionally happens).

 

[alastair]

I've been tempted to catch a Devon-bound Pullman dining service at Reading, but it's unclear to me if "last orders at Reading" means no deal (or meal) for me. Advice appreciated!

I've caught the 1329 at Reading several times with a standard ticket and always been warmly welcomed - it's never been anything like full, but obviously no absolute guarantee.

 

[FenMan]

@sh24 @alastair

Thank you!