London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Bungle73]

I'm with the "it looks nice". Could do with a bit more mash or some vegetables though.

 

[Butts]

I completely agree, depressing indeed!

The trip report above was good. Furthermore, I think this had set the standard for future reports on the EC service. Better get typing Butts!

My redacted drivel pales in comparison.......
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I'm with the "it looks nice". Could do with a bit more mash or some vegetables though.

Runner beans would set it off nicely !!

 

[yorksrob]

Good God, no one wants a soggy pie !

 

[paulypaul]

It would have been nice to have had some gravy with it, but I would imagine that the Health & Safety and cleaning goblins would have a field day condeming gravy on a train.

It actually looked alright on the plate, but it was very dry meat and pastry. I needed a few red wines and G&Ts to digest it properly. hic

 

[Nym]

Well, I came home on what was aparently a breakfast service (no ticket check btw... hehe) from NCL to KGX and had the 'joy' of the bacon sandwich, I honestly get better from a caff on the estate in Jarrow or down in Lambeth!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Well yesterday, I travelled from Inverness to Kings Cross on the 07:55. On a free First Class rewards single- booked just 2 weeks ago.

The breakfast was very good- my second journey from Inverness to London Kings Cross within around a month of each other, both of which featuring fridges which functioned correctly.

Only slight confusion was that the chap with the pastries didn't offer me one- he very promptly left after giving me a glass of fruit juice- but I did manage to get one later on in the journey.

I was sat in coach L, with a tabe of four to myself until Edinburgh. The train emptied at York though, so the majority of my journey was surprisingly quiet- more so compared to my previous journey on a Thursday 3-4 weeks ago.

I had the Brie tart, served with salad and crisps after we left Edinburgh. It was a nice light snack. It's a shame VT don't offer hot snacks during the day, apart from the enhanced ones north of Preston.

There was a second cold drinks/alcohol run between Edinburgh and Newcastle, but wasn't able to get another glass of ginger ale, as they hadn't put enough on at Edinburgh- they did however get more at Newcastle. I'm puzzled why so few were put on at Edinburgh, although I suppose it might not be that popular.

 

[Butts]

Weekend Catering Report......

I caught The Chieftan from Falkirk to Berwick Upon Tweed and the return Chieftain back to Falkirk.

This gave me three and a half hours in Berwick which I spent outside "The Leaping Salmon" imbibing Stella Artois and puffing away on my Bensons whilst reading the Independent - lovely Sunny Afternoon.

Outbound:

Made a slight bungle by ignoring my seat in J and grabbing a "4" to myself in L, thus probably costing me a coffee/biscuits before Edinburgh.

Out of EDB had Ham and Egg Sandwiches (in a pack), Crisps, Biscuits , Coffee and a Can of Coke.

Inbound:

This Service was empty grabbed a "4" in J and immediately served Coffee and Biscuits on departure from Berwick - offered Sandwich as well but turned it down ( yes that is not a misprint)

Out of EDB had Wensleydale Cheese and Carrot Chutney Sandwiches (in a pack), Crisps, Biscuits, Coffee and a Can of Coke. Took the Biscuits and Can of Coke with me on arrival at Falkirk.

So I had my Lunch on the way down and Afternoon Tea on the way back, not bad for £9 each way

Can I praise the quality of the Lily O'Brien Chocolate Covered Cookies which were really nice.

Conclusion: This Fayre was quite acceptable for my "short hop" but I wouldn't have fancied it on Kings Cross to Inverness. For my Fare it was a steal
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Well, I came home on what was aparently a breakfast service (no ticket check btw... hehe) from NCL to KGX and had the 'joy' of the bacon sandwich, I honestly get better from a caff on the estate in Jarrow or down in Lambeth!

I agree these are somewhat "lacking in bacon" - as I mentioned earlier with a Full Breakfast on EC I grab two slices of toast and make my own Bacon Sandwich to supplement my breakfast.

 

[fireftrm]

I am rarely disappointed with the new First Class menu, but do agree that the steak and ale pie with mash is a little dry. Gravy is available as they serve it with sausage and mash.
The bacon sandwich has always satisfied me, never having felt it to be meagerly filled. It is something I always look forward to, though prefer unsmoked bacon. To compare it with a cafe somewhere is disingenuous, Nym. If you want a bigger, fuller one, then buy your Jarrow, or Lambeth one and say no thanks on the train.

 

[Butts]

I am rarely disappointed with the new First Class menu, but do agree that the steak and ale pie with mash is a little dry. Gravy is available as they serve it with sausage and mash.
The bacon sandwich has always satisfied me, never having felt it to be meagerly filled. It is something I always look forward to, though prefer unsmoked bacon. To compare it with a cafe somewhere is disingenuous, Nym. If you want a bigger, fuller one, then buy your Jarrow, or Lambeth one and say no thanks on the train.

With regard to the Bacon Sandwich the content (ie amount of bacon) and quality are variable.

Were you to be served some of the specimens I have received in a Cafe you would not be impressed.

Perhaps the solution is to do an "Oliver Twist" and ask for a second.

The fact it is complimentary should not detract from it's quality or quantity come to that.

 

[Nym]

The bacon sandwich has always satisfied me, never having felt it to be meagerly filled. It is something I always look forward to, though prefer unsmoked bacon. To compare it with a cafe somewhere is disingenuous, Nym. If you want a bigger, fuller one, then buy your Jarrow, or Lambeth one and say no thanks on the train.

So what am I then paying significantly more for my ticket for? Since it's usually on the 10am(ish) departure, and usually not in a rush, why would I then bother to travel from South Tyneside via Central on EC when for the same money I could use an open off peak return from Sunderland and enjoy a more comfortable seat, genearally better service and be able to avoid Central Newcastle, if I'm not making use of the food served, why would i bother?

Also, by the time I get from Jarrow to where I want to eat on the train (or my partner for that matter) how cold is this bacon sandwich going to be?
Although that that comes from the EC isn't exactly sizzling by the time it gets to me...

And if two slices of bread and two or three rashers of bacon satisfies someone, one must enquire as to the 'Man or Mouse?' question...
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With regard to the Bacon Sandwich the content (ie amount of bacon) and quality are variable.

Were you to be served some of the specimens I have received in a Cafe you would not be impressed.

Perhaps the solution is to do an "Oliver Twist" and ask for a second.

The fact it is complimentary should not detract from it's quality or quantity come to that.

Exactly, just because it is included in my significantly more expensive ticket (that means from YRK to KGX I'm sitting across from some retail managers with their heads up their own rears) doesn't mean that I should suffer inferior quality or quantity.

Thankfully a lot of my tickets now will be with GC until May so we'll see how they compare.

 

[Butts]

And if two slices of bread and two or three rashers of bacon satisfies someone, one must enquire as to the 'Man or Mouse?' question...

Dream on........"three halves would be more accurate" in your average EC "bellybuster"

ps- The Retail Managers must be from WHS planning their next scam at Rail Stations/Airports

 

[Nym]

Dream on........"three halves would be more accurate"

Actually yeah, it was three halves, and you're making me want a bacon sandwich now, *reaches for his pack of GOOD bacon...*

Oh, and don't get me started on the quality of service off the staff, massive variance on this service, the attitude from some of them is just rediculous, especially compared to those ahead.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

I'm looking forward to my Darlo- London trip just after Easter. Taking my 12 yr old boy on an EC rewards jolly. He won't be quiet so booked us in L - hopefully the hosts won't be lax in coming through!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[VauxhallandI]

None of the offerings in First Class are complimentary, you have paid for them therefore they should be of a quality.

I'm looking forward to my EC first class trip up to Waverley on Saturday morning, hopefully the staff won't be sat around with their feet on the seats like my FGW experience last month.

 

[Nym]

Give me a moment to send it over and I'll show you what my idea of a bacon sandwich is. (Even through I was out of breadcakes this morning.)

4 rashers of oak smoked thick bacon (all that would fit in the pan), actual butter, and applewood smoked cheddar...

 

[VauxhallandI]

Give me a moment to send it over and I'll show you what my idea of a bacon sandwich is. (Even through I was out of breadcakes this morning.)

4 rashers of oak smoked thick bacon (all that would fit in the pan), actual butter, and applewood smoked cheddar...

Nice work, I'm about to hit the grill too!

 

[Welshman]

It would have been nice to have had some gravy with it, but I would imagine that the Health & Safety and cleaning goblins would have a field day condeming gravy on a train.

I don't know - have you never heard of the "Gravy Train"?

 

[A-driver]

None of the offerings in First Class are complimentary, you have paid for them therefore they should be of a quality.

I'm looking forward to my EC first class trip up to Waverley on Saturday morning, hopefully the staff won't be sat around with their feet on the seats like my FGW experience last month.

Sorry but thats wrong. You havnt paid for them, they are complimentary. A first class ticket with east coast is the same as a first class ticket with any TOC and has nothing to do with food or drink.

By your logic can you explain why someone on a £20 advance from London to Edinburgh in first class gets offered exactly the same catering as someone who has paid around £200 for a walk up ticket for half the journey?

I've said it before-its a railway service, not a restaraunt. If you specifically want a full meal then take your own food or eat on arrival. The food is complimentary and the whole point of east coast offering it like that as opposed to a paid extra was to reduce the cost of running a food service by being able to offer a smaller portion with less variation of a full menu thus reducing waste and costs.

If you don't like the service then by a standard ticket instead and vote with your feet!

 

[Nym]

If you don't like the service then by a standard ticket instead and vote with your feet!

But how can I vote with my feet when my a**e doesn't fit in the standard seats properly on EC (No, I'm not that fat, but it just doesn't fit) and how can I do the work that my employer mandates that I must do, even when I'm on annual leave or time owed, in standard without space to actually do the work?

 

[A-driver]

But how can I vote with my feet when my a**e doesn't fit in the standard seats properly on EC (No, I'm not that fat, but it just doesn't fit) and how can I do the work that my employer mandates that I must do, even when I'm on annual leave or time owed, in standard without space to actually do the work?

Then travel first class for the reasons you state- that's really what first class is for. If you get offered a complimentary drink or some free food then accept it if you want it but see it as a nice gesture and more importantly a complimentary offering.

Don't expect so much from it that if you are only offered the one drink or only offered a sandwich, crisps but no cake or if you find the food less than 5star in quality don't feel the need to complain about it like east coast are scamming you! If you want the full meal then its a restaraunt you need, not a train.

My point is first class is not a full food service-that is absolutely not what you are paying the extra for. It's just something they lay on as a complimentary extra and I fail to see how so many seem to think that the food is a right on east coast even though they really are NOT PAYING FOR IT!

 

[VauxhallandI]

Then travel first class for the reasons you state- that's really what first class is for. If you get offered a complimentary drink or some free food then accept it if you want it but see it as a nice gesture and more importantly a complimentary offering.

Don't expect so much from it that if you are only offered the one drink or only offered a sandwich, crisps but no cake or if you find the food less than 5star in quality don't feel the need to complain about it like east coast are scamming you! If you want the full meal then its a restaraunt you need, not a train.

My point is first class is not a full food service-that is absolutely not what you are paying the extra for. It's just something they lay on as a complimentary extra and I fail to see how so many seem to think that the food is a right on east coast even though they really are NOT PAYING FOR IT!

I have to disagree, the price is factored into the business model therefore it is paid for.

Everything has to be paid for somewhere so it must be factored in to the cost of the product, whether that be evenly or not it is still paid for.

Some may pay more of a premium for their tickets but unless it is a loss leader then an amount is factored in.

 

[A-driver]

I have to disagree, the price is factored into the business model therefore it is paid for.

Everything has to be paid for somewhere so it must be factored in to the cost of the product, whether that be evenly or not it is still paid for.

Some may pay more of a premium for their tickets but unless it is a loss leader then an amount is factored in.

Considering many first class tickets cost less than standard class all ticket revenue goes towards the complimentary first class food so standard class are also
Paying for it. Therefore if you feel you are entitled to this with your first class ticket then so are standard class!

As I said, it costs far less to offer a limited complimentary service than to stock a full paid for menu.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Considering many first class tickets cost less than standard class all ticket revenue goes towards the complimentary first class food so standard class are also
Paying for it. Therefore if you feel you are entitled to this with your first class ticket then so are standard class!

As I said, it costs far less to offer a limited complimentary service than to stock a full paid for menu.

I think the main bugbear people are talking of is the lack of consistency in an offering which i can understand would be frustrating.

They are probably thinking if you can't offer a similar level of service then cut it and show a saving to the customer or get it right.

 

[A-driver]

I think the main bugbear people are talking of is the lack of consistency in an offering which i can understand would be frustrating.

They are probably thinking if you can't offer a similar level of service then cut it and show a saving to the customer or get it right.

I understand that but its not going to get any better. East coast run the catering with bare minimum staff and investment- if they don't have enough staff or if there is a fault with the catering equipment they arnt going to cancel the train or have it rushed to depot to be fixed as its far from an essential part of the service.

I know the working conditions for catering staff are being ground down- they no longer even get breaks during the shift-they are now told to take their lunch break whilst on the train they are working for example. So chances are when the trolly only passes once between York and London its because the crew are taking their only break.

East coast can do this as you arnt paying for the food and drink so you don't have a leg to stand on if you only get offered one drink on a 6 hour trip.

 

[Nym]

Then travel first class for the reasons you state- that's really what first class is for. If you get offered a complimentary drink or some free food then accept it if you want it but see it as a nice gesture and more importantly a complimentary offering.

Don't expect so much from it that if you are only offered the one drink or only offered a sandwich, crisps but no cake or if you find the food less than 5star in quality don't feel the need to complain about it like east coast are scamming you! If you want the full meal then its a restaraunt you need, not a train.

My point is first class is not a full food service-that is absolutely not what you are paying the extra for. It's just something they lay on as a complimentary extra and I fail to see how so many seem to think that the food is a right on east coast even though they really are NOT PAYING FOR IT!

So if I'm not paying for it, and it's not a part of the service to be expected, why is it marketed as being part of the service on the EC website?

When informaiton is provided to say that you will be fed and watered, why should one not expect it?

 

[VauxhallandI]

So if I'm not paying for it, and it's not a part of the service to be expected, why is it marketed as being part of the service on the EC website?

When informaiton is provided to say that you will be fed and watered, why should one not expect it?

Maybe staff could be crossed trained to operate a trolley and they take staggered breaks?

 

[Nym]

Maybe staff could be crossed trained to operate a trolley and they take staggered breaks?

Or just plan your staff rotas properly?

Oh, wait, DfT, sorry...

 

[Butts]

Almost two years and thousands of posts have led me to conclude the following as I did about 18 Months ago

For "Business Travellers" such as "Dave Newcastle" who pay premium Fares for less than premium Fayre the new service is always going to be a shadow of it's former glory, when a proper restaurant service existed that passengers were happy to pay for a decent meal.

For "Leisure Travellers" like myself who pay mimimal Fares and are given the new offering it is like a bonus and an added incentive to use East Coast. It's not always perfect , but as long as The Scotch keeps flowing anything else is a pleasant suprise.

"Freeloaders" like myself are not going to generate much revenue for East Coast, Business Travellers like "Dave Newcastle" are.

The question is have they got the balance correct between "the haves and have not's" ?

 

[Nym]

Thing is, if the service level was there I'd be pepared to pay more (I'm not on a fantastic wage, in fact I think I'm on a pittence for what I do at the moment, but my current line manager knows this so I'm paid appropriately, but I value service where it exists), if I knew I was going to get this better service level and quality, but it isn't a certainty any more, so I'm not willing to take the risk if the fares are more expensive, I'll simply travel with GC or HT where I know I won't get free food, but will be paying significantly less than the Any Permitted 1st or EC Advance fares.

 

[Butts]

Thing is, if the service level was there I'd be pepared to pay more (I'm not on a fantastic wage, in fact I think I'm on a pittence for what I do at the moment, but my current line manager knows this so I'm paid appropriately, but I value service where it exists), if I knew I was going to get this better service level and quality, but it isn't a certainty any more, so I'm not willing to take the risk if the fares are more expensive, I'll simply travel with GC or HT where I know I won't get free food, but will be paying significantly less than the Any Permitted 1st or EC Advance fares.

I thought you did get "Free Grub" on First Hull (I did) but you have to pay for the booze.