London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[HamworthyGoods]

If passengers bought the ticket from LNER site directly and been notified to have dish menu.
If the provison is downgraded, it's likely be false advertisement according to consumer protection law.

In which case they should contact LNER and ask for a refund on their ticket on that basis. I suspect very few will as the greatest need for buying a train ticket is to get from A to B.

 

[Deerfold]

In which case they should contact LNER and ask for a refund on their ticket on that basis. I suspect very few will as the greatest need for buying a train ticket is to get from A to B.

Which a standard class ticket will also work for.

But if you bought First at a good price when they came out, you can now get a refund and replace with more expensive Standard than was available when you bought them.

I doubt anyone would decide not to travel because of this menu. But they might not have decided to travel First if they'd known when booking.

 

[30907]

Disappointing indeed.
I wonder whether LNER are expecting to have difficulty staffing their catering services next month? Leaving aside any industrial relations issues, there may well be staff wanting to take leave, or perhaps moving on to shore-based jobs.
The whole restaurant industry is suffering from staff shortages and it is everyone's busiest month.

 

[RailWonderer]

I'd have thought offering it southbound (towards London) in a morning and northbound (away from London) in an afternoon would make more sense.

Down is the country end and up is the London end but I see what you mean, and I think you have a case.

 

[Sleepy]

Which a standard class ticket will also work for.

But if you bought First at a good price when they came out, you can now get a refund and replace with more expensive Standard than was available when you bought them.

I doubt anyone would decide not to travel because of this menu. But they might not have decided to travel First if they'd known when booking.

My thoughts exactly - if your going to dumb down the offering at least make the change visable before the tickets are available especially this time of year when people are booking trips as a Christmas treat ?

 

[Retorus]

Pretty disappointed that I booked first class for my Christmas trip home only for this menu to be unveiled a few days later. It's not the dish menu I thought I'd be getting.

 

[Horizodawn]

Pretty disappointed that I booked first class for my Christmas trip home only for this menu to be unveiled a few days later. It's not the dish menu I thought I'd be getting.

Yeah, I booked a trip from Harrogate to London specifically to have the Dine menu and LNER full breakfast, but now I saw that it won't be available. What a disappointment! Replacing the best menu by basic sandwiches is not right. I kinda feel betrayed. The Hog Roast Sausage Roll doesn't seem too bad at least.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm surprised so many of you are disappointed. LNER's first class service has been consistently wound down over the years and is now rather pitiful. Virgin Trains East Coast provided decent hot meal options on all weekday trains, and staff were only too happy help. The Deli menu has meant many trains only offer a toastie, and the fact that the consistent full breakfast option has now been permanently scrapped in favour of a bacon roll on all (but two) northbound services is disgraceful. Add in the condescending attitude of the staff should you dare to ask for a second bacon roll on your 4.5 hour journey to Edinburgh (I've said many times on this forum, more than once I've seen two different passengers told not to be "greedy") and it's just pathetic.

 

[Halwynd]

I'm surprised so many of you are disappointed. LNER's first class service has been consistently wound down over the years and is now rather pitiful. Virgin Trains East Coast provided decent hot meal options on all weekday trains, and staff were only too happy help. The Deli menu has meant many trains only offer a toastie, and the fact that the consistent full breakfast option has now been permanently scrapped in favour of a bacon roll on all (but two) northbound services is disgraceful. Add in the condescending attitude of the staff should you dare to ask for a second bacon roll on your 4.5 hour journey to Edinburgh (I've said many times on this forum, more than once I've seen two different passengers told not to be "greedy") and it's just pathetic.

I remember travelling from York to Aberdeen when the service was run by East Coast. The trolley came round after departure from York offering drinks, sandwiches, crisps, cakes and biscuits, but I asked only for a coffee and a packet of crisps. Upon leaving Newcastle the trolley came round again, and because the crisps were quite nice, and on the basis that I had previously declined the sandwiches and cakes, thought that it wasn't unreasonable to ask for another packet of crisps. Well, the look the hostess gave me... she declined my request, made me feel as if I was being greedy and left me feeling like a proper naughty child. I laugh about it now, but I didn't at the time!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I remember travelling from York to Aberdeen when the service was run by East Coast. The trolley came round after departure from York offering drinks, sandwiches, crisps, cakes and biscuits, but I asked only for a coffee and a packet of crisps. Upon leaving Newcastle the trolley came round again, and because the crisps were quite nice, and on the basis that I had previously declined the sandwiches and cakes, thought that it wasn't unreasonable to ask for another packet of crisps. Well, the look the hostess gave me... she declined my request, made me feel as if I was being greedy and left me feeling like a proper naughty child. I laugh about it now, but I didn't at the time!

Yes, that’s what’s very commonplace nowadays. I always feel a sense of pretentiousness and almost arrogance on LNER these days, a lot of their hosts and TMs have an air of self-importance that you wouldn’t find on other TOCs.

 

[Hadders]

First time I’ve travelled 1st class with LNER for a while. Not impressed with the Deli menu.

One tuna sub roll and a packet of crisps on a 4.5 hour journey. No lemon posset or fruit has appeared.

The only positive is there has been a copious number of drinks runs.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm surprised so many of you are disappointed. LNER's first class service has been consistently wound down over the years and is now rather pitiful. Virgin Trains East Coast provided decent hot meal options on all weekday trains, and staff were only too happy help. The Deli menu has meant many trains only offer a toastie, and the fact that the consistent full breakfast option has now been permanently scrapped in favour of a bacon roll on all (but two) northbound services is disgraceful. Add in the condescending attitude of the staff should you dare to ask for a second bacon roll on your 4.5 hour journey to Edinburgh (I've said many times on this forum, more than once I've seen two different passengers told not to be "greedy") and it's just pathetic.

Glad to see you're still banging your Virgin fan boy drum

We'll just ignore that VTEC actually ran down the catering offer quite considerably compared to East Coast

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Just took a trip from Edinburgh down to London in First Class with LNER - first time travelling in First Class with them, and I'll be honest I was overall very pleased with the offering.

Before we'd even departed Edinburgh, the staff came around offering wine and juice, shortly followed by a hot drinks run.

Orders for food were taken no more than five minutes after departure. The service I was on was offering the "Dish" menu, and I was slightly underwhelmed to see only two hot meal options for an evening service.

Regardless, I settled for the asparagus tortellini, and the meal itself was lovely (despite the tiny portion). The lemon posset I had for dessert was also rather nice.

The staff kept us incredibly well watered and fed throughout the journey, with regular drinks runs (both cold and hot) and light snacks, including crisps and biscuits.

Just after the stop at Newcastle, I was surprised to be offered a second choice of food from the menu (which included another hot meal), however I opted for the tuna crunch sub roll.

Unfortunately, the decision to suspend all catering in First Class was announced just after Peterborough, after another passenger in First Class who was feeling quite unwell had collapsed, I believe, and had to be escorted off the train.

This was understandable, but didn't impact my journey very much, as by this point I was already feeling pretty stuffed from the constant stream of food and drinks (including five glasses of wine).

As for the seats - which I've heard complaints about - I found them perfectly comfortable, decently padded and miles better than the seats in Standard Class.

The only criticisms I would make about my experience are regarding the lack of food in the First Class lounge at Edinburgh, and the size of the hot meal (which was to be expected - however the second meal offering made up for the size).

 

[Scotrail314209]

Just took a trip from Edinburgh down to London in First Class with LNER - first time travelling in First Class with them, and I'll be honest I was overall very pleased with the offering.

Before we'd even departed Edinburgh, the staff came around offering wine and juice, shortly followed by a hot drinks run.

Orders for food were taken no more than five minutes after departure. The service I was on was offering the "Dish" menu, and I was slightly underwhelmed to see only two hot meal options for an evening service.

Regardless, I settled for the asparagus tortellini, and the meal itself was lovely (despite the tiny portion). The lemon posset I had for dessert was also rather nice.

The staff kept us incredibly well watered and fed throughout the journey, with regular drinks runs (both cold and hot) and light snacks, including crisps and biscuits.

Just after the stop at Newcastle, I was surprised to be offered a second choice of food from the menu (which included another hot meal), however I opted for the tuna crunch sub roll.

Unfortunately, the decision to suspend all catering in First Class was announced just after Peterborough, after another passenger in First Class who was feeling quite unwell had collapsed, I believe, and had to be escorted off the train.

This was understandable, but didn't impact my journey very much, as by this point I was already feeling pretty stuffed from the constant stream of food and drinks (including five glasses of wine).

As for the seats - which I've heard complaints about - I found them perfectly comfortable, decently padded and miles better than the seats in Standard Class.

The only criticisms I would make about my experience are regarding the lack of food in the First Class lounge at Edinburgh, and the size of the hot meal (which was to be expected - however the second meal offering made up for the size).

I do find LNER to be quite satisfactory too, having never had an issue with their First Class service on recent journeys.

The second food offering is a surprise though!

I agree with the lounges. That’s the only let down. Nice atmosphere, but the lack of soft drinks and snacks is a bit off putting.

 

[Horizodawn]

I do find LNER to be quite satisfactory too, having never had an issue with their First Class service on recent journeys.

The second food offering is a surprise though!

I agree with the lounges. That’s the only let down. Nice atmosphere, but the lack of soft drinks and snacks is a bit off putting.

Yes, that's why it's so frustrating they changed the menu to a basically sandwich only option throughout December. I've heard quite a lot of good things about the first class service, especially the hot meals.

But now that the new "Christmas" menu will be in place, all these hot meals will not be served, including the breakfast that I specifically booked the train for.

Luckily I got it for a really good price (£31), so I wont be cancelling it. That the festive menu has to be for such a long period I don't understand though. Usually it was just the few days before and after Christmas.

 

[Sleepy]

Looks like I won't be worrying about 1st class menu on 14th December from Edinburgh - No trains to catch by the look of it !!

 

[westv]

LNER were "excited to confirm" on Twitter yesterday that their Christmas starts 30/11.

 

[ainsworth74]

LNER were "excited to confirm" on Twitter yesterday that their Christmas starts 30/11.

Excited to confirm the start of their impersonation of Scrooge more like!

 

[D6130]

LNER were "excited to confirm" on Twitter yesterday that their Christmas starts 30/11.

Shame they didn't excitedly confirm it to me a couple of weeks ago when I booked next Wednesday's trip from York to Edinburgh in the expectation of having a 'dish' lunch en route!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

LNER were "excited to confirm" on Twitter yesterday that their Christmas starts 30/11.

They're almost (not quite, nothing can come close) as pathetic as EMR, in terms of talking the talk but not walking the walk.

 

[Blindtraveler]

So if they're just doing sandwiches for the whole of December which I find it hard to believe what are all the chefs meant to be doing that work on trains where they are rostered

And surely either Christmas people still want breakfast? Are they honestly going to serve a turkey sandwich in the morning?

 

[robbeech]

They're almost (not quite, nothing can come close) as pathetic as EMR, in terms of talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Ironically the EMR first class offering appears better than it was now they’re offering sandwiches. Not really enough to counter the lack of first class lounges though.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Ironically the EMR first class offering appears better than it was now they’re offering sandwiches. Not really enough to counter the lack of first class lounges though.

Agreed. Without wishing to derail the threat, yes EMR have stopped the full breakfast but they still have warm options, and there are daytime offerings that didn't used to be there.

 

[Horizodawn]

So if they're just doing sandwiches for the whole of December which I find it hard to believe what are all the chefs meant to be doing that work on trains where they are rostered

And surely either Christmas people still want breakfast? Are they honestly going to serve a turkey sandwich in the morning?

Yeah, I was thinking the same.

Surely they wouldn't just suspend them for that period especially since they would still have to be payed. Perhaps they will have much less chefs due to the holidays the staff are taking, but I would think not in early December.

Really still hope for that full breakfast in January. But it's LNER after all, you never know what to to expect.

 

[wellhouse]

From today until Christmas, LNER are replacing Dine, Dish and Deli menus with a universal Christmas Menu, which is of a similar standard to the Dish Menu.

No Full Breakfast!

 

[Huntergreed]

I think a mix of deliberately cutting down due to costs and making things more manageable for staff are likely behind the downsize.

Agreed it had better not be permanent! LNER first class is the best (somewhat affordable!) first class product on the market now (was VT/Avanti but they got greedy with their fares) - it would be sad to see the breakfast and hot food phased out!

 

[Deerfold]

From today until Christmas, LNER are replacing Dine, Dish and Deli menus with a universal Christmas Menu, which is of a similar standard to the Dish Menu.

No Full Breakfast!

Yes, there's been quite a lot of discussion about it on this thread.

 

[D6130]

Currently on board 1S12, the 10 30 Kings Cross-Edinburgh from York. After enjoying a free mug of hot chocolate in the LNER first class lounge at York, I made my way to platform 9 to join the train, which was spot on time. I boarded with slight trepidation, knowing that the eagerly-anticipated 'dish' menu had been replaced since booking my ticket by the Christmas menu. I was further dismayed to discover that my allocated seat (Coach K, seat 01) was the one alongside the blank wall, with absolutely no window view whatsoever. However, I needn't have worried, as the lovely Geordie Train Manager was more than happy to let me change to a free seat with my advance purchase ticket and I've ended up in Coach M, seat 04, a right-hand side forward-facing single window seat with a full window view. Hot drinks were offered immediately on departure from York by the excellent friendly and helpful Newcastle team, followed a few minutes later by lunch. I needn't have worried on that score either....the sweet potato pakora, quinoa, spinach and edemame bean salad was very tasty and surprisingly filling and was accompanied by a packet of Pipers sea salt crisps, a stollen-flavoured muffin and a mini chocolate orange. I asked for a can of Rudgate Hop on Board Ale and was given two! After changing crews at Newcastle, the Edinburgh steward commenced food service within five minutes of departure and I find myself enjoying a cheese savoury roll with my second beer. I hope I still have room for the Forum curry in Glasgow tonight! I realise that different people have different experiences on different dates, but I have no complaints whatsoever about today's service.

 

[ainsworth74]

I realise that different people have different experiences on different dates, but I have no complaints whatsoever about today's service.

That's not surprising. The biggest issue I would say on LNER (and whilst it's something that has dogged the service since East Coast days has gotten appreciable worse since Covid) is just the straight up inconsistency in the product. You can travel on one train and you'll have the full advertised menu on offer, the crew making enough drink runs that if you imbibe of the alcohol you'll need to be wheeled off the train and maybe a second pass as the food if you're on long enough. Travel on the same train a week later and you'll get a packet of crisps and a biscuit, you'll get one cold drink and one hot drink and that'll be it for the whole journey.

The service is all over the place quite apart from whether the menus themselves are any good or not there's just no guarantee that anything even approaching the advertised service will even be delivered!

 

[Bungle73]

Not sure why everyone is acting so surprised at the “Festive Menu”, as I posted the whole thing weeks ago, and it’s been available to look at on LNER’s website for weeks.