London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[comporhys]

I'm travelling on the first class 8:59 Newcastle to London Kings Cross on Saturday what kind of service will there be? It all seems so confusing!!!
Thanks

 

[causton]

I'm travelling on the first class 8:59 Newcastle to London Kings Cross on Saturday what kind of service will there be? It all seems so confusing!!!
Thanks

Does it?

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/on-board-our-trains/food1/weekend-service/

On weekends and bank holidays, passengers are served a breakfast roll first thing and thereafter a choice of sandwiches, crisps and cake. Alcoholic drinks and hot food are available to purchase from our CafeBAR.

TL;DR - not much

 

[comporhys]

Does it?

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/on-board-our-trains/food1/weekend-service/



TL;DR - not much

Oh! That'll teach me to have a better look first sorry! Thank you though!

 

[amcluesent]

Another of the increasily frequent slaps-in-the-face for PBO-KGX pax this morning! After watching the last deliveries of bacon sarnies and salmon on scrambled egg, our "complementary" basket came through.

With just a few green bananas.:roll:

Even the crew were, rightly, embarassed at the shameful paucity of the fayre for the fare.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Well on my earlier 2.5 hour journey today, I was served a full breakfast, with 2 cups of tea, 2 glasses of orange j.
On my current 4 hour trip, been offered a bacon roll (which i declined), drinks, and 2 hours later alcohol, sandwiches, cake and crisps. Tickets not cheap, but very good.
Just one thing- I'm on a Virgin Super Voyager.

 

[sidmouth]

Another of the increasily frequent slaps-in-the-face for PBO-KGX pax this morning! After watching the last deliveries of bacon sarnies and salmon on scrambled egg, our "complementary" basket came through.

With just a few green bananas.:roll:

Even the crew were, rightly, embarassed at the shameful paucity of the fayre for the fare.

I think it must be an EC policy to discourage potential £124 return fares in favour of longer distance discounted fares. Certainly works for me.

 

[Butts]

I think it must be an EC policy to discourage potential £124 return fares in favour of longer distance discounted fares. Certainly works for me.

Touche.....

And for a lot of other people no doubt.

 

[Jock]

One wonders if the old Travellers Fayre selection of foods were proffered would this please those unhappy with the offering despite its many changes since May 2011

 

[Blindtraveler]

bring it on!
A decent sized if a bit week coffee and an unfancy great brittish sandwitch!

 

[John @ home]

would this please those unhappy with the offering despite its many changes since May 2011

My problem is with the continuing inconsistency of the offering.

In December I was on a London to Bradford "Evening Meal" service. I like to have a cup of coffee after my meal. The first service of coffee was south of Finsbury Park. If there was a second coffee service, this took place after I left the train at Leeds.

Earlier this month, I was on a London to Harrogate service with the "All Day" offer. Boarding of the train was delayed because the southbound service was some 80 minutes late, but the speed of turn-round was impressive. Coffee was again served by Finsbury Park, and the drinks trolley came in time for those departing at Stevenage to consume a full glass of wine.

Shortly after the drinks trolley, it was announced that due to catering difficulties there were no complementary sandwiches and no hot dishes. Immediately, the person opposite me dashed to the buffet car and, instead of a free jacket potato with chicken tikka, five minutes later she was tucking into a £4 panini panino with chicken tikka. I was too slow, and went hungry.

 

[JB1601]

We're using the most recent £25 offer to go to Aberdeen from London next weekend - leaving King's Cross 1000 on Saturday and returning at 0952 on Monday. Presuming we'll get fed twice on a journey of that length (fingers crossed), just checking if anyone knows better as we'd like to stock up before hand if not! thanks.

 

[Blindtraveler]

weekend offer of sandwitches, crisps and cake on your northbound and id say 2 lots should be offered. Midmorning and allday
offers south sohopefully again you should get twice
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Another of the increasily frequent slaps-in-the-face for PBO-KGX pax this morning! After watching the last deliveries of bacon sarnies and salmon on scrambled egg, our "complementary" basket came through.

With just a few green bananas.:roll:

Even the crew were, rightly, embarassed at the shameful paucity of the fayre for the fare.

yet again consistancy. Iether that or the management have decided to put PBO pax on a diet?

 

[142094]

We're using the most recent £25 offer to go to Aberdeen from London next weekend - leaving King's Cross 1000 on Saturday and returning at 0952 on Monday. Presuming we'll get fed twice on a journey of that length (fingers crossed), just checking if anyone knows better as we'd like to stock up before hand if not! thanks.

East Coast timetables are here and they show what off is on for each train.

So on Saturday you'll get a light breakfast then the all day offer (light breakfast will probably be a ham or cheese croissant or similar). On the way as Blindtraveller says you'll get the Mid-Morning Offer as far as Leuchars then the All day offer from there. If you were able to travel 2 hours earlier you would have got the full breakfast offer.

 

[JB1601]

East Coast timetables are here and they show what off is on for each train.

So on Saturday you'll get a light breakfast then the all day offer (light breakfast will probably be a ham or cheese croissant or similar). On the way as Blindtraveller says you'll get the Mid-Morning Offer as far as Leuchars then the All day offer from there. If you were able to travel 2 hours earlier you would have got the full breakfast offer.

Thanks for the link, most helpful. Yes we knew when we booked we'd miss the full breakfast - we were restricted to which services had the promo tickets on (and also will probably appreciate the extra time in bed!).

cheers both.

 

[philjo]

I take it that the weekend service will be served on Good Friday?

 

[142094]

I take it that the weekend service will be served on Good Friday?

Weekend offer is normally on Public Holidays, so yes.

 

[All Line Rover]

I'm currently sat on an East Coast daytime train to Leeds, eating a "jacket potato ratatouille." It's edible, but mediocre and lacks flavour. Nothing on the menu takes my fancy, but I suppose that's just coincidence. On the whole, I'd say East Coast is on par with Virgin's "Light Bites," with the welcome addition of some nice biscuits.

However, the offering is NOT enough for customers travelling to Edinburgh, considering East Coast only want to offer the food once per journey. On Virgin, customers travelling to Glasgow get food twice, with Breakfast or an Evening Meal on one half of the journey on most trains.

So, overall, I still prefer Virgin, especially considering the limited number of Evening Meal trains that East Coast have. The only benefits East Coast offer are nice biscuits, a much better Light Breakfast offering and, most importantly, better prices!

It's still nothing like the former At-Seat Dining, where I could get a delicious chicken pie with roast potatoes, followed by a large platter of cheese and crackers, for about £10.

 

[ainsworth74]

It's still nothing like the former At-Seat Dining, where I could get a delicious chicken pie with roast potatoes, followed by a large platter of cheese and crackers, for about £10.

Thought you were a fan of complimentary food no matter how good the paid for options were

 

[amcluesent]

Some twunt's just brought a big mac and fries into the KGX loung FFS Obviously didn't want to rely on EC on train complimentaries.

 

[bnm]

Some twunt's just brought a big mac and fries into the KGX loung FFS Obviously didn't want to rely on EC on train complimentaries.

Now there's an idea. A flash-mob style protest where all those unhappy with East Coast's 1st Class food offering make a large group booking on an evening departure from KGX (one that used to have a full restaurant service) and all turn up with Big Mac, fries and a milkshake!

 

[markydh]

Well I must say that both my full English this morning up to Edinburgh and my Fish Pie & Chips back down to Newcastle (still on) were both delicious. Don't know what all the fuss is about

 

[calc7]

Well I must say that both my full English this morning up to Edinburgh and my Fish Pie & Chips back down to Newcastle (still on) were both delicious. Don't know what all the fuss is about

Depends how stingy they are with the toast.

Half the problem with the Anglo-Scottish journeys is that the food is served within the first half hour of the journey. Four hours later, the last thing you want to be doing is having to eat right after you've got into Edinburgh!

I agree with All Line Rover. Surely part of the allure of First is the convenience. Virgin will give you a full breakfast at the start of the journey and some sandwiches should you want them closer to the end, or vice versa for the dinner services. I'm happy to spend the extra hour on the train over flying to Scotland, but what's the point if I also end up hungry, parched and just generally frustrated that I've been treated as an inconvenience in the journey there.

Note how most of the complaints come from the Edinburgh/Newcastle passengers. The Yorkshire to London offer is basically the same and comparably much better!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Note how most of the complaints come from the Edinburgh/Newcastle passengers. The Yorkshire to London offer is basically the same and comparably much better!

Indeed.
Even disregarding my own, regular, experiences (Newcastle-London-Newcastle), most of my fellow passengers have complaints, and although the complaints vary, the biggest single moan I hear is the inconsistency of the service (leaving passengers disembarking hungry when they expected to be getting on with the next part of their day).

Whilst I won't apologise for commenting on here about anything unsatisfactory, my stronges gripe is the inconsistency. I plan a long day with alarm clock rining at 6am and getting home just before 11pm. The attraction of 1st class rail travel (or Restaurant for Std class pax) is that 2 vital elements of the day happen simultaneously (eating properly and getting home). When one of these elements fail, its as bad as having the meeting cancelled or the train cancelled. I'd be up until 2am digesting my meal.
No, great breakfassts are great. But inconsistency is as bad as the bank balance changing randomly overnight (yes, I bank with Lloyds).

 

[ainsworth74]

Whilst I won't apologise for commenting on here about anything unsatisfactory, my stronges gripe is the inconsistency.

Same for me. Whilst I'm still not 100% happy with the new arrangements they are since the last raft of changes seemingly satisfactory (still think there should be more evening meal service northbound and a few new ones southbound). Instead my main complaint now is the inconsistency makes it hard to guarantee that what is advertised will be received either due to the actions of the on-board crew (not doing food runs frequently or not mentioning the full extent of the menu) or due to a stock shortage. At least in days gone by if one hot option had run out there were probably at least two or three others that you could have gone for!

 

[Marton]

... the biggest single moan I hear is the inconsistency of the service (leaving passengers disembarking hungry when they expected to be getting on with the next part of their day).

The attraction of 1st class rail travel (or Restaurant for Std class pax) is that 2 vital elements of the day happen simultaneously (eating properly and getting home). When one of these elements fail, its as bad as having the meeting cancelled or the train cancelled. I'd be up until 2am digesting my meal.
No, great breakfasts are great.

Absolutely correct. Especially the part Ii have emphasised. There is compensation for delay or cancellation, not a lost meal or indigestion.

I do Darlo - KX most weeks. tending to go down the night before the meeting so as not to have to get up at 5 am.

That means leaving home at 7am, working all day and getting the train at between 1800 and 1900, and arriving in London hungry at 9 or 10 to face hotel food or an Indian.

Home-bound is usually OK between 1700 and 1800 as there is an evening meal [had run out of fish pie this week by the end of K], but the HSTs on the 1700 and 1800 make finding a seat more difficult with an off peak first return and no booking, and there are no power points in the quiet coach.

 

[dave87016]

Hi all tommorow I am travelling on the 17:33pm Kings X - Leeds does anyone know what sandwiches are on offer this week on the all day menu and also what the hot option is on the all day menu thanks in advance

 

[amcluesent]

Tuna & cucumber or cheese & chutney sarnies.

 

[calc7]

Tuna & cucumber or cheese & chutney sarnies.

The cheese and chutney ones in the week running up to Christmas were very tasty.

As this is a Yorkshire service, there will be "only 2" passings of the cold drinks trolley as "this is all we are allowed to do"; which is comparably better than the 3 you can expect on a 5-hour 1830 journey from Edinburgh to London, where serving the last drink at York is deemed appropriate despite the subsequent stops at Doncaster, Retford, Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough and Stevenage. :roll:

 

[GNER 91128]

Hello, what's the hot food offering on the All Day Menu atm? I'm travelling from PBO to EBD and back next month returning on the 14:00 service back from Edi.

Also are there any chances that I'll be able to upgrade on the 08:16 leaving PBO? Will it probably be full? I wouldn't mind getting a nice breakfast on my long journey!

 

[142094]

Any idea what kind of cheese? I can't stand fish sandwiches and only like a few mild type cheeses. Might be a couple of bags of crisps for me...