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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

Nym

Nym

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Butts said:
I thought you did get "Free Grub" on First Hull (I did) but you have to pay for the booze.
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You do indeed, but nukefood I don't really count...

All I got last time I was on a catered HT service I got some chicken and rice thing with very little chicken that was nuked together. Another one I got a sandwich selection between me and the bf, managed to salvage half of each between us.
 
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Nym

Nym

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I know this should be another thread really,. but has anyone sampled the GW Travelling Chef service in 1st or Standard?

I'll proberbly be on my way to Bristol soon for a couple of days if anyone can provide feedback on this compared with DOR's service.
 
VauxhallandI

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Nym said:
I know this should be another thread really,. but has anyone sampled the GW Travelling Chef service in 1st or Standard?

I'll proberbly be on my way to Bristol soon for a couple of days if anyone can provide feedback on this compared with DOR's service.
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Had a very nice burger on FGW in First last week
 
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harri2626

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Isn't all this discussion leading to one simple answer. Adopt the German Bordbistro/restaurant model by having an open-to-all seated dining car serving simple all-day menus? Those in first class can have an at-seat meal delivered by staff (included in the fare or otherwise) and the rest of us get a chance to eat properly on long journeys. The UK railway logic that people don't want to eat outside the usual "meal times" ignores the fact that eating is now almost a 24-hour expectation.
 
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Retorus

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Nym said:
I know this should be another thread really,. but has anyone sampled the GW Travelling Chef service in 1st or Standard?

I'll proberbly be on my way to Bristol soon for a couple of days if anyone can provide feedback on this compared with DOR's service.
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I highly recommend it, even the toasties are very tasty.
 

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fireftrm

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Yes Butts, it has a few pieces of lettuce and a tomato. Otherwise it is identical to East Coast's, same bread too. Of course there is another difference - you have to pay extra for it. To be honest the home made one of Nym's doesn't look any better than the ones I get served by EC.
 
Butts

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fireftrm said:
Yes Butts, it has a few pieces of lettuce and a tomato. Otherwise it is identical to East Coast's, same bread too. Of course there is another difference - you have to pay extra for it. To be honest the home made one of Nym's doesn't look any better than the ones I get served by EC.
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You mean you've had a Bacon Sandwich from EC with 4 full sized rashers of bacon in ? - that is a miracle :p
 
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Retorus

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fireftrm said:
Yes Butts, it has a few pieces of lettuce and a tomato. Otherwise it is identical to East Coast's, same bread too. Of course there is another difference - you have to pay extra for it. To be honest the home made one of Nym's doesn't look any better than the ones I get served by EC.
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Except it has twice the filling, is actually toasted nicely and has some salad if you want to add a little extra. But sure, heaven forbid choosing to pay for something a bit nicer.
 
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ainsworth74

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I was always quite happy paying for something nicer as were plenty of others on this thread. But apparently that's not what the majority of passengers were after according to their customer survey. C'est la vie.
 
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fireftrm

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2 good sized rashers, two nice slices of brown bread. A perfect free breakfast and you still get a croissant and toast to go with it. I am sure you can put more bacon in yours at home, but I don't want more and there is quite enough in the EC sandwich. Have another 2 rashers and I couldn't have a slice of toast with butter and marmalade, calorie overkill would prevent it.
Considering the ticket price did not go up, when they included the free refreshments, those who are whining about the standards are nothing but mean. If you don't like it buy food before you travel and leave those of us, who are really appreciative of the service, to enjoy.
 
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sheff1

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fireftrm said:
Considering the ticket price did not go up, when they included the free refreshments, those who are whining about the standards are nothing but mean. If you don't like it buy food before you travel and leave those of us, who are really appreciative of the service, to enjoy.
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I did not ask for free refreshments, which may, or may not, materialise. I preferred to pay for something of better quality. How that makes me 'mean' I fail to see.

If you enjoy the new service, fair enough, but please don't accuse anyone who does not of 'whining'.
 
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ainsworth74

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I enjoy the new service, when it's delivered as advertised. For me the main problem is simply the continuing inconsistency. I have a few nit-picks (no southbound evening meals, stingy for no apparent reason) but otherwise I like it, when it's delivered as advertised.

That being said I wouldn't be opposed to a return to the old service either.
 
Butts

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ainsworth74 said:
I enjoy the new service, when it's delivered as advertised. For me the main problem is simply the continuing inconsistency. I have a few nit-picks (no southbound evening meals, stingy for no apparent reason) but otherwise I like it, when it's delivered as advertised.

That being said I wouldn't be opposed to a return to the old service either.
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Does anyone seriously believe that the "old service" will ever return after nearly two years ?

I agree about the "southbound meals" - forget the peanuts (appetiser :lol:) but it wouldn't kill them to add cheese and biscuits / dessert to a few peak Edinburgh departures as a compromise (supplement to all day menu)

Black Pudding would round the breakfast off nicely, which is a lot better after the recent revamp.
 
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ainsworth74

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Butts said:
Does anyone seriously believe that the "old service" will ever return after nearly two years ?
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No I don't. For certain not under present management and I doubt it will when the franchise is back in the private sector.
 
Nym

Nym

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ainsworth74 said:
No I don't. For certain not under present management and I doubt it will when the franchise is back in the private sector.
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Shame, one would hope they look at the GW Travelling Chef service and aspire to do something to the same level of quality. Although I dowbt this will ever happen it would be nice to be able to get proper food on the way up North and it may attract me back to EC from using GC whenever convenient to do so.
 
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ainsworth74

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Personally I suspect that the Travelling Chef and Pullman Dining will go with the HSTs.
 
calc7

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fireftrm either works for EC or one of its agents, or has low expectations. (Or has had a miraculous run of "good services" and should consider betting on the Grand National).

I'm sure the spin on HS2 will be "why would people on a 45 minute journey to Birmingham need feeding?"
 
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jimm

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ainsworth74 said:
Personally I suspect that the Travelling Chef and Pullman Dining will go with the HSTs.
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I suspect that will depend entirely on what level of food service the various bidders for any future Great Western franchise want to provide - and First have clearly taken a different approach from that of other long-distance operators in terms of what they offer at the moment.
 
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fireftrm

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I don't work for EC, or any mainline railway company, or its suppliers. I do appreciate the EC First Class offer though, the previous was really nice if you could afford it, but wasn't so great I missed paying £10 for a pie and mash or such. I think what they now provide is excellent and great value. I don't understand all the negative points. Take the free fare then buy something when you get off, or eat before you get on and snack/drink. But as it is all free I don't see the problem. The restaurant, or at your seat, previous offering was not something I miss.
 
calc7

calc7

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fireftrm said:
I don't work for EC, or any mainline railway company, or its suppliers. I do appreciate the EC First Class offer though, the previous was really nice if you could afford it, but wasn't so great I missed paying £10 for a pie and mash or such. I think what they now provide is excellent and great value. I don't understand all the negative points. Take the free fare then buy something when you get off, or eat before you get on and snack/drink. But as it is all free I don't see the problem. The restaurant, or at your seat, previous offering was not something I miss.
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Because, stood at Kings Cross, about to board the 1800 to go to Newcastle, advertised as a "full evening meal" the passenger should expect just that? No "ifs" "ors" and "buts". As their advertising materials go to great length to use the food and drink as a reason to upgrade to First Class (much less than the main comparison, Virgin).

Yes, contractually they needn't provide anything. But morally they do.

Answer me this: what is so unreasonable about a passenger who thinks "hmm, the extra £30 for First Class is worth it so I don't have to worry about food and drink in my own time this morning" expecting to be provided with the advertised service?
 
mirodo

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I'm looking at traveling from Alnmouth (on the weekday 12:58) to London sometime soon.

I see I'm likely to get the all Day offering, but when will it be offered - on departure from ALM, or later on in the journey?
 
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ainsworth74

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Food will almost certainly be served on departure from Newcastle, though you'll probably get hot drinks on departure from Alnmouth.
 
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bnm

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How it's done in the West Country.

http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bnm/PMmt_zps1d23b3e1.jpg

I'm sure a select few East Coast services could do the same. I'm told that FGW's Pullmans turn a modest profit these days.
 
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