London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[ainsworth74]

How it's done in the West Country.

I'm sure a select few East Coast services could do the same.

I'm sure they could, what with, until 22 May 2011, East Coast operating nearly four times as many restaurant services as FGW did/are. However, this isn't something that will change until there's a change in management as the corporate line is and always has been 'the new offer is better, more successful and more popular than the previous catering offer'. I'm sure that East Coast could make a success out of two/three/four peak time restaurants from Kings Cross but there isn't the managerial will to do it.

 

[mirodo]

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

Thanks.

 

[island]

For those interested, this week's rotation is fish pie or goat's cheese and beetroot tart. Currently eating the latter.

 

[sheff1]

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.

Hmm ... if you don't understand the problem yet, then I doubt you ever will. But just one final attempt to explain.

Before the change I used the time on the train to have a proper full meal. If travelling between 1800 & 2030 for example then eating before you board is too early and eating when you arrive means you have little time to do anything else that evening. Except in very exceptional circumstances, you could guarantee the advertised full meal.

With the new arrangements, you could not guarantee from one day to the next what might be available. The advertised 'full meal' was often not served. When it was available it was still good but it was the lack of reliability which drove me away - the fact that it was 'free' was neither here nor there if it never actually arrived.

 

[Failed Unit]

Yep - in the good old days on the 1800 I got a full meal, now you can get nothing! (This seems to happen more now than pre-2011). By the time I get to Waverley it is 2222, none of the retail outlets are open and I have about 10 minutes to make a connection with another at least 45 minutes before I get home. I don't normally have time to buy anything before the train so I am flying much more often.

Anyway the inconsistany is still as bad as ever.

This morning I was on the 1030 ex-Edinburgh Waverley. For some reason when they cancelled the 0930 they decided it was a failure after the 1000 had gone. Basically many of the passengers got nothing because of the over-crowding. Understandable - you can't get the trolley down the isle. But again 1030 - 1600 is a long way to go without food.

That is the problem with the East Coast offer, although it works on the shorter flows, but on the Anglo-Scottish route it is much worse. That said in GNER days they ran out of food. However on my last venture on the 1800 - they ran out of food. They said they would get more on a York - but because the train was further delayed and the service centre closes at 2000 we were very hungry come Edinburgh!

 

[Chrism20]

Currently on the 15:30 from the cross and am passed the merry stage!

Hot and alcoholic served before we were off the platform followed by the food service.

Have had seven, yes you read correctly seven vodkas. Thankfully I've had two lots of sandwiches after the sausage and mash (gravy a bit on the rich side) to soak it up.

I'm making the most of it as knowing EC next time I will get cola and nothing else.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Can anyone advise what drinks and snacks I would get from the Darlo and Kings Cross lounges? Considering a rewards day pass when I'm travelling next Monday

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[ainsworth74]

Darlo will be tea/coffee and biscuits/shortbread and similar. Kings Cross will be hot and cold drinks (no alcohol but it can be bought), as well as biscuits, crisps and other snacks. In the morning there is often pastries. A rewards pass is worthwhile if your going to be spending half and hour or so in the KGX lounge with access to Darlo being a nice plus (but not worth it otherwise).

 

[Bungle73]

Can anyone advise what drinks and snacks I would get from the Darlo and Kings Cross lounges? Considering a rewards day pass when I'm travelling next Monday

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In KGX they usually have packets of biscuits, fruit, tea or coffee you help yourself to from a machine (not a vending machine, a "proper" coffee machine) and orange juice. Last time I went in there was a menu on the table with a selection of alcoholic drinks you could order (for a price).

 

[Butts]

Currently on the 15:30 from the cross and am passed the merry stage!

Hot and alcoholic served before we were off the platform followed by the food service.

Have had seven, yes you read correctly seven vodkas. Thankfully I've had two lots of sandwiches after the sausage and mash (gravy a bit on the rich side) to soak it up.

I'm making the most of it as knowing EC next time I will get cola and nothing else.

Seven Doubles....... - suprised you can read the menu !!!

Are you the only passenger in 1st Class ?

I'm envious , I have never managed 7 - are you having one on the outbound trolley run and one on the inbound ?

 

[mirodo]

Whilst the subject of the 1st Class lounge at KGX has surfaced, did anyone ever get a response from them over the issue of lounge hosts attempting to liberate people of their rewards lounge passes? I sent a query via the contact form on their website but never heard back.

 

[Butts]

Currently on the 1800 from Kings Cross to Edinburgh.....

Lets start with the positive bits.....

Appetiser Peanuts aside, a really nice meal....Had The "Winter Beef Casserole" which constituted almost an adult sized portion and was quite edible.

Followed up with Cherry Bakewell Upside Down Cake with Custard.

Now the bad bits - last time I was on a "full meal" service there was a round of drinks before the meal and one after - ie 2 rounds before York. Only one served before the meal today - regulars on this service is that normal or do you get two drink services before York most times ?

If they only have time for one round whats the obvious solution ....??? Yes ask people if they want to "double up" !!!! - hardly Rocket Science.

Further runs after York and Newcastle , but despite the fact we stop at Berwick and Dunbar as well I doubt I'll see them again....

The service was changed from Electric to Diesel as my K reservation morphed into a J one !!!

Had to move out of J after Newcastle to charge laptop and it was still quite busy in L and M - most unusual had a job to get a "4" to myself- normally a carriage is the order of the day.

The meal was nice but not worthy of a £200 odd "walk up" fare - but a 0.10p Rewards Ticket .....fine


No run after NCL, and to cap it all train is late so will miss my connection to FKG and either wait an hour or catch service to FKK - thanks EC !!!

 

[calc7]

I don't understand how one passenger on a "premium" KGX-EDB service can get 2/3 rounds of drinks and one on another service can get 7 (as recently reported)??

 

[Butts]

I don't understand how one passenger on a "premium" KGX-EDB service can get 2/3 rounds of drinks and one on another service can get 7 (as recently reported)??

I must say if he meant 7 Bottles (ie doubles) that equates to 14 measures, which would leave me "staggering"

My query was just based on my previous KGX-EDB "Blue Riband" where they served the Nuts....whoops I mean appetiser, with a drink before dinner service and then another "round" after pudd/cheese.

This time there was no further alcoholic beverage until after York - is that normal or the "Two before York" scenario ?

As I mentioned the food offering (beef / bakewell & custard) was actually the best I have ever had under the new system.

 

[tsr]

I think the level of satisfaction with the food should be reported in real-time on JourneyCheck.

E.g.: "First Class passengers reported full from York. This is due to casserole." or "Appetiser reported shortformed of eight peanuts."

 

[Butts]

I think the level of satisfaction with the food should be reported in real-time on JourneyCheck.

E.g.: "First Class passengers reported full from York. This is due to casserole." or "Appetiser reported shortformed of eight peanuts."

Very Witty

"The Whisky failed to arrive ontime or was cancelled" - due to signalling problems

Shame there was no one filming for "Sky" as advertised in the East Coast "goodies booklet" on the tables !!!

 

[telstarbox]

"Due to planned engineering works a replacement sandwich service will operate instead of the published meals."

 

[Bungle73]

Whilst the subject of the 1st Class lounge at KGX has surfaced, did anyone ever get a response from them over the issue of lounge hosts attempting to liberate people of their rewards lounge passes? I sent a query via the contact form on their website but never heard back.

No. EC seem strangely silent on this issue. I'm travelling to Edinburgh in May, and will probably be using a Lounge Pass(es). I will see what transpires. If they do the same trick I may challenge them about it.

 

[applepie2100]

Excellent service on the 08:30 from Edinburgh to Kings Cross this morning. First round of teas not long after leaving the platform followed quickly by breakfast orders. Croissant and apple juice was quickly downed followed by some excellent porridge. Tea was free flowing and there were another couple of passes of toast etc trolley with no-one having issues with getting seconds or getting a second slice!

All in all a very good service indeed

 

[RochdalePioneers]

I've printed off a 1 day lounge pass for tomorrow. Will be using Darlington and Kings Cross twice, so will report back what I get

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[RochdalePioneers]

Sitting in Darlington's 1st class lounge. There are 14 comfy chairs, large pot plants dotted around and subdued lighting. Its cold and meet outside but nice and warm in Herr (although the heating is a little noisy!)

As far as refreshments go there is a water dispenser (no bottles), a flavia coffee machine with some nice cups to drink from, a selection of Bronte biscuits and copies of The Times. A very civilised place to sit and wait for your train, especially compared to the cold standard waiting room with its hard seats.

For those of you like me with reward points to burn, my 1 day pass was waived and merely glanced at. No attempts made to remove it from me!

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[RochdalePioneers]

South of Bedford on an EMT 222 (which is so much nicer than a 220/1). Have eaten 2 packs of the Bronte biscuits (Choc chip & Orange especially nice) and ready for a coffee in Kings Cross when I arrive in half an hour.

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[RochdalePioneers]

Kings Cross Lounge. Had my day pass glanced at. Plenty of seats, with Coffee, cans of coke and bottled water, juice all available plus crisps and more Bronte biscuits. I missed the Croissants! Boooo!

+++++++++++++

Now sat with coffee, more biccies, crisps, apple, Netflix over very fast wifi. An hour until I need to leave for my meeting. A hard life....

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[Waverley21]

Excellent service on the 08:30 from Edinburgh to Kings Cross this morning.

I was on that service. While breakfast was fine, there was no further food on offer. Every time the trolley passed the stewards checked where people had joined the train and asked if they'd had food already. After NCL, there was nothing doing for those boarding at EDB.

And the service was rather late into KGX, after a long unscheduled pause at PBO for "safety checks". The crew used this pause to take in all the cups, rather than offer more drinks.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Back in the Kings Cross lounge at 1740. Its busy but there are still plenty of seats available.

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[RochdalePioneers]

Last post on the lounges I promise. In summary if you're going to spend a period of time waiting for your train at a location(s) with a lounge, for me its worth it. Nice warm comfort with snacky goodness and coffee. I appear to have come home with a quantity of Bronte orange biscuits, and discovered that you can fit an expresso AND a latte into the same mug....

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[ash39]

I was at Newcastle yesterday, and planned to use the first class lounge to have a drink before my train back. It said on the door not available to 'weekend first' and 'advance first' ticket holders. What is the point of that?

 

[attics26]

I was at Newcastle yesterday, and planned to use the first class lounge to have a drink before my train back. It said on the door not available to 'weekend first' and 'advance first' ticket holders. What is the point of that?

The point would be exactly what it says when you buy the ticket not valid for first class lounge except if you wish to purchase the £5 supplement which then allows access.

 

[ainsworth74]

It said on the door not available to 'weekend first' and 'advance first' ticket holders. What is the point of that?

To dissuade leisure travellers on cheap advances from filling it up. You can still access the lounge but have to pay a £5 supplement, depending on the lounge and the time you've got to wait it can be worthwhile.

 

[Bungle73]

Last post on the lounges I promise. In summary if you're going to spend a period of time waiting for your train at a location(s) with a lounge, for me its worth it. Nice warm comfort with snacky goodness and coffee. I appear to have come home with a quantity of Bronte orange biscuits, and discovered that you can fit an expresso AND a latte into the same mug....

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It's not "expresso" it's espresso. So many people get that wrong. And an espresso is only a small drink.

To dissuade leisure travellers on cheap advances from filling it up.

So why is it ok for other TOCs who let anyone with a FC ticket into their lounges, but not for EC?

You can still access the lounge but have to pay a £5 supplement, depending on the lounge and the time you've got to wait it can be worthwhile.

Or, if you have enough reward points, you can get a FC Lounge Pass that lasts 1 day or more, and lets you in even with no ticket at all!