London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Blindtraveler]

Can't say as pearl barley risotto immediately. Grabs, someone in the strategic planning and strategy department at lner and its predecessors clearly likes exploring great random risottos of the world, anyone remember the beetroot as well as the one or two others we've had down the years
But at least they're back to offering proper food again, the festive feast fast disappointed many it would seem. And although I only experienced it once and had lower expectations, I'm still rather glad I hadn't booked to do something like London to Inverness during December as I'd have been pretty hungry by the end of that

 

[sigma421]

Underwhelmed by the crew from Aberdeen to Edinburgh today who closed off first class service after Leuchars to allow for a crew change at Edinburgh. Surely it doesn’t take that long?

 

[Butts]

Underwhelmed by the crew from Aberdeen to Edinburgh today who closed off first class service after Leuchars to allow for a crew change at Edinburgh. Surely it doesn’t take that long?

Prior to that did you not have "2 runs" ex Aberdeen and Dundee?

 

[voyagerdude220]

Underwhelmed by the crew from Aberdeen to Edinburgh today who closed off first class service after Leuchars to allow for a crew change at Edinburgh. Surely it doesn’t take that long?

That certainly sounds very disappointing in my opinion. I don't know any reason why they would need to stop serving around an hour before they leave the train.

I guess maybe 20 minutes if they needed to count everything and workout if they needed to order more stock to be loaded at Edinburgh.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wonder how much of it's to do with communications through Fife? On paper at least they could probably run service for another 20 minutes after departure from loochers But phone and data signal round. The Fife in a circle is pretty rubbish so perhaps it's down to being able to reliably place an order for additional stock and crockery to be loaded on at Edinburgh before reaching this blackout, even still, I would have thought that tea and coffee might be possible until about Mark inch

 

[Discuss223]

I wonder how much of it's to do with communications through Fife? On paper at least they could probably run service for another 20 minutes after departure from loochers But phone and data signal round. The Fife in a circle is pretty rubbish so perhaps it's down to being able to reliably place an order for additional stock and crockery to be loaded on at Edinburgh before reaching this blackout, even still, I would have thought that tea and coffee might be possible until about Mark inch

I'd have thought Gate Gourmet a key station, such as Edinburgh, where boarding numbers are at a steady flow would have standing orders to automatically bring a pre-determined stock load. If the staff are leaving the train at Edinburgh, they may need to do a stock count but that should only take two people (one person to read out the count and the other to record it). It's also a courtesy to have a general tidy up of the galley, ready for the new crew to arrive. That said, one of the team could find some time from Leuchars to Edinburgh to pass down the passenger cabin and offer top ups of tea and coffee for sure. Virgin WC used to do this without the trolley, to gain speed and just carried the jugs. Perhaps LNER should look at ways to make the service more continual during the journey.

 

[aaronspence]

I wonder how much of it's to do with communications through Fife? On paper at least they could probably run service for another 20 minutes after departure from loochers But phone and data signal round. The Fife in a circle is pretty rubbish so perhaps it's down to being able to reliably place an order for additional stock and crockery to be loaded on at Edinburgh before reaching this blackout, even still, I would have thought that tea and coffee might be possible until about Mark inch

As a fifer who travels frequently the phone signal is not a problem throughout the journey to Edinburgh so that’s certainly not the reason

 

[Butts]

I'd have thought Gate Gourmet a key station, such as Edinburgh, where boarding numbers are at a steady flow would have standing orders to automatically bring a pre-determined stock load. If the staff are leaving the train at Edinburgh, they may need to do a stock count but that should only take two people (one person to read out the count and the other to record it). It's also a courtesy to have a general tidy up of the galley, ready for the new crew to arrive. That said, one of the team could find some time from Leuchars to Edinburgh to pass down the passenger cabin and offer top ups of tea and coffee for sure. Virgin WC used to do this without the trolley, to gain speed and just carried the jugs. Perhaps LNER should look at ways to make the service more continual during the journey.

You do get full service getting on at Leuchars mainly as the trolleys are on their way back from the "Dundee Run"

 

[ainsworth74]

Excellent service on the 1700 of Kings Cross tonight. Cold water and crisps offered before departure, food orders taken shortly after departure, hot drinks followed shortly thereafter the food trolley. Chocolates also given out as well in a separate run. All crockery and rubbish cleared away promptly as well avoiding excess clutter. Another round of cold and hot drinks offered before York (it was a non-stop Kings Cross - York service). Can't fault the service!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Sounds good and possibly on quite a busy day for travel as well as people get set for return to normality. If indeed they haven't already done so

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Excellent service on the 1700 of Kings Cross tonight. Cold water and crisps offered before departure, food orders taken shortly after departure, hot drinks followed shortly thereafter the food trolley. Chocolates also given out as well in a separate run. All crockery and rubbish cleared away promptly as well avoiding excess clutter. Another round of cold and hot drinks offered before York (it was a non-stop Kings Cross - York service). Can't fault the service!

Same for me last Tuesday on the 13.00 out of Kings Cross to York; staff falling over themselves to offer hot and cold drinks, lunch - even crisps and biscuits. Water, wine, coffee and lunch - all served up before Peterborough

 

[D6130]

hot drinks followed shortly thereafter the food trolley.

....but, as I've said before, why do they serve the hot drinks before bringing round the food trolley? In my experience, the vast majority of people would prefer to drink their tea or coffee after the meal. If they're going to serve the hot drinks beforehand, they'll be cold by the time you come to drink them after the 'meal'!

 

[Sealink]

Can't say as pearl barley risotto immediately. Grabs, someone in the strategic planning and strategy department at lner and its predecessors clearly likes exploring great random risottos of the world, anyone remember the beetroot as well as the one or two others we've had down the years
But at least they're back to offering proper food again, the festive feast fast disappointed many it would seem. And although I only experienced it once and had lower expectations, I'm still rather glad I hadn't booked to do something like London to Inverness during December as I'd have been pretty hungry by the end of that

I did do Inverness London on 3rd. No hot food from Inverness so no bacon roll.

Had a sandwich around Edinburgh then nothing for the rest of the journey except crisps and biscuits.

 

[Butts]

I did do Inverness London on 3rd. No hot food from Inverness so no bacon roll.

Had a sandwich around Edinburgh then nothing for the rest of the journey except crisps and biscuits.

What by way of food did you get / offered between Inverness and Edinburgh ?

Surprised they didn't do a "full run" ex Newcastle.

 

[Sealink]

What by way of food did you get / offered between Inverness and Edinburgh ?

Surprised they didn't do a "full run" ex Newcastle.

Crisps, biscuits, fruit, teas, coffees.

They did come around at Newcastle to take orders for passengers joining at Newcastle and Edinburgh.

I assumed they would come around again but they didn't.

 

[Blindtraveler]

That is no better than Scott rail quite frankly and probably at a much higher price. I hope this isn't the new normal on the Highland service

 

[Stathern Jc]

That is no better than Scott rail quite frankly and probably at a much higher price. I hope this isn't the new normal on the Highland service

Advance Firsts (with Senior Railcard) for Thursday next week: LNER Inverness - Edinburgh, £28.40; ScotRail Edinburgh - Inverness, £35.40.
Scotrail prices on those services where Advance Firsts are available seem very consistent, and often the same via Aberdeen (which I think is intended to attract some demand away from busier services such as the 1050 from Inverness which I see RTT shows as having been a single 158 yesterday). LNER price does vary but I would feel I had been unlucky if I had to pay as much as for Scotrail.
I agree in hoping that the level of service on The Chieftain isn't going to regularly be below what we would wish to see.

 

[Bishopstone]

£29 to travel 150 miles in 2+1 seating, enjoying some beautiful scenery, is... pretty good value, before any consideration of catering. (This doesn't appear to be a one-off, as the same fare is available for next Tuesday.)

The usual offer is/was a cooked breakfast, I believe? I'm struggling to see where the return is for the taxpayer in this deal. It's a good job I'm not in charge of LNER, as I'd be pricing this run at £10 above the equivalent Scotrail fare (after railcard discount in both cases) to test price elasticity of demand, and I would expect to increase my total revenue.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Advance Firsts (with Senior Railcard) for Thursday next week: LNER Inverness - Edinburgh, £28.40; ScotRail Edinburgh - Inverness, £35.40.
Scotrail prices on those services where Advance Firsts are available seem very consistent, and often the same via Aberdeen (which I think is intended to attract some demand away from busier services such as the 1050 from Inverness which I see RTT shows as having been a single 158 yesterday). LNER price does vary but I would feel I had been unlucky if I had to pay as much as for Scotrail.
I agree in hoping that the level of service on The Chieftain isn't going to regularly be below what we would wish to see.

I completely agree on your feelings on the service. I do however stand corrected on the price element. On a side note, you're absolutely spot on about the via Aberdeen option being pushed to a certain extent in both classes of travel. I go to the Highlands myself in a couple of weeks and spent and not inconsiderable time examining my options for return travel at least as far as the central belt and indeed there are a couple of services throughout the course of the day that I'm either priced higher or attempt to root you via Aberdeen for the purposes of demand suppression. As it happens, I've spent the vastly over inflated some of 8 lb 95p on a bus ticket which will actually get me to my destination faster. And whilst no three cups of tea are included, will nevertheless be a pleasant enough trip I should think

 

[leightonbd]

£29 to travel 150 miles in 2+1 seating, enjoying some beautiful scenery, is... pretty good value, before any consideration of catering. (This doesn't appear to be a one-off, as the same fare is available for next Tuesday.)

The usual offer is/was a cooked breakfast, I believe? I'm struggling to see where the return is for the taxpayer in this deal. It's a good job I'm not in charge of LNER, as I'd be pricing this run at £10 above the equivalent Scotrail fare (after railcard discount in both cases) to test price elasticity of demand, and I would expect to increase my total revenue.

The scenery may be in a cloud, to be fair. I like the LNER FC offering and agree it’s good value north of the border, but think there may be two reasons why the LNER fares are cheaper (and put them out there to encourage someone who knows more to explain …):

- marginal revenue at zero marginal cost (yes, there is a cost in FC catering N of Edinburgh but it’s bundled into the franchise cost);
- tix (bought at the LNER price) will be LNER only. Tomorrow pm I am looking at about £12 single on the Chieftain to Aviemore vs £35 for a standard Scotrail fare (both standard class with railcard) but haven’t booked yet because I’m not sure when I will be able to get away).

At the margin: extreme weather today and it’s not beyond the bounds of imagination that the LNER tomorrow is delayed northbound and pulled at EDI.

So it’s a great offering but you need to be sure you can get that train!

 

[D6130]

The usual offer is/was a cooked breakfast, I believe?

LNER have been unsuccessful in recruiting chefs at Inverness for nearly a year now, so the breakfast offering on the Highland Chieftain between there and Edinburgh is unlikely to exceed a micowaved sausage roll for the foreseeable future....unless they can persuade a couple of Edinburgh-based chefs to lodge overnight in the Highland Capital.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Am I being over cynical here or is this struggle to recruit? Inverness-based chefs going on longer than seemed plausible? I can't help but wonder if they just don't want to offer this service anymore and are simply spinning the recruitment story as long as possible, or are they genuinely genuinely struggling to find people? I would have thought not

 

[Scotrail314209]

I wonder if maybe to mitigate this, the Chieftain should only be a ‘Dine’ train after Edinburgh, since it pretty much hits lunchtime and they can load the new stock/crew.

Perhaps between Inverness and Edinburgh it should be a ‘Dish’ train as the hosts are able to prepare the food themselves without the chef.

 

[richardderby]

Am I being over cynical here or is this struggle to recruit? Inverness-based chefs going on longer than seemed plausible? I can't help but wonder if they just don't want to offer this service anymore and are simply spinning the recruitment story as long as possible, or are they genuinely genuinely struggling to find people? I would have thought not

well if they are recruiting at Inverness, it clearly isn't on the LNER vacancies site... https://www.lnerjobs.co.uk/jobs/vacancy/find/results/

 

[D6130]

well if they are recruiting at Inverness, it clearly isn't on the LNER vacancies site... https://www.lnerjobs.co.uk/jobs/vacancy/find/results/

That's what I was told by the first class hosts when I travelled from Aviemore to Stirling last September.

 

[WAB]

well if they are recruiting at Inverness, it clearly isn't on the LNER vacancies site... https://www.lnerjobs.co.uk/jobs/vacancy/find/results/

An advert was out for quite a while previously.

 

[greyman42]

LNER have been unsuccessful in recruiting chefs at Inverness for nearly a year now, so the breakfast offering on the Highland Chieftain between there and Edinburgh is unlikely to exceed a micowaved sausage roll for the foreseeable future....unless they can persuade a couple of Edinburgh-based chefs to lodge overnight in the Highland Capital.

An overnight lodge may not be viable because of the cost of the hotel room.

 

[D6130]

An overnight lodge may not be viable because of the cost of the hotel room.

Good point!

 

[Craig2601]

Enjoyable journey at the weekend with LNER from KGX to EDB, after a last min Seatfrog upgrade. Deli menu on offer, with first meal served shortly after KGX. Two cold drink runs as well as tea/coffee by York, where I was offered another meal as well as extra crisps. Two more cold drinks/coffee and tea runs up to Edinburgh from there. Little disappointed they started packing up shortly after leaving Newcastle, but still £21 well spent I reckon .

 

[Andy Pacer]

Enjoyable journey at the weekend with LNER from KGX to EDB, after a last min Seatfrog upgrade. Deli menu on offer, with first meal served shortly after KGX. Two cold drink runs as well as tea/coffee by York, where I was offered another meal as well as extra crisps. Two more cold drinks/coffee and tea runs up to Edinburgh from there. Little disappointed they started packing up shortly after leaving Newcastle, but still £21 well spent I reckon .

That sounds very positive, and congratulations on the second meal!