London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[amcluesent]

To maintain pricing differentials, it's necessary to withold the essentials from standard and provide the superfluous in first. EC are flying against economics by pricing FC APs well below standard fares.

 

[jon0844]

I will pay a BIT extra for this and the freebies are a bonus

Like me, you're not the target market then. You'd probably be happy to pay less for FC in lieu of the freebies, as you just want more room.

For it to work, the service offering is the bit that entices people to travel and pay the anytime fare (not a cheap advanced ticket, or a promotional ticket deal) and that needs to be of a sufficient standard. Otherwise, those that can put up with standard will, and save the money.

BTW, if Intercity services can have times where standard is rammed and there are loads of seats in first class, why not have one carriage that is declassified on certain trips - and fill them with standard class ticket holders. Don't offer anything (even make the Wi-Fi switchable so it's not free) in that coach. It wouldn't even be that hard to have illuminated signs to signify when a coach is not first class.

For all the money spent on the new EC service (not that I'm saying that's money badly spent and I'm sure they may get it 100% perfect one day), it wouldn't have been impossible to do. Some TOCs do that already don't they?

Likewise, at weekends, consider dropping the price of Weekend First and fill up the seats. When we upgraded for £25 each on EC on a Sunday, there was perhaps another 4 or 5 people in the carriage. Or, think of innovative deals - like booking xx journeys on EC via the EC website gets you a free weekend first upgrade to use within 3 months. Don't make people have to spend hundreds and hundreds; even offer it on advance tickets. Say, one weekend first voucher for any 10 trips. Use some initiative. Perhaps when someone upgrades, they'll do it again.

It's risky to hope that you'll get more people to buy first class tickets (especially open ones) in a recession - especially at off-peak times - even if there are some professions that are recession-proof.

 

[rmt-driver]

Going EC again tomorrow..... ready for another FC (fully crappy) offering of maybe two drinks and a small tiny veggie warm tart !!!!

 

[graham43404]

Thank goodness we are travelling standard this week unlike last week when we did first class. On the 07:10 Leeds to Aberdeen there is no breakfast menu being served due to a technical (they don't work ) problem with the ovens. Straight to mid morning menu.

 

[[email protected].]

Can't believe this thread is still ongoing @ 105 pages.

It’s too long to read now to quickly find an answer, so it’s easier to ask.

Saturday 19th Nov
Lincoln Dep 09:30
London KX Arr 11:26


1. Is this an EMT HST Train
2. In first is there hot complimentary items
3. In Wi-Fi working/available in 1st Class



Many Thanks

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Can't believe this thread is still ongoing @ 105 pages.

It’s too long to read now to quickly find an answer, so it’s easier to ask.

If you had been reading the thread, then you'd realise that this is an unanswerable question.

The EMT set appears almost randomly. I've been on it 3 times this week - unexpectedly. Its Wi-Fi works fine, which is more than can be said for one of the apparently normal-looking EC HST sets which has two WiFi identities (and in some coaches cannot work).

Catering continues to be inconsistent and unpredictable. After over four months, crews are still asking / arguing among themselves and with Managers just what they should be offering, how often, when, and on what tickets. My (regular) experience is one of acute disparity.
The certain predictable fact is that it is unpredictable. In the extreme.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Can't believe this thread is still ongoing @ 105 pages.

It’s too long to read now to quickly find an answer, so it’s easier to ask.

Saturday 19th Nov
Lincoln Dep 09:30
London KX Arr 11:26


1. Is this an EMT HST Train
2. In first is there hot complimentary items
3. In Wi-Fi working/available in 1st Class



Many Thanks

Its not booked to be the EMT set as the EMT set used as a spare set on saturdays so i suppose it is possiable it still could be but unlikley. No hot food in first on a weekend, just a cheese&tom or ham crossiant (cold) and a buscuit. Wifi should be fine if working

 

[marks87]

Speaking of the EMT set (and to go slightly off-topic), I had an EMT power car bringing up the rear on Wednesday (14.50 ex Aberdeen-KX). Was that drafted in to replace the one that caught fire, or is this a normal working?

 

[blackfive460]

No hot food in first on a weekend, just a cheese&tom or ham croissant (cold) and a biscuit.

EC's web site could do with an update then.

On weekends and bank holidays, passengers are served a breakfast roll first thing...

To my way of thinking, a breakfast roll is hot and has bacon in it.
An Australian friend experienced this early yesterday morning travelling KGX to York and said he got a slightly stale croissant, an extremely stale something else (he wasn't completely sure what it was supposed to be, possibly pain chocolat, but could easily have been used to hammer nails), and a single cup of tea during the journey.
He was on a Britrail pass but did wonder what people paying £25 weekend first thought about it.
Not good enough on a two hour journey.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . he got a slightly stale croissant, an extremely stale something else (he wasn't completely sure what it was supposed to be, possibly pain chocolat, but could easily have been used to hammer nails), and a single cup of tea during the journey.

That is indeed what the hard things are. It is possible for a health set of teeth to puncture them. You will have to supply your own nails.

 

[Bungle73]

On Tuesday I'm going to be travelling from Kings Cross to Newark North Gate, departing at 13:30 and arriving at 14:43. What exactly am I going to be entitled to from the complementaries?

 

[krisk]

I get what EC are trying to do by adding value to a FC ticket by giving you food and drink for free, much like do you fly with BA or EasyJet, what service do you want on that flight?

However it seems like they are getting it wrong.

If you do hot food at least have a meat and a veggie choice, I don't eat much salad/veg myself so unless its cheese/potato/tomato/onion based I won't enjoy it.

The sandwiches seem an odd selection, the feedback I give on a regular basis from my own job is "keep it simple, do it well". That might be using nice bread, thick sliced ham, ingrediants that taste fresh and go well together.

I wouldn't be happy on a run from London to Scotland with nothing hot available, or if what is available is a take it or leave it choice.

If you want action vote with your feet and with your wallets, don't buy the FC tickets and keep the emails coming in saying today I was going to travel FC but didnt because of the catering provided. When you start to see a dip in revenue then maybe something will be done.

The only problem there is if you don't buy that advance First ticket then someone else will and maybe there is some complacency there that by pricing the tickets reasonably if you don't occupy that seat, someone else will.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Was told the other day that the vegetarian hot option will change as of a week tomorrow. The cauliflower cheese tart will be replaced with a vegetable sheppards pie on the first rotation, and the beetroot risotto replaced with a brie and cranberry wellington on the second rotation. I assume the 3rd and 4th rotations will change also but dont know yet what with. The change is a little earlier than what they first said due to customer feedback and the change of season. The hot vegy option is found on all menus from 11am onwards.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Who remembers BR "Silver Standard" - reserved seating , light meal and so on for a standard open fare. Compromise deal brought in the 1991 era recession. Quite succesfull.

 

[Bungle73]

The menu booklet appeared to have gone missing at my seat for my journey from Kings Cross to Newark Northgate this afternoon.....or do they just not put one there if your journey is short? Having said that though my journey was 73 minutes, just over the 70 minute limit, so technically I guess I was entitled to the full whack?

 

[Harlesden]

Seems like I'm the only one on here with absolutely no interest in on-train catering.
I'm quite happy to do a 3-hours train journey with a packet of Jaffa Cakes, 2-3 Mars Bars, a pack of 6 Bakewell Tarts with a couple of cans of pop to wash it down. Asda price around £3

 

[Bungle73]

Seems like I'm the only one on here with absolutely no interest in on-train catering.
I'm quite happy to do a 3-hours train journey with a packet of Jaffa Cakes, 2-3 Mars Bars, a pack of 6 Bakewell Tarts with a couple of cans of pop to wash it down. Asda price around £3

Speaking personally, as a leisure traveller, I think there's something vey civilised about relaxing with a glass of wine, and a meal on a china plate with a metal knife and fork, while watching the world go by. The fact that it's all "complimentary" is a bonus.

 

[All Line Rover]

Was told the other day that the vegetarian hot option will change as of a week tomorrow. The cauliflower cheese tart will be replaced with a vegetable sheppards pie on the first rotation, and the beetroot risotto replaced with a brie and cranberry wellington on the second rotation. I assume the 3rd and 4th rotations will change also but dont know yet what with. The change is a little earlier than what they first said due to customer feedback and the change of season. The hot vegy option is found on all menus from 11am onwards.

Those new options actually sound appetising. Finally! I bet they will be measly sizes, though. :roll: Nothing can beat that cheese platter I was served! Divine!

 

[JB1601]

Seems like I'm the only one on here with absolutely no interest in on-train catering.
I'm quite happy to do a 3-hours train journey with a packet of Jaffa Cakes, 2-3 Mars Bars, a pack of 6 Bakewell Tarts with a couple of cans of pop to wash it down. Asda price around £3

I wouldn't like to be your teeth

 

[HST Power]

Those new options actually sound appetising. Finally! I bet they will be measly sizes, though. :roll: Nothing can beat that cheese platter I was served! Divine!

Looks great, I bet you enjoyed that one!

I must try and travel on an evening meal or lunch service.

 

[All Line Rover]

Looks great, I bet you enjoyed that one!

I must try and travel on an evening meal or lunch service.

Well you're not going to get that cheese platter, because it was on the old Restaurant menu! (Which, weirdly, was available on a southbound train at around noon. I didn't complain! )

 

[ainsworth74]

Well you're not going to get that cheese platter, because it was on the old Restaurant menu!

Ahh yes but at least what's left of the cheese platter is complimentary!

 

[All Line Rover]

Ahh yes but at least what's left of the cheese platter is complimentary!

What's left is a piece of cheese the size of a feta cube, one cracker and some celery. Or has the celery gone too? :roll:

To be honest I didn't mind paying for that cheese platter - it was the best available on any TOC.

 

[HST Power]

Well you're not going to get that cheese platter, because it was on the old Restaurant menu! (Which, weirdly, was available on a southbound train at around noon. I didn't complain! )

I never struggle down to the Restaurant car. Why bother, they serve you at your seat anyway.

 

[Blindtraveler]

hmmm liking the sound of the new pie! Anyone going soon? Let us no

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Ahh yes but at least what's left of the cheese platter is complimentary!

The Cheese platter can now be highly variable, from one to 4 crackers, and none to 4 sticks of celery. Never brad, never apple and never more than 2 cheeses. Here's yesterday evening's:-

 

[Greenback]

That is the most pathetic cheese plate I have ever seen!

 

[Bungle73]

I'm on the 13:17 from Newark Northgate to Kings Cross. I just tried to order the Ham Hock salad, but got told all they have left is sandwiches, so I had to make do with those. I appreciate that the train's come all the way from Edinburgh, but that's not good.

 

[Butts]

That is the most pathetic cheese plate I have ever seen!

At least it looks like it's got a "slither" of stilton or the like on it.

Must be sponsored by weightwatchers

 

[Bungle73]

We've still got 40 minutes until we reach Kings Cross and they've already taken my coffee cup away and laid out new for the next service. I guess that means I don't get any more.