London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Jeremy B]

Alcoholic Drinks Policy First Class
................I shall continue to obtain the cheapest advances I can and scew them for everything I can get without any feeling of guilt

This about sums up the attitude of a lot of posters in this particular thread

 

[Butts]

This about sums up the attitude of a lot of posters in this particular thread

I take it your familiar with the old adage ....you reap what you sow :roll:

 

[yorksrob]

I'm usually in steerage myself, but I have to say I'd be dissappointed if black pudding and beans were ommitted from something pertaining to be a "full English" breakfast.

If they had mushrooms instead it would just add insult to injury. Yuk.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm usually in steerage myself, but I have to say I'd be dissappointed if black pudding and beans were ommitted from something pertaining to be a "full English" breakfast.

The current full English is 2x bacon, 1x sausage (small), 1x scoop of scrambled eggs (small), 4/5x small mushrooms, 1x tomato, 1x potato scone (thin as paper). There is a picture of it up thread somewhere. Certainly it doesn't meet my definition of a full English.

 

[142094]

I was lucky enough to have 4 rashers of bacon last week - it probably helped that I was the last served and the station I got on was the last for the breakfast service.

 

[yorksrob]

The current full English is 2x bacon, 1x sausage (small), 1x scoop of scrambled eggs (small), 4/5x small mushrooms, 1x tomato, 1x potato scone (thin as paper). There is a picture of it up thread somewhere. Certainly it doesn't meet my definition of a full English.

The potato scone sounds like a nice touch. However beans are an absolute must. I find a fry-up requires something with sauce to lubricate the palate a little.

 

[Butts]

The current full English is 2x bacon, 1x sausage (small), 1x scoop of scrambled eggs (small), 4/5x small mushrooms, 1x tomato, 1x potato scone (thin as paper). There is a picture of it up thread somewhere. Certainly it doesn't meet my definition of a full English.

Unfortunately it does meet East Coasts idea of a "Full English" breakfast, soon they'll be dishing out those bacofoil specials airlines used to do and describing it as a gourmet offering form Gate Gourmet
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The potato scone sounds like a nice touch. However beans are an absolute must. I find a fry-up requires something with sauce to lubricate the palate a little.

It would if it bore any resemblance to a proper potato scone - it's more like a kleenex

 

[yorksrob]

I was lucky enough to have 4 rashers of bacon last week - it probably helped that I was the last served and the station I got on was the last for the breakfast service.

Do they offer bread instead of toast ? I find extra bacon can go to make a sarnie

 

[Butts]

Do they offer bread instead of toast ? I find extra bacon can go to make a sarnie

Not when each "rasher" is the size of a matchbox - and not a swan vesta sized one. You often get bread as the toaster has a habit of breaking down or only doing one side.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm usually in steerage myself, but I have to say I'd be dissappointed if black pudding and beans were ommitted from something pertaining to be a "full English" breakfast.

If they had mushrooms instead it would just add insult to injury. Yuk.

According to East Coast black pudding was not requested in the "extensive research" they carried out

 

[142094]

Do they offer bread instead of toast ? I find extra bacon can go to make a sarnie

Just toast - the bread they use is decent but if you're sitting away from the buffet then by the time it gets to you, you could probably use it as a paving slab.

 

[yorksrob]

It would if it bore any resemblance to a proper potato scone - it's more like a kleenex

That's a shame. I seem to recall that some of the Little Chef breakfasts do a good line in potatoes. Perhaps EC should steal theirs

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Just toast - the bread they use is decent but if you're sitting away from the buffet then by the time it gets to you, you could probably use it as a paving slab.

Indeed, but it continues to evolve! If you wait patiently and quietly for someone to deliver some butter or spread in their own time (not expecting that a passenger would want to spread anything on their toast), then another phase of transformation takes place and, lo!, it makes quite an effective soft, damp cloth.
If you waited longer, it maybe develops other useful properties.
But passengers should be warned:- probably none of those transformed states of toast would be safe to eat.

Anyone fancy doing a special East Coast run on the anniversary of this great new era of railway catering, which will be Tues 22nd. May? Say on a northbound London - Edinburgh evening service with all sorts of 'we can do better than EastCoast and on a budget' pranks? (Media observers invited, of course).

 

[Butts]

That's a shame. I seem to recall that some of the Little Chef breakfasts do a good line in potatoes. Perhaps EC should steal theirs

If East Coast produced an "Olympic Breakfast" as their offering there would be no complaints from me.

 

[Blindtraveler]

that Dave sounds like a good excuse for a bash.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

This about sums up the attitude of a lot of posters in this particular thread

I wouldn't say a lot, but a few, yes.

That's a shame. I seem to recall that some of the Little Chef breakfasts do a good line in potatoes. Perhaps EC should steal theirs

Shame about the rest of their offerings!

 

[ainsworth74]

I was in first class on EC today in the morning and evening. The breakfast was fine (just the usual complaints on it missing a few key ingredients) one thing that a few on here (hello Butts!) might be interested to know was that I did manage to get a second piece of toast

I was on an evening meal service coming home (with DaveNewcastle) and from my point of view the service was fine. Evening meal was served promptly (roast pork, with cabbage and potatoes in a savoury sauce) and was a good sized portion. Drinks trolley came around with the right frequency. Dave took some photos of my meal and his (jacket potato with ratatouille and salad) which if he gets time I'm sure he'll put up later. All in all if EC could deliver a service like this everyday I would have no significant complaints.

 

[Butts]

I was in first class on EC today in the morning and evening. The breakfast was fine (just the usual complaints on it missing a few key ingredients) one thing that a few on here (hello Butts!) might be interested to know was that I did manage to get a second piece of toast

Perhaps they have read the East Coast Forum and the answer to my query from High Command

Seriously was it offered or did you have to ask ? Next you'll be telling me it arrived at the same time as your breakfast - that would be a miracle :roll:

 

[jon0844]

Along with butter and jam....

 

[ainsworth74]

Seriously was it offered or did you have to ask ? Next you'll be telling me it arrived at the same time as your breakfast - that would be a miracle

No I had to ask for it (and to be honest I don't mind having to ask for more but it should certainly be given on request assuming they aren't going to run out). As for the timing well... Let's just say the delivery of toast bracketed the delivery of breakfast (it arrived before and after but not during or at the same time as).

Along with butter and jam....

Never had an issue with that before and I didn't today (though just butter with my toast please ).

 

[DaveNewcastle]

You called?

I was on an evening meal service coming home (with DaveNewcastle) and from my point of view the service was fine. Evening meal was served promptly (roast pork, with cabbage and potatoes in a savoury sauce) and was a good sized portion. Drinks trolley came around with the right frequency. Dave took some photos of my meal and his (jacket potato with ratatouille and salad) which if he gets time I'm sure he'll put up later. All in all if EC could deliver a service like this everyday I would have no significant complaints.

Here's those pics - apologies for the blurred image of the pork dish. That must have been taken at that singularly and unique moment when there is a small bump on the track of the ECML.
Pork:-

Jacket Potato & ratatouille:-


As for Ainsworth74's observation that the drinks trolley came round with "the right frequency", I began to wonder if the crew imagined that we were their new 'mystery shoppers' ! The offerings were more frequent than they are generally.

In summary: The food is fine. The reliability and consistency is not.
I have long since ceased to rely on the breakfast offering and now I always have a decent brekfast at home bofore travelling.
I accept the risks in the evening and usually (tho not this eve.) buy snacks before boarding and cook when I get home. Tonight it was, er, First Class.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

No I had to ask for it . . . .

and if I remember correctly, you also asked for the cheese platter.
Very promptly, you were presented with a lovely clean white porcelain plate, 2 biscuits (yes, just 2), 3 sticks of celery, a little tub of butter, a plastic-fabric cloth and a knife.


But no, er, . . . . . cheese.


Untill you asked if you could also have some cheese with it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

epic fail!

 

[ainsworth74]

Very promptly, you were presented with a lovely clean white porcelain plate, 2 biscuits (yes, just 2), 3 sticks of celery, a little tub of butter, a plastic-fabric cloth and a knife.


But no, er, . . . . . cheese.


Untill you asked if you could also have some cheese with it.

Haha I had in fact forgotten about that! I must admit it was initially somewhat disappointing to be able to see the cheeses on the trolley and then not to actually be given any.

 

[jon0844]

It would be funny (and good) if EC staff now assume everyone could be a mystery shopper and 'up their game'.

I do think that on the forum (which was literally on a forum - a very odd way to run things I thought!) they said the mystery shopping had been done and they were analysing the results. Perhaps management didn't tell staff and they only found out about the mystery shopping this week - and have panicked.

 

[Butts]

and if I remember correctly, you also asked for the cheese platter.
Very promptly, you were presented with a lovely clean white porcelain plate, 2 biscuits (yes, just 2), 3 sticks of celery, a little tub of butter, a plastic-fabric cloth and a knife.


But no, er, . . . . . cheese.


Untill you asked if you could also have some cheese with it.

A Cheeseless Cheese Platter........wow thats novel

Did they give you a good wedge of stilton to make up for the oversite or was it a "dairylea triangle" size portion ?

 

[jon0844]

They call a meal without baked beans a breakfast, so I doubt they saw any problem with a cheese platter not having any cheese.

 

[yorkie]

...2 biscuits (yes, just 2),....

3 biscuits on the 1903 on that same evening!

The service on the 1903 (12th April) was superb, the staff were infinitely more friendly than some of the infamously grumpy London crews. In fact, the staff couldn't really have been better.

Coffee was served immediately. Then drinks. Orders taken for food while we were given snacks to keep us going. Then the food arrived. Then more drinks. Then the desert/cheese. Then the 3rd and final offering of drinks (very impressive - we actually declined this as we had sufficient!) and finally another coffee to finish. The service lasted all the way to Doncaster, a great improvement on our prediction of Newark/Grantham!

One day last week, on a later train to Leeds (2035), the staff were absolutely fine, but the service finished at Grantham. I'd have no complaints at all about the service though, the staff were giving generous portions and were encouraging take-up of the offer.

Now to the London crews. Just over a week ago, one of us did not get offered any food. Those of us who did, were given the most basic of service. Sadly, to my dismay, the crew worked all the way from London to Edinburgh. Had I known it was a London crew throughout I'd not have paid the extra to go 1st. A few months ago I had appalling service from a rude woman on a late train from York to London. Yep, a London crew alright.

Until EC sort out the consistency, my advice is to definitely consider going 1st class with the services worked by Yorkshire crews. I've not experienced the Scottish crews. The Newcastle crews are not as good as Yorkshire in my experience, but infinitely better than the grumpy London ones.

If there are some good ones based in London, well I apologise for generalising, but I can only comment on what I've experienced and I will be avoiding them as much as possible.

By the way, some of the ticket office staff based at KGX are a disgrace compared to the fantastic staff based in York, Peterborough, Doncaster etc, so there are obviously wider issues with staff attitude and morale.

 

[Bungle73]

How would one know which crew one was getting?

Also, why are East Coast trumpeting about an "All New First Class Service" on their website, when it's the same FC service they've been offering for the past year? So hardly "new" then.

 

[Failed Unit]

The accents? I typically get either Scottish or Georgie crews, the majority good with some exceptions. I like the 0830 ex-Edinburgh regulars, but I guess we recognise each other now. All crews tend to be better in the morning. But as a rule all trains leaving Edinburgh before 0830 have Scottish crews, the 0930 is Newcastle after that I haven't a clue. Don't tend to have London or Yorkshire crews myself.

As others have said, if the offer was consistent more people would be happy. Give me the restuarant anyday!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . why are East Coast trumpeting about an "All New First Class Service" on their website, when it's the same FC service they've been offering for the past year? So hardly "new" then.

There's a very large poster in Waverley station announcing the exciting new First Class catering offering which we can all look forward to, and which will be starting on May 22nd.

[Yes. Its been there for a year. Perhaps they haven't had any other news worthly of a large back-lit poster site.]