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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
- Thread starter MidnightFlyer
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Butts
Veteran Member
Hmm....can you get "beggars first" tickets on EMT aka Virgin and East Coast ?
Do you mean this kind?
Obviously reverse the railcard discount, £30. Similar from Leeds, cheaper from Sheffield. £1 discount for booking with EMT online.
Butts
Veteran Member
You had to "slum it" on TPE prior to joining the EMT Service - no chance of a breakfast on there apart from a "manky muffin"
Have EMT started knocking out "free ale" in 1st Yet ?
You had to "slum it" on TPE prior to joining the EMT Service - no chance of a breakfast on there apart from a "manky muffin"
Have EMT started knocking out "free ale" in 1st Yet ?
Not by the looks of it.
Complimentary wine on trains departing St Pancras in a specific evening time range I think - some is also available at St Pancras Lounge. (All subject to availability, obviously)
Almost getting to the point where a new 'EMT First Class service' thread is appropriate?
Butts
Veteran Member
More like putting some pressure on East Coast and Virgin to explain why they are unable/unwilling to provide a similar standard Breakfast to that provided by EMT.
I'm sure I'm not the only one sick of "happy meals" - I'm surprised East Coast don't supply a Toy (train?) with their Breakfasts.
Is it to much to hope for a couple of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, black pudding, mushrooms and whatever else takes your fancy ?
You forgot the toast Mr! Shame on you
Tbh I think the EC breakfast is the most filling of all the meals they serve now. A toy on the plate along with some of those other meals would help fill the plate.
I also wouldn't put too much pressure on either otherwise you will probably find the good patrons of EMT rolling up one morning to find the "New standardised service" and their Full English has become a saucer with sausage, bacon, tomato and some reconstituted egg product.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Apologies, that was probably me who started that with my comparison between EC & VT.
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Currently onboard the 0743 Newcastle-Edinburgh. Was served Tea and Sparkling water before departure from a friendly bloke on the trolley. Was then served food which was a pretty dense, mediocre croissant. Not gonna complain though, the ambience in the carriage is pretty peaceful 
Butts
Veteran Member
Had a run down to Morpeth this Evening.
1830 ex Edinburgh - Had Cottage Pie - quite nice what there was of it. Said it was served with Brown Sauce and true to form it arrived with a sachet of HP
Why do they never come around and ask if anyone want's seconds ?
Am I the only one who thinks the portions are miniscule
Bulked up with some Ginger Cake, Crisps, Banana and a couple of Scotches.
As a footnote the EC Lounge at Waverley is a disgrace - a nicely decorated and furnished edifice with very little in it - stock at least
When are the tightwads going to supplement the Tea and Biscuits with Crisps, Cakes, Fruit, Pop etc aka Virgin.
1830 ex Edinburgh - Had Cottage Pie - quite nice what there was of it. Said it was served with Brown Sauce and true to form it arrived with a sachet of HP
Why do they never come around and ask if anyone want's seconds ?
Am I the only one who thinks the portions are miniscule
Bulked up with some Ginger Cake, Crisps, Banana and a couple of Scotches.
As a footnote the EC Lounge at Waverley is a disgrace - a nicely decorated and furnished edifice with very little in it - stock at least
When are the tightwads going to supplement the Tea and Biscuits with Crisps, Cakes, Fruit, Pop etc aka Virgin.
The crisps and cakes and other goodies are perhaps being a little profligate for a First Class lounge. Maybe even hot chocolate is (although it is offered at Euston, Paddington and King's Cross). But what annoys me about non-KGX EC lounges is a lack of cold drinks! Of any kind!
Butts
Veteran Member
Do you think they will be "Virginised" hopefully after March 1st ?
Cakes and Crisps and Sweets are to be found at Glasgow Central (VT Lounge)
There's chilled filtered water at Leeds and Wakefield (and I think Edinburgh - only been there the once though). No cans or bottles though.
There was chilled water at Edinburgh the last time I went there. Darlington too I think. And I'm sure I've seen bottled water at Newcastle and Berwick.
Where's the crux of it? "Some water" is not "no cold drinks". It's not as good as KGX or Virgin, but I said that.
I've never found the water coolers to be not working or no cups to be available - I'd have mentioned it to staff if I had as I don't drink tea or coffee.
Bishopstone
Established Member
Had business in Doncaster today, and caught the 10.03 Leeds train from Kings Cross. Although this left me early for my meeting, with an hour to kill, I was fortunate as I gather the 10.30 to Newcastle broke down near Retford, so this or subsequent departures would have made me very late!
Mid-morning menu, with one pass of the bread/pastry basket (and only one slice of toast) soon after departure, and orders taken from the menu. I had the porridge with honey, which was perfectly adequate. Two hot drink runs, and one juice run. The bread basket came round again after Peterborough, but only stopping for Peterborough joiners: so no second helpings.
Back on the 18.26 from Doncaster, ex-York: completing a duo of HST runs under the wires. All Day menu and I went for the cottage pie, which I considered to be tiny although quite meaty. Also grabbed some ginger cake (moist - nice), and there were two passes of hot drinks and one of cold/booze.
Aren't Peterborough joiners, southbound, supposed to get a hot drink and nibbles run? Hardly ever happens, in my limited experience.
Nothing to complain about, but quite underwhelming. I will say that of the various trains I observed, First Class appeared quite well loaded, with at least one person to every 2 and 4 bay. And none of these were peak trains. More family groups than I expected, too, which even on Advances must get quite expensive.
Mid-morning menu, with one pass of the bread/pastry basket (and only one slice of toast) soon after departure, and orders taken from the menu. I had the porridge with honey, which was perfectly adequate. Two hot drink runs, and one juice run. The bread basket came round again after Peterborough, but only stopping for Peterborough joiners: so no second helpings.
Back on the 18.26 from Doncaster, ex-York: completing a duo of HST runs under the wires. All Day menu and I went for the cottage pie, which I considered to be tiny although quite meaty. Also grabbed some ginger cake (moist - nice), and there were two passes of hot drinks and one of cold/booze.
Aren't Peterborough joiners, southbound, supposed to get a hot drink and nibbles run? Hardly ever happens, in my limited experience.
Nothing to complain about, but quite underwhelming. I will say that of the various trains I observed, First Class appeared quite well loaded, with at least one person to every 2 and 4 bay. And none of these were peak trains. More family groups than I expected, too, which even on Advances must get quite expensive.
Yes, even if you do Stevenage - London or Peterborough - Grantham you should get something: 'Journeys under 70 minutes - On our shorter journeys you can expect complimentary drinks and snacks.'
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
I've seen orange juice in Newcastle before too, although availability is a lot lower now you don't have to pay/have a walk-up 1st class ticket to use the lounge.
I would say I can recommend the Chocomilk, but that may not be of much help
Definitely OJ at Newcastle regularly and it's the same stuff as onboard.
Butts
Veteran Member
I can confirm there was OJ in there today....but apart from Hot Drinks and Biccies...f....all else
Made today what will probably be my last journey in 1st Class during EC's tenure.
0800 EDB to NCL
Two Slices of Brown Toast ..no famine today - to be fair the EC toast is better than Virgins.
OJ and Coffee
Full (or should that be empty ?) English Breakfast....2 Bacon, reconstituted Egg, Tom. Sausage, Micro Fried Spuds, Mushrooms.
Served at 0815 so pretty good timewise - I "transferred myself" from sharing in M to a 4 to myself in K. There is nearly always at least one unreserved 4 in K.
1444 NCL to EDB
At least it was not a "scone express".
Opted for the sandwiches (egg/tom) which now seem to come pre-packed rather than loose.
Banana, Cake and Crisps - plus the "Drinks Waiter" doubled me up on The Scotch without being asked.
One again hogged a 4 in K.
Bye,Bye, East Coast Catering
dcsprior
Member
Bye,Bye, East Coast Catering
Yes, indeed. I've just realised that due to the fact I'm not making my normal journey this week, I'll not be on EC again until after they change to Virgin.
I've generally been happy with the offer and service - especially as it tends to be the same crews on the same trains every week. I hope that this is something that stays the same with the Virgin service, as the regular crews on the 1700 and 1800 KGX-EDB on Thursdays are great (as are the 0540 EDB-KGX on Tuesday, though I'm rarely on it these days)
I've also made my last journey on East Coast before the switch to Virgin.
Breakfast on the 0827 Darlington to Kings Cross last Friday. Up to it's usual good standard and served with asimile smile by a Scottish crew.
1700 Kings Cross to Darlington on Sunday. Weekend offering of sandwiches, crisps and cake which were all very nice and plenty of runs of tea/coffee/cold drinks.
I'll be sad to see East Coast go (as will my mother who's also enjoyed East Coast's first class catering). I still feel that they could have retained a few full restaurants on a few of the busiest services (such as FGW have done) with their complementary offer everywhere else. However, on the whole the complementary offer has, when delivered, been far superior to it's only rival Virgin. I can only hope that VTEC maintain at least the same standard as now and hopefully build on what East Coast have left them.
Breakfast on the 0827 Darlington to Kings Cross last Friday. Up to it's usual good standard and served with a
1700 Kings Cross to Darlington on Sunday. Weekend offering of sandwiches, crisps and cake which were all very nice and plenty of runs of tea/coffee/cold drinks.
I'll be sad to see East Coast go (as will my mother who's also enjoyed East Coast's first class catering). I still feel that they could have retained a few full restaurants on a few of the busiest services (such as FGW have done) with their complementary offer everywhere else. However, on the whole the complementary offer has, when delivered, been far superior to it's only rival Virgin. I can only hope that VTEC maintain at least the same standard as now and hopefully build on what East Coast have left them.
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DaveNewcastle
Established Member
Bye,Bye, East Coast Catering
Not quite Bye Bye from me, yet.
I have a couple more London trips to do while they run under the "EC" brand.
I agree with both of those commendations, but have to say the same (if not better ! ! !) standards of attention and service can be experienced on the following southbound (5:48 off Edinburgh / 7:29 off Newcastle) and on the following three Northbound (18:19, 18:30 and 19:00).
I can second the nomination for the 1819 used that a few times always a brilliant crew.
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
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- 12,856
Ah 
trainophile
Established Member
As opposed to serving it with a metaphor?
Thought I was the only one to notice that!Just wondering... what will happen to the EC trains that are uniquely liveried, e.g. 'For The Fallen' that hasn't long been launched? Will Virgin paint over all the EC trains in their own livery, or will they retain EC's, at least for the time being?
This has been discussed on the forum (in a more appropriate thread here ) and VTEC have said somewhere or other (I think their website or it might have been Twitter) that 'Battle of Britain' and 'For the Fallen' will be staying. I don't think they've said either way if Flying Scotsman will be kept. The rest of the fleet I believe will be getting 'Virginised' into some sort of livery which they've teased via Twitter (appears to have lots of red) but haven't revealed yet.
) and VTEC have said somewhere or other (I think their website or it might have been Twitter) that 'Battle of Britain' and 'For the Fallen' will be staying. I don't think they've said either way if Flying Scotsman will be kept. The rest of the fleet I believe will be getting 'Virginised' into some sort of livery which they've teased via Twitter (appears to have lots of red) but haven't revealed yet.