ATW to Rebrand Gerald Premier Service

[Rhydgaled]

And I didn't think ATW ran a proper restaurant car.

I'm not sure if it is a 'proper restaurant car', although the breakfast I had in First class on Gerald once was great. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the definition of a 'proper restaurant car' is that both first and standard class passengers can sit and dine in the restaurant provided they purchase a meal (or have it included in their ticket in the case of first class passengers). However, on Gerald I believe that standard class passengers (in the event they will sell you a meal at all, the one occasion I tried I didn't get anything) have to take their meal back to standard class seating in order to eat it, they aren't allowed in First (now business) class while they eat.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Is dinner served shortly after joining the train? Or do they wait until after a specific station to serve?

Example: If I join the 1716 at Cardiff Central, do they start the dinner service shortly after departing that station, or do they wait until the train has called at further stations to start dinner service (such as starting after Newport or Hereford)?

I'm thinking of traveling Cardiff to Hereford or Cardiff to Shrewsbury. If I alight at Hereford is that enough time (assuming it takes 45 minutes) to dine?

 

[StarCrossing]

You'll have plenty of time if you travel to Shrewsbury. If you travel to Hereford, then the staff will make sure you get served in time, but you may feel a little rushed I guess. The staff are very proactive in asking where you're travelling to to ensure that you get served in time. Personally, I'd choose Shrewsbury so you can take your time.

I only ever board at Newport. Sometimes passengers from Cardiff are already tucking into their starters by the time I board. Sometimes, they have their starters served shortly after Newport.

Hope you enjoy the trip. In my opinion this is the best train journey in Britain.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

StarCrossing,

Thanks for the quick reply!

Based upon what you've just said about this being a fine catering service, plus other information within this thread, I'm recasting my travels to try and include a ride on the afternoon Premier service.

 

[berneyarms]

StarCrossing,

Thanks for the quick reply!

Based upon what you've just said about this being a fine catering service, plus other information within this thread, I'm recasting my travels to try and include a ride on the afternoon Premier service.

Most definitely do.

You will manage a lovely dinner comfortably between Cardiff and Shrewsbury (that's what I've done before). Hereford would be too tight.

Incidentally if you want to try the breakfast, you'll manage that between Shrewsbury and Hereford without much trouble!

The chefs are true pros and produce fantastic food.

 

[30907]

I'm not sure if it is a 'proper restaurant car', although the breakfast I had in First class on Gerald once was great. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the definition of a 'proper restaurant car' is that both first and standard class passengers can sit and dine in the restaurant provided they purchase a meal (or have it included in their ticket in the case of first class passengers). However, on Gerald I believe that standard class passengers (in the event they will sell you a meal at all, the one occasion I tried I didn't get anything) have to take their meal back to standard class seating in order to eat it, they aren't allowed in First (now business) class while they eat.

On that definition only FGW have them, and even they prioritise First Class passengers.

Under the new ATW regime (I looked 10 days ago) standard passengers have a completely different menu.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is dinner served shortly after joining the train? Or do they wait until after a specific station to serve?

Example: If I join the 1716 at Cardiff Central, do they start the dinner service shortly after departing that station, or do they wait until the train has called at further stations to start dinner service (such as starting after Newport or Hereford)?

I'm thinking of traveling Cardiff to Hereford or Cardiff to Shrewsbury. If I alight at Hereford is that enough time (assuming it takes 45 minutes) to dine?

I was offered coffee at 1710 and the soup arrived before 1720. I'd certainly finished the pud Hereford. There were 5 or 6 diners, so not too busy, as it was Bank Holiday Friday AND WAG was presumably on holiday.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Last time I travelled food was available from/to Colwyn Bay (ie not the leg from/to Holyhead).
There is quite a choice for standard class passengers (daily specials as well as the normal menu), which is served in a take-away box.
They did me a very excellent omelette southbound, and Welsh lamb curry northbound.
Typically you get 50 on board (maybe 5-10 in Business), and it's only crowded between Cardiff and Hereford northbound in the evening peak.
If you add in the splendid scenery through the Marches it's one of the best journeys around.

 

[Rhydgaled]

On that definition only FGW have them

Well, I have heard it claimed that First Great Western are the only TOC offering a 'proper restaurant car' and as far as I know (I've not actually used the FirstGW Pullmans) the only difference from Gerald is that standard class passengers are allowed to dine in first class seats (space permitting) on FirstGW.

Under the new regime (I looked 10 days ago) standard passengers have a completely different menu.

Is that refering to Gerald or the FirstGW Pullmans? I'm guessing Gerald but the ATW website doesn't seem to show a standard class menu, only the business class one.

 

[30907]

Well, I have heard it claimed that First Great Western are the only TOC offering a 'proper restaurant car' and as far as I know (I've not actually used the FirstGW Pullmans) the only difference from Gerald is that standard class passengers are allowed to dine in first class seats (space permitting) on FirstGW.

Is that refering to Gerald or the FirstGW Pullmans? I'm guessing Gerald but the ATW website doesn't seem to show a standard class menu, only the business class one.

Sorry, corrected now. Gerald has always had Standard food but no, you can't view the menu!

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Followup: Just wanted to thank everyone for the good advice!

I enjoyed the evening meal service from Cardiff to Hereford (was prepared to travel onto Shrewsbury if needed) and the pleasant staff had it timed so that I finished desert by Hereford. They were a friendly and convivial bunch.

I ordered the salmon starter, the roast lamb (generous portion) and the chocolate cake with ice cream (that was instead served with clotted cream). Apparently they ran out of ice cream. How do you run out of ice cream leaving the terminal (and my desert was the first to come out of the kitchen)? If catering supplies are replenished in Holyhead, I can't imagine there being much call for ice cream on the breakfast service.

Do the same crew work both the AM and PM services? if so, that must make for a long day! If not, and they cover only the AM or PM, are they assigned other tasks to fill out an 8 hour day?

 

[NottsPhil]

Do the same crew work both the AM and PM services? if so, that must make for a long day! If not, and they cover only the AM or PM, are they assigned other tasks to fill out an 8 hour day?

Yes they do, and I don't think they have anything else to do while in Cardiff - its their own free time. I was talking to one of the crew when I went on a couple of months ago and they work five days starting midweek and then have a week off. Doesn't seem very efficient on the face of it, but not sure how else you can do it. There are two chefs, one from Rhyl and the other from Colwyn Bay but the serving staff start from/go all the way to Holyhead.

I have to say the service was among the best I've received when I did this journey.

 

[Bungle965]

I seem to remember when I did it a few months back that it was the best sevice I have ever recived travelling from Cardiff to Chester, dinner was cleared up way before Chester. I have still to try out the other dinning on GWR so I can not judge it againt that service.
Sam

 

[PHILIPE]

There will be a problem re catering Friday if what I have picked up is correct. 1W96 17 16 Cardiff to Holyhead (67022) terminated Shrewsbury due Brake problems and ran ECS to Crewe in line to form Manchester to North Wales Coast tomorrow and 1K96 19 34 Llandudno to Crewe (67014) terminated Chester and ran ECS to Holyhead for WAG in the morning.
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Moves this morning as result of disruption yesterday. Manchester Set and 67014 worked WAG Holyhead to Chester where it terminated and then formed it's normal Manchester working. WAG Holyhead to Cardiff re-started Chester worked by 175103 with trolley service only.
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5Z91 10+55 Crewe to Canton en route conveying WAG stock for 1W96 17 16 Cardiff to Holyhead tonight. Loco changed - now 67001 which had run up light from Cardiff to Crewe

 

[berneyarms]

Oh dear. The 05:33 broke down today between Holyhead and Bangor, and has caused the line to be closed leading to a large number of cancellations.

A broken down train between Holyhead and Bangor means buses are replacing trains between these stations, extending journey times by up to 60 minutes. This is expected to continue until approximately 10:30.

Alternative Travel Options

Arriva Trains Wales passengers may use their tickets on Arriva Bus services 4A, 44A and X4 between Holyhead and Bangor.

The knock on effects have been the cancellation of the following trains:
05:51 Holyhead-Euston
06:28 Holyhead-Cardiff
06:55 Holyhead-Euston
07:15 Holyhead-Crewe
09:40 Crewe-Chester

Later trains are turning at Bangor.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Oh dear. The 05:33 broke down today between Holyhead and Bangor, and has caused the line to be closed leading to a large number of cancellations.
The knock on effects have been the cancellation of the following trains:
05:51 Holyhead-Euston
06:28 Holyhead-Cardiff
06:55 Holyhead-Euston
07:15 Holyhead-Crewe
09:40 Crewe-Chester
Later trains are turning at Bangor.

Virgin seemingly found units for the 0735/0835 Eustons from Chester (the Wrexham unit forming the 0735).
Marches services are all over the place anyway with the planned Crewe-Shrewsbury closure, with diversions of Manchesters via Chester/Wrexham.
A nasty morning to wait in the rain too.

 

[berneyarms]

Virgin seemingly found units for the 0735/0835 Eustons from Chester (the Wrexham unit forming the 0735).
Marches services are all over the place anyway with the planned Crewe-Shrewsbury closure, with diversions of Manchesters via Chester/Wrexham.
A nasty morning to wait in the rain too.

The 08:35 Chester-Euston (formed by the 06:55 from Holyhead) has been cancelled throughout.

 

[PHILIPE]

67002 was the culprit and 67029 en route from Chester (en route Crewe for Exams) to assist.
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Approx an hour ago, 67029 waiting driver at Chester. Incidentally 2x150s on the Manchester WAG.

 

[scotsman]

Anyones guess, but if the Chefs do get a job elsewhere,who can blame them,ATW will either run Gerald as a buffet, or take on an agency Chef,it will all become clear soon.

They're all agency already. They're employed by At Seat Catering, an Arriva subsidiary.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The 08:35 Chester-Euston (formed by the 06:55 from Holyhead) has been cancelled throughout.

Yes, RTT changed its mind from cancelled Holyhead-Chester to cancelled throughout, some time after 0835!

They're all agency already. They're employed by At Seat Catering, an Arriva subsidiary.

I think I'd describe that as "family" not "agency".
Presumably they can work across the overall Arriva space, such as XC, not just ATW.

 

[berneyarms]

They're all agency already. They're employed by At Seat Catering, an Arriva subsidiary.

Just a heads up that you're responding to a post from over a year ago when the service was under threat (from a now sadly deceased board member) - I'm not sure there's much point in focussing on that.

Yes, RTT changed its mind from cancelled Holyhead-Chester to cancelled throughout, some time after 0835!

I think I'd describe that as "family" not "agency".
Presumably they can work across the overall Arriva space, such as XC, not just ATW.

The VT website had it as cancelled throughout from the get-go.

An update:

The first train to arrive at Holyhead was the 07:50 from Manchester Piccadilly. It's return working (the 10:40 to Llanelli) was delayed along the North Wales coast by an hour as it progressed (presumably behind the "Gerald" set), but the services after that have returned to normal.

 

[scotsman]

Yes, RTT changed its mind from cancelled Holyhead-Chester to cancelled throughout, some time after 0835!



I think I'd describe that as "family" not "agency".
Presumably they can work across the overall Arriva space, such as XC, not just ATW.

Only ATW, although I believe that Chiltern are part of ASC. XC and Grand Central are in house.

 

[PHILIPE]

175107 working WAG Cardiff to Holyhead tonight due absence of booked resources as result of failure this morning..
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No LHCS this morning, Tuesday, at all. 175 on Cardiff and 2x150 on Manchester.
May not be easy to move ECS down to Cardiff for 17 16 for pathing reasons as extras via Wrexham due Salop to Crewe closed for Engineering work this week.

 

[scotsman]

Misread the dates. Awkward.

 

[alb1]

Just overheard staff in the First Class Lounge at Cardiff Central discussing how the Gerald set is currently on blocks at Canton depot and could be there for a while. How much truth there is in that or how long exactly "a while" is I don't know.

 

[trainophile]

Just overheard staff in the First Class Lounge at Cardiff Central discussing how the Gerald set is currently on blocks at Canton depot and could be there for a while. How much truth there is in that or how long exactly "a while" is I don't know.

On RTT the 1716 Gerald to Holyhead appears to have left as scheduled. Maybe they mean the spare set?

 

[Dhassell]

Just overheard staff in the First Class Lounge at Cardiff Central discussing how the Gerald set is currently on blocks at Canton depot and could be there for a while. How much truth there is in that or how long exactly "a while" is I don't know.

It left 2 minutes late! Hope no one has missed it!

 

[Erniescooper]

On RTT the 1716 Gerald to Holyhead appears to have left as scheduled. Maybe they mean the spare set?

Gerald was worked by 175112 tonight, the coaches are still showing at Crewe CS after their 9 hour trip from Holyhead on Monday.

 

[trainophile]

I don't pretend to understand the finer points of RTT, but I was just going by the fact that the 1716 ex-CDF is showing 1st and Standard classes. Does 175112 have 1st?

 

[tiptoptaff]

I don't pretend to understand the finer points of RTT, but I was just going by the fact that the 1716 ex-CDF is showing 1st and Standard classes. Does 175112 have 1st?

No it doesn't - nothing except the LHCS has 1st, sorry, Business, class; it shows on RTT as that's what's booked for that diagram

 

[PHILIPE]

I don't pretend to understand the finer points of RTT, but I was just going by the fact that the 1716 ex-CDF is showing 1st and Standard classes. Does 175112 have 1st?

No they dont. The schedule just hasn't been altered
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Both of them still DMU worked. Gerald's stock is at Crewe CS.