Virgin Trains can't serve coffee without bags?

[Bletchleyite]

I don't recall being on an aircraft where you walked to the galley to get your hot drink and then walked back to your seat. Sounds interesting, which airline was this?

I've done that on Sleasy (longer flight so I wanted a second one), but I suspect they weren't meant to serve it that way and it certainly isn't common.

 

[gsnedders]

Aren't paper bags exempt?

Not in Scotland!

 

[Deepgreen]

I remember reading recently (from what I believe was a well-informed source, even though the specifics escape me) that the highest risk of injury in the event of a train accident is now from hot drinks causing scalds/burns when they go flying. It's not the biggest source of injury on the railway - I believe that goes to the ever-present category of slips, trips and falls.

However, by extension, I would expect that appropriate mitigation would be put in place for dealing with any potential accidents involving hot drinks, perhaps due to rough rides or the general movement of trains at any speed. I must admit I can't recall ever personally having spilt a hot drink on anybody, and I do a huge annual rail mileage in the company of tea and coffee, but I've come very close to it, and I'm used to balancing on trains - and I have seen it done by other people a number of times, with the minimum level of inconvenience usually being ruined clothes. In addition, I do remember a number of occasions when I've got back to a cab or locker on a train and found that my securely-stowed cup of coffee has worked its way free, and gone and spilt all over the place. Sometimes this has included dedicated cup-holders failing to live up to their jobs.

A paper bag is usually recyclable, unless heavily contaminated, in which case it should biodegrade fairly readily, and is probably less harmful than the waste generated by the bin bag you put the coffee cup in. It's also a surprisingly good way of carrying coffee - although they don't have outlets on trains, some shops like Pret have really got the skill of packing them into paper bags down to a fine art.

I'm moving on from this because my blood pressure is in danger of exceeding all other risks here - not aimed at anyone in particular; just a perception of ludicrous corporate over-cautiousness designed to accommodate those among us who seem unable to behave sensibly in their environment!

 

[DarloRich]

I'm moving on from this because my blood pressure is in danger of exceeding all other risks here - not aimed at anyone in particular; just a perception of ludicrous corporate over-cautiousness designed to accommodate those among us who seem unable to behave sensibly in their environment!

it certainly isnt new and clearly predates any of the current, alleged, compensation culture we are told exists. It really isnt a big issue.

BTW i assume you have asbestos hands as carrying a plastic cup full of very hot water isnt the easiest thing in the world. It is actually much easier in a bag

 

[Tetchytyke]

ludicrous corporate over-cautiousness designed to accommodate those among us who seem unable to behave sensibly in their environment!

You make the mistake, as many do, of assuming that everyone carrying things on trains are able-bodied.

It isn't for the protection of the carrier, it's for the protection of the person sitting there minding their own business before having a coffee thrown over them.

If this causes your blood pressure to rise, can I recommend propranolol?

 

[ComUtoR]

I feel that the problem with health and safety culture is that it has sprung from those that sue or place blame on others.

Less health and safety culture but more of the litigious blame culture we have evolved into.

 

[Clip]

I feel that the problem with health and safety culture is that it has sprung from those that sue or place blame on others.

Less health and safety culture but more of the litigious blame culture we have evolved into.

Actually it fits in perfectly with H&S culture - there is a risk identified - that of flying coffee and that risk is mitigated by placing into a bag.

 

[najaB]

What a stupid comment - how can one video disprove a risk...?! Utter nonsense.

Since you seem to have missed it:

I challenge you to sit in a chair and have someone drop a couple of lidded containers of scalding hot coffee on you - please film the results and post them on YouTube.

 

[najaB]

Irrelevant - the process of handing a hot drink across up to three occupied seats while in flight and at the mercy unpredictable clear air turbulence doesn't involve a large risk of spillage?? Good grief, how have we got to this preposterous position of nannying!!

But it's being served by someone who does this day in, day out and is used to dealing with random motion. In the same way that ticket inspectors and guards walk up and down trains with ease, whereas the occasional traveller is wobbling all over the place.

It also means that, in your example, a maximum of three people are exposed to the risk of scalding at a time.

 

[Joe Paxton]

I'm moving on from this because my blood pressure is in danger of exceeding all other risks here - not aimed at anyone in particular; just a perception of ludicrous corporate over-cautiousness designed to accommodate those among us who seem unable to behave sensibly in their environment!

The degree to which your getting het up over this is quite amusing!

To me it seems a sensible and reasonable precaution. Trains jerk around unexpectedly.

 

[boxy321]

I'm intrigued, can somebody stick a photo up of said bags please?

I've never been to the shop on VT, as it's normally peak and getting through a single coach can be a nightmare, never mind 4 or so.

My missus put a coffee in her bag once thinking the lid was a waterproof seal. It killed her phone when the lid popped off and it went swimming. The lids give people a false sense of security in my mind.

 

[wingsoveryorks]

Should never have got rid of 'The tart with the cart' It's a bit annoying having people walk past you all the time with a bag full of goodies, makes one feel hungry.

 

[londonbridge]

One time I was in the carriage next to the buffet car, and was sitting at the end of the carriage such that you only had to walk through the vestibule and you were at the counter. Went to get a coffee, woman serving went to put it in a bag. Said I didn't need one and she said she had to give me a bag. When I indicated where I was sitting she still insisted that I had to use a bag.

 

[Howardh]

Tupperware cup with lid. Provide your own, hand it to the staff who will fill it for a 20% discount. Reuse cup and lid next time so cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly.
Sorted, job done, everyone happy, can I have my commission now please?

What, who said someone liking black coffee would burn their fingers carrying the cup?? Stand up at the back....

 

[Howardh]

One time I was in the carriage next to the buffet car, and was sitting at the end of the carriage such that you only had to walk through the vestibule and you were at the counter. Went to get a coffee, woman serving went to put it in a bag. Said I didn't need one and she said she had to give me a bag. When I indicated where I was sitting she still insisted that I had to use a bag.

Yup, to stop you spilling it over a pax making their way to the bar!

 

[OneOffDave]

The bag also acts like a kind of gimbal too making it less likely that the coffee etc will slosh out of the hole in the lid due to carrier/train movement

 

[northwichcat]

Honestly they replaced mugs and cups with disposable cardboard containers and now they serve coffee in bags.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Once got served a coffee bagless on a train and the thing was so hot I had to put it down every five or so paces, let my hand return to not being on fire and repeat. I agree with the previous poster who made the point that they are also rather useful for rubbish disposal.

 

[4973]

You've never gone flying on a train when it lurched unexpectedly?

Or had your elbow jogged by an interior door closing fast and unexpectedly early. Happened to me once on an EMT HST.

 

[LordCreed]

I'm intrigued, can somebody stick a photo up of said bags please?

The ones used by GWR look like this https://www.enviropack.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/image/product/KraftCarrierBag_Large_0.jpg

Having worked in a train buffet in the past, I've seen people spill coffee over passengers. Trains can suddenly lurch, and people can easily spill things when that happens.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Honestly they replaced mugs and cups with disposable cardboard containers and now they serve coffee in bags.

Lyons Coffee Bags are pretty good tbh

 

[crehld]

My extensive experience with Virgin is that it largely depends on the particular member of staff. Some will refuse to give you the coffee you just purchased unless you agree to take it away in a paper bag for all sorts of unspecified health and safety reasons. Other staff simply couldn't care less and will happily let you take your coffee without a bag.

 

[boxy321]

The ones used by GWR look like this https://www.enviropack.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/image/product/KraftCarrierBag_Large_0.jpg

Having worked in a train buffet in the past, I've seen people spill coffee over passengers. Trains can suddenly lurch, and people can easily spill things when that happens.

That's a Mk 1 brown paper bag! Was hoping for something space age!

 

[najaB]

That's a Mk 1 brown paper bag! Was hoping for something space age!

The VTWC ones have their branding on them if that helps?

 

[Antman]

Paper bags are exempt from that legislation.

Only in England, so do they start charging when they reach the border with Scotland.

 

[brompton rail]

Honestly they replaced mugs and cups with disposable cardboard containers and now they serve coffee in bags.

I've even heard that they (!) serve meals on trains. I'd rather have mine on a plate

 

[brompton rail]

The VTWC ones have their branding on them if that helps?

Plain brown wrapping for GWR then - do they do plain brown envelopes from under the counter too?

 

[MichaelAMW]

I'm moving on from this because my blood pressure is in danger of exceeding all other risks here - not aimed at anyone in particular; just a perception of ludicrous corporate over-cautiousness designed to accommodate those among us who seem unable to behave sensibly in their environment!

Bye...

 

[LordCreed]

Only in England, so do they start charging when they reach the border with Scotland.

There is no requirement to charge for carrier bags (including paper) in Scotland when they are used to carry:

Unpackaged food for human or animal consumption, such as loose fruit and vegetables, bakery items, pick and mix sweets and dry animal food.

‘Unpackaged’ for the purpose of the Regulations refers to items which are “wholly or partially unwrapped” such as chips from quick service restaurants or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking during normal handling.

Taken from the Zero Waste Scotland. http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/litter-flytipping/carrier-bag-charge-guidance

In England, the following applies:

You’re not required to charge for bags:

for goods in transport, such as at an airport or on a train, plane or ship

Taken from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities

 

[northwichcat]

Plain brown wrapping for GWR then - do they do plain brown envelopes from under the counter too?