I'm on an evening train out of King's Cross, and we were told on departure to present our tickets at the buffet to claim refreshments. So several of us go to the buffet, only to be sent back as it's not open yet.
Around half an hour later we are told it's open. Anyone wanting complimentary and paid items has to queue twice though. It's chaos as the lengthy queue is in the narrow corridor in the buffet car, and once people have been served they have to squeeze back the way they came.
Then an announcement is made just after Lincoln saying the buffet car will be closing in 10 minutes until departure from Doncaster. But, on reaching the buffet car, we are told the complimentary items are no longer available, and won't be until York.
It would all be far less grating if it wasn't for their boasts about how "awesome" the service is.
And they are still refusing valid Delay Repay claims.
Awful company. Avoid if possible!
..In my experience a First Class service failure on the west coast will nearly always have a specific external cause such as disruption. On the east it's instead not enough crew or a technical fault on the train. ...
True. No disruption on my journey, just short staffed, and no communication between the person making the announcements and the person who is serving the food & drink.