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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

ainsworth74

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Was on a LNER HST last week , noticed the Breakfasts were sitting out the fridge in the buffet car .They were in like ready mea containers . So they must just heat them up.
Out of curiosity where was the HST? What service?
 
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Butts

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I was on the 0656 from Edinburgh to Durham this morning, 4 to myself in an empty Coach K

Full LNER Breakfast and two bits of toast forthcoming. Perhaps it is on busier services "rationing" commences?

Unfortunately returned on the 1425 from Durham to Edinburgh which turned into the 1525 due to the "wire problems" further down the line.

Had the Beef Sandwich and was quite suprised it seemed to be on bog standard mothers pride type white bread. However it was quite palatable.

Just a final aside when did the barriers go at Durham ?

Three Scotches and a "free ride home" thanks to delay repay ameliorated my disappointment at being an hour late into Edinburgh.
 
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ainsworth74

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Just a final aside when did the barriers go at Durham ?

Maybe three years or so ago now. When the franchise was held by Virgin they had a franchise requirement that where barrier lines existed that they be staffed for large parts of the day (rather than the rather ad-hoc approach that had been taken). However there was no requirement to actually have barrier lines in stations so they just took them out of stations where they felt it wasn't worthwhile staffing them.
 

7522

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I'm sure this has been asked before but i'm struggling to find the answer now. Where would be the best place to sit in an Azuma (9 car) to get served first? So the equivalent of Coach J on an HST or Coach K on MK4?
 

30907

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Best breakfast yet on 0740 Leeds yesterday. Toast and jam came first - a bit odd, but staves off the hunger - fruit juice offered, full English at Donny, seconds and thirds of drinks (could probably have had more toast too if I'd asked). Crew very efficient and friendly.
 

an7li721

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I'm sure this has been asked before but i'm struggling to find the answer now. Where would be the best place to sit in an Azuma (9 car) to get served first? So the equivalent of Coach J on an HST or Coach K on MK4?
The kitchens are at the end of the train, so usually sitting as far London-end as possible will get served first, although I did go on 1 azuma service where they went all the way to the other end of the first class section then work backwards
 

FQTV

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The kitchens are at the end of the train, so usually sitting as far London-end as possible will get served first, although I did go on 1 azuma service where they went all the way to the other end of the first class section then work backwards

There's a practical logic to starting at the furthest point and working back towards the galley from an operational standpoint, as the likelihood of needing to restock increases as the service progresses, and doing it this way means that the distance back to the galley is constantly reducing. Time taken to restock is therefore minimised.

It tends not to play well from an overall customer service point of view, however, as everyone sees a full trolley pass them without stopping, then has to wait to be served in reverse order.
 

Kite159

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I decided to treat myself to 1st class on yesterday's Inverness - Kings Cross service, after-all for a 10-odd journey the £35 is probably worth it.

Breakfast run on departure from Inverness, several drinks runs. Change of crew at Edinburgh with the option of a Salmon sub, beef & horseradish sandwich or a vegan wrap for lunch, with another couple drink runs. Had to change trains at Newcastle as one of the powercars was having issues, so it was onto a busy 91+MK4 set for another snack run with some more drinks runs.

I had a table for 4 to myself all the way to Newcastle [no tables for 2 available when I boarded at Inverness and I didn't want to sit backwards in the available single seats], shared a table from Newcastle to York before being joined by a group of students who weren't happy about being charged £35 for the upgrade to London [but then they did get a seat].

Worth the upgrade, bigger seat which lined up with the window and some free snacks/drinks. A nice little treat, although shame the 91 regained some time to make it to London only 25 minutes late :(
 

westv

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It's been a while since my last breafast on the east coast - with East Coast.
As Hull Trains are just doing random seat resèrvations from 28/10 until an unknown time I thought I would switch to LNER.
So from next week I'll be making use of the 1st class Executive journey into London from Hull for several Mondays to come.
Hopefully they'll be full English every time.
 

westv

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I know you can have full English and toast but are you "allowed" to have full English, toast, coffee, orange (is it fresh?) and fruit (banana?)?
 

ainsworth74

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I know you can have full English and toast but are you "allowed" to have full English, toast, coffee, orange (is it fresh?) and fruit (banana?)?

Yes, indeed if you substitute the coffee for tea and an apple for the banana that's pretty much what I get (maybe I skip the fruit more than I should though)!!

As far as I'm aware the orange juice is fresh. Or at least it isn't squash at any rate.
 

westv

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Thanks.
And to top it off the train has been invaded by passengers from the cancelled 17:30 Edinburgh service.
 

westv

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The chap in a suit who just came past collecting rubbish was a dead ringer for David Horne.
 

37047

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Had my first experience of first class (LNER or otherwise) on the Highland Chieftain from Inverness to King's Cross last Wednesday.

Coffee served and breakfast order was taken while we were waiting at Tomatin, was also asked if I'd like toast. Breakfast was served at Aviemore (I had the avocado - a generous quantity of avocado but only on one half of a muffin) with the toast (1 piece) arriving cold slightly later. The bacon rolls looked very good - was slightly envious of those. Two more coffee runs, one with biscuits, before Edinburgh.

Full 'rest of the day' lunch menu on offer, orders taken shortly after departure from Edinburgh and served somewhere around Dunbar. I had the cannelloni, which I really enjoyed. Enough for lunch but would have been a bit lacking as an evening meal. Fish cakes seemed popular. Crisps, muffins and cold drinks followed shortly. The treacle muffin sounded very impressive on the menu but was tiny, more like a fairy cake.

More drinks and snacks (crisps and muffins) after Newcastle, York and Retford.

1h50 late into King's Cross so full cost of the advance single back in delay repay.

Very pleasant other than one exceptionally miserable woman who boarded at Gleneagles and proceeded to whinge and complain about absolutely everything all the way to King's Cross (not enough choices for breakfast, not enough ice, orange juice from a box and not freshly squeezed, declared that the vegan wrap sounded horrible, ordered it anyway, didn't like it, coffee was bad (but still had it every time she was offered), packets of crisps were too small, how dare they run a service with a toilet locked out of use, etc.). Noise cancelling headphones next time perhaps...

Fellow passengers aside, I'd definitely consider doing LNER first class again, particularly for a journey of that length.
 
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Andy Pacer

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Had my first experience of first class (LNER or otherwise) on the Highland Chieftain from Inverness to King's Cross last Wednesday.

Coffee served and breakfast order was taken while we were waiting at Tomatin, was also asked if I'd like toast. Breakfast was served at Aviemore (I had the avocado - a generous quantity of avocado but only on one half of a muffin) with the toast (1 piece) arriving cold slightly later. The bacon rolls looked very good - was slightly envious of those. Two more coffee runs, one with biscuits, before Edinburgh.

Full 'rest of the day' lunch menu on offer, orders taken shortly after departure from Edinburgh and served somewhere around Dunbar. I had the cannelloni, which I really enjoyed. Enough for lunch but would have been a bit lacking as an evening meal. Fish cakes seemed popular. Crisps, muffins and cold drinks followed shortly. The treacle muffin sounded very impressive on the menu but was tiny, more like a fairy cake.

More drinks and snacks (crisps and muffins) after Newcastle, York and Retford.

1h50 late into King's Cross so full cost of the advance single back in delay repay.

Very pleasant other than one exceptionally miserable woman who boarded at Gleneagles and proceeded to whinge and complain about absolutely everything all the way to King's Cross (not enough choices for breakfast, not enough ice, orange juice from a box and not freshly squeezed, declared that the vegan wrap sounded horrible, ordered it anyway, didn't like it, coffee was bad (but still had it every time she was offered), packets of crisps were too small, how dare they run a service with a toilet locked out of use, etc.). Noise cancelling headphones next time perhaps...

Fellow passengers aside, I'd definitely consider doing LNER first class again, particularly for a journey of that length.
Sounds like a good example of how things should be. I've done the northbound Chieftain (and the Aberdeen) in 1st class and been well looked after with plenty of food and drink.
 

westv

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This morning's Hull Executive.
Full English, coffee, orange, toast x 2 and marmalade.
As suggested previously, toast was ordered with the cooked breakfast even though the menu says "followed by toast" so you would assume you would be asked separately. No sign of any fruit.
 

voyagerdude220

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Someone on LNER's Facebook page this morning complained about the lack of a cooked breakfast being available, alongside no hot drinks on offer in First Class on the Southbound Highland Chieftain from Inverness.
 

Tetchytyke

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Full LNER Breakfast and two bits of toast forthcoming. Perhaps it is on busier services "rationing" commences?

Must depend on the chef. On the 0845 Azuma north out of Newcastle it was deserted, but the tiniest piece of toast you've ever seen came out on the same plate as the full breakfast, underneath the fried egg. No other baked goods were to be seen anywhere.

Lovely sausage though.
 

westv

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Must depend on the chef. On the 0845 Azuma north out of Newcastle it was deserted, but the tiniest piece of toast you've ever seen came out on the same plate as the full breakfast, underneath the fried egg. No other baked goods were to be seen anywhere.

Lovely sausage though.
My LNER breakfast has that anyway without asking specifically for toast.
Yes, sausage is good. I do hate it when places offer cooked breakfast and add a rubbish sausage.
 

westv

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A very quiet 1st class so far this morning. Must be due to it being half term.
 

Butts

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Must depend on the chef. On the 0845 Azuma north out of Newcastle it was deserted, but the tiniest piece of toast you've ever seen came out on the same plate as the full breakfast, underneath the fried egg. No other baked goods were to be seen anywhere.

Lovely sausage though.

You should have asked them for some more toast, as it was so quiet I am sure it would not have been beyond their capabilities.
 

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