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LNER First Class Stirling to Edinburgh - Is it worth it?

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Marty82

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As the title says - is it worth it for the length of the journey? Is anything served to passengers on a 48 minute service? I'd be looking to get the 1034 service which comes from Inverness so I guess food and drink service would already be happening rather than a delayed start as happens on terminal station services. Standard class is £2.70, first class is £7.25.

Thanks in advance all.
 
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yorkie

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What day of the week is this?

There probably won't be much in the way of complimentary items, as the crew tend to reset the service at Edinburgh so will probably be packing up for much of the journey, but you may get a drink. It would probably be better in the other direction, heading northbound, but don't go ordering any hot items!

If the aim is to get food & drink it will probably be cheaper to bring your own.

However if you are travelling on a busy day then the extra space in 1st, and the chance to have an individual seat (if travelling alone) may make it worthwhile.
 

Marty82

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What day of the week is this?

There probably won't be much in the way of complimentary items, as the crew tend to reset the service at Edinburgh so will probably be packing up for much of the journey, but you may get a drink. It would probably be better in the other direction, heading northbound, but don't go ordering any hot items!

If the aim is to get food & drink it will probably be cheaper to bring your own.

However if you are travelling on a busy day then the extra space in 1st, and the chance to have an individual seat (if travelling alone) may make it worthwhile.
Thanks for the prompt reply. It's on a Thursday so I'm guessing not too busy.

Just had a reply from LNER saying drinks and snacks and any proper food would be a bonus.

I'm not that bothered given the cheap ticket but I'd be annoyed at not getting more if I paid full price as it's not that difficult to hand out a drink, snack & sandwich even on a ~50 minute journey as they will know average loadings & have a definite knowledge of reservations/train specific tickets.

It's the third leg of a week's round Scotland train trip.
 

Butts

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Yes, you will be lucky to get anything travelling South.

As @yorkie says the reverse journey would probably get you something if you are near the initial point of service.

Service normally starts just out of Edinburgh (in the trolley era) and I have had a Whisky and snack travelling from Waverley to Falkirk Grahamston.
 

yorkie

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As a general rule, for a short journey there can't really be an expectation of a sandwich; indeed there used to be a '70 minute rule' however they are a bit more relaxed about it these days.

In reality I doubt they will bring round the cold drinks trolley, hot drinks trolley and offer food in such a short time in the direction towards Edinburgh, but it's much more likely to happen from Edinburgh.

I do not believe the staff offering the catering have any particular knowledge of where to expect people will be boarding the train; they simply walk through and either serve everyone or ask if anyone joined from (a) specific station(s).
 

Marty82

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As a general rule, for a short journey there can't really be an expectation of a sandwich; indeed there used to be a '70 minute rule' however they are a bit more relaxed about it these days.

In reality I doubt they will bring round the cold drinks trolley, hot drinks trolley and offer food in such a short time in the direction towards Edinburgh, but it's much more likely to happen from Edinburgh.
How disappointing, as I said not for me but others, especially given they added an extra daily service on the route in recent years.

I'll hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Lol.
 

yorkie

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There may be more chance of having the full service on a Stirling starter but I am not sure.

I don't think it would be reasonable or fair to describe the possibility of not being offered a sandwich on a 48 journey as disappointing. On XC you'd be very lucky to get a sandwich on a journey around twice that length!
 

DanNCL

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There may be more chance of having the full service on a Stirling starter but I am not sure.
When I did the Stirling starter last year (pre covid) the catering crew didn’t join the train until Edinburgh.
 

Huntergreed

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I think it’s almost a certainty that you won’t get anything heading south.

heading north, it’s likely the drinks/food service will start just after departing Haymarket, so you should have enough time to get at least a drink down (if not the full food offering).

My advice would be to do standard southbound (unless the seat and legroom are the main reason for you choosing first) on the southbound journey and doing first on the northbound journey.
 

driverd

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Back in the day (when I was 15) I used to get child first tickets for a sub 30 minute journey on East Coast, as it then was - first thing I would do is make a beeline to the bar, show my ticket, and get as much of the complimentary bits and bobs as I could. In fairness, and despite being a cheeky teenager, the crew were always spot on, and I'd always get a brew and biscuits as a minimum. Sometimes more.

Would recommend asking if no one comes around and you'll likely be pleasantly surprised!
 

voyagerdude220

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Back in the day (when I was 15) I used to get child first tickets for a sub 30 minute journey on East Coast, as it then was - first thing I would do is make a beeline to the bar, show my ticket, and get as much of the complimentary bits and bobs as I could. In fairness, and despite being a cheeky teenager, the crew were always spot on, and I'd always get a brew and biscuits as a minimum. Sometimes more.

Would recommend asking if no one comes around and you'll likely be pleasantly surprised!
That reminds me of when I was young enough to buy child train tickets, I used to occasionally go from my local station to Preston, then buy a First Class return to Lancaster and back and make a beeline for the Shop onboard the Voyager/Super Voyager and often got given a snack box containing a sandwich/chocolate/fruit/pretzels, and a drink.

I think these days it's all at seat service on Avanti and I doubt I'd get anything to eat, particularly if it was a Pendolino.
 
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