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Rail 'gourmet' not taking cards
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Only one on Northern, on the S&C and it isn't run by them.
cjmillsnun
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Broken card machine?
AlexS
Established Member
There's no facility available for RG staff on EMT to take cards - they 'just don't' at present, in general. A shame really as the clever EPOS terminals etc are still in place in the buffet cars 
Have Virgin and the like brought cards back? I seem to remember them being withdrawn as a cost cutting measure.
Have Virgin and the like brought cards back? I seem to remember them being withdrawn as a cost cutting measure.
ScotRail are trialling card readers on the trolleys on the Edinburgh/Glasgow ~ Aberdeen runs
MidnightFlyer
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Card payments are back on Virgin. IIRC the removal didn't last too long, I think it was under two years.
142056
Member
I've seen cards be attempted to be taken on XC on the "Retail Trolley", but I don't think it worked for the girl attempting it as she probably had an 'Electronic Use Only' card...
googolplex
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It was announced when I travelled with EMT on the St Pancras route a couple of weeks ago that the trolley didn't take cards. It looked like the guy didn't have any electronic till at all, as the receipt I got (when I asked) was a hand filled in form from a pad.
If they're doing it on other TOCs (aren't the XC Turbostar services outsourced, and they had an EPOS on the trolley?), it seems odd that they don't on EMT.
If they're doing it on other TOCs (aren't the XC Turbostar services outsourced, and they had an EPOS on the trolley?), it seems odd that they don't on EMT.
MCW
Member
I will admit I have never known EMT to have card machines on the trolleys.... which I think is bloody daft.
Then again, £2.20 for an instant starbucks branded coffee? no thanks, rather spend £3 thereabouts on the platform and buy a drink freshly made. Also what the hell happened to the Buffet cars not being used anymore? that's bonkers too.
Then again, £2.20 for an instant starbucks branded coffee? no thanks, rather spend £3 thereabouts on the platform and buy a drink freshly made. Also what the hell happened to the Buffet cars not being used anymore? that's bonkers too.
tom1649
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In my opinion, catering on Intercity services should really be done in house and specified as such in the franchise agreement.
MCW
Member
There is money to be made with in house catering and I am surprised that very few (if any) of the companies actually do it or not and outsource it to other firms. As long as the sandwiches were better that the stale British rail ones then it's fine with me
Also of note is that the catering services don't always accept the usual range of cards. For example, I've been told that East Coast's on-board cafe doesn't accept American Express.
323235
Established Member
I seem to remember them saying the buffet area was to be retained so it could be used if required on crowded services.
Anyone been on an EMT service recently where Rail Gourmet have used the Buffet due to overcrowding?
Anyone been on an EMT service recently where Rail Gourmet have used the Buffet due to overcrowding?
There is money to be made with in house catering and I am surprised that very few (if any) of the companies actually do it or not and outsource it to other firms. As long as the sandwiches were better that the stale British rail ones then it's fine with me
I agree that there is money to be made with catering. Whether this is in-house or not is not relevant provided it is a business partnership and a declared service.
Almost 100% of airlines offer catering of one sort or another but do not advise whether it is bought in from external contractors. In most cases it is, but to a tight spec.
The real issue is whether that catering service takes up more space that could be seating (hence marginal ticket revenue) than the revenue it brings to the TOC. The answer is simple, stick the catering storage area in a DVT and catering is a profit centre, use a part of a seating coach and the maths will require a bold move such as East Coast.
Doesn't really surprise me - they are better than they used to be but cards are still extortionate for retailers for small transactions. Yes, they'll lose a few sales, but they'll probably more than make up for that by other transactions being done in cash. The reason many places don't accept Amex is they are much more expensive than Visa/Mastercard (hence why they can afford to offer such generous cashback bonuses).
AlexS
Established Member
They are generally in use on weekend services for a few reasons, including the delay to first class passengers in getting complimentaries if the train is busy, the idea being if they get them themselves from a buffet window, they can have them when they want.
The provider is not relevant to the franchise agreement but the minimum quality and service is and should be specified accordingly.
However, considering how busy many intercity trains are and how many food outlets there are at stations there has to be potential for catering to be lucrative.
If I was procuring the catering (something I have done a lot of outside rail) I would do it on a cost recovery basis then profit share so revenue was incentivised and there is only one way to make profit in catering - the right quality at the right price.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
a smart and handy move which I took advantage of today!
Equally clever was the trolley trial on the 14:35 EDB - PTH which took place on Good Friday. A welcome addition which I hope they continue.
SteamPower
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As of today card payments are being accepted for transactions above £2.50 I hear
One reason why staff may not offer to take credit cards is that they are less likely to be offered tips when a card is used, or be unable to actually receive the tip if it's included in the amount charged to the card. Company policies and employee's actions don't always coincide.
eastend43
Member
Funny, I was on an East Midlands train this morning (Liverpool to Manchester) and noticed a sign on the trolley saying that they accepted contactless credit cards. Or did I just imagine that?
Tip? Why would you give them a tip?
This whole business of "tips" is completely unfair and a system I disagree with and think should be outlawed anyway.
AlexS
Established Member
Cards now able to be used from today on rail gourmet on EMT.
Qwerty133
Established Member
been on 2 of their mainline services today and heard nothing about this...but would make sense and on at least one of the services the trolley lady was in the buffet area with the shutters down... (in other news cafe ritazza at leicester have put a blackboard showing their, AMT's and On board (rail gourmet) prices, showing that their the cheapest, however it is an unusual tactic after raising there prices by 50% in the case of coffee)
NSEFAN
Established Member
Bungle73 said:
Why? If a passenger wants to give a small amount of money to a member of staff because they feel the staff have done a good job, what's the problem with that?
Why? If a passenger wants to give a small amount of money to a member of staff because they feel the staff have done a good job, what's the problem with that?
Are you going to give the driver a small amount of money also, because he's done a "good job"?
NSEFAN
Established Member
Bungle73 said:
Of course not; the driver's not in a public facing role. When I know I'll need tickets for future travel, I try to buy them on the train during my current journey because I know that guards often get commission from this. That's my "tip" to the guard if you will.
Either way, you didn't answer the question. You personally may not give tips, but why do you feel that it should be outlawed? Is it not my choice who I and who I don't donate my money to if I so wish?
So? Why does one person "deserve" a tip and not the other one? Like I said: unfair.
Because:
a) It should not be a requirement to have to bribe someone to received "good service"
b) Some jobs are seemingly "deserving" of tips and others are not, even though the people who aren't may be earning the same wage, or less.
c) Once tipping becomes the "accepted norm" then everyone feels obliged to do it.
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