VT 390
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If you are on an LNER train for a long time, for example the 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross would you get Breakfast and the Rest of Day menu items or would you just get one or the other?
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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
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voyagerdude220
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I've not travelled in LNER days, but back when it was East Coast, I've travelled several times between Inverness and York/London Kings Cross and been offered breakfast on departure of Inverness, then the all day menu, including the hot options, upon leaving Edinburgh.
I'd be surprised if it's changed since/any different on the Aberdeen line, but no doubt someone with more accurate/up to date knowledge can confirm what is the case.
Yep still works the same way. Journeys that cross Edinburgh (with the exception of Glasgow the two Glasgow services) get two rounds of the hot food offer. They also usually swap the menu rotation as well. So if you were on the All Day rotation one menu from London you'll get the All Day rotation two menu from Edinburgh.
My recent findings were:
Friday 4th January 0736 from York (originated at Leeds 0710). Breakfast was served as per menu on the LNER website (although there was no offer of the "bakery basket" - i.e. toast or pastries - I would say I have probably been offered toast on 50% of the runs I have taken on this service in the last three years - 9 runs with VTEC and 3 with LNER - so about half a dozen times out of twelve has an offer of toast etc been made).
The journey south of Edinburgh was pretty much the same pattern as in the VTEC Days - with hot drinks served to all customers on departure of all stations (with the exception of Durham, pretty much as Darlington customers had just been served, and Newcastle is only a short hop, and it's peak commuter time on this service). Hot food was offered to newcomers from all stations up to and including Morpeth; but after that service was wound down around Berwick Upon Tweed - crockery taken in and new place-settings put out, with a new crew joining at Waverley.
On this service under VTEC, on departure from Haymarket the "All Day Menu" used to be offered, meaning a fairly early hot lunch was available to those who fancied it. However, a revised menu was available - which was not on the printed literature, but politely recited to each passenger as the crew member made their way down the carriage; (note, the "Festive" timetable had all finished up by this date, so this was not something shoehorned in for the New Year week). This was the offer of the cold sandwich selection from the menu rotation, or a hot bacon roll. Personally, this is probably a more suitable offering for this time of the day - as food was served around 11am. However, the drinks selection was that served on the "All Day Menu", i.e. alcohol was available for those who required it. This service was offered to all those onboard on departure from both Edinburgh stations, so in theory you could have had a full breakfast on departure from Morpeth (the last station "south of Auld Reekie" with at-seat service), and then sandwiches north of Edinburgh. I left the train at Dundee (1143), and there had been no further trolley runs in that time, although I believe there usually is another run (at the very least of drinks) between the "City Of Discovery" and Arbroath.
I returned south to York on Wednesday 9th January; 1107 from Dundee (originated at Aberdeen 0952). I am not sure whether full breakfast service had been offered to passengers on departure from Aberdeen, but for those of us joining at Dundee (and shortly after the sparse number of newcomers from Leuchars) were offered a choice of bacon roll, porridge or a "light breakfast" consisting of croissant and a yogurt. The "breakfast drinks trolley" was operating, i.e. hot drinks, fruit juices and water only. Passengers joining at Kirkcaldy and beyond were offered no food, with full service resuming after Waverley, with a crew change, and the full "All Day Menu" commencing service as per the website. Food (and full cold refreshment) trolley runs were offered after Berwick Upon Tweed and Newcastle, obviously food was only offered to those who had joined there.
I'm not sure about other services, but on both legs through Fife the service reminded me of almost an enhanced version of the old East Coast "Mid Morning Offer", which I think was done away with early in VTEC's tenure, around about the time of James Martins' involvement. I was happy with everything offered, and thought a bacon roll a more sensible mid morning treat than a bowl of something spicy, such as the Beef Rendang. On the southbound train, the offer of any sort of food service in Fife was a definite improvement in my opinion, as on many of my previous experiences on this service, hot drinks and biscuits were the offering (under VTEC last year).
Disclaimer. This may or may not be the regular service, but merely a report of my most recent visit. Doing the same journies (on the same days) in early March so will report back then.
Friday 4th January 0736 from York (originated at Leeds 0710). Breakfast was served as per menu on the LNER website (although there was no offer of the "bakery basket" - i.e. toast or pastries - I would say I have probably been offered toast on 50% of the runs I have taken on this service in the last three years - 9 runs with VTEC and 3 with LNER - so about half a dozen times out of twelve has an offer of toast etc been made).
The journey south of Edinburgh was pretty much the same pattern as in the VTEC Days - with hot drinks served to all customers on departure of all stations (with the exception of Durham, pretty much as Darlington customers had just been served, and Newcastle is only a short hop, and it's peak commuter time on this service). Hot food was offered to newcomers from all stations up to and including Morpeth; but after that service was wound down around Berwick Upon Tweed - crockery taken in and new place-settings put out, with a new crew joining at Waverley.
On this service under VTEC, on departure from Haymarket the "All Day Menu" used to be offered, meaning a fairly early hot lunch was available to those who fancied it. However, a revised menu was available - which was not on the printed literature, but politely recited to each passenger as the crew member made their way down the carriage; (note, the "Festive" timetable had all finished up by this date, so this was not something shoehorned in for the New Year week). This was the offer of the cold sandwich selection from the menu rotation, or a hot bacon roll. Personally, this is probably a more suitable offering for this time of the day - as food was served around 11am. However, the drinks selection was that served on the "All Day Menu", i.e. alcohol was available for those who required it. This service was offered to all those onboard on departure from both Edinburgh stations, so in theory you could have had a full breakfast on departure from Morpeth (the last station "south of Auld Reekie" with at-seat service), and then sandwiches north of Edinburgh. I left the train at Dundee (1143), and there had been no further trolley runs in that time, although I believe there usually is another run (at the very least of drinks) between the "City Of Discovery" and Arbroath.
I returned south to York on Wednesday 9th January; 1107 from Dundee (originated at Aberdeen 0952). I am not sure whether full breakfast service had been offered to passengers on departure from Aberdeen, but for those of us joining at Dundee (and shortly after the sparse number of newcomers from Leuchars) were offered a choice of bacon roll, porridge or a "light breakfast" consisting of croissant and a yogurt. The "breakfast drinks trolley" was operating, i.e. hot drinks, fruit juices and water only. Passengers joining at Kirkcaldy and beyond were offered no food, with full service resuming after Waverley, with a crew change, and the full "All Day Menu" commencing service as per the website. Food (and full cold refreshment) trolley runs were offered after Berwick Upon Tweed and Newcastle, obviously food was only offered to those who had joined there.
I'm not sure about other services, but on both legs through Fife the service reminded me of almost an enhanced version of the old East Coast "Mid Morning Offer", which I think was done away with early in VTEC's tenure, around about the time of James Martins' involvement. I was happy with everything offered, and thought a bacon roll a more sensible mid morning treat than a bowl of something spicy, such as the Beef Rendang. On the southbound train, the offer of any sort of food service in Fife was a definite improvement in my opinion, as on many of my previous experiences on this service, hot drinks and biscuits were the offering (under VTEC last year).
Disclaimer. This may or may not be the regular service, but merely a report of my most recent visit. Doing the same journies (on the same days) in early March so will report back then.
Last edited:
londonmidland
Established Member
I’m currently on 1Y90 18:02 York to London Kings Cross.
Boarded at Doncaster and I can’t say I’m terribly impressed with the availibily of food.
Various items from the menu including crisps and drinks are unavailable and there is no sugar or napkins on any tables in any of the first class coaches.
The menu itself is largely unchanged from when it was run by Virgin Trains East Coast and everything still feels and looks the same bar the logo change.
Though I assume visual changes are kept to a minimum due to the imminent introduction of the Azumas?
Are any major changes to the first class menu going to take place in the near future?
I’d like to hear your first class experience with LNER and any other TOC’s.
What was good, what was bad? What could they have done to improve things?
Boarded at Doncaster and I can’t say I’m terribly impressed with the availibily of food.
Various items from the menu including crisps and drinks are unavailable and there is no sugar or napkins on any tables in any of the first class coaches.
The menu itself is largely unchanged from when it was run by Virgin Trains East Coast and everything still feels and looks the same bar the logo change.
Though I assume visual changes are kept to a minimum due to the imminent introduction of the Azumas?
Are any major changes to the first class menu going to take place in the near future?
I’d like to hear your first class experience with LNER and any other TOC’s.
What was good, what was bad? What could they have done to improve things?
I used the Glasgow to Newcastle LNER in first last year . And breakfast was served between Glasgow and Edinburgh , nothing apart from tea/coffee after . Few first class season holders from motherwell to Edinburgh refused the brekkie and just had tea/cofee
Andy Pacer
Established Member
Following the above I did complain to them and was given a £10 voucher. Towards the end of this month I'm doing first class from Darlington to Aberdeen.
leightonbd
Member
I’ve done several runs between London and Edinburgh this year and the service has been very similar to EC days. One change I noticed last time out was that they don’t seem to have sugar on the tables any more but offer it as and when the tea/ coffee runs come - fine by me.
Overall it’s been much the same since about Spring 2017 when the innovation, I think, was pre-packed sarnies.
Overall it’s been much the same since about Spring 2017 when the innovation, I think, was pre-packed sarnies.
VT 390
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Which coach is the best to sit in in first class to get served food on the HST's (which coach is the kitchen in)?
Buffet coach
trainophile
Established Member
Just left Kings Cross on way to Dundee and been told we have to choose between breakfast now or lunch later, not both as they haven’t got enough food on board!
Considering our Advance tickets cost £61.40 each with railcards (so nearly £100 without) I would have thought they could offer both on a five hour journey.
Considering our Advance tickets cost £61.40 each with railcards (so nearly £100 without) I would have thought they could offer both on a five hour journey.
They had a reduced service last time I traveled First Class, meaning there were no vegan options. They seem unable to communicate these things before people board. It would have been easy for me to have bought something before boarding if I'd known, but was a lot more annoying to find out about an hour info the journey.
trainophile
Established Member
No newspapers either. Apparently “they are only put on morning services”. Last time I checked 10:00am was in the morning 
.
.
Andy Pacer
Established Member
It's strange as I always thought they restocked in Newcastle?
trainophile
Established Member
Update - new crew from *Edinburgh and they say no problem if we want another meal.
(*Not sure where they got on, might have been Newcastle, but they came round for our orders at Inverkeithing.)
(*Not sure where they got on, might have been Newcastle, but they came round for our orders at Inverkeithing.)
They can restock at Newcastle (it's a full catering depot) but the services that go through Edinburgh usually restock at Edinburgh.
@trainophile is it possible you misunderstood and that they were offering there and then either the breakfast option or the lunch option but wouldn't offer anything else until after Edinburgh? I've been on mid-morning departures from Kings Cross where they've offered the full breakfast menu and the full all-day menu but they said you had to choose one or the other. But there was never any suggestion, on that occasion, that you wouldn't get the service again after Edinburgh.
trainophile
Established Member
I don’t think so. They were checking the overhead reservation displays and said “you’re going to Dundee so you can either have breakfast now or toast now and dinner later, but I’m afraid you can’t have both as there isn’t enough food on board for people to have two meals.”
A few people nearby got told the same, some thrown into confusion at having to make a choice there and then!
A few people nearby got told the same, some thrown into confusion at having to make a choice there and then!
xotGD
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"Breakfast now and gin later please!"
Esker-pades
Established Member
As others have said. I do Edinburgh to London and usually manage to get two rounds when the crew changes over at Newcastle. There's the normal supply of drinks too.
All coaches get an equal service. So, I'm not sure that there is a best coach.
Iskra
Established Member
The food arrives hotter nearer the kitchen, but that is outweighed by an increased number of people traipsing past you.
Just on the Highland Chieftain since London. Plentiful refreshments and the veggie chilli is quite nice. Going all the way so looking forward to the rest of the journey.
trainophile
Established Member
It gets worse. Just boarded the 0907 at Dundee for London. The only offering is a bacon roll - nothing vegetarian at all for my OH, who has had to make do with the last banana on the trolley and a piece of cake. No breakfast menu on the table, which is strange as we had the full choice on the 1000 northbound.
Are my expectations too high, or do LNER need to get their act together?
Are my expectations too high, or do LNER need to get their act together?
Friday 08/03/19
0736 York - Dundee (ex Leeds 0710).
Train was "short formed" - missing Coach D in standard, and first class seating layout was different to the usual HST (the usual single airline seats on the left hand side were all in "bays" i.e. each passenger faced another). Very lightly loaded train though, several bays of 4 were empty for much of the journey, particularly north of Edinburgh.
Full breakfast service up to (and including) Morpeth. "Bakery Basket" (i.e. toast / pastries) also available on this train, unlike the trip I took earlier in the year. Hot Drinks / Juice offered to all passengers after each station (with the exception of Durham). Clearing down began on the run into Berwick, so no refreshments offered to those joining at Berwick or Dunbar. Menus were removed from the tables, but place settings with mugs were laid ready for the crew change north of Edinburgh. (n.b. sugar sachets are no longer laid on the table - you are asked whether you require any when served with hot drinks - personally I have no problem with this, especially on smaller tables - it's one less thing to get in the way).
Crew change at Edinburgh, and catering resumed on immediate departure from Inverkeithing. As I found in January, there is now a "Mid Morning Offer" (referred to as such by an announcement on-board). This consisted of a choice of the cold sandwich selection or a bacon roll, plus crisps, biscuits and fruit. Food is offered to all passengers, whether they had just joined, or been onboard and already partaken in breakfast. Hot and cold drinks (including alcohol) were all available. There were no further passes of the trolley for food or drinks (A couple joined at Kirkcaldy, and three or four others at Leuchars), but did not notice them being offered anything. Possibly there is another run of refreshments after Dundee (the trollies had been left in Coach M).
Wednesday 13/03/19
1106 Dundee - York (ex Aberdeen 0952)
Departed on time, again lightly loaded (throughout the journey to York). No menus on the table, but offered a bacon roll or croissant and yogurt before the train had even begun to cross the Tay Bridge. Immediately offered hot drinks, juice, water or coke (seemingly you can have alcohol at 11am going north, but not south when traversing Fife!). All passengers offered drinks, then those boarding at Leuchars were also offered food, along with another pass to everyone from the drinks trolley, where I heard a fellow passenger being advised that this was the last "drinks run" before departure from Waverley - which did prove to be the case.
On departure from Waverley, food orders were taken quickly from all passengers (newcomers and those who had been on-board prior to the crew change) from the "All Day Menu" as per the LNER website. Hot and cold drinks were offered prior to food being served. The next pass of the drinks trolley was not until after departure from Newcastle, along with food orders from those who had joined at Berwick and Newcastle.
0736 York - Dundee (ex Leeds 0710).
Train was "short formed" - missing Coach D in standard, and first class seating layout was different to the usual HST (the usual single airline seats on the left hand side were all in "bays" i.e. each passenger faced another). Very lightly loaded train though, several bays of 4 were empty for much of the journey, particularly north of Edinburgh.
Full breakfast service up to (and including) Morpeth. "Bakery Basket" (i.e. toast / pastries) also available on this train, unlike the trip I took earlier in the year. Hot Drinks / Juice offered to all passengers after each station (with the exception of Durham). Clearing down began on the run into Berwick, so no refreshments offered to those joining at Berwick or Dunbar. Menus were removed from the tables, but place settings with mugs were laid ready for the crew change north of Edinburgh. (n.b. sugar sachets are no longer laid on the table - you are asked whether you require any when served with hot drinks - personally I have no problem with this, especially on smaller tables - it's one less thing to get in the way).
Crew change at Edinburgh, and catering resumed on immediate departure from Inverkeithing. As I found in January, there is now a "Mid Morning Offer" (referred to as such by an announcement on-board). This consisted of a choice of the cold sandwich selection or a bacon roll, plus crisps, biscuits and fruit. Food is offered to all passengers, whether they had just joined, or been onboard and already partaken in breakfast. Hot and cold drinks (including alcohol) were all available. There were no further passes of the trolley for food or drinks (A couple joined at Kirkcaldy, and three or four others at Leuchars), but did not notice them being offered anything. Possibly there is another run of refreshments after Dundee (the trollies had been left in Coach M).
Wednesday 13/03/19
1106 Dundee - York (ex Aberdeen 0952)
Departed on time, again lightly loaded (throughout the journey to York). No menus on the table, but offered a bacon roll or croissant and yogurt before the train had even begun to cross the Tay Bridge. Immediately offered hot drinks, juice, water or coke (seemingly you can have alcohol at 11am going north, but not south when traversing Fife!). All passengers offered drinks, then those boarding at Leuchars were also offered food, along with another pass to everyone from the drinks trolley, where I heard a fellow passenger being advised that this was the last "drinks run" before departure from Waverley - which did prove to be the case.
On departure from Waverley, food orders were taken quickly from all passengers (newcomers and those who had been on-board prior to the crew change) from the "All Day Menu" as per the LNER website. Hot and cold drinks were offered prior to food being served. The next pass of the drinks trolley was not until after departure from Newcastle, along with food orders from those who had joined at Berwick and Newcastle.
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Iskra
Established Member
Southbound Highland Chieftain was excellent this morning (and afternoon).
Currently on the 1803 London-Skipton. It’s good that the level of service appears to step up for the evening peak trains. It’s less like school dinners than the breakfast/daytime offering. It’s going well so far, was given 2 beers on the first pass of the trolley without asking, the salmon was very tasty and quite filling too with sticky toffee pudding or cheese and biscuits still to come.
Currently on the 1803 London-Skipton. It’s good that the level of service appears to step up for the evening peak trains. It’s less like school dinners than the breakfast/daytime offering. It’s going well so far, was given 2 beers on the first pass of the trolley without asking, the salmon was very tasty and quite filling too with sticky toffee pudding or cheese and biscuits still to come.
I think there is still some catering crew.
Unless it's changed an Edinburgh driver (Not sure about the guard) picks up the northbound service at Edinburgh at night, takes it to Glasgow and stays with the set until the early hours. Another Edinburgh driver is taxied over to take the morning service forward and the original driver taxies back.
I see , why would the guard stay with the set .
I assume you were on 1S11 (the 10am from King's Cross)? This used to be a lunch service, which was a bit bonkers, but in VTEC days it changed to what you describe: London passengers are offered either breakfast (at breakfast time) or lunch later (approaching lunchtime), which is much better. Travelling to Dundee you'll get another hot meal later on.
Except that if you are seated at the power car end of Coach M, there's the possibility that they will have run out of food by the time the crew reaches you. Happened to me twice on one journey! Since then I've always moved my seat to Coach L...
All too common on that particular service, I'm afraid. More often than not breakfast has run out by the time it reaches Dundee.
Sorry should have been clearer. I meant I'm not sure if the guard is Glasgow based or if they go back to Edinburgh as a passenger or in a taxi.
If they are Edinburgh based I'm assuming they will taxi to Glasgow with the morning driver.