That’s why the sets ordered for the west of England were predominantly 5 cars with the 9 cars primarily for Oxford and Cotswolds due to the Long Rock issue.
You would have thought making Long Rock capable of accepting longer trains would have been 1st consideration when ordering new stock - but then DfT were involved of course.......
Of course, but GWRs decision to settle their strikes by agreement to scrap all DCO proposals for IETs (other than a few former Turbo services) meant the only realistic option to prevent a dispute continuing was to sign up to operating agreements unions had approved & had in place elsewhere, for similar non DOO stock /routes
I liked it, but I was only maybe 30% successful at booking onto chef services (including some unplanned unavailability) and I knew they existed which most passengers seemed not to, based on the interest when I returned to my seat with decent hot food instead of the usual microwaved turd.
Because a turd is still a turd even if dried out by grilling it a bit. The establishments you mention are last-resort lowest common denominator things.
Yep, that sort of stuff would be better if we can't have real food, but we're told customers want turds, right up until we're told they're not putting buffets in the new units because not enough customers wanted turds!
One big problem with that is who resets the call for aid alarms if no staff in the unit? And call for aid is a very regular occurrence I can assure you.
Would still work out cheaper in the long run to extend long rock probably too late now but a few years ago the descion could of been made. And there is no excuse for trains starting at Laira or north pole to be 5 car formed.
I’m fairly sure on the latest stock that can be reset remotely (assuming it’s not an emergency) via an intercom & control screen either by the guard / suitably trained onboard staff member or driver on fully DOO services.