Caledonian Sleeper

diffident · 22 Jul 2019

manxqueenies said:
Well nearly in London and not to bad a sleep. I ordered the much maligned highland breakfast. Not the one to get excited about - served in cardboard, plastic cutlery could get through the softer elements only. Such a shame, its almost 12 months since I was last on this service when breakfast was on ceramic dish, metal cutlery and teapot....today's offering I have tried to upload a pic. And I know it sounds a moan - but this must be one of the best journeys you can take in UK. It's just not what it was and a lot pricier.

That, frankly, is really very poor. Regardless of discounts (£20 refund is it?) for the old stock, and excuse after excuse, to serve up a breakfast like that just beggars belief. I've seen better from a low-end cut-price greasy-spoon takeaway service.

For a really rather expensive service, irrespective of their current "issues", I'd expect a far far better offering than that. On the basis of that breakfast alone I'd be claiming a full refund.

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MalaiseForever · 22 Jul 2019

manxqueenies said:
Well nearly in London and not to bad a sleep. I ordered the much maligned highland breakfast. Not the one to get excited about - served in cardboard, plastic cutlery could get through the softer elements only. Such a shame, its almost 12 months since I was last on this service when breakfast was on ceramic dish, metal cutlery and teapot....today's offering I have tried to upload a pic. And I know it sounds a moan - but this must be one of the best journeys you can take in UK. It's just not what it was and a lot pricier.View attachment 66062

Shame about the breakfast. Looks like the widespread criticism I’ve seen of it hasn’t gone far enough. Horrendous.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

MalaiseForever said:
Shame about the breakfast. Looks like the widespread criticism I’ve seen of it hasn’t gone far enough. Horrendous.

It's not great but I wouldn't call it horrendous, the actual food looks near enough identical to what VTWC will stick on a plate for you in First Class.

The presentation could be better, though - a quality paper plate would make it look less like it came from a dodgy kebab shop.

Mainliner · 22 Jul 2019

manxqueenies said:
Well nearly in London and not to bad a sleep. I ordered the much maligned highland breakfast. Not the one to get excited about - served in cardboard, plastic cutlery could get through the softer elements only. Such a shame, its almost 12 months since I was last on this service when breakfast was on ceramic dish, metal cutlery and teapot....today's offering I have tried to upload a pic. And I know it sounds a moan - but this must be one of the best journeys you can take in UK. It's just not what it was and a lot pricier.View attachment 66062

Coincidentally, a recent tweet on a similar theme, with ‘old’ and ‘new’ photos:

https://mobile.twitter.com/CalSleeper/status/1153220906887589890

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Mainliner said:
Coincidentally, a recent tweet on a similar theme, with ‘old’ and ‘new’ photos:

https://mobile.twitter.com/CalSleeper/status/1153220906887589890

Premium much?

That's what you would expect on the budget operation Thello.

MalaiseForever · 22 Jul 2019

Bletchleyite said:
It's not great but I wouldn't call it horrendous, the actual food looks near enough identical to what VTWC will stick on a plate for you in First Class.

The presentation could be better, though - a quality paper plate would make it look less like it came from a dodgy kebab shop.

Maybe. Think I’d rather a dodgy kebab though.

trebor79 · 22 Jul 2019

That's just awful. Why don they serve it on a proper plate like they used to?
Is it just in room breakfasts served this way? I got proper crockery in the lounge car on the lowlander.

Highlandspring · 22 Jul 2019

My breakfast was presented to me in the same way in the lounge car on the Fort William portion last month. Tea in a paper cup with those rank UHT milk sachets too.

Caleb2010 · 22 Jul 2019

I emailed CS over this general decline in standards - food and presentation, they said they'd pass the comments on to management but basically said I was free to bring my own food aboard - which, since then I have.

The only time I have had food on board is when I have had travel vouchers to spend, and getting the steward to accept the voucher is fun as well!

Darandio · 22 Jul 2019

Caleb2010 said:
I emailed CS over this general decline in standards - food and presentation, they said they'd pass the comments on to management but basically said I was free to bring my own food aboard - which, since then I have.

The only time I have had food on board is when I have had travel vouchers to spend, and getting the steward to accept the voucher is fun as well!

That is an insult in itself, they no longer care.

Caleb2010 · 22 Jul 2019

No, not really!

I know the ground level on on board staff are wonderful - in the main, but the decision makers need to experience what they implement to see what they inflict on the travelling public!

Sadly, when they show their face they get first class treatment, as soon as they're gone and supposedly satisfied, the first class services disappear and normal second class service resumes.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Caleb2010 said:
Sadly, when they show their face they get first class treatment, as soon as they're gone and supposedly satisfied, the first class services disappear and normal second class service resumes.

But at a First Class price. I don't think people would be complaining nearly as much if the prices were as per 5 years ago.

I wouldn't have an issue with them selling a budget product aimed at backpackers etc like, say, Thello is - that's being honest about what's on offer. But not when they talk it up to be like a JW Marriott on wheels.

47271 · 22 Jul 2019

It's nothing to do with crew not caring, it's a universal thing on the Highlander just now.

I'm not quite sure of the reasoning, but as far as I understand from a few sources, the decline in presentation of breakfasts on the Highlander exactly coincided with the entire train having been made over to a single type of accommodation. Remember that all rooms are now set up as 'Classic' with both beds in place. Regulars report that standards were fine for as long as they were booked into rooms with the top bed folded away, then it all went to pot, but then at that time so did whether they got an inclusive breakfast at all. How would you notice a poorly presented breakfast if all you get is a cup of tea and a biscuit?

There must be some sort of lowest common denominator thing at work here, but we can't quite fathom it. One theory is that they're running so short of crew that they can't deal with dirty dishes and everything has to go in the bin, but that's just a theory.

So it may be something that dies with the mk3s. If it continues with the new stock then it's a sign that they're trying to cut costs with no regard to service.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

47271 said:
There must be some sort of lowest common denominator thing at work here, but we can't quite fathom it. One theory is that they're running so short of crew that they can't deal with dirty dishes and everything has to go in the bin, but that's just a theory.

The stock sits at one end or t'other all day. It's inconceivable that they can't contract a company to wash a load of dishes during that period.

So it may be something that dies with the mk3s. If it continues with the new stock then it's a sign that they're trying to cut costs with no regard to service.

I'm inclined to say the latter. If they cared about quality, they'd look at presentation a bit better - the cutlery wallet looks decent, but serving it in a chip carton is awful. Premium disposable (compostable, ideally) plates do exist. Similarly, wine in the kind of plastic cup you get to clean your teeth in a Travelodge? Why not decent quality ones, such as the ones with stems M&S sell pre-filled?

An upside is that as I mentioned upthread they won't be trying to get it back off you well before arrival like they used to - and if they do you can tell them to get lost and put it in the bin when you get off.

Caleb2010 · 22 Jul 2019

To be fair, I have been getting a berth on a bit of a loophole, I've a four wheel walker and as there's nowhere to put it in the seated car I can be upgraded to the accessible Berth, but have always been in the knowledge that this would disappear with the introduction of the Mk5 stock, there being an accessible space in the seated car. This doesn't bother me as I would just pay more for the same berth. It's the principal of what comes with it.

Willing to purchase the breakfast - I did, to begin with it was priced at £8, but included quite a bit, it was served in China bowls, had proper cutlery, cup & saucer etc. But now - I won't bother, it's too pricey for the service.

One stewardess even said that it was more than her job was worth to serve a standard class passenger a breakfast in the lounge car! Even if I paid for it!

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Caleb2010 said:
To be fair, I have been getting a berth on a bit of a loophole, I've a four wheel walker and as there's nowhere to put it in the seated car I can be upgraded to the accessible Berth, but have always been in the knowledge that this would disappear with the introduction of the Mk5 stock, there being an accessible space in the seated car. This doesn't bother me as I would just pay more for the same berth. It's the principal of what comes with it.

So are they supplying the chip-tray breakfast to everyone, or is that the packaging you get if you order it in the seats, then?

The seats are a budget operation, so supplying breakfast in a recyclable paper chip-tray for those seems reasonable to me.

Caleb2010 · 22 Jul 2019

I'm not sure, I've had the chip tray delivered to the accessible berth, and when I've eaten in the lounge car - but others have had China plates etc, it might be a 'you're standard - not first' statement!

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Caleb2010 said:
I'm not sure, I've had the chip tray delivered to the accessible berth, and when I've eaten in the lounge car - but others have had China plates etc, it might be a 'you're standard - not first' statement!

You're not sleeper Standard, you're a seated budget customer, and should I guess only receive what those actually in the seats do bar the "reasonable adjustment" of providing the berth in lieu of a seat you cannot use due to a disability. You aren't in receipt of a free upgrade, the berth itself is just the required by law "reasonable adjustment". If you want the full berth service it is necessary to pay for a berth. I don't see what is unreasonable there?

I'm surprised they allow you to eat in the lounge car rather than the equivalent which would I guess be delivering you food from the buffet car offering to your berth?

Highlandspring · 22 Jul 2019

Highlandspring said:
My breakfast was presented to me in the same way in the lounge car on the Fort William portion last month. Tea in a paper cup with those rank UHT milk sachets too.

I should be added this was first class before they started the current nonsense.

Caleb2010 · 22 Jul 2019

I don't dispute any of that, however the berth is obtained it's still a berth, a standard class ticket would entitle me to a seat - so I'm standard class - CS put me in the berth!

I would quite happily pay for the food and, as a standard class berth user (for want of a better phrase) I have access to the lounge - I do not abuse this, should it be full I don't scream and throw my teddies out of the pram, I merely ask for a cup of tea and go back to the cabin.

Even when the berth was in the first class car and it was treated as an upgrade, t

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Caleb2010 said:
I don't dispute any of that, however the berth is obtained it's still a berth, a standard class ticket would entitle me to a seat - so I'm standard class - CS put me in the berth!

Ah, I see, I was reading it as the old way of looking at it - 1st = solo berth, Std = shared berth. Sorry.

Antman · 22 Jul 2019

This is starting to look ridiculous. A second class service at first prices. The quality of the food for an ‘experience’ is just substandard. Whatever the railway people say.

Does anyone seriously think it’s acceptable for THE premium service to effectively have happy shopper catering ? And that’s without the inconsistent (poor) service from the staff, the reliability and the lack of a lounge car on the older stock ? For the prices charged ?

What does it say to visitors to Scotland ? Where is a Highland breakfast ? Where is the hospitality ? Where is the quality ?

ainsworth74 · 22 Jul 2019

Bletchleyite said:
Premium disposable (compostable, ideally) plates do exist.

CrossCountry use them in 1st class to serve various sorts of food that they do. I've had a very nice wrap delivered in one with crisps as a "garnish". A much more premium feel than just giving me a wrap in plastic packaging and crisps in the packet. I had a bacon roll also served in a similar way. Again much more premium than just giving it to me either in it's packaging or on a napkin. Or, in this case, a polystyrene chip tray!

They're an excellent compromise between proper plates to give a good experience for passengers and the ease of disposable plates for the crew tidying up.

Darandio · 22 Jul 2019

Justapunter said:
This is starting to look ridiculous. A second class service at first prices. The quality of the food for an ‘experience’ is just substandard. Whatever the railway people say.

Does anyone seriously think it’s acceptable for THE premium service to effectively have happy shopper catering ? And that’s without the inconsistent (poor) service from the staff, the reliability and the lack of a lounge car on the older stock ? For the prices charged ?

What does it say to visitors to Scotland ? Where is a Highland breakfast ? Where is the hospitality ? Where is the quality ?

None of it is acceptable. It seems from above that if you complain about the food then they invite you to bring your own instead, it's the virtual equivalent of sticking two fingers up at you.

As I said earlier, it seems they no longer care. I'd wager they want out.

philthetube · 22 Jul 2019

For a supposedly environmentally transport form using disposables, even compostable ones should not happen, unless needed in very rare circumstances.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

https://www.catering24.co.uk/round-palm-leaf-plates.html

25p each.

Get on it, CS.

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

Darandio said:
None of it is acceptable. It seems from above that if you complain about the food then they invite you to bring your own instead, it's the virtual equivalent of sticking two fingers up at you.

As I said earlier, it seems they no longer care. I'd wager they want out.

That is the impression I have. I give them a year at most.

Struner · 22 Jul 2019

ainsworth74 said:
CrossCountry use them in 1st class to serve various sorts of food that they do. I've had a very nice wrap delivered in one with crisps as a "garnish". A much more premium feel than just giving me a wrap in plastic packaging and crisps in the packet. I had a bacon roll also served in a similar way. Again much more premium than just giving it to me either in it's packaging or on a napkin. Or, in this case, a polystyrene chip tray!

They're an excellent compromise between proper plates to give a good experience for passengers and the ease of disposable plates for the crew tidying up.

Indeed, a hotel on wheels

JModulo · 22 Jul 2019

Bletchleyite said:
https://www.catering24.co.uk/round-palm-leaf-plates.html

25p each.

Get on it, CS.

Heard it all now with some of the suggestions on here...

Bletchleyite · 22 Jul 2019

JModulo said:
Heard it all now with some of the suggestions on here...

Premium compostable plates. What's wrong with the idea? Better than a chip tray.

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