Apparently. Although maybe not much longer than that if my only choice is a spinach wrap containing a courgette fritter, it doesn't appeal at all. Maybe i'm missing out?
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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
- Thread starter MidnightFlyer
- Start date
Apparently. Although maybe not much longer than that if my only choice is a spinach wrap containing a courgette fritter, it doesn't appeal at all. Maybe i'm missing out?
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Esker-pades
Established Member
Bring your own food? It's all complimentary; they don't have to provide it.
Apparently that doesn't quite tell the whole story! https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/consumer-law-and-complimentary-items.171826/#post-3679596
Monkeyhead
Member
- Joined
- 21 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 68
Not sure whether this tallies with other experiences, but came back from London to Leeds last night on the 18.03 Skipton service - had a standard ticket (all work will let us book) but noted a seatfrog upgrade, so decided to treat myself to first on an Azuma service. Got on, seat reservations were down, they came back on, but me and the chap at the side of me, who was also going to Leeds, were sat in a table of 2, all saying "Reserved to Skipton". Fortunately, no-one else arrived and tried to claim the seat, so off we went. Seats are hard, as in standard, and being 6'3", the headrest digs into my shoulders. And oddly enough, the lip on the table was really uncomfortable to lay your wrists/forearms over, but hey ho. Staff came round taking orders promptly, and the drinks trolley appeared. Just asked for a diet coke as I was thirsty and wasn't sure whether I'd get two drinks. Had the chicken casserole which was very nice I have to say. After Stevenage, pudding orders came round, I had the cheese which was again, really nice. There was a second round of the drinks trolley, and this time I was brave and got a glass of wine AND a diet coke, though the woman didn't appear best pleased! After that there was a round of coffees, and that was it, apart from an after dinner chocolate. There really wasn't much offered on the second half of the journey, was mildly disappointing and suspect it makes travelling first if you're going from anywhere north of Peterborough kind of pointless.
So was it worth it for a seatfrog upgrade - just about. Would I be paying out of my own money for a first open, not on your nelly! Shame as the food on that menu is really nice, just seems a bit stingy around the edges.
So was it worth it for a seatfrog upgrade - just about. Would I be paying out of my own money for a first open, not on your nelly! Shame as the food on that menu is really nice, just seems a bit stingy around the edges.
Esker-pades
Established Member
Two different things here:
If I have to pay for a sandwich on the train and I have a first class ticket, I get my money back for that sandwich.
If there is no food on the train and I have first class tickets, I don't get money back (or, I'm not entitled to money back but I can try and may get lucky).
In this situation, LNER have provided a sandwich (or sandwich equivalent). If I don't like the sandwich, then I can decline it. I am not entitled to money back because I didn't like the sandwich on offer.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
Sounds excellent .....the sandwich I mean !
Butts
Veteran Member
And the $64,000 question which you appear to have swerved - how much was your upgrade ?
Bad luck with the Azuma , would you have preferred an HST ?
Butts
Veteran Member
Quite right - also I note the LNER Breakfast is now Yorkshire Themed - does a proper Yorkshire Fry Up include Black Pudding ?
Until about a year ago the only vegan item on the East Coast were the crisps and fruit. I was not outraged, although I did ask if they could provide vegan options. They're not always available.
I'm not a big fan of the vegan wrap they have, but it's better than nothing.
They must have been quiet to serve everyone so quickly. Anyone boarding at Peterborough is entitled to service BTW.
As for double drinks - I always have water with wine, no problem (unlike a recent experience in Spain, but that's another story).
Aictos
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 10,403
They had others but the sandwich I fully recommend trying!
Monkeyhead
Member
- Joined
- 21 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 68
Ah sorry, wasn't a secret, I coughed for £28. But as I'm allowed to claim £15 back for an evening meal, net £13 experiment. I knew it was an Azuma, just thought I'd give it a try. In my limited experience, the first seats in HSTs or the MK4s are nicer, but I guess we don't need another seat debate!
It was quite full in carriage L, but the staff were very efficient to be fair. Thanks for the info re: Peterborough - not many got on that I could see, so maybe that was is, but I don't recall seeing much food being carried about.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
A minor , irritating - (trivial) point is that any unused mini- marmalade jars get slung into the rubbish bag when the litter picker comes through.
Apart from being wasteful of something that can happily be re-used , is a poor environmental thing. If not needed , happy to take home , eat and enjoy the product and then either re-use the jar with home made jam or properly recycle the jar and lid.
But then , I take home and re-use (after cleaning out) the plastic drink bottles , or recycle them , in the hope they do not end up dumped in Indonesia or elsewhere.
Meanwhile , back to the discussion ,- how are the fishcakes ?
Apart from being wasteful of something that can happily be re-used , is a poor environmental thing. If not needed , happy to take home , eat and enjoy the product and then either re-use the jar with home made jam or properly recycle the jar and lid.
But then , I take home and re-use (after cleaning out) the plastic drink bottles , or recycle them , in the hope they do not end up dumped in Indonesia or elsewhere.
Meanwhile , back to the discussion ,- how are the fishcakes ?
leightonbd
Member
The fishcakes are quite good, a little uninspiring!
I do agree about the over enthusiastic clearing of ‘waste’ - I would hope (expect) that the operator has a duty to sort and recycle. I think the staff may be put under undue pressure to clear and reset tables during the journey. It feels like a false economy, though I am sure I’m wrong in saying that.
The vegan wrap - is close to being able to promote vegan food to non-vegans, but lacks just a little something, maybe a sliver of tomato or chilli. I chose it over beef (which I couldn’t face eating cold) a few weeks ago. It’s a good concept but needs to go to v2.0.
Drink etc - as long as your ambitions are not excessive - I think is ‘fair’ - one service an hour. That’s better than Eurostar to Paris used to be when I was doing that journey, admittedly some years ago - one meal, one drink, that’s it.
Salmon & broccoli on the evening menu is just good, really good, especially after no food all day and so is the chicken with green beans, though the beans just don’t cook very well. First world problems.
It is basically a very good service and whilst we’d all like hot buttered toast, tea and full breakfast served simultaneously at exactly the time we want it, the reality is that we have to take as it comes for kitchen, time, space and staff reasons - it could not be done much better than it is (within current budget).
All IMHO of course but I like to contribute to the discussion.
Dont get why the staff are unhappy when you ask for two drinks , surely theres enough
Butts
Veteran Member
Should be the All Day Menu - supposing they have anything left !!
Sit in J/K for the best chance of in and out on Alcohol , and first dibs of whatever nosh is available.
Butts
Veteran Member
Not all of them do - some offer two without you even asking.
A lot of people don't have any alcohol at all so it is relatively easy to purloin copious quantities particularly if you are seated near the Cafe Bar.
My last 2 LNER trips were on an Azuma from Stevenage to Leeds.
1st one I ordered breakfast and then noticed about an hour later that no toast had been offered so asked - they said it had to be ordered when ordering the breakfast. So I got a plate of fresh hot toast.
2nd trip = I ordered it with the breakfast - only got 1 slice of toast.
I was told that on the Azuma kitchen they don't have room to do the toast in bulk so it is now only made to order.
1st one I ordered breakfast and then noticed about an hour later that no toast had been offered so asked - they said it had to be ordered when ordering the breakfast. So I got a plate of fresh hot toast.
2nd trip = I ordered it with the breakfast - only got 1 slice of toast.
I was told that on the Azuma kitchen they don't have room to do the toast in bulk so it is now only made to order.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
Thank you - that explains the issue , if you can call it an issue.....!
I observed that earlier this week with another passenger (I was driving so couldn't imbibe!). An ever friendly Newcastle crew in the case I saw.
Went on a few LNER first class services last week:
9/9 1458 York - KGX on HST: all day menu chicken casserole
10/9 0648 Glasgow - Edinburgh on IC225: breakfast menu full LNER + 1 slice of toast
10/9 0830 Edinburgh - Newcastle on HST: breakfast menu full LNER + 1 slice of toast
10/9 1026 Newcastle - York on HST: all day menu cheese cannelloni
10/9 1415 Leeds - KGX on Azuma: all day menu chicken casserole
10/9 1718 KGX - Newark on Azuma: chef's signature menu salmon + chocolate tart
10/9 1847 Newark - Darlington on Azuma: chef's signature menu salmon + chocolate tart
10/9 2026 Darlington - Edinburgh on HST: no hot food available (even though it's meant to be a chef's signature train) so beef sandwich
11/9 1208 Grantham - KGX: limited all day menu - only fishcakes available from hot food selection + lemon posset
All the above services had numerous opportunities to get both hot and cold drinks
9/9 1458 York - KGX on HST: all day menu chicken casserole
10/9 0648 Glasgow - Edinburgh on IC225: breakfast menu full LNER + 1 slice of toast
10/9 0830 Edinburgh - Newcastle on HST: breakfast menu full LNER + 1 slice of toast
10/9 1026 Newcastle - York on HST: all day menu cheese cannelloni
10/9 1415 Leeds - KGX on Azuma: all day menu chicken casserole
10/9 1718 KGX - Newark on Azuma: chef's signature menu salmon + chocolate tart
10/9 1847 Newark - Darlington on Azuma: chef's signature menu salmon + chocolate tart
10/9 2026 Darlington - Edinburgh on HST: no hot food available (even though it's meant to be a chef's signature train) so beef sandwich
11/9 1208 Grantham - KGX: limited all day menu - only fishcakes available from hot food selection + lemon posset
All the above services had numerous opportunities to get both hot and cold drinks
Butts
Veteran Member
Did you ask for one slice of toast ?
Sounds like the old East Coast "Toast Famine" returning.
I asked for 2 on my Newcasle trip the other week and this was duly delivered.
Someone with toast came round with one of the drinks carts at the same time and the way they asked if you want toast implied that it was only 1 slice. I didn’t bother asking for 2.
Yes I don't think it's ever been an automatic two slices of toast. But whenever I've asked I've always got apart from a handful of occasions when it was a very busy train and they worried they might run out (they didn't and I seem to recall came back to give me another slice).
Butts
Veteran Member
I thought they had to have a Chef to cook the eggs - were the eggs in the containers ?
Not to be over-easy about these things, but I would have thought anybody who'd done a basic course in food hygiene and not touching the hot things could be trusted to do the eggs.