Do most passengers prefer trollies after all ?
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Do passengers prefer trollies or buffets?
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I assume that the people who run on train catering as a business take a close interest in their sales figures. They chose to run trolleys rather than buffets which I assume must be because they sell more with trolleys. Therefore despite what people may or may not say they prefer in surveys, people actually buy more from a trolley than a buffet.
Will Mitchell
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Can we not have both?
Only if we are prepared to pay for extra staff and I'm pretty sure we the farepayer/taxpayer/customer aren't.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
They may prefer a trolley due to running costs instead. No need for a fixed buffet and just load the trolley onto the train rather than having to transfer each item into its place on the buffet. There's probably also an accessibility issue - someone in a wheelchair can't get to the buffet but can be served by a trolley in the same way as everyone else.
The buffet has the advantage that you can get your food when you want it, not when the trolley happens to pass by, and allows more choice because more items can be stocked with the possibility of hot food.
Will Mitchell
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If I remember rightly one of the east coast operators used to provide both. But then maybe I imagined it...
Dhassell
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The number of times I haven't been able to get a drink on a GWR service because 'We've run out of hot water halfway down the train' or a trolley just hasn't shown up at all makes me personally prefer a buffet... Half the time they just do a static trolley anyway...
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
VTWC sometimes did.
Most passengers are not inclined to walk to a buffet (risk of losing seat, luggage being stolen).
More people are generally more inclined to buy from a trolley if it comes past on a longish journey. When I've seen it on GWR, it does a roaring tradw.
Even more passengers just prefer to buy supplies before boarding.
More people are generally more inclined to buy from a trolley if it comes past on a longish journey. When I've seen it on GWR, it does a roaring tradw.
Even more passengers just prefer to buy supplies before boarding.
If I'm with others then it's fine, assuming the train isn't busy, to wander down to the buffet. Otherwise if I'm on my own, I don't generally like leaving my seat. If I have to leave my seat, it will more likely be to go to the toilet.
Of course if the train is busy, both options may go out of the window. Trolleys can't get through and I can't get to the buffet.
Overall I think a trolley will do better, and with modern technology you'd think you could have a small area on the train for a trolley to restock and maybe one day have the ability to order to your seat using an app. That helps staff manage demand more effectively, as well as increasing sales as you can order in a more relaxed fashion and also know everything on offer.
I'm sure today a lot of people don't know everything they could buy, or waste a lot of time asking what is available.
Of course if the train is busy, both options may go out of the window. Trolleys can't get through and I can't get to the buffet.
Overall I think a trolley will do better, and with modern technology you'd think you could have a small area on the train for a trolley to restock and maybe one day have the ability to order to your seat using an app. That helps staff manage demand more effectively, as well as increasing sales as you can order in a more relaxed fashion and also know everything on offer.
I'm sure today a lot of people don't know everything they could buy, or waste a lot of time asking what is available.
185143
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Buffet all the way as far as I'm concerned. A trolley cannot serve me cold beer, a buffet can (and does!) Also I know where the buffet is rather than having to wait and see when/if a trolley appears. I fondly remember boarding a GWR HST in the buffet car at Totnes in late 2018 and asking what beers they had. The attendant simply moved out of the way so I could see the fridge, then I stood at the bar whilst I consumed my cold drink of choice. Last time I purchased anything on GWR, the trolley seemed to appear out of nowhere which was good. But the warm beer was not so good...
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
There is no reason a trolley could not serve cold beer - the railway just fails to design and implement trolley services that do that because they do not fit them with any proper cooling equipment. If you can run a caravan fridge off a 12 volt battery, a trolley could also contain a fridge running off a similar battery.
Quite. We have cars that can do 300 odd miles between charges now, so I am pretty sure we can chuck a few Lithium Ion batteries on a trolley to keep some drinks cold (and others hot). With decent insulation, the energy required would be minimal.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Bitter/ale should be, lager and cider should be cold. A bit like red/white wine.
True about lager, but I find the better ciders and perrys are better at room temp as well !
Kite159
Veteran Member
A trolley as it means more seats available, rather than having wasted space.
But as someone who never buys from the overpriced onboard catering, seats are better.
But as someone who never buys from the overpriced onboard catering, seats are better.
Trainfan2019
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I prefer neither as both are overpriced. Also, on board buffets take up space where extra seats could be. Trollies clog up the aisle and doorways. On overcrowded services the trollies can't get down the aisle due to the aisle being full of standing passengers.
theblackwatch
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Although I very rarely use either (I normally manage to prepare myself for a long journey, which a lot of people seem incapable of doing), the buffet wins every time. There is a much greater choice, and you can buy a drink or whatever when you want it - rather than have it come at an inconvenient time. On more than one occasion, I've caught the train from York to Edinburgh, and found the trolley has been through my coach in the previous 30 minutes. It then reappears somewhere after Berwick, not long before I am about to alight...
A trolley can also be a nuisance when trying to get to the toilet, or even when trying to alight, as it blocks the aisle.
A trolley can also be a nuisance when trying to get to the toilet, or even when trying to alight, as it blocks the aisle.
xotGD
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Straying off topic, but I have to take issue - ale should be at cellar temperature, not room temperature. However I agree that out of the fridge is too cold.
Well, it ends up at room temperature unless you drink it very quickly.
xotGD
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That's not usually a problem!
scotrail158713
Established Member
I’m a bit lazy once I’m on a train in that once I’m sat down I can’t be bothered to move until I reach my destination. So for me I prefer a trolley, although I very rarely buy anything onboard anyway.
Although most my most frequent journeys are 10 minute jaunts into Edinburgh so I’m not on long distance trains that much.
Although most my most frequent journeys are 10 minute jaunts into Edinburgh so I’m not on long distance trains that much.
When I travel alone, I prefer the window seat. If somebody occupies the aisle seat, I prefer not to have to inconvenience them to move unless I have to, so trollies are better from that perspective.
If not, a legstretch to the buffet is nice, unless I'm busy working.
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