‘Avanti to stop at-seat service from May 2023’

[Bletchleyite]

Tried to use this twice on a recent trip, there and back. Didn't work either time, with the added bonus of a rushed connection on the way back and no card acceptance in the onboard cafe! Just absolutely no chance for me to eat all the way from BHM-GLC...

I'd have got supplies and one coffee in somewhere like BHM unless I was about to miss it. Plenty of options including a large M&S.

 

[laseandre]

I'd have got supplies and one coffee in somewhere like BHM unless I was about to miss it. Plenty of options including a large M&S.

This was a 45+ minute connection which had turned into 5...

 

[Runningaround]

Good luck a) finding the staff and b) justifying the cost

If they aren't covering the whole train due to serving too often then you put another one on, the prices charged should more than cover wages, or just monitor their work rate to ensure they aren't spending the whole shift hiding in the quietest carriage

 

[route101]

Not noticed much trolley service on Scotrail or LNER of late. Never seen a trolley on Avanti though in standard.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Not noticed much trolley service on Scotrail or LNER of late. Never seen a trolley on Avanti though in standard.

I don't think LNER operate trolleys anymore, not since the 'Let's Eat at your seat' service was introduced.

 

[Carlisle]

Never seen a trolley on Avanti though in standard.

No they’ve never returned since Covid

 

[williamn]

Not noticed much trolley service on Scotrail or LNER of late. Never seen a trolley on Avanti though in standard.

There is a trolley on some Scotrail trains but it's comically limited, so on some routes it's only a specific train on a Thursday and Friday or something like that. Useless.

No need on LNER with their at seat service. They seem to have the most reliable catering of any TOC.

 

[airantraigh]

There is a trolley on some Scotrail trains but it's comically limited, so on some routes it's only a specific train on a Thursday and Friday or something like that. Useless.

No need on LNER with their at seat service. They seem to have the most reliable catering of any TOC.

The only time I remember seeing a trolley on scotrail was on the west highland line, and it came round over halfway into the trip, (at least you don’t have to worry about overcrowding or excessive walks on a half empty two car 156 in October)
And I may be bssing but I think maybe also once on an inter7city when on standard class, but I can’t remember when or where (maybe GQS-Dundee?)

These days if possible I try and get LNER, as north of the border first class with them is usually affordable with enough notice and a railcard. I’ve never seen any sort of catering service any of the times I’ve gone down to Edinburgh from leuchars first class inter7city, and you don’t even get access to the lounge at Waverley (but at least the seats are better than the ironing boards)

 

[route101]

I don't think LNER operate trolleys anymore, not since the 'Let's Eat at your seat' service was introduced.

Pretty sure I seen one last year on LNER.

 

[g492p]

Pretty sure I seen one last year on LNER.

Pre pandemic was the last time they ran the trolly in standard class I believe.

 

[RPI]

Just seen in an internal communication that GWR plan to introduce a similar system this year, with trial runs taking place last week.

 

[Jimini]

Just seen in an internal communication that GWR plan to introduce a similar system this year, with trial runs taking place last week.

Ah, so introduce an app-based at seat service, leave the trolley static to facilitate, sales go through the floor because of technical issues / low uptake, and boom! No need for trolleys anymore as they don't make any money

 

[RPI]

Ah, so introduce an app-based at seat service, leave the trolley static to facilitate, sales go through the floor because of technical issues / low uptake, and boom! No need for trolleys anymore as they don't make any money

As far as I'm aware, there will still be a trolley, but on 9 car sets there are currently real issues as the trolley rarely gets through a busy train and some passengers will never see it.

 

[Skie]

When it worked, I quite liked it.

Unfortunately the only time it ever worked was when I was in Coach C, and even that took 3 attempts.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When it worked, I quite liked it.

Unfortunately the only time it ever worked was when I was in Coach C, and even that took 3 attempts.

I like the LNER version. I won't use the Avanti version because I'm not connecting to their useless wi-fi.

This version throws away business, as some people are prohibited from connecting their work devices to public wi-fi.

 

[Facing Back]

I like the LNER version. I won't use the Avanti version because I'm not connecting to their useless wi-fi.

This version throws away business, as some people are prohibited from connecting their work devices to public wi-fi.

I don't care whether I connect to Avanti's wifi or not but I'm not pre-paying for food and drink when I don't trust them to deliver it. I quite like popping into M&S and getting a deli selection and a bottle of wine for std premium.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't care whether I connect to Avanti's wifi or not but I'm not pre-paying for food and drink when I don't trust them to deliver it.

If I recall rightly you don't get charged until it's delivered.

I quite like popping into M&S and getting a deli selection and a bottle of wine for std premium.

M&S is a great option but no use for a coffee two hours in.

 

[Facing Back]

If I recall rightly you don't get charged until it's delivered.

Fair enough

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Mar 2023 ==

M&S is a great option but no use for a coffee two hours in.

My run is Euston to either Piccadilly or Warrington so only 2 hours in total so I'll live with it - and board with a coffee. I'll refer you back to the bottle of wine I'm just bought at M&S.

And you can be traditional and wander back to coach C and buy coffee there presumably.

 

[Mountain Man]

I used it a few times, without issue but only really found it useful when I wanted a hot drink several hours in a long journey from / to Cumbria from London.

The growth of near station food options has mentioned has largely done away with the need for buffet services for me. When you can better, cheaper options before then it's only things like mid journey hot drinks that merit it.

 

[Class800]

I like the LNER version. I won't use the Avanti version because I'm not connecting to their useless wi-fi.

This version throws away business, as some people are prohibited from connecting their work devices to public wi-fi.

Interesting, if so, how do they keep in touch with base when travelling, which is often a key part of lone worker safety protocols?

 

[island]

This version throws away business, as some people are prohibited from connecting their work devices to public wi-fi.

I put it to you that the number of people travelling on Avanti with nobody in their travel party in possession of a personal device capable, if the holder is so inclined, of connecting to the train Wifi for the purpose of using the ordering service, is negligible.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting, if so, how do they keep in touch with base when travelling, which is often a key part of lone worker safety protocols?

Using their mobile data connection. I near enough never use public Wi-Fi myself, not for security but because it's largely rubbish, though I do have one work machine I'm not allowed to connect to public wifi.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==

I put it to you that the number of people travelling on Avanti with nobody in their travel party in possession of a personal device capable, if the holder is so inclined, of connecting to the train Wifi for the purpose of using the ordering service, is negligible.

This is probably true, but LNER prove it to be an unnecessary faff anyway.

 

[stj]

Seems to me that there is a move to eradicate all standard class food and drink.

Only first class will be able to obtain food on-board in future.

Hull Trains, much hailed open access operator abandoned all STD class refreshments on all 14 of their daily trains over a year ago. No food or drink for over two hrs. People board at Retford and Grantham and there is nothing to eat or drink on the train. This is on the premier ECML!

So much for the privatised railway.

It was common in BR days to have no Catering at all and closed buffet cars.Station offerings are far better than the Travellers Fare days too.

 

[falcon]

It was common in BR days to have no Catering at all and closed buffet cars.Station offerings are far better than the Travellers Fare days too.

In 1978 British Rail ran more that 900 weekly trains with buffet cars and or full restaurants on them. Most ran until privatisation.

The offerings throughout the day were:
Full English breakfast.
Morning coffee/tea and biscuits.
3 course lunch served a la carte.
Afternoon tea.
High Tea.
3 Course or four course gold star Dinner with drinks a la carte.

In 2007 GNER were still running 88 services with full restaurant car services a la Cart, all with buffet cars and std class trolley services. In addition, up until 2004 GNER had the Standard plus catering service for their full fare ticket holders. Free tea/coffee, croissants and biscuits, newspaper.

I suggest you think again about the Travellers fare Buffets on the station and what was actually available, all freshly prepared, unless you want to believe Jim Davidson or Frank Carson of course.

I despair!

 

[sheff1]

I suggest you think again about the Travellers fare Buffets on the station and what was actually available, all freshly prepared, unless you want to believe Jim Davidson or Frank Carson of course.

I despair!

Quite.

Freshly prepared, reasonably priced cooked meals at Travellers Fare station buffets attracted regular customers who were not even travelling by rail.

 

[Falcon1200]

The offerings throughout the day were:
Full English breakfast.
Morning coffee/tea and biscuits.
3 course lunch served a la carte.
Afternoon tea.
High Tea.
3 Course or four course gold star Dinner with drinks a la carte.

Those were of course what was available in Restaurant cars, but certainly not in Buffet Cars, a different level of service altogether!
I still recall with delight a lunch of trout on the Cornish Riviera back in the 1980s, but IMHO the reduced level of on-train catering nowadays is as much a result of societal changes as the Train Operators not wanting to bother any more.

 

[dk1]

Up to 24 daily services operated with a restaurant between Norwich & Liverpool Street (& vice versa) until 2008. The banking crisis & subsequent fall out were largely to blame.

When Sealink was operated as part of BR it wasn’t uncommon to serve 150 breakfasts (many continental) between Harwich Parkeston Quay & Liverpool Street too on the morning connection from the overnight Hook of Holland ferry.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It demonstrated that there certainly was a culture of laziness among some Virgin/Avanti on-board stewards, because they'd rather sit there chatting than be in the passenger accommodation doing their job. It was noticeable how much better the service on the East Coast, where that culture had not developed, was.

I just want to add that this culture has certainly developed under LNER. The Azuma kitchen and most of that carriage actually is now treated as a staff messroom, and I’ve also found the little catering section of the 225s in the northernmost First Class carriage adjacent to the buffet was often used like that too. And yes it’s definitely lazy.

 

[AlterEgo]

I just want to add that this culture has certainly developed under LNER. The Azuma kitchen and most of that carriage actually is now treated as a staff messroom, and I’ve also found the little catering section of the 225s in the northernmost First Class carriage adjacent to the buffet was often used like that too. And yes it’s definitely lazy.

Seen this too. I don’t sit in those areas by choice now, unless I want to hear all the latest depot gossip.