Avanti on-board services and ambience

[Butts]

Is the First Class catering unaltered with complimentary Scotch ?

 

[Trackman]

More importantly is the First Class Catering unaltered with Free Scotch ?

First thing I want to look at is the catering side - when it works

 

[iainbhx]

Well, I just got a ham and cheese croissant, cereal bar and a yoghurt served in a box very sharpish out of Euston. Don't know about drinks yet.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Same as VTWC at the moment then

 

[RealTrains07]

Since this seems to be the one area already covered by a thread I thought I would start one on the wifi, the shop, entertainment. any noticeable differences? or discuss upcoming new things that are going to be introduced on board the trains in the near future.

Has anyone tried the new entertainment system yet??

I must say the ambiance on the pendolino today is very different compared to riding with virgin any one noticed that?

In terms of general discussion I thought this thread would serve as an area to also discuss parts of avanti that haven’t already got a thread.

For discussions on branding, new trains and apps please use the appropriate pre existing threads.

 

[Agent_Squash]

What's different about the ambiance?

 

[RealTrains07]

What's different about the ambiance?

Just doesn’t feel the same. Probably wouldn’t have noticed if the wifi was working

 

[williamn]

Well I think the shop is going...

 

[ag51ruk]

Since this seems to be the one area already covered by a thread I thought I would start one on the wifi, the shop, entertainment. any noticeable differences? or discuss upcoming new things that are going to be introduced on board the trains in the near future.

Has anyone tried the new entertainment system yet??

I must say the ambiance on the pendolino today is very different compared to riding with virgin any one noticed that?

If you've travelled on a Pendolino today, did you try the entertainment system?

Given that the trains, timetables and staff are all identical to yesterday, I'm not sure how the "ambience" can be any different?

 

[RealTrains07]

If you've travelled on a Pendolino today, did you try the entertainment system?

Given that the trains, timetables and staff are all identical to yesterday, I'm not sure how the "ambience" can be any different?

The wifi isnt working on the train iam on at the moment so I was hoping someone who has been on an avanti train today could tell the thread What the avanti media entertainments is like?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Well I think the shop is going...

That’d be a real shame. Has this been confirmed?

 

[Bungle965]

Well I think the shop is going...

The shop is not going.
Sam

 

[FrodshamJnct]

The shop is not going.
Sam

Phew! Was worried I’d have nowhere to purchase a cheeky G&T or a beer after a long day in London.

 

[py_megapixel]

Well I think the shop is going...

If that's true, then good riddance. As I have described it on this forum before, it's always understocked and overpriced.

But it seems that it may be staying after all. Hopefully the promised changes to catering provision will rectify these issues.

 

[Bungle965]

If that's true, then good riddance. As I have described it on this forum before, it's always understocked and overpriced.

But it seems that it may be staying after all. Hopefully the promised changes to catering provision will rectify these issues.

If that's true, then good riddance. As I have described it on this forum before, it's always understocked and overpriced.

But it seems that it may be staying after all. Hopefully the promised changes to catering provision will rectify these issues.

What would your alternative be?
I have yet to see any catering trolley's that can deliver a beer that isn't lukewarm at best.
Sam

 

[RealTrains07]

Broken toilets on my train as well as no wifi, great start to avanti

 

[xotGD]

Presumably you should now be able to get a decent cup of coffee.

 

[Bungle965]

Broken toilets on my trains as well as no wifi, great start to avanti

Changes aren't going to happen overnight.

Presumably you should now be able to get a decent cup of coffee.

For now they are staying with the same coffee as under Virgin, which I found to be acceptable although Illy does seem to be going round quite a bit so whether we'll see a switch over to that remains to be seen.
Sam

 

[RealTrains07]

According to the website, the shop is staying plus it will be refurbished aswell (expected)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably you should now be able to get a decent cup of coffee.

I've never found the coffee to be bad, really. As long as you clean the milk lines, it's quite hard to get using a decent quality automatic bean to cup machine wrong.

 

[Bletchleyite]

According to the website, the shop is staying plus it will be refurbished aswell (expected)

I wonder if it will be made smaller to add perhaps 2 or 3 bays more seats? It would make sense, as it doesn't need to be as big as it is, though would involve moving the guard's office.

 

[py_megapixel]

I wonder if it will be made smaller to add perhaps 2 or 3 bays more seats? It would make sense, as it doesn't need to be as big as it is, though would involve moving the guard's office.

Is there any reason why the guard's office couldn't be removed, with the guard working from the back cab? FirstGroup have done this with the South Western 442s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there any reason why the guard's office couldn't be removed, with the guard working from the back cab? FirstGroup have done this with the South Western 442s.

It hasn't been removed on the 442s, just permanently closed off (and containing the wifi kit, if I recall correctly) due to the droplight issues. It has been actually removed from 350/1s at refurb, though (was never used, with LM guards working from cabs), replaced with a luggage rack, so I doubt it's a complete no-no.

 

[221129]

Is there any reason why the guard's office couldn't be removed, with the guard working from the back cab? FirstGroup have done this with the South Western 442s.

Various reasons as to why that wont happen on a pendolino.

 

[Jamesrob637]

My 21:00 Euston to Manchester yesterday; the guard still welcomed us on board a Virgin Train! I might have been shattered after a day in Brussels but this didn't evade me

 

[brendan999]

I've never found the coffee to be bad, really. As long as you clean the milk lines, it's quite hard to get using a decent quality automatic bean to cup machine wrong.

Virgin managed to make consistently vile coffee

 

[py_megapixel]

Virgin managed to make consistently vile coffee

Perception of coffee is subjective however.
I have never really had a problem with any drinks onboard trains including those run by Virgin. I don't remember if I have specifically tried their coffee, but I have definitely had hot drinks on Virgin which have been decent.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Perception of coffee is subjective however.
I have never really had a problem with any drinks onboard trains including those run by Virgin. I don't remember if I have specifically tried their coffee, but I have definitely had hot drinks on Virgin which have been decent.

Same. It was never outstanding but it was decent enough at 7:15AM when I was bleary eyed and on the way to London! Once so much that I emptied a sugar sachet into the brown paper bag rather than the coffee. Idiot.

 

[NoOnesFool]

What would your alternative be?
I have yet to see any catering trolley's that can deliver a beer that isn't lukewarm at best.
Sam

There have been trials which have proved that a thermal bag and ice packs can keep stock at a cold temperature (under 7.9 degrees for a long time).

 

[AlterEgo]

Travelled with Avanti yesterday and Wednesday. No difference in service so far, though I do like the new First Class branding with the table sets and antimacassars.