London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

I got on at Alnmouth which I'm guessing counts as an intermediary station

Was it the 0858 Southbound ? - according to the timetable you should have had a Full Breakfast before they switch to the Mid - Morning out of Newcastle.

Are the Train Indicator Boards working at Alnmouth yet ?

 

[Bungle73]

Just booked Kemsley to Edinbirgh out on the 13th and back on the 17th of May, First Class (apart from the Kemsley to St. Pancras leg). For some reason I saved about £25 by booking the two legs separately.

 

[jsimpson]

yep the 0850 southbound. The train indicator boards aren't working at Alnmouth yet, they just display the message about it being illegal to travel without a ticket.

I have a feeling they were working briefly not too long ago but I might be mistaken or thinking of somewhere else. The new lifts are also still out of commission!

 

[Swif_47270]

Currently on the 09:30 from Lincoln Central to London Kings Cross. Good service so far, drinks run upon departure from Lincoln. Have been told that food will be served after Grantham. Still can't quite get my head around why they are unable to serve a full breakfast on this service.

 

[fireftrm]

The reason is that full breakfast is only served on trains that depart BEFORE 09.30. Having said that the 09.28 from Newcastle to KX does not get you a full breakfast either. But don't be too upset as you still get a bacon sandwich, or salmon and scrambled egg, plus toast and croissant, more than satisfactory I think!

 

[TRAINLINCS]

Hot breakfasts are not served on any weekend services - only light snacks ie sandwiches and bicuits + usual tea, coffee, chocolate and/or fruit juice,water.

 

[fireftrm]

Very true, hadn't spotted the day - lost track of what day it is!

 

[paulypaul]

I have just returned from a jaunt from down south up to Edinburgh and back in East Coast First Class. I travelled up on Friday from Darlington to Edinburgh and I sampled the very nice and neat and tidy First Class lounge at Darlo before I travelled on the 13:20. I sat in coach K and I was served a lovely coffee almost immediately. Then a nice Scottish lady hostess got me a Steak Pie and Mash. It was a little dry but delicious. Then followed several Gin and Tonics. There was no problem getting a drink each time the trolley passed, which it did as we left Darlo and passed Newcastle & Berwick.

I returned today from Newcastle to Doncaster and was served a delicious pack of Pork sandwiches and coffee and coca cola. The trolley passed twice and there was no problem getting a drink or snacks.

So a big thumbs up to East Coast from me.

 

[TRAINLINCS]

MENU CHANGE?
Looking at the menus on East Coast site today and note that on Rotation 3 the fish and chips has been replaced by fish pie. Also noted that on Rotation 3 Full Breakfast is now offered on mid morning menu. (I suspect that this will turn out to be an error though)

 

[Chrism20]

Hi

I'm booked on the 0800 Edinburgh - Kings Cross on the 8th march and on the 1530 back the way on the 11th. What menus will be on these services?

I know the am one will be breakfast but does the Glasgow crew go all the way to London or will there be an opportunity to bag something else after the changeover?

 

[Robinson]

Hi

I'm booked on the 0800 Edinburgh - Kings Cross on the 8th march and on the 1530 back the way on the 11th. What menus will be on these services?

I know the am one will be breakfast but does the Glasgow crew go all the way to London or will there be an opportunity to bag something else after the changeover?

From what previous posters have said, you'll get rotation 2 on the 8th, and 3 on the 11th.

Which means I'll get rotation 4 when I go up to Edinburgh on March 19th (when I plan to ignore my reserved seat in Coach M and head for the quiet coach )

 

[Bungle73]

From what previous posters have said, you'll get rotation 2 on the 8th, and 3 on the 11th.

Which means I'll get rotation 4 when I go up to Edinburgh on March 19th (when I plan to ignore my reserved seat in Coach M and head for the quiet coach )

Why didn't you just book the quiet coach?

 

[Robinson]

Why didn't you just book the quiet coach?

Because the seat selector didn't work - I got put in the default and then couldn't change it afterwards.

Think it was on this thread I mentioned it...

 

[Bungle73]

Because the seat selector didn't work - I got put in the default and then couldn't change it afterwards.

Ah, same thing happened to me. I ended up booking a different train.

Think it was on this thread I mentioned it...

This is a 249 page thread; it's hard to keep track of who said what when.

 

[Robinson]

Ah, same thing happened to me. I ended up booking a different train.

The reason I stuck with the same train was because it's the only one that gets me a valid connection at Edinburgh (the 1700 from the Cross) that has the Evening Meal menu available (the 1800 doesn't allow the minimum connection time of 10 minutes at Waverley to get the 2230 to Glasgow)...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Think it was on this thread I mentioned it...

This is a 249 page thread; it's hard to keep track of who said what when.

I make it roughly 20 January - the Search function atop any thread is rather useful for things like that

 

[Butts]

Visited the NRM at Shildon today and utilised East Coast for the greater part of the journey from Falkirk.

0800 Edinburgh to Darlington - not quite 100% but close....

Nice Breakfast (Full English) and two slices of Brown Toast which I convert into 1 sausage and 1 bacon sandwich. Plenty of Coffee and Orange Juice.

One failing - not offered a Newspaper although they were onboard :cry: - still I had 4 days Independent to catch up on so not bothered !!

1822 Darlington to Edinburgh.....really weird service

Coffee and Biscuits served on departure from Darlington - then Hot Food Orders taken which I thought would be served after Newcastle , but was served before arrival at Newcastle.

Drinks Trolley also appeared before Newcastle - excellent service Two Whiskies proferred on outward "run" without asking and another on the way back, once again volunteered.

Food Trolley then appeared also before Newcastle !!!

For my Hot Option I had the Lasagne that wasn't bad to be fair - about the size of an "individual" readymeal and "horse or no horse" it tasted good.

After Newcastle there was no Coffee which was a suprise - or anything else !!

However the service was continuing to Aberdeen, so perhaps they came around again after Edinburgh.

One worrying factor is how few people (at least in K) were having any Alcohol, I hope this does not lead to EC thinking it's not worth having it on the trolley.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Only 3 and a bit hours until i get HST first class from Aberdeen. Will it better then my east coast 91 first class experience. i will find out soon!

 

[Blindtraveler]

well it was the best iv had it from Aberdeen yesturday and better still I didnt pay for it!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Nice. I am typing up a report on the catering that was had and will be publishing at about 1630 (Stevenage)

 

[Butts]

Nice. I am typing up a report on the catering that was had and will be publishing at about 1630 (Stevenage)

Hold the Front Page....

Hope you have not had to much alcohol to impede your "scribbler" capabilities

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Hold the Front Page....

Hope you have not had to much alcohol to impede your "scribbler" capabilities

lol I think i might as well upload it now lol as its either this or get high on my coke!

Thinking about it, the lasagne did make me enjoy it!

 

[Butts]

lol I think i might as well upload it now lol as its either this or get high on my coke!

Thinking about it, the lasagne did make me enjoy it!

Very good report - are you a Mystery Shopper

Bacon Sandwich was a bit measly - thats why with my Breakfast I always have two slices of toast and make a better one than that !!!

Having had the "horseagne" yesterday I agree it was not bad

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Very good report - are you a Mystery Shopper

Bacon Sandwich was a bit measly - thats why with my Breakfast I always have two slices of toast and make a better one than that !!!

Having had the "horseagne" yesterday I agree it was not bad

Its a good job I took a couple of Subway cookies with my to eat with the bacon

I just hope they do another £30 Flat Fare promo so I can do Inverness possibly in conjunction with the sleeper.

As an aside, the trip I am doing at the moment is planned to be the basis of my third book (with more padding then a EC schedule though! )

 

[paulypaul]

Well done to Trainbasher for a very comprehensive report.

I had a steak and ale pie with mash last week and it was a dry old thing.

 

[Retorus]

What a depressing looking plate of food.

 

[HST Power]

What a depressing looking plate of food.

I completely agree, depressing indeed!

The trip report above was good. Furthermore, I think this had set the standard for future reports on the EC service. Better get typing Butts!

 

[yorksrob]

Well done to Trainbasher for a very comprehensive report.

I had a steak and ale pie with mash last week and it was a dry old thing.

The pie looks lovely and the mash looks nice. How much would it cost to add some piles of vegetables to make it top notch ?

 

[sheff1]

What a depressing looking plate of food.

I completely agree, depressing indeed!

The pie looks lovely and the mash looks nice.

Rather a difference of opinion there !

I'm with depressing.

 

[Butts]

Rather a difference of opinion there !

I'm with depressing.

More to the point was the reference to "dry old thing" in relation to the pie