A glass of complimentary red wine can be a way of knowing what bone shakers some EC stock is!
Indeed - the coach I was last in on a York-London stopper had such a wheel flat that I resorted to necking it while stationery!
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London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service
- Thread starter MidnightFlyer
- Start date
Indeed - the coach I was last in on a York-London stopper had such a wheel flat that I resorted to necking it while stationery!
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RailUK Forums
It? Don't you mean them?
It = alcohol. I'm not sure a run down would be wise!
Well I did my first class round trip to Edinburgh, with some top shows in between.
Up to Edinburgh was the 8am Thursday morning service. Full cooked breakfast together with 3 visits for toast & pastries went down well. Lots of tea and water also on offer. The breakfast was nice, and the addition of cheese to he omelette kept it moist which was very welcome.
The way home was Sunday's 16:20 service, which arrived a bit late. That meant no seat reservations despite the fact that one chap had them in his folder stood at the platform. For such a long journey on a busy service (Sunday during the Fringe) I'm sure there were some unhappy people in std. Even first was pretty busy with about 8 seats free in my coach.
We got 3 visits for sandwiches, which even I didn't partake of every time. Much smoother home than there, though a delay near Darlington had us arrive a little late.
I also liked bring able to get through the gates with the QR code on our print at home tickets.
A very pleasant trip, and for £95 return a bit of a bargain.
Up to Edinburgh was the 8am Thursday morning service. Full cooked breakfast together with 3 visits for toast & pastries went down well. Lots of tea and water also on offer. The breakfast was nice, and the addition of cheese to he omelette kept it moist which was very welcome.
The way home was Sunday's 16:20 service, which arrived a bit late. That meant no seat reservations despite the fact that one chap had them in his folder stood at the platform. For such a long journey on a busy service (Sunday during the Fringe) I'm sure there were some unhappy people in std. Even first was pretty busy with about 8 seats free in my coach.
We got 3 visits for sandwiches, which even I didn't partake of every time. Much smoother home than there, though a delay near Darlington had us arrive a little late.
I also liked bring able to get through the gates with the QR code on our print at home tickets.
A very pleasant trip, and for £95 return a bit of a bargain.
Birdbrain
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My first contribution to this well read thread! I travelled with my girlfriend from Inverness to Kings Cross using my reward points in first class and I really wasn't disappointed! The Inverness crew had the breakfast offering down to a tee. Tea and Coffee whilst pulling out of Inverness, then the breakfast order taken on some kind of tablet as was mentioned earlier in the thread. The full breakfast was served and eaten, there was another tea and coffee run and the juice trolley all visited by the time we arrived in Aviemore. My girlfriend went for the bacon roll which she enjoyed. We had more tea after leaving most stations and lots of snacks in between such as shortbread and fruit. At Edinburgh the all day menus were given along with the newspaper. We both chose the Indian chicken which was very good, especially with the Mango Chutney. Lots more drinks runs followed along with more crisps and biscuits. The lemon drizzle cake was good too. All in all a very good journey. I wonder where those 8 hours went! 
Onto your waistlines, by the sound of it.full breakfast... tea and coffee... juice trolley... bacon roll... more tea...lots of snacks... shortbread and fruit... Indian chicken with the Mango Chutney... lots more drinks... more crisps and biscuits... lemon drizzle cake...
I wonder where those 8 hours went!
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STEVIEBOY1
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I had a good couple of first class journeys at the weekend, went on the Highland Chieftain, 1200 from KX to York on Saturday, drinks (teas, coffees, juices only) served as soon as we pulled out, then choice of decent sandwiches, followed by 2 more drinks runs to York, where I got off, if that's it all the way to Inverness, you won't need much to eat in the evening !.
I came back on Monday on the 1201 which starts at York and was confusing as it was an EMT/MML 125, with East Coast branding along the side and the seating numbering does not quite tally with East Coasts' anyway there were spare seats so I was fine. Again very prompt drinks service, followed by sandwiches or hot food, I had the hot chicken and ham pie, which was good and 2 large glasses of wine, all of which kept me very happy during the journey. The onboard staff in both directions were great too.
I am going all being well, on EMT & VT later this year on weekdays, it will be interesting to compare all these services. Rgds.
I came back on Monday on the 1201 which starts at York and was confusing as it was an EMT/MML 125, with East Coast branding along the side and the seating numbering does not quite tally with East Coasts' anyway there were spare seats so I was fine. Again very prompt drinks service, followed by sandwiches or hot food, I had the hot chicken and ham pie, which was good and 2 large glasses of wine, all of which kept me very happy during the journey. The onboard staff in both directions were great too.
I am going all being well, on EMT & VT later this year on weekdays, it will be interesting to compare all these services. Rgds.
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RochdalePioneers
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Travelled on tonight's 17:00 Kings Cross - Darlington and can report another great first class experience. Tea on departure followed quickly by crisps and biscuits. Lamb, carrots, spuds and mushy pea thing was fab, as was the Orange cake thing with mint yoghurt served by the chef! Drinks crew full of friendly banter, and got through 3 cans of Old Speckled Hen and a water. Then more biscuits and nuts after York.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Was the train busy? I've heard it is normally very full in First Class.
CallySleeper
Established Member
Is anyone able to report on the smoked salmon jacket, quality/portion size etc.
I did that the other week! I have enclosed my photograph for you but go back a few pages to see the original post.
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Birdbrain
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Onto your waistlines, by the sound of it.
Haha indeed!
That Salmon looks very tasty too.
CallySleeper
Established Member
Thanks that's great!
mirodo
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You did significantly better than me - when I had it (served on departure from NCL when travelling from Alnmouth to Kings Cross on an early afternoon service), I got a very meagre portion of the salmon filling.
I noticed another passenger who boarded later on who was sat opposite got a much more generous portion, so whether they over-rationed when they served me and found they had plenty left I don't know.
Edit: pic attached
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That is a very measly portion - they didn't even spread it over the jacket!
What coach were you in? I was in K, nearest the kitchens, so I got the first order and the first serving. I did notice a lot of jackets going through to L and M.
Got a reply from East Coast this week. It was their standard email sent to most complaints about first class catering.
So I replied asking for an answer to my specifc question (why menu says all day but staff say that is wrong and afternoon tea always serves on Chieftan north of Edinburgh).
I got a response within a few hours. But bloke hadn't read my email properly. He said I'd travelled at weekend so sent standard email about weekend food, but actually I'd travelled midweek (date was clearly shown in my email) and Saturday date was date I'd sent email!
I've replied asking for a proper answer.
mirodo
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Coach K, seat 55.
Urban Gateline
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When the drinks trolley comes can one ask for two drinks (Two Gin and Tonics for example)? Has anyone on here done that or even gone up to the buffet to get more drinks in addition to trolley runs?
I ask as sometimes there is a long wait in between trolley runs, such as KGX-> York! I normally only take one drink as I'm self conscious of being greedy but if others ask for more then it may change my approach!
I ask as sometimes there is a long wait in between trolley runs, such as KGX-> York! I normally only take one drink as I'm self conscious of being greedy but if others ask for more then it may change my approach!
Butts
Veteran Member
A good dodge is to get one on "the way out" and one on "the way back" if you are positioned in the correct coach for a reasonable amount of time to
elapse between the two trolley passes.
Some staff will offer you to "double up" particularly if it's quiet and the last run of the journey.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
My most recent trip saw me being offered to dubble up saw me take a spirit, a Larga and then asked at lastminute for water. If that were to work with, say, a soft drink then you may not do to badly. Admitedly though I paid full price single Aberdeen Edinburgh as standard was wedged due to earlier cansled trains.
tsr
Established Member
Or, providing no crew are about, you can just go into the crew area and pick something off the trolley yourself, as I did last time.
It's a pity I didn't bother with the ample selection available when a FGW Customer Host parked their trolley in the aisle, blocking my seat, in First on an HST the other day, but then again I wanted coffee and I couldn't reach the darn pot from where I was sitting...
Don't Virgin offer customers a mini fridge with a selection of drinks, at least on quieter services? I see few reasons why this can't be carried over to all longer-distance First Class catered services - a limited quantity of drinks could be available in a specific place in First Class, as passengers require, provided the stock levels are monitored and no kids are able to pinch any booze! It might not work on some routes with frequent stops, and goodness knows what happens if First gets declassified without much notice. If First is busy, it might even mean staff with drinks trolleys save time, as passengers have helped themselves to liquid nourishment.
mirodo
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Here: http://railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=87090
The fridges in question only contain water, however.
The fridges in question only contain water, however.
tsr
Established Member
Same... and here it is...
On second thoughts, I suppose water and perhaps an expansion of the range to include a limited range of soft drinks should do. As I say, it may reduce the amount of time needed to dole out basic cold drinks, thus allowing quicker access to food and hot/alcoholic/more limited drinks. It may take more than a few seconds to ask a passenger what they want, rummage around on the trolley, find what they want and plonk it on the table (with added fiddling for a plastic cup and silly little napkin, depending on operator!). Save that and you save a couple of minutes per run. That's at least a couple of platefuls of hot food served. And therefore you may have added time to make things more relaxed!
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Butts
Veteran Member
After a lengthy absence I shall be back on East Coast 1st Class on a "Scottish Domestic" Edinburgh to Aberdeen and back on the 29th August - despite "Blind Travellers" forebodings I am confident of necking a few Scotches there and back
Having paid almost £30 return it's the least I expect
Having paid almost £30 return it's the least I expect
Blindtraveler
Established Member
hope you have better luck than me mate. Assuming your going for the day then Id guess 10:27 up and the evening train home again? That one can be hit or miss, miss being my most recent experience with it. The 10:27x EDB Should be serving mid morning however not unknown for it to go streight to all day
Butts
Veteran Member
I would prefer it to go straight to all day as the limited mid-morning b/fast menu is worse than "the scone express" services