London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Aldaniti]

I've never been impressed by London crews on either West or East Coast. The Virgin first class lounge staff at Euston - at least those on the door - seem to go out of their way to be miserable. Having said that you never really see anyone who works in London looking happy, and who can blame them, it must be pretty miserable from what I see these days. I'm not a huge fan of Virgin Trains but I have to say, with the above exception, that their staff are generally very good. I've found those based at Preston to be the best. Perhaps Virgin should send them across the Pennines to show them how to do things properly.

 

[Starmill]

0530 Leeds to Doncaster was better than normal recently, TWO cups of tea! No service until departure from Doncaster, no offer of juice and no other snacks.

Later, an ex-Newcastle breakfast train from Doncaster was very good indeed, better than the Leeds crew's service. The Veggie Breakfast was slightly larger, cooked more pleasantly and presented less messily. The pastries were also delicious and I can't believe I managed a second glass of juice. Go Newcastle!

It's such a shame they can't get it right like that more often.

 

[Starmill]

Very good on the 0639 York to Edinburgh service. Rather quieter than the 0710 and a much better breakfast. Three offers of hot and cold drinks without having to ask, much better than my previous one for this journey. Very good. Why can't it always be like this?

 

[Butts]

Very good on the 0639 York to Edinburgh service. Rather quieter than the 0710 and a much better breakfast. Three offers of hot and cold drinks without having to ask, much better than my previous one for this journey. Very good. Why can't it always be like this?

I sincerely hope that is the "tree hugger" offering

 

[Starmill]

Yes it is sorry haha. I had to redraft my post, thay fairly crucial piece of information escaped it!

 

[me123]

Just been on the 18:18 from Aberdeen. In fact, still on it. Good service tonight, my first trial of the new menu and I have to say that the Chicken Skewers with Kimchi were absolutely delicious (and quite a brave offering!). Really nice coffee and chocolate cake too, and plenty of booze is always good (in moderation, of course )

I've noticed that the menu is the "All Day Extra" menu, which is a new one to me. It's basically this week's All Day Menu, plus the hot/main meal offerings of next week's menu. Admittedly it's the first time I've been on this train, but is this a new thing? Quite a good choice tonight.

 

[Chrism20]

I was on the 1818 on Friday night and it was very short staffed - only two catering crew in total.

All credit to them though there were a couple of drinks runs and cold food only. The buffet didn't open until around Montrose after all the First Class passengers had been served. I really should send a compliments email to see if I get the usual "We apologise for the inconvenience" response.

The set on Friday as well was the EC branded one that has the old IC125 seating in it with no individual seats in First Class, I haven't seen that on any of my journey's for a long time.

The New York Deli sandwiches were very nice with plenty of filling although the ploughman's had clearly been put on a diet.

I got the 1028 up in the morning and it was pretty uneventful although I noticed that there was a drinks (booze) after Dundee. The last twice I've went North on that one there has only been one drinks run so that was a welcome surprise.

I've noticed that the menu is the "All Day Extra" menu, which is a new one to me. It's basically this week's All Day Menu, plus the hot/main meal offerings of next week's menu. Admittedly it's the first time I've been on this train, but is this a new thing? Quite a good choice tonight.

New one on me but definitely a welcome introduction.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

What should I expect from a Saturday WEF on the 15:31 YRK-KGX?

 

[Chrism20]

What should I expect from a Saturday WEF on the 15:31 YRK-KGX?

In the morning

Croissant & jam, yoghurt and a banana

Rest of the day

Sandwiches and cake

Soft drinks only at the weekend along with tea and coffee.

The menus are in the link at the bottom of this post if you know the date you are travelling. If that date isn't listed they run on a four week cycle so you should be able to work out what type of sandwiches you will receive.

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/menu/

 

[me123]

Croissant & jam, yoghurt and a banana

If you served that East Coast weekend croissant to someone who was actually from France, they'd probably punch you in the face. Aside from the shape it bears no resemblance to one. The muesli/yoghurt thing, though, is actually quite nice!

 

[Starmill]

York - London Kings Cross not going bad at all today, the Camembert and Roast Tomato Tart Looks great and tastes better. Yum. Coffe and chocolate lovely as ever, not quite as nice as the rose one though! Unfortunately there was a fairly major slip, they were serving tea from a coffe flask, which produces absolutely vile tasting coffee-tainted tea.

Photo attached. Once again it's good service that comes close to being almost the best they could be, but has a fairly major drawback. The staff are also not exactly happy and smiley, my phone and ticket wallets got shifted around the table so they could bin the napkins and empty drinks, and they clean cups were delivered to the table top with quite some force!

 

[Drogba11CFC]

In the morning

Croissant & jam, yoghurt and a banana

Rest of the day

Sandwiches and cake

Soft drinks only at the weekend along with tea and coffee.

The menus are in the link at the bottom of this post if you know the date you are travelling. If that date isn't listed they run on a four week cycle so you should be able to work out what type of sandwiches you will receive.

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/menu/

Sounds good. Hopefully there'll be plenty of space in 1st on a mid-afternoon train (otherwise I'll have to make do with my reserved seat in Coach B)

 

[Chrism20]

If you served that East Coast weekend croissant to someone who was actually from France, they'd probably punch you in the face. Aside from the shape it bears no resemblance to one. The muesli/yoghurt thing, though, is actually quite nice!

Yes, the less said about the luxury croissants the better lol

 

[Starmill]

Unrecognisably good service on the 0752 Aberdeen to London Kings Cross today. We've just departed York to be delivered with hot chocolate, fizzy water, red wine, 2 pieces of cake, 4 sandwiches crisps and biscuitsat once. You don't get THAT on a train from Leeds.

Couple of strange things - full breakfast was provided on departure from Aberdeen until departure from Dundee - but as mentioned on here the bakery trolley arrived after the hot breakfast. On departure from Edinburgh I was refused diet coke and orange juice - my usual drink order on West Coast at 1035 in the morning! They were offering wine and spirits at that time, and someone tried to take one (vodka, I think) but was told they'd need to open it or put it back. It was also insited upon that someone who helped themselves to a coke opened it immediately - why I mean really... I seem to recall being allowed alcohol and a soft drink and sparkling water on EC before, I know you certainly are on WC, so it seems silly to refuse juice and coke if the person is not taking the more expensive alcohol (mainly because it's bloody 1035!). Also got a death stare from the Aberdeen crew when I asked for a second glass of juice from the bakery trolley as it was 'passengers from Dundee only'.

 

[PermitToTravel]

not taking the more expensive alcohol (mainly because it's bloody 1035!)

Pfft, you casual!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have to say thn jobsworth stingy bluddy mindedness of so many VTEC crews continues to amaze me.

 

[rg177]

Very smiley crew on the Monday Morning 0743 (0615 ex Doncaster) Newcastle to Edinburgh.

Very busy service but service was efficient and we had two drinks runs along with the bakery/hot runs.

Clearing up before Dunbar so no service beyond 10 minutes after Berwick though.

 

[leightonbd]

I enjoyed excellent service on two journeys in the last week or so:

18.18 Aberdeen to Leeds (Edinburgh for me): good seat in coach L, out and back drinks service, a fishcake (bit bland but well presented) supper, a drinks run (but no sarnies - had been hoping for a top up) after Dundee as well. Together with the emergency rations in my bag, a most enjoyable run.

08.31 (Chieftain) Aviemore to Edinburgh: generous tea service, a delicious hot breakfast with really decent bacon and sausage. Well looked after on a pretty busy train. A great start to the week. No newspaper though; might that have come out of the FC offer?

No complaints here. Infinitely preferable to Scotrail whose FC is a joke.

 

[Starmill]

Can confirm a newspaper is still being offered.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I have to say thn jobsworth stingy bluddy mindedness of so many VTEC crews continues to amaze me.

Depends on the crew, it really does.

Last journey for me was 2000 to Newcastle on a Friday a couple of weeks ago. The food was the usual starter-portions but they were extremely generous with the booze, and they were not fussed if it was opened or not.

 

[Clip]

Pfft, you casual!

A casual would've had the booze

Will be experiencing VTEC 1st offering in August so looking to see whats changed - if anything. And ill be taking the booze

 

[Starmill]

First Great Western today - totally different product of course, no hot food and always single staffed, but they really don't mind how much you want. Crisps, cake, pretzels, nuts, biscuits, juices and water, tea coffee hot chocolate, you name it you can have as much as you like. I know it's different as they don't offer anything that pretends to be a meal, but in a way that can be better as you're more sure what you'll get and they have a proper service ethos of just being there to make you happy. Lessons could be learned!

 

[Chrism20]

First Great Western today - totally different product of course, no hot food and always single staffed, but they really don't mind how much you want. Crisps, cake, pretzels, nuts, biscuits, juices and water, tea coffee hot chocolate, you name it you can have as much as you like. I know it's different as they don't offer anything that pretends to be a meal, but in a way that can be better as you're more sure what you'll get and they have a proper service ethos of just being there to make you happy. Lessons could be learned!

Do you know I would rather wish that VTEC binned all the hot food during the day between 10am & 5pm and go to a standard sandwich offering.

Keep the breakfast and introduce the evening meal on all services departing London, Leeds, Newcastle or Edinburgh between 5pm and 8pm - Northbound or Southbound.

Rather than serve a postage stamp sized hot dish they could reduce the costs by simplifying the menu and removing the need to cook/prep making it easier to serve then concentrate the hot food service on the two they appear to be better at doing - breakfast and dinner.

Not everyone would be happy I suppose but if it made it more consistent.

 

[Butts]

First Great Western today - totally different product of course, no hot food and always single staffed, but they really don't mind how much you want. Crisps, cake, pretzels, nuts, biscuits, juices and water, tea coffee hot chocolate, you name it you can have as much as you like. I know it's different as they don't offer anything that pretends to be a meal, but in a way that can be better as you're more sure what you'll get and they have a proper service ethos of just being there to make you happy. Lessons could be learned!

If only this policy could be adopted by some VTEC "drinks dispensers"
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Do you know I would rather wish that VTEC binned all the hot food during the day between 10am & 5pm and go to a standard sandwich offering.

Keep the breakfast and introduce the evening meal on all services departing London, Leeds, Newcastle or Edinburgh between 5pm and 8pm - Northbound or Southbound.

Rather than serve a postage stamp sized hot dish they could reduce the costs by simplifying the menu and removing the need to cook/prep making it easier to serve then concentrate the hot food service on the two they appear to be better at doing - breakfast and dinner.

Not everyone would be happy I suppose but if it made it more consistent.

Why don't they serve proper sized meals - where there's a will there is a way !!

Even the breakfast would be considered stingy if served up anywhere else, excepting possibly an Aircraft with it's space restraints.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I traveled to and from York this week, went up on the 1108 on Monday and came back on the 1203 on Friday. These are the slower services and were not that busy. The food offerings were fine, two types of sandwich and two choices of main course, these were all good. The drinks service was very good too, at least three offerings in both directions and large glasses too. The staff were very pleasant too. I think it does depend on the crew and the destination / origin. I have found the above slower trains to have better service in the past, perhaps because they are less busy. The fares seem to be lower on these too.

 

[me123]

Back up to Aberdeen on the (very) delayed 18:33 from Edinburgh tonight (14:00 off KGX, was diverted via Leeds and is now about 100 minutes late). Thanks guard for telling us how to claim Delay Repay

Very quick meal service from Edinburgh - I'm not sure if this was in an effort to shut down the kitchen quickly or to feed the delayed pax quickly, either way I wasn't complaining! Had the very nice Camembert and Tomato tart was delicious (thanks starmill for the recommendation!), a couple of glasses of wine, and a very nice cake.

It was, again, the All Day Extra menu, which was once again this weeks menu plus the hot options from next week - I assume that this new, and is very much appreciated!

Not as many drinks runs as normal, and nothing past Dundee, and i was taking my time with my wine, so i didn't appreciate the constant walk pasts to check if I'd emptied my glass after Dundee! But I was still happy with the service. Not bad at all for what will be a free trip!

 

[Starmill]

I believe the idea with the 'Extra' menu (I've not heard it called that before) in Scotland on ex-London trains, and after York on ex-Aberdeen/Inverness trains is that you can have a different hot option if you are on the train across the all-day period rather than having the same options twice if you travel for at least 70 mins in both England and Scotland you are entitled to 2 meals.

The tart is very nice, not bothering with more drinks after Dundee doesn't at all surprise me, and they are for some reason sometimes very very interested in taking the glasses away I'm sure many will attest.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

York - London Kings Cross not going bad at all today, the Camembert and Roast Tomato Tart Looks great and tastes better. Yum. Coffe and chocolate lovely as ever, not quite as nice as the rose one though! Unfortunately there was a fairly major slip, they were serving tea from a coffe flask, which produces absolutely vile tasting coffee-tainted tea.

Photo attached. Once again it's good service that comes close to being almost the best they could be, but has a fairly major drawback. The staff are also not exactly happy and smiley, my phone and ticket wallets got shifted around the table so they could bin the napkins and empty drinks, and they clean cups were delivered to the table top with quite some force!

I ran out of battery to do an update on this, but that wasn't the end of that particular day's service. After being served another cup of tea with a hair in it, I gave them the mug back in disgust and refused further hot drinks. A bloke boarded at Newark North Gate and they were somewhat distracted by this and missed him for hot drinks and biscuits. As there was no further cold drinks run, they seemed not to notice that he had boarded at all and we had actually reached Peterborough before he collared them and asked to order food.

They apologised and said no food was available to customers joining at Peterborough, but he insisted he had been there since Newark. They seemed not to believe him and the crew leader soon returned asking where he had got on and explaining that they have to check that someone is travelling for 70 minutes, and that they would like to help but 'have to do everything by the book'. Yeah, right I thought to myself. They eventually relented at the cries from the passenger that he was a season ticket holder and is always offered food. They brought him a Standard Class sandwich from the buffet and a packet of crisps. That speaks volumes.

Now, compare that to a recent trip I had on West Coast onboard the 0935 from Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke on Trent. It's a 35 minute journey but on a full breakfast train (VTEC would probably be serving the rather inferior mid-morning by that time). Clearly one doesn't expect to receive full breakfast in that time, but when they came to take orders on departure from Stockport, I asked if it might be possible to do a porridge before Stoke. She replied that she wasn't sure but sent a colleague down to the kitchen to check if any porridge had been prepared in advance. A porridge arrived before Macclesfield did, and I had ample time to eat it before getting off

If only we could combine VTEC's menu with VTWC's service...

 

[yorkie]

..They seemed not to believe him and the crew leader soon returned asking where he had got on and explaining that they have to check that someone is travelling for 70 minutes, and that they would like to help but 'have to do everything by the book'....

This has to be a London crew. Surely? I can't imagine the Newcastle crews doing this!

(Disclaimer: I am not suggesting all London crews are bad. Of course not! But some are)

 

[me123]

I believe the idea with the 'Extra' menu (I've not heard it called that before) in Scotland on ex-London trains, and after York on ex-Aberdeen/Inverness trains is that you can have a different hot option if you are on the train across the all-day period rather than having the same options twice if you travel for at least 70 mins in both England and Scotland you are entitled to 2 meals.

The tart is very nice, not bothering with more drinks after Dundee doesn't at all surprise me, and they are for some reason sometimes very very interested in taking the glasses away I'm sure many will attest

Not sure if that's definitely the reason for the "extra" menu, but I'm certainly not complaining! I'd thought it might be to augment the dinner service at around the times of the evening meal, for those trains that don't get the full dinner service? Not complaining either way. I certainly would like to see it being rolled out further if it is currently only North of Edinburgh.

In their defence regarding drinks - they were serving the last round just before we went over the Tay Bridge, so it wasn't like I was gasping! But I really didn't appreciate the subtle hints to give them their glass back - in fact, I can be quite awkward if I want to be, so I just slowed down and took my time Otherwise, very happy with the service, though. I'm sure if I'd desperately wanted another drink, they'd probably have obliged if I'd asked (they were passing through often enough). My thoughts would be that someone joining at Dundee would surely be entitled to something (at least, a drink and a pack of crisps)? (Not that anyone would likely have joined at Dundee, but if they had I'd have hoped that the crew would have offered something). One quick round after Dundee surely wouldn't have been too much to ask for?

I'm still happy with the service. Very good value for money, in spite of what I've said above! Always a friendly, smiley crew. Always enough, and sometimes more than. It's still my preferred option for travel to the Central Belt.

 

[Butts]

Back up to Aberdeen on the (very) delayed 18:33 from Edinburgh tonight (14:00 off KGX, was diverted via Leeds and is now about 100 minutes late). Thanks guard for telling us how to claim Delay Repay

Very quick meal service from Edinburgh - I'm not sure if this was in an effort to shut down the kitchen quickly or to feed the delayed pax quickly, either way I wasn't complaining! Had the very nice Camembert and Tomato tart was delicious (thanks starmill for the recommendation!), a couple of glasses of wine, and a very nice cake.

It was, again, the All Day Extra menu, which was once again this weeks menu plus the hot options from next week - I assume that this new, and is very much appreciated!

Not as many drinks runs as normal, and nothing past Dundee, and i was taking my time with my wine, so i didn't appreciate the constant walk pasts to check if I'd emptied my glass after Dundee! But I was still happy with the service. Not bad at all for what will be a free trip!

A good Crew will offer to "double up" if they know they are not able to carry out as many runs as normal.

With Dundee - Aberdeen being over 70 minutes there should be a "drinks run"