London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[ainsworth74]

Annecdotal reports suggest they're changing the way they deliver the service. So I think this might be the new normal.

 

[Chrism20]

That's odd, they normally have a food trolley and a drinks trolley; you don't get sandwiches off the food trolley if you ask for hot food. It could be that it's very quiet and easier than dragging the trolley through.

Possibly, it's not that quiet although it's not that busy either - I'd say about 40% so plenty of seats.

The crew in all fairness are great you can tell by their faces though that the hot drinks saga has been questioned a few times now though. Two Cold drinks services within an hour, whereas on an 11am departure of expect two hot and one cold at this time of the day. Everyone's different though I suppose and the woman opposite wasn't happy at waiting 45 mins for tea especially when a fortnight ago it was served before you were passing the Emirates.

 

[Tetchytyke]

No, if that's become the new normal then that's really quite bad. I don't mind waiting for a hot drink on the dinner trains, but on all day menu trains the hot "meal" really isn't worth waiting for.

I'll just have to remember to grab a 99p Pret coffee before getting on the train.

 

[ainsworth74]

Agreed! I think the best thing to do is write in and complain whenever it happens and hopefully they'll change back to either the previous way of serving hot drinks or ammend it.

 

[Chrism20]

It would appear that this is the new way of doing things. The order of service is actually being announced over the PA.

I actually like the cups and spoons not being on the table. From a hygiene point of view it has to be better plus there isn't the continual rattling of spoons which is good. Sounds silly but it's amazing how a daft noise like that can become irritating after a while especially when there is little other noise in the carriage.

The cake now seems to be with the hot drinks which makes sense.

New menu looks good, I thoroughly recommend the open top pie. A decent size and plenty of filling. On the whole there are more positives than negatives to the changes.

 

[dave87016]

Thanks for the update Chrism20 I am looking forward to trying it out. HST all the way for me though

 

[trainophile]

Hope this question is okay in here, maybe should belong in Stations etc., but I know this one gets a lot of views from people with the relevant experiences...

Just a quick one really - does anyone know whether the £5 admission charge to the KGX Lounge applies with a Rewards 1st ticket?

 

[Chrism20]

Hope this question is okay in here, maybe should belong in Stations etc., but I know this one gets a lot of views from people with the relevant experiences...

Just a quick one really - does anyone know whether the £5 admission charge to the KGX Lounge applies with a Rewards 1st ticket?

Yeah it applies to rewards tickets at KGX.

 

[Bungle965]

Yeah it applies to rewards tickets at KGX.

But there has been reports that this has only been charged when it is the busy period I belive it was.
Sam

 

[trainophile]

Thanks both. I'm there about 1330 next Monday, so better have my fiver ready .

 

[Chrism20]

But there has been reports that this has only been charged when it is the busy period I belive it was.
Sam

Try paying it with a card, that used to result in just being waved through.

 

[trainophile]

Try paying it with a card, that used to result in just being waved through.

I like it! Do I infer from that that the £5's collected end up as pocket money for the desk clerks?

 

[Tetchytyke]

No, it's that they didn't always have a functioning card machine.

 

[Iskra]

Try paying it with a card, that used to result in just being waved through.

I tried the card trick once. Was told to go to the cash machine outside and downstairs, with a heavy suitcase. I spent my fiver in Starbucks instead.

 

[Bungle965]

I tried the card trick once. Was told to go to the cash machine outside and downstairs, with a heavy suitcase. I spent my fiver in Starbucks instead.

I think that it must depend on the staff at that time.
Sam

 

[Chrism20]

I like it! Do I infer from that that the £5's collected end up as pocket money for the desk clerks?

No, anytime I have paid whether it be cash or card I have always been given a receipt. Definitely nothing like that going on from my brief observations anyway.

No, it's that they didn't always have a functioning card machine.

On the half dozen or so occasions it's happened with me normally it's "I don't know how to use it" rather than it's broken, however fifteen minutes later it seems to work fine when someone wants a beer or a Scotch.

 

[A-driver]

I like it! Do I infer from that that the £5's collected end up as pocket money for the desk clerks?

Thats bordering on a very serious allegation which would most certainly see the staff member sacked if caught. I doubt anyone would risk their job for the odd £5 here and there.

 

[trainophile]

Thats bordering on a very serious allegation which would most certainly see the staff member sacked if caught. I doubt anyone would risk their job for the odd £5 here and there.

I know, and to clarify it was a throwaway quip that I regretted as soon as I had posted it. Not suggesting for a minute that there's anything dodgy going on. It was silly and I apologise.

 

[IanXC]

I understand the 'new' service was trialled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh prior to rollout. I couldn't possibly suggest that Scotland and/or oil rig workers has/have a problem with alcohol though... #JustSaying

 

[me123]

Thats bordering on a very serious allegation which would most certainly see the staff member sacked if caught. I doubt anyone would risk their job for the odd £5 here and there.

Without going into details, I know of someone who did exactly did that. And was caught. And fired.

I hasten to add that this was not in the railway industry, but give some people the opportunity and it's amazing what they'll do.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I understand the 'new' service was trialled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh prior to rollout. I couldn't possibly suggest that Scotland and/or oil rig workers has/have a problem with alcohol though... #JustSaying

I'm originally from Glasgow, and I have to say that the attitude towards alcohol in Aberdeen actually disgusts me. And I'm from Glasgow. The East of Glasgow.

I've always thought having a cup of tea on departure was quite odd, but I did like the fact that you had service immediately. Going North from Edinburgh, it would be unusual to not have a beverage by the time you reached Haymarket station, if not you'd have it by Haymarket depot.

If they're not doing the departure teas/coffees anymore, then I'd hope that there's a prompt drinks service on departure. I think they should be tailoring the service on the all day to match the time of day. As mentioned before, an alcohol/soft drinks run at 11am is less appropriate, but is perfectly sensible at 6pm. Similarly, a cup of tea at 8:30pm isn't what I'd normally drink, but would be perfectly acceptable at 2pm. It shouldn't be too much of a challenge to change the order of service on different trains according to the time of day, without actually altering the content.

Haven't been FC on EC for a while, but hopefully it won't be too long - I'd quite like to try the new menu!

 

[trainophile]

Comparing it with Virgin West Coast, there were three tea/coffee runs in an hour and a half today between Birmingham and when I got off at Wigan, the first one was as we pulled out of BHM. No alcohol though, as it was breakfast time!

 

[Marton]

Yesterday no tea till after Peterborough on as early afternoon departure from KX.

The poor elderly lady over the aisle from me asked for tea at least three times between newark and York without success. She did get offered alcohol and food though. Not "her cup of tea" as they say.

The crew seem to spend inordinate time swapping food on and off the trolley to enable hot drink runs.

Crazy.

 

[robbeech]

No charge for KGX Lounge last Thursday around midday.

My trips to and from London are usually following a very similar pattern. I travel down mid morning and don't usually have any work commitments that day so i might have a glass of wine or a beer with my meal on the train. On the way home, usually 2 or 3 days later i am usually due to do more work and drive places as soon as i get home so a cup of tea is more my thing. i did notice we were well past Peterborough before i was offered a cup of tea. Luckily on this occasion i'd taken one "to go" from the 1st class lounge at KGX, which is ok unless you have your hands full of luggage i guess.

Rob

 

[Starmill]

Peppermint cake is nice, egg and tomato sandwiches fairly pleasing too. Same old same old with the service - York to Doncaster earlier all of that plus crisps and glass of wine. Doncaster to Harrogate this evening: no service.

 

[trainophile]

(edited out rubbish as got my stations in the wrong order)

I never got to the Lounge in the end, as my VWC from Liverpool was severely delayed so I had to leg it between stations. Having eaten a sausage baguette on the VWC I didn't really want anything else, but did manage an egg sandwich and some cake, which were quite nice except the cake looked mouldy with the green colouring!

Tea arrived well before Peterborough, maybe they have taken notice of this thread!

 

[Chrism20]

Peppermint cake is nice, egg and tomato sandwiches fairly pleasing too. Same old same old with the service - York to Doncaster earlier all of that plus crisps and glass of wine. Doncaster to Harrogate this evening: no service.

Timetabled for exactly 70 mins with no shading in the timetable, it would seem that "Under 70 minutes" is really "70 minutes and under".

It is awful that you didn't even get offered a drink. I can understand not serving the evening meal, however a few sandwiches and some cake could have been offered considering the set runs to the depot and whats left would be binned anyway.

 

[Starmill]

We were 25 minutes late this evening into Harrogate, and not even a bottle of water was provided.

 

[sprinterguy]

My Dad will be travelling first class from Aberdeen to Edinburgh on the 09:50 next Wednesday. Can I just ask whether a full breakfast is likely to be served on this train, or will it be something else?

The Virgin East Coast website doesn't seem to make it clear what will be served or when.

 

[me123]

That's a mid morning menu. So, on the 16th, he'll have this choice.

Choose from our trolley…

Bakery options fresh from our kitchen with white or granary bloomer toast, croissant or chai twist (v)

and

A selection of fresh fruit (v)

Then order one of these delicious delights:

The morning classic of rare breed smoked back bacon in a soft, white roll

or

Wonderfully warming porridge with your choice of topping – sliced banana, drizzle of honey, swirl of syrup or fruity preserve (v)

or

Heavenly smoked salmon served with Hollandaise sauce, egg and Emmental cheese soufflé and spinach

No Full English I'm afraid, but I wouldn't be unhappy with that choice myself TBH.

It's not easy to work it out, but if you have a look at the link here, the service from your station of departure is highlighted in a colour signifying the FC menu that they will/should receive. In your Dad's case, the 09:52 is green, indicating light breakfast.

 

[sprinterguy]

Thanks for such a quick response, that's good to know for definite.

I can't get any of the online East Coast timetables to load properly at the moment - on either of two different laptops.