This week I travelled on the 1200 hrs Kings Cross- Inverness, The Highland Chieftain.
First of all I think that there is a case for treating the Aberdeens and Inverness trains as a special case catering wise, after all you can be on these trains for 8 hours or more.
Perhaps something similar to EMT offering a decent plate of hot food for about a Fiver.
Hot drinks before New Southgate, food order before Hadley Wood, Cold drinks by Stevenage, along with sandwiches and cake for passengers who did not want the hot meal.
It was week 1, so I had a Steak Pie and mash, this was served before Sandy, the pie was hot but the plate could have done with some gravy.
More Hot drinks to wash the lunch down before Peterborough and I never saw any more food or drinks until after York.
Hot and Cold drinks service after York, with York passengers being offered hot or cold food.
Nothing then till after Newcastle.
Hot and Cold drinks by Morpeth.
Then fate took a hand and we had a train ahead in a PHBT incident, we were delayed for 90 minutes but at least the G&T went down well.
Another hot drinks service after the Berwick stop where the staff delivered the Afternoon Tea menus.
There was no further hot food in the 3 and 1/2 hr journey to Inverness.
By Falkirk we had the Hot and Cold drinks, sandwiches and a small square of Bakewell tart.
One passenger complained about boarding a train at 1850 hrs and afternoon tea was the only option.
After Perth the final servings of Hot and Cold drinks sandwiches etc
There was enough food and drinks served on the journey but I did not have anything hot to eat from Peterborough to Inverness, I would love to have a restaurant car on these Scottish trains, but i don't think that will ever happen, maybe the EMT hot food is a better option.
I returned on the West Coast with VT and I liked the East Coast experience the better.