London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[trainophile]

Thanks ainsworth, I hadn't read all 50 pages of that thread!

Interesting times ahead...

 

[ainsworth74]

Thanks ainsworth, I hadn't read all 50 pages of that thread!

I did wonder if that was the issue

 

[Chrism20]

Well I'm on holiday this week and am working in Lancaster most of next week so I've had my last EC journey. Was maybe going to pop up to Aberdeen tomorrow on the 10:28 but other things came up so when I go back to work it will be Virginised.

I'm currently sitting at 1358 points and 64 pending on rewards so I'll either be purchasing £143 of vouchers or booking a day out somewhere to the value of £96 to get me over the line for another four tickets.

EC catering has been an experience. As we all know the service is either great or mediocre. I think a good few are in for a fright over the coming months as things start to take shape.

 

[trainophile]

EC catering has been an experience. As we all know the service is either great or mediocre. I think a good few are in for a fright over the coming months as things start to take shape.

Especially those who have never sampled the delights of a Virgin snack box!

 

[Butts]

Especially those who have never sampled the delights of a Virgin snack box!

Hopefully they will combine the best facets of each Brand to provide an enhanced offering.

Upgrade EC Lounges to Virgin Standard (available items not decor)

Provide a proper Egg and BP on EC Breakfasts

Use EC style Toast on Virgin

Switch Virgin to EC Style Catering at Weekends

And many more that others can suggest.....

 

[Crossover]

I have one more First Class journey to look forward to with East Coast, on Friday morning. Same service I have taken before to Edinburgh - I will be travelling from York and it will only be the light breakfast option

I will then be travelling on the Darlo avoider on Sunday in First Class - the first chance to journey under VTEC!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Have you time for a beer when your up?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hopefully they will combine the best facets of each Brand to provide an enhanced offering.

Upgrade EC Lounges to Virgin Standard (available items not decor)

Provide a proper Egg and BP on EC Breakfasts

Use EC style Toast on Virgin

Switch Virgin to EC Style Catering at Weekends

And many more that others can suggest.....

Getting rid of RG as the catering supplier might be a good start? With the exception of the rather unusual (and that's being polite) snack boxes the products from VWCs new supplier are far superior!

 

[Crossover]

Have you time for a beer when your up?

Unfortunately my ultimate destination is Glasgow so I will probably only have enough time in Edinburgh to pay a visit to the Lounge before heading onwards

 

[Blindtraveler]

So...its VTEC Now. As stated before nothing will change streight off but has anyone done an FC Trip since yesturday?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And thinking about it, should this thread now be called VTEC First Class Service?

 

[Starmill]

Sunday afternoon York to Newcastle at 1352. Tea after Durham - didn't taste nice at all, think it had been hanging around for a while. Packet of the tiny crisps and a carrot muffin. Virgin's cakes and crisps on the West Coast are somewhat better. No sandwiches, disappointingly.

Monday York to Newcastle, sandwich in a packet like there usually is at the weekend, crisps and nice fruitcake. Tea was nicer too.

Newcastle to Doncaster on Monday night I ordered the polenta cheese tart. They brought me a pork stew and I was nearly sick at the smell of it! fortunately the tart arrived soon after and was quite nice. Side salad is good.

Got off the train from Newcastle at Doncaster and was literally being handed drinks (bottles of water) as I alighted. Very friendly. Sadly I recieved diddly squat on my following journey from Doncaster to Wakefield. I jumped on (I was the only person who boarded in First at Doncaster) and they said 'Do you want First Class?'. I simply said yes and walked away. 5 minutes after departure the guard came looking for me to check my ticket. He had to let me stay, of course, but I got the impression they'd sent him down because I was suspected. I know it's a very short journey, and it was 2145, but not even one hot drink? They were cleaning up the whole time, and didn't offer anything. I asked a couple of minutes before we got off and was offered a Virgin chocolate. They look good but taste horrible.

 

[Failed Unit]

3 of them. Breakfast, Afternoon tea and dinner. All very east coast. (As you would expect). Alcohol wasn't as frequent as last time I did the 1700.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Not a train there normally stingy on with the booz iether. Hmmm.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Well most of us 'regulars' will have experienced the reduction in crew numbers on many Monday and Tuesday services recently.
It's progressively been eroded from 7 (Chef, two teams of 2 in First, Shop and Trolley).
Tonight's journey home was the lowest ever - just 3 (1 in First, Shop and Trolley). The ISS cleaner was called in to help with the tea & coffee round and also seen helping with the doors at unstaffed stations.

It will probably be apparent from my description that no hot food was being served. I can confirm that none was even loaded! (only the mouthwatering descriptions in the menus).

Maybe VTEC are going to put ISS cleaners in the driving cab sometime soon - after all, they don't mind working 12 hour shifts, unlike the highly trained, qualified and experienced drivers they've inherited from DOR.

Still, maybe I shouldn't complain. I had a complimentary apple. Possibly the most unpleasant apple I've ever eaten (in texture and taste), though it was presented in a lovely red skin.

Virgin. Hmmmmm.

 

[Clip]

Well most of us 'regulars' will have experienced the reduction in crew numbers on many Monday and Tuesday services recently.
It's progressively been eroded from 7 (Chef, two teams of 2 in First, Shop and Trolley).
Tonight's journey home was the lowest ever - just 3 (1 in First, Shop and Trolley). The ISS cleaner was called in to help with the tea & coffee round and also seen helping with the doors at unstaffed stations.

It will probably be apparent from my description that no hot food was being served. I can confirm that none was even loaded! (only the mouthwatering descriptions in the menus).

Maybe VTEC are going to put ISS cleaners in the driving cab sometime soon - after all, they don't mind working 12 hour shifts, unlike the highly trained, qualified and experienced drivers they've inherited from DOR.

Still, maybe I shouldn't complain. I had a complimentary apple. Possibly the most unpleasant apple I've ever eaten (in texture and taste), though it was presented in a lovely red skin.

Virgin. Hmmmmm.

That is all round very poor performance though we must take into account any staff shortages too.

But using a cleaning operative to do extra duties like that is shameful.

 

[Butts]

Sunday afternoon York to Newcastle at 1352. Tea after Durham - didn't taste nice at all, think it had been hanging around for a while. Packet of the tiny crisps and a carrot muffin. Virgin's cakes and crisps on the West Coast are somewhat better. No sandwiches, disappointingly.

Monday York to Newcastle, sandwich in a packet like there usually is at the weekend, crisps and nice fruitcake. Tea was nicer too.

Newcastle to Doncaster on Monday night I ordered the polenta cheese tart. They brought me a pork stew and I was nearly sick at the smell of it! fortunately the tart arrived soon after and was quite nice. Side salad is good.

Got off the train from Newcastle at Doncaster and was literally being handed drinks (bottles of water) as I alighted. Very friendly. Sadly I recieved diddly squat on my following journey from Doncaster to Wakefield. I jumped on (I was the only person who boarded in First at Doncaster) and they said 'Do you want First Class?'. I simply said yes and walked away. 5 minutes after departure the guard came looking for me to check my ticket. He had to let me stay, of course, but I got the impression they'd sent him down because I was suspected. I know it's a very short journey, and it was 2145, but not even one hot drink? They were cleaning up the whole time, and didn't offer anything. I asked a couple of minutes before we got off and was offered a Virgin chocolate. They look good but taste horrible.

My word has there been an extension to the normal limp bit of lettuce that masquerades as a "side salad"

 

[Blindtraveler]

I think DOR may have been in dont care mode lately, but certainly not a good start for VTEC on a premium xKgx service

 

[Chrism20]

I'm working down the West Coast for a couple of weeks due to people on sick leave. I had noticed that the staffing levels had been hacked in the last few weeks before the changeover. Generally there are five staff in first class at the peaks from what I have observed when things are running smoothly.

Not sure if anyone will know but when is the end of the EC holiday year? For a lot of companies it is March and it may be that holidays have stacked up hence the shortages rather the staff being cut.

If they go by the staffing levels from the West Coast there should be an increase rather than a decrease.

I still think going forward that both the East and West service is going to have to be broadly similar or there will be problems and complaints galore. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Agreed, and whilst someone will no doubt be along soonto remind us that there 2 seperate businesses etc etc the public I feer woant see that and yes there will be comparisons and complaints.

 

[Chrism20]

Agreed, and whilst someone will no doubt be along soonto remind us that there 2 seperate businesses etc etc the public I feer woant see that and yes there will be comparisons and complaints.

Yes to the average joe it will be Virgin trains regardless of whether it is east, west or whatever.

There will also be cost savings by running a standardised service so I reckon it is only a matter of time.

 

[Blindtraveler]

If I were given the job of implimenting this then first thing would be to ask both lines punters what they do and dont like and I think that from this a cobbling togeather of a new offering could take place, most likely involving the more flexible drinks offering of West Coast with the weekend offerings of East and maybe a few other enhancements such as real eggs for breakfast and perhaps a trial on both of the West Coasts Hot And Cold Light Bites with an EMT Style meal ordering system whilst retaining the dinner service on both routes.

 

[furgus2]

I'm on the 12.25 from Newcastle to London. The Guard seems to unable to use the words 'Virgin Trains', refers to the quiet coaches as 'rooms', the passengers as 'guests' and the crew in1st are hardly overworking themselves by sitting around chatting loudly at the end of the quite coach.
I intend getting off at York for some peace and quiet

 

[Blindtraveler]

This all sounds singularly grim - not what I'd expected

 

[ModernRailways]

Not sure if anyone will know but when is the end of the EC holiday year? For a lot of companies it is March and it may be that holidays have stacked up hence the shortages rather the staff being cut

We've had this problem at my work since Christmas. I'm supposed to be on holiday this week but because so many people have holidays it's meant me going in on my day off and not clocking in so that I can take my holiday day after April 1st. There have been some days we're we haven't had a single staff member in from 6am-5pm and so the staff member who goes in at 5 has had a load of work to do in their short 5 hour shift (till 10pm).

I suspect something similar has happened on East Coast (or VTEC). Especially has there haven't been any staffing cuts yet, so it can only be staff on holiday or off through illness.

 

[marcouk2]

On 0710 Leeds to Aberdeen atm travelling all the way North.

Breakfast served by Darlington, and 2 toast runs as well as a drinks run after every stop so far, just approaching Berwick now.

 

[Blindtraveler]

thats good. Still no sign of a real egg yet?

 

[Chrism20]

On 0710 Leeds to Aberdeen atm travelling all the way North.

Breakfast served by Darlington, and 2 toast runs as well as a drinks run after every stop so far, just approaching Berwick now.

Was there any breakfast for passengers boarding at Newcastle? This was the main issue with this service when I used to get it regularly. It was a roll of the dice whether there was anything available come Newcastle.

Tuesday's and Wednesday's were the worst two however.

 

[marcouk2]

Yep, crew did three breakfast order rounds, after York, Darlington and Newcastle.

At least 5 staff covering first class I'm sat in coach L, 3 did most of work then another member of staff passed through from each direction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

thats good. Still no sign of a real egg yet?

Nope, was very nice as always though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
All going to pot now!

Afternoon Tea offer instead of All Day so no hot food

Apologies from the Crew leader for "circumstances beyond crew control" leading to change in offer.

 

[Blindtraveler]

In other words, RG Not keeping there end up!

 

[marcouk2]

4 sandwiches, crisps, muffin & cake make up for it a bit though.

 

[FQ]

Does anyone know when meals/snack are served on the Highland Chieftain northbound?

Cheers!