London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Chrism20]

Yesterday morning, 0855 York to Edinburgh. This train was very very busy! There were hardly any free seats in it at all. I wanted breakfast, whixh is shown in the timetablw for this train, but the mid-morning menu was being served :/ The crew said Breakfast is only for passengers who joined this service before York. Had the french toast, nice but not quite up to the rave reviews methinks. The toast and pasty trolley was only offering people things when they had just boarded.so I had my croissant before Darlington, then my french toast arrived. The pastry trolley came back after Newcastle, in addition to orders for more mid-morning items, but only for passengers fron Newcastle and Darlington. If I'd wanted a slice of toast I wasn't allowed one! Tea and coffee flowed better, but there were no cold drinks on the drinks trolley. Orange and apple juice were on the pastry trolley, which meant that despite them apparently being fairly abundant hardly any was being given out because people were being asked 'any joined us at Darlington or Newcastle?'. Good but not the best.

This sounds similar to what happens every time I use the 0800 from Edinburgh (ex Glasgow). Getting a second glass of orange juice on that one at times is like pulling teeth.

For reference, I had a West Coast dinner the same evening out of Glasgow Central, served 11 minutes after departure! That said the only thing I got after Carlisle on that train was 1 cold drink, then the hosts did a vanishing act and I alighted at Preston. I really wonder what you'd get if you stayed on that train to London (1840 from GLC).

Slightly off topic but what was the food offering on the 1840?

 

[dave87016]

I do the 18:40pm Glasgow - Euston a lot as far as Preston and the service on this train is always superb recently the Evening meals have rotated between Vegetable Lasagne, Fish, Chips & Mushy peas, Coq Au Vin chicken .

 

[Iskra]

I do the 18:40pm Glasgow - Euston a lot as far as Preston and the service on this train is always superb recently the Evening meals have rotated between Vegetable Lasagne, Fish, Chips & Mushy peas, Coq Au Vin chicken .

Veg lasagne is really nice. VWC are beating VTEC hands down at the moment.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Iv always thought they were personally although EC could have there good points.

 

[Starmill]

I can answer that, based on several previous trips - a new crew and often fresh supplies at Preston, a bottomless glas of your chosen beveradge and if any food left after pax from Car and Pre plus points south are served its offered. Its I think light bites for anyone from CAR onwards with dinners only offered to pax X Glasgow

That does sound reasonable. Are you sure you mean the 2058 from Preston? I alighted there on this occasion, but I have changed for Manchester at Warrington in the past. There was no sign of a crew change or any further refreshments! Of course the train does run express to MK from there so I'd trust your judgement. Yeah I think it is a bit of an oversight that if someone travelled Carlisle to Warrington on that service they wouldn't get the Dinner, and no light bite sandwiches until after Warrington....
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I do the 18:40pm Glasgow - Euston a lot as far as Preston and the service on this train is always superb recently the Evening meals have rotated between Vegetable Lasagne, Fish, Chips & Mushy peas, Coq Au Vin chicken .

Veg lasagne is really nice. VWC are beating VTEC hands down at the moment.

Slightly off topic but what was the food offering on the 1840?

And herein lies the problem. West Coast never seem to publish a menu. Does it rotate by week? By day? I dunno. This Wednesday it was a cheese and tomato pizza, served with rocket salad with grated cheese, and a chocolate and raspberry slice for dessert. The other dessert option was cheese and biscuits, I can't remember what the other main was. The quality of the food is excellent - my pizza was really delicious. But the actual service is nonchalant at best. My dessert was served just a couple of minutes before Carlisle, and the plate still hadn't been cleared away by the time we arrived at Preston. This in itself isn't a specific problem, but the point is they don't come back to see if anyone wants anything else!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Sounds like you had one of the odd off days in terms of Crew. Yes I was referring to the 20:58 X Pre

 

[Butts]

On 1800 ex Kings Cross to Edinburgh Monday 20th April.

Mozzarella Stuffed Pork Loin with Spinach and Potato Gratin - not bad portion size but the Pork was a bit tough !!!

Hot Pudding with Custard (Ginger ??) staff said it had dates in but whatever the content it was very nice. They had run out of Cheese and Biscuits.

6 Booze Runs.....hic...unusually custom ones after Berwick and Dunbar - most unusual - down to staff member.

My last ever one ..so not bad

 

[Blindtraveler]

Your last ever?

 

[Butts]

Your last ever?

Very probably in the absence of Rewards Tickets or a super sale.

Newcastle or York (From Falkirk/Edinburgh) is about the limit of my "tobacco free" tolerance. With competitive Air Fares to London available this represents a personal choice and is not a reflection on the standards onboard.

Four and a Half hours is a wee bit to long when alternatives are to be had for £50 or less if booked in advance. (without a smoke)

 

[Blindtraveler]

Im no smoker but I have to agree with you Re flying. I recently gave Ryanair another go and although its still not what youd call relaxing, they are better than they used to be and for around £40 there and back its very competative!

 

[Clip]

Butts - get yourself an ecig or something man.

 

[Starmill]

Is their use permitted under Virgin Trains East Coast, or Virgin Trains policy?

 

[Deerfold]

Is their use permitted under Virgin Trains East Coast, or Virgin Trains policy?

Not under VTEC.

http://www.virgintrainseastcoast.co...perience/smoking-on-trains-or-in-the-station/

 

[me123]

Very probably in the absence of Rewards Tickets or a super sale.

Newcastle or York (From Falkirk/Edinburgh) is about the limit of my "tobacco free" tolerance. With competitive Air Fares to London available this represents a personal choice and is not a reflection on the standards onboard.

Four and a Half hours is a wee bit to long when alternatives are to be had for £50 or less if booked in advance. (without a smoke)

http://www.canstopsmoking.com

Think about it. It's up to you. (ECigs are definitely banned on VTEC FWIW).

 

[Starmill]

Yes, Butts! nhs.uk/smokefree

 

[Blindtraveler]

Leav the poor man alone!

 

[me123]

All I'm doing is giving him the information. It's up to him what he does with it!

 

[Butts]

Leav the poor man alone!

Thanks for that......:cry:

my only hope of favourable smoking legislation comes from UKIP which is a non-starter
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All I'm doing is giving him the information. It's up to him what he does with it!

I'd be more interested in information as to why smoking kills (eventually) 50% of users but not the other 50%
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes, Butts! nhs.uk/smokefree

Ho Ho - I'd rather sign up to "nhs.uk/ smoke like a chimney"

 

[Deerfold]

I'd be more interested in information as to why smoking kills (eventually) 50% of users but not the other 50%

It increases the risks of dying from a variety of causes by various amounts. It's still possible that something unrelated to smoking will get you first. You may be lucky and naturally vey unlikely to get (say) heart disease or lung cancer in the first place, so your increased risk from smoking still doesn't mean you end up with them.

 

[applepie2100]

I'm currently on the 1452 from Aberdeen and it's still the good old "afternoon tea" offering. Does anyone know if Virgin have plans to improve this?

I see that some of the guards haven't given up the university style lecture on ticket restrictions either

 

[Chrism20]

I'm currently on the 1452 from Aberdeen and it's still the good old "afternoon tea" offering. Does anyone know if Virgin have plans to improve this?

I see that some of the guards haven't given up the university style lecture on ticket restrictions either

Haven't a clue about the afternoon tea.

Regarding the tickets has there been a near ten minute PA announcement regarding them?

Last couple of times I've been on that train from Aberdeen it's been the same guard and he was still making his departure announcement as we were slowing down for Stonehaven.

 

[applepie2100]

It's a female guard today but we still got the entire ticket guide and stern warnings about new tickets during both the pre and on departure announcements!

 

[me123]

I see that some of the guards haven't given up the university style lecture on ticket restrictions either

That might be the (very good) guard whose name I can't remember, but who I call "robot man". Quite personable face to face, but very monotonous over the tannoy. (In fairness though, it's very clear).

I'd be more interested in information as to why smoking kills (eventually) 50% of users but not the other 50%

Don't want to go too far off topic, but it's because they die of other things before they get all the complications. Having said that, most of the common causes of death in the general population are at least exacerbated by smoking. For example, a death due to "dementia" could be attributable to vascular dementia, which is more prevalent in smokers.

I found an ONS list of the top 10 causes of death in England and Wales, and could make an argument that smoking be implicated in each and every one (although, I don't want to steer too far away from the topic of East Coast FC).

Back to topic - there are some pretty good FC fares between Aberdeen and Edinburgh when I'm next going home (I think it's about a tenner more return). Would people say that it's worthwhile on this route, particularly with regard to the weekend offering?

 

[Chrism20]

That might be the (very good) guard whose name I can't remember, but who I call "robot man". Quite personable face to face, but very monotonous over the tannoy. (In fairness though, it's very

Heather? Short blonde hair? Really nice lass but very efficient.

 

[trainophile]

Very nice chicken tikka with rice on the all day menu today. Only slight complaint was that I'd finished it before OH's sandwiches arrived!

 

[Blindtraveler]

My other half was also on the 14:52 yesturday and commented how long the PA Announcement was. She was also rather shocked when I said the Afternoon tea wasnt really worth upgrading for!

 

[DEE-DE]

I am currently on the 1400 Kings X to Aberdeen and it seems they have switched to proper glasses instead of plastic ones.

 

[ainsworth74]

I am currently on the 1400 Kings X to Aberdeen and it seems they have switched to proper glasses instead of plastic ones.

They've always used proper glasses on a weekday. They use the plastic ones on a weekend. I have had plastic glasses on a weekday but I believe that only happens if they've either run out of glass ones or if they weren't loaded for some reason and it's only happened once or twice.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Took the 1930 London to Newcastle last night. I'd heard they'd got tighter with the booze, but they were very generous. Nicely "relaxed" getting into Newcastle. The pork cobbler was delicious too, just a shame it was a starter portion, but can't have everything. Got two lots of cake to make up for it.

 

[Bungle73]

Are they still changing the menus only twice a year? I'm due to travel next month (second week) and am wondering how soon I'll know what they'll have on. Previously they listed the whole set of rotations for each timetable, but now they only list 4 weeks at a time.