London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[RochdalePioneers]

Sounds like a serious attitude problem. I'd let VTEC know if I were you.

Have done so via feedback form - have been promised a response....

 

[trainophile]

Have done so via feedback form - have been promised a response....

Let's hope it is in the form of £50 of RTVs!

 

[Butts]

Let's hope it is in the form of £50 of RTVs!

Or even cash with the recent change in policy

 

[FQ]

What catering would you get on the 12:23 from Peterborough to Leeds on Saturday the 1st of August? I am wondering if it would be worth getting an advance for £14.25 in first class (compared to £12.50 in standard).

Thanks!

 

[postye]

What catering would you get on the 12:23 from Peterborough to Leeds on Saturday the 1st of August? I am wondering if it would be worth getting an advance for £14.25 in first class (compared to £12.50 in standard).

Thanks!

previous experience of EC weekend first class is there will probably be a round of hot/soft drinks and sandwiches just after Peterborough, then possibly another drinks round somewhere around Doncaster dependent on how busy the train is

 

[FQ]

So not too much then. Do you think that they will hand out snacks (like cake/crisps) with the sandwiches?

Also, will this ticket give me access to the Leeds first class lounge? I don't think PBO has one.

 

[postye]

So not too much then. Do you think that they will hand out snacks (like cake/crisps) with the sandwiches?

Also, will this ticket give me access to the Leeds first class lounge? I don't think PBO has one.

Yes, there usually are crisps and biscuits from memory along with the Sandwiches.

There isn't a lounge at PBO as far as I know, not sure about LDS - might be worth checking with VTEC on twitter or something beforehand as I think some lounges prohibit unaccompanied U18's

 

[FQ]

Thanks! This was a big help. I have decided to book in First as for a couple of pounds extra I will get a lot more.

Thanks again!

 

[Butts]

I've had a ticket that costs £25 (the lowest tier) on the 0943 EUS - BHM before now.

Butt's is "back in the saddle" on Wednesday with a trip to Durham from Falkirk Stations costing less than £20 each way (no railcard).

I fancied a trip to the NE of England and strangely Durham was far cheaper than Newcastle , Darlington or York even on the same services I am catching.

What sort of sense does it make to pay half the price for going further in 1st Class on the same train ??

Breakfast Service out of Edinburgh so there better be no "toast famine", and plenty of Scotch on my way back from Durham in the Evening.

Should get a free coffee and snack on the Scotrail run into Edinburgh if I can be arsed to go from FKK rather than FKG. Also I am overwhelmed by the prospect of visiting the Lounge in Edinburgh unless it has morphed into providing similar offerings to it's stable mate at Glasgow Central.

 

[Starmill]

Thanks! This was a big help. I have decided to book in First as for a couple of pounds extra I will get a lot more.

Thanks again!

You won't miss much should you not be allowed in the lounge. All it has is a water cooler and a coffee machine that isn't very good and is often broken. I've heard tell that there's sometimes biscuits in there, but they and I have yet to intersect :P

 

[FQ]

Ok then. I might not bother if that is all you get!

 

[Tetchytyke]

So not too much then. Do you think that they will hand out snacks (like cake/crisps) with the sandwiches?

You normally get a pre-packed sandwich, a pre-packed slice of cake and a small bag of crisps. You'll get soft drinks and hot drinks, but no alcohol.

It's worth the extra if its only a few quid more, but don't think you'll be filling your boots with freebies.

The Leeds lounge has a water cooler, a coffee machine and a TV. It's useful as a place to wait for a train in comfort, but that's it.

 

[FQ]

Thanks for the info!

I have booked the ticket in 1st but I won't bother with the lounge at Leeds.

 

[Starmill]

You normally get a pre-packed sandwich, a pre-packed slice of cake and a small bag of crisps. You'll get soft drinks and hot drinks, but no alcohol.

I don't think fishquinn is too concerned about alcohol :P Last time I asked for a glass of red wine they asked me for ID!

 

[jamesontheroad]

Hello folks. There's a lot of experience with VTEC First Class service standards here, so I'm interested in the following.

Next Friday we're booked on the 1918 PBO-YRK (which is the 1830 KGX-EDB).

The timetable indicates that there is an evening meal service until Newark North Gate, and that meal service is available for "journeys of 70 minutes or more."

For us, that's an end-to-end journey of 74 minutes

The pessimist in me expects that is the perfect combination to mean we miss a hot meal. What are our chances?

Many thanks!

 

[Chrism20]

Hello folks. There's a lot of experience with VTEC First Class service standards here, so I'm interested in the following.

Next Friday we're booked on the 1918 PBO-YRK (which is the 1830 KGX-EDB).

The timetable indicates that there is an evening meal service until Newark North Gate, and that meal service is available for "journeys of 70 minutes or more."

For us, that's an end-to-end journey of 74 minutes

The pessimist in me expects that is the perfect combination to mean we miss a hot meal. What are our chances?

Many thanks!

From PBO you should get the meal offering although if it is busy the choices may be reduced.

 

[NottsPhil]

Hello folks. There's a lot of experience with VTEC First Class service standards here, so I'm interested in the following.

Next Friday we're booked on the 1918 PBO-YRK (which is the 1830 KGX-EDB).

The timetable indicates that there is an evening meal service until Newark North Gate, and that meal service is available for "journeys of 70 minutes or more."

For us, that's an end-to-end journey of 74 minutes

The pessimist in me expects that is the perfect combination to mean we miss a hot meal. What are our chances?

Many thanks!

I used this very service a few weeks back out of King's Cross. After serving everyone from London they didn't do another round of orders until after Newark, and even then it sounded like they'd basically run out of hot food (it was sandwiches or dessert only from what I overheard).

 

[Starmill]

There's a reasonable chance I think that at least one of the hot food options will still be available... depends how busy it is leaving London. There probably won't be everything available though.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Thanks for the feedback above.

 

[Butts]

Excellent Service all round for Butts today

0800 Edinburgh to Durham......

Newspaper Handed out at seat...
Orange Juice, Coffee , 2 Slices of Brown Toast (no famine ) and Full Cooked Breakfast enjoyed from "blagged four" in L rather than my allocated single in K.

2122 Durham to Edinburgh

Nothing Hot Offered or Dessert / C&B but .....

4 Nice BLT Quarters , Crisps, Biscuits and a Banana. Plus Coffee and Scotch to drink.

Also the "trolley dolly" brought me a second Scotch without being asked and then "glug" a third - excellent I did sit in J on this trip as you often get a "personal service" when in close proximity to the staff.

On the Outward Leg they handed out the Mid-Morning Menus on leaving Newcastle - it is definitely ****e. Why don't they serve full brekkie till 10am like their Cousins on the West Coast Line ?

 

[Chrism20]

I'm on both those services on the 11th/12th Aug but am doing the full run to KGX and back. It will be interesting to compare the difference.

 

[ainsworth74]

Excellent service on the 0801 Darlington to Kings Cross today. Drinks upon departure from Darlington, York and Doncaster and offered again as the gentleman manning the trolley came back (so six runs in effect). Of course to the disappointment of many this is a breakfast service so no booze

Food order taken at York served just before Doncaster and up to its usual high standard (yes it doesn't have black pudding or beans but I think it remains a very tasty breakfast). Though I'm still not sure about the egg and Swiss cheese flan rather than the old omelette (or further back scrambled egg) they used to do.

Very friendly crew as well.

If only all VTEC services were like this they would have an incredible first class product. Then again that is one of my main complaints. They are so close to having something really a little bit special but they keep having these minor problems that do down the whole service.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Another round of drinks after Newark (and full service for those that joined at Doncaster or Newark) and another round with the bakery basket! They also asked if you wanted one slice or two of toast (and it was even warm). Fantastic service today.

 

[Clip]

Impressed with the platter of meats and that. Also Newcastle crews always seem more customer focused when it comes to the trolley. 3 in and only just left pboro; )

 

[ainsworth74]

Newcastle crews are probably the best followed closely by Scottish crews. Also those crews that work the Highland Chieftain (at least on a weekday) are excellent. Both occasions I've done the crews have been brilliant.

 

[Clip]

They have been great and the beef and horseradish sarnies are well nice. Very friendly bunch today which compared to last time makes a big difference

 

[Iskra]

Just done the Northbound Chieftan York-Inverness.

The service has been generally fantastic. Plenty of drinks runs, both crews fantastic and before Inverness everyone was given/offered 'one for the road,' which was great service and is a contrast to the stinginess of some crew members.

The pea/mint/feta quiche was nice, as were the teriyaki noodles from the all day extra menu. I was also given enough lemon cake for a life time (it's fantastic btw).

Well done VTEC, a world apart from some of my experiences.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Just done the Northbound Chieftan York-Inverness.

The service has been generally fantastic. Plenty of drinks runs, both crews fantastic and before Inverness everyone was given/offered 'one for the road,' which was great service and is a contrast to the stinginess of some crew members.

The pea/mint/feta quiche was nice, as were the teriyaki noodles from the all day extra menu. I was also given enough lemon cake for a life time (it's fantastic btw).

Well done VTEC, a world apart from some of my experiences.

Sounds like you and a few of the other recent people posting here had really good service. Hope it continues.

 

[Iskra]

2100 Edinburgh-Leeds last night.

Another great service.

Had the quiche again. Then between Edinburgh-Newcastle drinks were offered at least 4 times.

They eased-off as the passengers thinned out, but that is entirely understandable. I think I was the only passenger in 1st after Northallerton and they still asked if I wanted anything else at least twice from there.

 

[me123]

I had a last return trip to Aberdeen in First. Looks like I won't be sampling FC again for some time

Anyway, Northbound on Sunday was the weekend menu. There were three crew members (which is quite a luxury at the weekend!) and yet the service was a bit lacklustre. Wasn't served my sandwiches (or anything else for that matter!) 'till after Kirkcaldy - unusual not to get a tea or coffee on departure from Edinburgh/Haymarket. The BLT looked a bit sad, but tasted quite good.

Southbound was better, on Tuesday evening. Ran out of the Camembert tart, so I opted for the chicken teriyaki. I didn't realise it was a cold salad, so I was perhaps a bit disappointed by that, but it did taste very nice indeed. I think I'd have gone for the continental meat platter if I'd realised the chicken was cold. Red wine pouring skills could be improved on this service - thankfully I escaped it but my railcard is now a permanent shade of pink! (The track between Stonehaven and Montrose always seems particularly bumpy). Good service, though, otherwise. Got crisps and a cake, which is better than some crews seem to want to offer!

Need to find a reason to go Down South soon in FC, now my semi-regular journeys to/from Aberdeen have ceased. The one thing I'll miss about Aberdeen is the reasonably priced FC fares on an HST!

 

[SamS]

I'm travelling on the 0931 York - Kings Cross, and the 2200 Kings Cross to York on Tuesday.

I just wondered what I should expect, and if there's anything in particular to avoid?
Thanks!