London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

I was on that train, the 0755 from Inverness on Thursday. It seemed as if two things had happened. Because of staff shortage it was reduced from Dine to Dish service so no 'full breakfast' or whatever and no sausages for lunch. The bacon rolls etc and rogan josh etc were on. But also there was a fault with the water boiler so no hot drinks. I was a bit surprised they didn't tell us to go down to the buffet for a comp. tea or coffee, but no.

Was First Class heavily patronised - if not they should have fetched Hot Drinks for those requiring one.

Failing that are they not empowered to authorise customers to obtain a complimentary one themselves by showing their ticket ?

Seems like a no-brainer solution.

 

[anothertyke]

Was First Class heavily patronised - if not they should have fetched Hot Drinks for those requiring one.

Failing that are they not empowered to authorise customers to obtain a complimentary one themselves by showing their ticket ?

Seems like a no-brainer solution.

I was very surprised --yes First was say three quarters full from Pitlochry. Maybe half got off at Edinburgh and were replaced. Actually I thought £150 return advance first York-Inverness return was not bad by LNER standards.

 

[800Travel]

A new LNER first class menu is expected to launch around June 11th.

Source ~ https://x.com/lner/status/1918975561092788343?




Will be nice to have a change - wonder what they'll put on this time?

More information now available:

Enjoy a decadent Strawberry and Cream yogurt, a Ploughman’s Grazing Box, and more from the delicious new summer menu in First Class from 11 June. And for customers travelling with us to Bradford Forster Square, you can enjoy a special Gold Chocolate coin onboard!

https://www.lner.co.uk/first-class-travel/menu/

 

[styles]

More information now available:

https://www.lner.co.uk/first-class-travel/menu/

Cheese, yoghurt, and if you're going to Bradford, a chocolate coin.

Hold me back!

 

[marks87]

Cheese, yoghurt, and if you're going to Bradford, a chocolate coin.

Hold me back!

Depending on the type of chocolate, it's essentially "milk 3 ways".

 

[H F Stephens]

Cottage pie would be a nice idea!

East Coast tried that in 2015. It resembled nothing so much as a blast furnaced low-density breeze block garnished with HP Sauce.

 

[duffield]

Cheese, yoghurt, and if you're going to Bradford, a chocolate coin.

Hold me back!

Chocolate coins? Is it Xmas again already?

 

[trebor79]

Cheese, yoghurt, and if you're going to Bradford, a chocolate coin.

Hold me back!

Don't forget it's a decent yoghurt!

 

[800Travel]

More information now available:

https://www.lner.co.uk/first-class-travel/menu/

LNER has posted a Tiktok, and looks like a behind the scenes at photography of the food for the new menus (https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdkUWEam/)


Salmon and potatoes with broccoli and a sauce.


Looks like the frittata is staying on.


Kids offering (ham sandwich and cheese dippers)


Some new spirits - Dutch Barn Vodka, Scottish Common Ground Blended Malt scotch whisky, and some kind of carbon neutral gin


Poppadoms (believe these were on that newly named city of culture train's press photos)


Alcohol free cocktail

Not much clue what these below photos show - looks like the ploughman's box, maybe some curry with pilau rice, some kind of strawberry pastry thing, and waffles?


This looks like the smoky pork dish tbh, but could just be an older picture that made it into the video

 

[Blindtraveler]

Glad the frittata appears to last. Another rotation, always seems pretty popular and I'm a fan


Nice to see a different whisky again

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

More information now available:

https://www.lner.co.uk/first-class-travel/menu/

So a classic LNER dressing up of a downgrade as something to be excited about, then.

 

[leightonbd]

So a classic LNER dressing up of a downgrade as something to be excited about, then.

Quite. That ‘Blended Malt Scotch Whisky’ is an obscenity; the Scotch equivalent of turkey twizzlers.

 

[Butts]

Quite. That ‘Blended Malt Scotch Whisky’ is an obscenity; the Scotch equivalent of turkey twizzlers.

Looks like a Plastic Container as well ?

You would think they could at least run to a Glenfiddich or Glenlivet.

 

[takno]

Quite. That ‘Blended Malt Scotch Whisky’ is an obscenity; the Scotch equivalent of turkey twizzlers.

There's plenty of decent blended malts. No comment on whether that is one, but it should in any event be a big step up from something grain-heavy like Teachers or Grouse.

 

[800Travel]

Looks like a Plastic Container as well ?

You would think they could at least run to a Glenfiddich or Glenlivet.

Believe they say in the video that it is aluminium containers

 

[dave87016]

I’m currently onboard the 1530 Edinburgh - Kings X as far as York my first time on a azuma the first class crew have been brilliant and friendly , the curry looks like Rick Moranis ( honey I shrunk the kids film ) has zapped it with his machine as it’s so small but delicious 2 hot drink and 2 cold drink runs aswell as dishing out crisps biscuits and mini choc brownies

Salted caramel pots aren’t offered I assumed they had none but a couple boarded at Newcastle and asked for one so I politely asked the crew if I could have one and the lady said of course you can so result

The ride it’s self is nowhere near as bad as prople say and I was in coach K it’s very smooth and comfortable especially compared to a pendo

For me it’s a 9/10 the lost point is for the portion size back in the GNER days you would get a full pie with its accompaniments

 

[ainsworth74]

the curry looks like Rick Moranis ( honey I shrunk the kids film ) has zapped it with his machine as it’s so small but delicious

I'm not sure I've ever had bad food on LNER (VTEC or EC) it's just the portions have gotten more and more anaemic as time has gone on!

Salted caramel pots aren’t offered I assumed they had none but a couple boarded at Newcastle and asked for one so I politely asked the crew if I could have one and the lady said of course you can so result

A not uncommon issue I find, some are very proactive, indeed seem to take pride in making sure you get everything going, others seem to only offer the basics even though they've got more bits and bobs available and if you ask will gladly provide!

 

[Blindtraveler]

The first ever complimentary menu of the beetroot risotto or the vegetable curry were gastronomic low points, but while some of the sandwiches have been a bit dubious over the years, I would agree generally that most of the food hasn't been bad, but as pointed out is just getting less and less generous in terms of portion etc. For me, the lack of salted caramel is an improvement, but I've noticed on my last few journeys where I've done first class primarily for the better seat and not for the food. The drinks runs have been getting fewer and fewer which I do find annoying as I can remember the days prior to complementary everything it was just tea, coffee, biscuits and juice and the supply was pretty much continuous

 

[route101]

Took the 1937 LNER from Edinburgh as far as Darlington on Friday.

The first class fare was only a few quid more than standard so decided on First, don't do first now often.

The service was a deli service with no hot food option. I chose a pulled chicken brioche roll, which was quite filling and salted caramel pot.

Between Edinburgh and Newcastle there was two rounds of the drinks service and was even offered more food and drink after Newcastle.

Service was a bit surly from the Edinburgh crew but I enquired about one of the items and told to look at the menu card.

Service wasn't full but did have a family occupying the table opposite me.

 

[Porty]

For those commenting on small portions sizes I was pleasantly surprised about the catering on the 1700 to Edinburgh today. Drinks and crisps being served seconds after departure. The Toulouse Sausage and mash was 2 x sausages, mash, green beans and gravy. The 2nd course was either salted caramel pot or a cheese plate. Very impressed with the latter, 4 x oatcakes, 4 x pieces of celery, a decent chunk of Red Fox (whatever that is) and Blue Stilton with chutney. A couple of beers, a mint tea, biscuits all before a crew change in York.

 

[30907]

a decent chunk of Red Fox (whatever that is).

Red Fox is aged Red Leicester.

 

[duffield]

For those commenting on small portions sizes I was pleasantly surprised about the catering on the 1700 to Edinburgh today. Drinks and crisps being served seconds after departure. The Toulouse Sausage and mash was 2 x sausages, mash, green beans and gravy. The 2nd course was either salted caramel pot or a cheese plate. Very impressed with the latter, 4 x oatcakes, 4 x pieces of celery, a decent chunk of Red Fox (whatever that is) and Blue Stilton with chutney. A couple of beers, a mint tea, biscuits all before a crew change in York.

Celery? Eww! The devil's own vegetable, fit only for rabbits and hamsters.

Otherwise, a generous looking cheesy snack plate though.

 

[route101]

Have the soft drinks on LNER in First Class always come in 150ml cans?

 

[Butts]

Have the soft drinks on LNER in First Class always come in 150ml cans?

Used to be 330ml for Pepsi - 150ml is a mixer size ?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Last time I travelled the Pepsi was still the full size can

 

[Porty]

Used to be 330ml for Pepsi - 150ml is a mixer size ?

Full size yesterday.

 

[Deerfold]

Full size yesterday.

And today London - Leeds.

For use as a mixer.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Have the soft drinks on LNER in First Class always come in 150ml cans?

If you were given a Lemonade/Ginger Ale or Tonic these are generally served in the smaller cans. Pepsi and Pepsi Max are in full size.

 

[takno]

If you were given a Lemonade/Ginger Ale or Tonic these are generally served in the smaller cans. Pepsi and Pepsi Max are in full size

I'm also fairly sure they had mini Pepsi cans last time I was on board. Maybe they are experimenting or working through some stock they accidentally ordered, rather than having decided to make a switch.

Personally I'd rather the mixers came in big cans as well, but I worry they're more likely to deal with that imbalance by making the spirits single measures instead.

 

[route101]

If you were given a Lemonade/Ginger Ale or Tonic these are generally served in the smaller cans. Pepsi and Pepsi Max are in full size.

Yes, it was R whites lemonade. There was no glasses for the soft drinks.