London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[Butts]

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

If you had it without a spirit one would have hoped they had the guile to offer a couple of cans ?

I never have Whisky with Coke/Pepsi except on a train - "2 drinks for the price of one"

 

[Deerfold]

If you had it without a spirit one would have hoped they had the guile to offer a couple of cans ?

I never have Whisky with Coke/Pepsi except on a train - "2 drinks for the price of one"

My wife is often offered two cans of the ginger beer. But not always.
She rarely wants much, so when she gets two that's usually enough for the trip.

 

[800Travel]

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/)

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Salmon and potatoes with broccoli and a sauce.

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Looks like the frittata is staying on.

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Kids offering (ham sandwich and cheese dippers)

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

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

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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?
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This looks like the smoky pork dish tbh, but could just be an older picture that made it into the video
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New menu information published on the website now.

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

Uploaded screenshots for posterity.

It's disappointing to see that the Salad/Grain Bowl option remains the same as the last menu, that's certainly due a change, but the Railway Curry sounds good. A shame the sausages and mash are gone though! Glad the celery has left the cheeseboard though

 

[ainsworth74]

Looks decent! Never had a bad bit of fish on LNER (and their previous incarnations) so I'm sure the Salmon on the Dine menu will be lovely. The Railway Curry sounds interesting as well though I'm not usually a massive fan of veggie curries. The BBQ Chicken hot sandwich also sounds good as does the Ploughman's. Waffles available for breakfast as well.

All in all I think that's a good menu refresh. Kept some of the solid basics (like the bacon roll) but added a few new bits and bobs.

 

[Sealink]

With the menus for summer LNER First Class now on their website, I notice a hot option in every menu inc. Brunch & Deli. (BBQ Chicken Croque).

Can't remember if the bacon roll was offered across all menus, it is in the latest version.

 

[styles]

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.

And £33 worth of Lurpak by the looks of it!

 

[800Travel]

With the menus for summer LNER First Class now on their website, I notice a hot option in every menu inc. Brunch & Deli. (BBQ Chicken Croque).

Can't remember if the bacon roll was offered across all menus, it is in the latest version.

I believe it was

 

[williamn]

Are headrests in first ever coming back?

 

[800Travel]

Are headrests in first ever coming back?

There are new head rests on many sets - I don’t know numbers, but perhaps they are still being re-rolled out

 

[ainsworth74]

There are new head rests on many sets - I don’t know numbers, but perhaps they are still being re-rolled out

Whilst I've not done that many journeys recently all the sets I've been on have had them.

They're better than the ones that were on the seats before as at least they don't fall down quite as much and get in the way of your shoulders! Still not brilliant though.

 

[ScotTrains]

It's interesting to see children's options in 1st class now. I assume children can still eat from the main menu too?

I took my 2 year old son up to Inverness on the Highland Chieftain last year and he had the chicken risotto. He scoffed the lot!!

Just shows how small the 'adult' portions are!

 

[D1024]

Whilst I've not done that many journeys recently all the sets I've been on have had them.

I am on a set at the moment with no headrests.

The BBQ Chicken hot sandwich also sounds good as does the Ploughman's.

I'll give you my verdict on the Ploughman's later!

 

[Deerfold]

New menu information published on the website now.

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

Uploaded screenshots for posterity.

It's disappointing to see that the Salad/Grain Bowl option remains the same as the last menu, that's certainly due a change, but the Railway Curry sounds good. A shame the sausages and mash are gone though! Glad the celery has left the cheeseboard though

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Disappointing to go from 3 to 1 vegan option (2 to 1 on the breakfast but at least they're they've kept the best one).

The curry sounds good, but I rarely get the right train for that.

 

[westv]

Disappointing to go from 3 to 1 vegan option (2 to 1 on the breakfast but at least they're they've kept the best one).

The curry sounds good, but I rarely get the right train for that.

But no meat option for a (non sandwich) main meal with the Dish menu nor an option for a proper sausage with the breakfast.

 

[Sealink]

Just read the menu for the Ploughmans Grazing Box. Why half a pork pie? What is the point (saving money, looking stingy)?

 

[williamn]

I’ve had no luck on the two sets I’ve been on re headrests!

Sad that the frittata has been discontinued (again!)

 

[Tetchytyke]

As I'm only interested in the booze, when do they start serving on a brunch train? I'm booked on the Aberdeen train in a couple of weeks from York.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Just read the menu for the Ploughmans Grazing Box. Why half a pork pie? What is the point (saving money, looking stingy)?

Suppose it depends how big the whole pork pie is prior to being halved.
The similar item on the Avanti menu is excellent.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I can't really say that anything on the new menu grabs me at all, I'm not what you'd call a hugely fussy eater, but there's just nothing there that I really fancy apart from the new dessert pot, which thankfully is not salted caramel and the full lnr breakfast. The strawberries and cream yoghurt at brunch sounds nice, but I'd want something else with it like the Danish pastry and you can only have one or the other. Rest in peace. The truly delicious frittata

 

[kkong]

As I'm only interested in the booze, when do they start serving on a brunch train? I'm booked on the Aberdeen train in a couple of weeks from York.

It's unclear which direction you are heading (train from Aberdeen or to Aberdeen?).

However, if you are heading north, the booze on the 07:08 Leeds to Aberdeen starts after departure from Edinburgh, shortly after 10:30.

The only weekday LNER departures from Aberdeen which serve alcohol in First Class are the 14:52 and 18:18.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Although I think the 952 may offer booze if requested after Dundee, but I could be wrong on this.
I'll be interested to try the new whisky, I am not a complete whisky snob by any means and will quite often buy a cheap supermarket owned label blend to have at home, especially as a long drink with something like lemonade in it, but I hadn't heard of this one until it was announced and so we'll be keen to try

 

[Butts]

Although I think the 952 may offer booze if requested after Dundee, but I could be wrong on this.
I'll be interested to try the new whisky, I am not a complete whisky snob by any means and will quite often buy a cheap supermarket owned label blend to have at home, especially as a long drink with something like lemonade in it, but I hadn't heard of this one until it was announced and so we'll be keen to try

Lemonade -sacrilege-at least in decent tot.

However on the ones served up on the Railway a wise precaution?

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's unclear which direction you are heading (train from Aberdeen or to Aberdeen?).

However, if you are heading north, the booze on the 07:08 Leeds to Aberdeen starts after departure from Edinburgh, shortly after 10:30.

The only weekday LNER departures from Aberdeen which serve alcohol in First Class are the 14:52 and 18:18.

Sorry, should have been more clear, the 11.52 from York heading north.

 

[williamn]

Although I think the 952 may offer booze if requested after Dundee, but I could be wrong on this.
I'll be interested to try the new whisky, I am not a complete whisky snob by any means and will quite often buy a cheap supermarket owned label blend to have at home, especially as a long drink with something like lemonade in it, but I hadn't heard of this one until it was announced and so we'll be keen to try

I'm on the 09.52 as we type! Booze only on departure from Newcastle.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Which is I believe a Friday only exemption due to the oil workers changeover, I think Monday to Thursday may be different.

Historically, that train has been dry until Newcastle in all classes

 

[kkong]

Which is I believe a Friday only exemption due to the oil workers changeover, I think Monday to Thursday may be different.

Historically, that train has been dry until Newcastle in all classes

There is no complimentary alcohol on the 09:52 departure from Aberdeen (until after departure from Edinburgh) on any day.

The prohibition on taking your own alcohol on board - and sale from the on-board shop - applies on Fridays only between Aberdeen and Newcastle.

 

[kkong]

I'll be interested to try the new whisky, I am not a complete whisky snob by any means and will quite often buy a cheap supermarket owned label blend to have at home, especially as a long drink with something like lemonade in it, but I hadn't heard of this one until it was announced and so we'll be keen to try

A 3-year-old blend is literally the lowest quality they could have chosen while still meeting the definition of "Scotch whisky".

 

[WesternLancer]

while

Shocking. …

 

[williamn]

Which is I believe a Friday only exemption due to the oil workers changeover, I think Monday to Thursday may be different.

Historically, that train has been dry until Newcastle in all classes

I was told today that it’s because of the number of stag and hen parties travelling to Newcastle.

 

[Blindtraveler]

A 3-year-old blend is literally the lowest quality they could have chosen while still meeting the definition of "Scotch whisky".

I can well understand your misgivings, it is as you say very much scraping the bottom of the cask but it might still be good and I'll reserve judgement until I have one in my hand.