London North Eastern Railway (LNER) First Class service

[bengolding]

I travelled Edinburgh to Dundee last week with EC. Sat in the carriage closest to the buffet where I thought the service would start. No at-seat service of any kind til Kirkcaldy, 40 mins after departure, when tea/coffee was served, since staff were too busy chatting amongst themselves at the end of the coach! I noticed the food trolley was only starting as I alighted at Dundee, 85 mins later with only a handful of customers remaining. Not impressed having paid £170 for a First single ticket! The lack of service was in sharp contrast to the efficient service on my earlier Pendolino.

 

[Bon Accord]

As someone who regularly uses EC (and its predecessors) for EDI-ABD journeys, I can say the service varies hugely depending on which staff are onboard.
Even before the new FC menus the trolley rarely made an appearance before Inverkeithing, the notable exception being one crew which generally tried to get to you before the Bridge (and in some cases at Haymarket). Said crew was (and still is) the pick of the bunch, obviously individuals of long service on the railway and are what I would call "real" stewards, unfailingly polite individuals who provide excellent service and often did well from tips.
Likewise for many years I regularly used IC/GNER/NXEC/EC from Newcastle northwards and came to recognise just how good some of the Geordie/Scottish crews were, again, most of whom had obviously been at the job quite a while - there was a time when BR trained stewards and chefs were highly prized employees by the Hotel/Restaurant trade, for good reason.
An increasing number of the rest, are individuals merely impersonating catering staff who haven't been found out yet.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Oh, I was hoping for something a bit more substantial. On their sample menu they've got things like Vegetable Biryani and salad, and Crayfish and noodle salad listed.

Also is the "free" coffee instant or filter?

Sorry i thought you just wanted to know the hot options. There will be a salad option as well, this will be 1 of 4 of the crayfish and noodle, tuna nicoise, ham hock or chicken and bacon ceaser. The veg biryani was withdrawn due to too many complaints of poor quality. The coffee is filter unless you are on a HST in which case it is likely to be instant as due to power supply issues most of the coffee brewers have been isolated.

 

[Bungle73]

Sorry i thought you just wanted to know the hot options. There will be a salad option as well, this will be 1 of 4 of the crayfish and noodle, tuna nicoise, ham hock or chicken and bacon ceaser. The veg biryani was withdrawn due to too many complaints of poor quality. The coffee is filter unless you are on a HST in which case it is likely to be instant as due to power supply issues most of the coffee brewers have been isolated.

I was thinking of the hot option when I posted, but I've been looking at the sample menu. I'd prefer to eat something hot, but if I don't fancy that I may go for a salad or sandwich; I'll see what's on the menu when I'm on-board. I'm travelling on a Mallard according to the seating plan, so the coffee should be filter.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm travelling on a Mallard according to the seating plan, so the coffee should be filter.

You must be pretty small if you can fit on a bird

But seriously though all of EC trains (well apart from the MML HST) have Mallard interiors so that doesn't really tell them apart in anyway (other than the slightly different seating layouts). You can check to see what's booked to run a certain service by consulting the timetables here which show whether it's a HST or 225 (indicated by an E at the top of the columns).

 

[Bungle73]

You must be pretty small if you can fit on a bird

But seriously though all of EC trains (well apart from the MML HST) have Mallard interiors so that doesn't really tell them apart in anyway (other than the slightly different seating layouts). You can check to see what's booked to run a certain service by consulting the timetables here which show whether it's a HST or 225 (indicated by an E at the top of the columns).

Had a look, and looks like it's a Mallard there and back.

 

[ainsworth74]

Had a look, and looks like it's a Mallard there and back.

There is no such train as a Mallard either it's a HST or a 225.

 

[Bungle73]

There is no such train as a Mallard either it's a HST or a 225.

There is according to East Coast. Isn't Mallard just the current name for what used to be called the Intercity 225?

 

[John @ home]

There is no such train as a Mallard

Not everyone agrees.

Project Mallard

Between late 2003 and April 2006, GNER (the former franchise owner) and Bombardier Transportation undertook a rebuilding and refurbishment programme for the Mark 4 stock, called Project Mallard. Trains with these rebuilt coaches became known as Mallards, to distinguish them from unrefurbished sets during the upgrade programme, named after the Mallard steam locomotive, (which was built in the 1930s by the London and North Eastern Railway, and holds the world speed record for steam locomotives).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Mark_4

 

[ApAp]

There is according to East Coast. Isn't Mallard just the current name for what used to be called the Intercity 225?

It is. But it's confusing because the 125's (HST) were refurbed to the same standard as the 225 Mallard sets. The main difference in 1st class is the lack of the 'dance floor' on the HST as it was called in the restaurant seating plans. That's the bit in the middle where the set changes from 2-1 to 1-2 with a square of 1-1 formation.

Why did the 225's have that area?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Why did the 225's have that area?

It creates a 'passing loop' for catering trolleys/modules! (or for staff carrying 3 or 4 dishe piled high with piping hot food - ah, those days seem so long ago now).

 

[ainsworth74]

Not everyone agrees.

Hmm fair enough but today is the first time I've ever heard anyone refer to a 225 as a 'Mallard'. I also note that the passage you've quoted on Wikipedia doesn't cite a source.

 

[G123T]

Well I finally got to try the new first class offering and I've got to say that this is a huge improvement. Service was excellent on both legs and the comp food and drink adds great value.

 

[Greenback]

Well I finally got to try the new first class offering and I've got to say that this is a huge improvement. Service was excellent on both legs and the comp food and drink is a great improvement.

Thanks Elaine!

Seriously, can you give us some details like what you had and when?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . . I've got to say that this is a huge improvement.

An improvement on what? ! ! !
An improvement on a full sized 3 course meal?

Thanks Elaine!

Tee hee hee!

 

[Bungle73]

Hmm fair enough but today is the first time I've ever heard anyone refer to a 225 as a 'Mallard'. I also note that the passage you've quoted on Wikipedia doesn't cite a source.

The term is all over East Coast's website.

 

[YorkshireRider]

There is to be a full review in a couple of weeks, leading to a menu change in December, what menu is offered on which trains will also be looked at. I assume (but not sure) this will coinside with the new timetable. Been told by someone who works in diagraming that the flying scotsman will be stopping at York (im sure your all shocked at that one)

 

[ainsworth74]

Been told by someone who works in diagraming that the flying scotsman will be stopping at York (im sure your all shocked at that one)

Damn it we should have run a pool or something predicting this because if we had I would have been quids in as I thought York would be added from the next timetable change!

 

[Bungle73]

I thought the Flying Scotsman already stopped at York?

 

[G123T]

Thanks Elaine!

Seriously, can you give us some details like what you had and when?

Friday 12:00 KGX to NCL. Service was very busy in all of first class and throughout standard according to the guard.

Tea and Coffee run pretty much straight out Kings Cross. Drinks trolley after roughly 30mins maybe. Glass of Red Wine and a bottle of water. Food run after they'd completed the drinks run. 4 sandwiches (2 of each), crisps, slice of fruit cake. All fairly good. No menus on about the last 6 tables at my end of the coach - surprise to the staff - maybe they should have checked before we left. The Crayfish noodles and Cauliflower Cheese Tart both looked good and my other half said the tart was very good. Heard a guy on the next table saying the noodles were good. Had more tea and coffee (coffee wasn't great to be honest but was as plentiful as any service I've been on pre changes) had another glass of red.

Staff were very nice. After both York and Darlington the staff were quickly down again serving those that had just boarded with food and drink.

Return today. Again friendly staff and a similar speedy service with the weekend offer.

Elaine x

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I thought the Flying Scotsman already stopped at York?

That was the subject of its own thread, here. (and a few others!).

Elaine x

That's going to stick!

 

[G123T]

An improvement on what? ! ! !
An improvement on a full sized 3 course meal?

Tee hee hee!

I think i used at seat dining maybe once on the numerous times I've travelled first with GNER, Nat Express, East Coast so it's a fairly major improvement over a biscuit.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I thought the Flying Scotsman already stopped at York?

Nope:
Edinburgh 0540
Newcastle 0702 /0703
Kings Cross 0940

It is a but pointless not calling at York, it is clearly centred around the magical four hour mark that Lord Adonis craved.

 

[Greenback]

Thanks Elaine!

That does sound better than some of the reports that have been posted on day services!

 

[Bungle73]

Nope:
Edinburgh 0540
Newcastle 0702 /0703
Kings Cross 0940

It is a but pointless not calling at York, it is clearly centred around the magical four hour mark that Lord Adonis craved.

Oh, I was thinking of the northbound FS.

 

[Bon Accord]

Hmm fair enough but today is the first time I've ever heard anyone refer to a 225 as a 'Mallard'. I also note that the passage you've quoted on Wikipedia doesn't cite a source.

The refurbished Mk IV sets were known universally in the railway press and (dare I say) enthusiast circles as 'Mallard' sets upon their introduction circa 2003/4.

 

[DelayRepay]

Elaine x

Is your second name Holt?

 

[G123T]

Is your second name Holt?

T'was a joke!!

 

[IanXC]

Oh, I was thinking of the northbound FS.

I don't think there is a northbound is there?

 

[ainsworth74]

I don't think there is a northbound is there?

There is not it runs southbound only.

Also regarding the Mallard name can we just accept I was wrong and stop going on about now