New trains for the South West - announcement.

[whole diary]

[Adelante_CCT]

http://www.railway-technology.com/news/newshitachi-rail-europe-19-at300s-transpennine-express-4855301

Hitachi Rail Europe wins orders for 19 AT300s for TransPennine Express

No doubt the north will have them running before us 

[alan_s]

I wonder if they will get buffets 

[TonyK]

I wonder if they will get buffets 

Don't start!

[Noggin]

I wonder if they will get buffets 

Don't start!

AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') at least some of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) units are even having proper kitchens as a franchise commitment and supposedly will be better than the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))

[broadgage]

The IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) have kitchens, and I would expect the very similar AT300 units for the longer distance services will also have kitchens.
What we don't yet know is whether or not a buffet will be provided, personally I rather doubt it, based on the IEP saga. The survey to prove that a buffet is not wanted has already been done.

[Noggin]

The IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) have kitchens, and I would expect the very similar AT300 units for the longer distance services will also have kitchens.
What we don't yet know is whether or not a buffet will be provided, personally I rather doubt it, based on the IEP saga. The survey to prove that a buffet is not wanted has already been done.

Whilst buffets and kitchens definitely have their place, particularly on long distance services, they do take up a lot of space and are relatively expensive to run.

There's also the argument that many people prefer to bring their own food and drink on board (much cheaper, coffee from a proper espresso machine etc), and that the young in particular are reluctant to pack up their electronic gadgets and wander to a buffet. So in some respects I think wanting a buffet may be a generational thing.

To be honest, the only time in the last few years I've bought anything from a buffet was a cup of tea for me and the missus because we got on at Pewsey and there wasn't anywhere to buy a coffee there. 

[IndustryInsider]

The longer journey times of the Penzance route should mean a buffet is easier to justify, plus some of the smaller stations in Cornwall don't have extensive places to buy before you board.  Whether that is enough to tip the balance with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) is another thing.  Certainly I agree with you on trips from London to Bristol which will, at not much longer than an hour post-IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.), probably not gain enough patronage to make them viable - you need to sell more than a handful of coffee's - so not a problem as long as there's a 'high-quality'* trolley service.  Though it is a shame and affects the prestige of the services concerned.

The argument has certainly been had on this forum several times over the years.

* By 'high-quality' I mean one where the urn can be filled with hot water (rather than slowly going cold) and basic items such as crisps/chocolate/cans can be replenished on the train from the kitchen as and when needed, and other items such as sandwiches can be replenished en-route from several service stations.  Some form of hot food ordering service on the trains with a working kitchen would be nice, or perhaps the way XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are trying to do hot food - has anyone tried it yet?

[TonyK]

Some form of hot food ordering service on the trains with a working kitchen would be nice, or perhaps the way XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are trying to do hot food - has anyone tried it yet?[/i]

My last journey on XC / Virgin, last month, had me sustained by food bought in Sainsbury on the way to temple Meads, and one of those pints in Birmingham.

[JayMac]

I have partaken of the breakfast option on CrossCountry. That was on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) service where there was no need to pre-order. A good sized full English, but quality was only average. That's to be expected with reheated ready meals.