The End of First class?

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

Because most people have realised that earing hot food isn't a daily requirement

Next time I see someone with Hot Doggy Danglers on both lugholes, I won't know whether to put mustard or ketchup on them....

[John R]

Because most people have realised that earing hot food isn't a daily requirement

Agree.  If having a hot dinner was that important to me, then I would have made sure I arrived in plenty of time to avail myself of the numerous eating establishments in Brockenhurst.  As Rhydgaled noted himself, the regional services used for the majority of that particular journey don't have enough flow of longer distance passengers to make a hot food service viable.

As an aside, I believe XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) has stopped the hot food ordered in advance service which it trialled last year. I don't know whether that's because it proved logistically too difficult or there wasn't enough take up.  In the one instance someone in our family pre-ordered, it didn't arrive, which may be symptomatic of logistical issues as soon as services start to become disrupted. 

[broadgage]

Because most people have realised that eating hot food isn't a daily requirement

Indeed, it is possible to travel from Paddington out to deepest Somersetshire WITHOUT partaking of a fillet steak en-route. I have done this at least twice and can confirm that that I am not only still alive now, but was also alive at the time.
The sad circumstances are reported elsewhere on these forums, it might even have been three times.
Much better with a meal though.

[devonexpress]

Because most people have realised that eating hot food isn't a daily requirement

Indeed, it is possible to travel from Paddington out to deepest Somersetshire WITHOUT partaking of a fillet steak en-route. I have done this at least twice and can confirm that that I am not only still alive now, but was also alive at the time.
The sad circumstances are reported elsewhere on these forums, it might even have been three times.
Much better with a meal though.

Funny thought that when the Travelling Chef option was removed, there was outcry, and the same with the removal of buffet cars from October this year on some services. Some people would like some hot food on a 3 hour journey to Plymouth, just because YOU don't want something doesn't mean everyone else feels the same.

[grahame]

Because most people have realised that eating hot food isn't a daily requirement

Indeed, it is possible to travel from Paddington out to deepest Somersetshire WITHOUT partaking of a fillet steak en-route. I have done this at least twice and can confirm that that I am not only still alive now, but was also alive at the time.
The sad circumstances are reported elsewhere on these forums, it might even have been three times.
Much better with a meal though.

Funny thought that when the Travelling Chef option was removed, there was outcry, and the same with the removal of buffet cars from October this year on some services. Some people would like some hot food on a 3 hour journey to Plymouth, just because YOU don't want something doesn't mean everyone else feels the same.

I don't think anyone objects to hot food being available on a three hour train journey, though not everyone wants to eat hot food on every journey. The catering team would find it very difficult indeed to serve everyone, unless the service was staffed / priced to the Belmont Pullman level.

There are serious discussions to be had (and have been had) about the cost of providing the facility, both in terms of what the monetary cost to the customer and the rail industry providing, and also in terms of the cost of train capacity as there's less spec available for customer accommodation.   We welcome such discussions here on the forum provided they do not drop to the level of personal attack for different views (or for other reasons).

[ChrisB]

Because most people have realised that eating hot food isn't a daily requirement

Funny thought that when the Travelling Chef option was removed, there was outcry, and the same with the removal of buffet cars from October this year on some services. Some people would like some hot food on a 3 hour journey to Plymouth, just because YOU don't want something doesn't mean everyone else feels the same.

But those who do are *now* very much in a minority as very few were purchasing from the buffet when they did do hot food. Personally speaking, I don't consider something from a microwave as 'hot' food, so I gave up when Travelling Chef folded. I will concur that many more back when Travelling Chef folded did use that, but it is very evident that fewer would do now - the shops on stations cater far better than they used to, and those wanting *hot* food on a journey are few & far between - evidenced by those still taking hot food from station retailers on to the train....

[IndustryInsider]

I don't remember much of an outcry when the travelling chef was removed - most saw it as vastly underutilised.  A shame because it provided some nice hot options, but enough people just weren't interested - though it could have been pushed much harder by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the staff on board.

I can see the removal of buffets providing much more negative headlines though as many more people will be affected.  Sadly though, the number of people using them to buy anything more than you can provide on a trolley has shrunk considerably to a point where they are practically useless on the Bristol and north and south Cotswolds routes and hardly worth it for South Wales routes - especially when you take into account future journey times.  A well stocked and organised trolley service is now looking the best option given the pressure on seating provision.

However I remain of the opinion that Cornish services should still have something more than just a trolley, but can see why that is logistically problematic.

[stuving]

I have the same problem at my local supermarket. I've lost count of the times they stop selling something I buy regularly, saying they are not selling enough. I mean, I'm buying it - what else matters?

Having said that, personally I prefer to have a proper lunch and dinner whenever possible - call me old-fashioned, or perhaps too much of a francophile if you like. And if I am stuck in a train, boat, or plane at meal-time it makes sense to eat then. But when even SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) are struggling to get a food offering that works in their TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) "bar" menus, and most Intercités have just a trolley service, that's obviously the way the world is going. After all, handcarts never offered much of a meal service ...

[ChrisB]

Indeed you both might, but two meals if & when you both travel won't keep the turnover up sufficiently.

[broadgage]

Because most people have realised that eating hot food isn't a daily requirement

Indeed, it is possible to travel from Paddington out to deepest Somersetshire WITHOUT partaking of a fillet steak en-route. I have done this at least twice and can confirm that that I am not only still alive now, but was also alive at the time.
The sad circumstances are reported elsewhere on these forums, it might even have been three times.
Much better with a meal though.

Post #129 in this thread http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11587.msg121302#msg121302

Refers to my survival on a blueberry muffin.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wasn't there publicity about a year ago concerning Pizza delivery to a train when it called at Newport?   May have my timing and station wrong ...

Yes, that story was posted on the Coffee Shop forum at the time.

By grahame, in 2013. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

An article in the Guardian, written by Andrew Martin, covers some of the points we have also discussed in this topic:

Segregation or acceptable luxury: should first-class train travel be abolished?

Trains have traditionally been riddled with class distinction and snobbery.  As our crowded commuter routes come under pressure to stop segregating, author Andrew Martin ponders what we will lose with the scrapping of first class

That article includes a couple of images, which I include here:


The first-class lounge on board a London Midland & Scottish Royal Scot train in 1928. Photograph: Edward G Malindine/Getty Images


The 1930s Bulleid tavern rail carriage was built to resemble a mock ‘olde worlde’ pub, complete with artificial beams. Photograph: SSPL via Getty Images

Having met him a few times now, I can imagine 'broadgage' feeling very much at home there ... 

[broadgage]

Indeed, the tavern car especially.

[RichardB]

Indeed, the tavern car especially.

Recreating a tavern car to Bulleid's original designs would be great.  I know they weren't popular in traffic but a recreated one now would go down a storm!  I'm not holding my breath though.........

[rogerw]

Perhaps a future project for one of the heritage railways