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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2009, 21:58:05 » |
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What happened to the Pullman Brasserie services? *is very tempted to suggest it went tits up* *decides he'd better not...* I think you may have made a couple of boobs there, Phil ...  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Btline
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« Reply #16 on: January 16, 2009, 22:17:48 » |
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The thing is, there IS demand. There is always going to be demand for a good quality restaurant for long distance trains. But however popular, FGW▸ will make more profit by scrapping it.
To use a analogy, there is demand for a Tranwilts service - but.....
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #17 on: January 16, 2009, 23:17:57 » |
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Although I have never sampled the Pullman restaurant service, I've used the travelling chef frequently and as I have said above when it's provided as advertised I'm a big fan.
I find two things irksome: firstly that there is little attention to detail in the provision of the service, with travelling chefs regularly missing from the advertised services or only providing a limited menu. Secondly, very few people from FGW▸ seem to give a toss about promoting the product, which bizarrely includes many of the frontline staff providing it!
The travelling chef is an elegant half-way house between a full sit-down meal (nice but very expensive and takes ages) and a microwave cheeseburger (minging!) and absolutely deserves to succeed. I really hope that FGW get their act together rather than eventually deeming the service to be uneconomic (because no-one uses it because it's not advertised and unreliable) and withdrawing it.
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #18 on: January 16, 2009, 23:53:27 » |
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The big problem with the travelling chef service is lack of flexibility
I dont know what it is like since the menu change since I've only used them once.
But I regularly wanted a cheese and bacon baguette.
BUT there was only a bacon baguette OR a ham and cheese baguette
Sometimes you got someone who would adapt the menu, other times you got - we only have what is printed.
ludicrous
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2009, 00:05:16 » |
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But I regularly wanted a cheese and bacon baguette.
BUT there was only a bacon baguette OR a ham and cheese baguette
Sometimes you got someone who would adapt the menu, other times you got - we only have what is printed.
Once managed to negotiate a bacon, sausage cheese and tomato baguette. I got raging indigestion which probably served me right  |
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thetrout
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« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2009, 10:56:42 » |
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When I last used the travelling chef service (was about 8 months ago) I had a very good cheese and tomato toasted sandwich which was served at my seat with proper cutlery.
Compared to XC▸ granted you get hot food free in First Class, you get wooden cutlery to eat it with, which IMO▸ spoils the taste of the food. But you'd be lucky to get hot food on XC anyway.
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TheLastMinute
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« Reply #21 on: January 19, 2009, 18:36:39 » |
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Although I have never sampled the Pullman restaurant service, I've used the travelling chef frequently and as I have said above when it's provided as advertised I'm a big fan.
I find two things irksome: firstly that there is little attention to detail in the provision of the service, with travelling chefs regularly missing from the advertised services or only providing a limited menu. Secondly, very few people from FGW▸ seem to give a toss about promoting the product, which bizarrely includes many of the frontline staff providing it!
The travelling chef is an elegant half-way house between a full sit-down meal (nice but very expensive and takes ages) and a microwave cheeseburger (minging!) and absolutely deserves to succeed. I really hope that FGW get their act together rather than eventually deeming the service to be uneconomic (because no-one uses it because it's not advertised and unreliable) and withdrawing it.
The Pullman service is great and I would recommend it to anyone travelling up to London. You don't actually need a 1st class ticket to dine in it so as long as there is room available (first class ticket holders get priority) you can get a seat. As for it being pricey, well if a full English breakfast (silver service) plus a first class upgrade (during morning peak) for ^14.95 isn't good value, then I don't know what is! |
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Sleepy
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« Reply #22 on: January 19, 2009, 19:07:57 » |
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How easy is it for STD ticket holders to get a seat for Pullman on 1803 or 190X from PAD» ?
Do you have to vacate your seat after your meal like on East Coast or is it only 1 sitting (travel to Cornwall)? any regulars please advise.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #24 on: January 19, 2009, 19:58:16 » |
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there wont be any demand if everyone knows it doesnt happen!!
That makes no sense. The Pullman service runs every night! |
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broadgage
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« Reply #25 on: January 20, 2009, 12:45:47 » |
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How easy is it for STD ticket holders to get a seat for Pullman on 1803 or 190X from PAD» ?
Do you have to vacate your seat after your meal like on East Coast or is it only 1 sitting (travel to Cornwall)? any regulars please advise.
I frequently use the 1803 from Paddington on fridays, whilst standard class ticket holders are sometimes addmitted, it would be unwise to count on this, sometimes even first class ticket holders are turned away. On this service I invariably pay first class to be nearly certain of getting a seat in the restaurant. Sometimes the staff make no enquiry as to what ticket is held, and merely admit the first 17 or 29 customers to arrive. (I have complained about this if I have paid the full first class fare and been unable to dine because standard class were admitted first, having been able to run faster than me) There is only one sitting, on leaving Paddington, first class ticket holders may therefore remain in the restaurant for the remainder of the journey if they wish. Standard ticket holders are meant to return to standard class after completing the meal, though enforcement of this is rather variable. On days other than Fridays, standard class have more of a chance, but I would not rely on this. Seats in the pullman can be booked by those purchasing a first class ticket. On less busy services such as the afternoon train from Plymouth, there is generly ample room in the restaurant for everyone. |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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thetrout
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« Reply #26 on: January 20, 2009, 15:46:20 » |
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Boarded the 07:15 from Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads this morning, went to the buffet, Me: May I have a Latte Please? Very Nice Lady: I'm Afraid you cannot sir, The machine is broken  Me: Oh Ok Do you have any hot food? Very Nice Lady: Unfortunately the Microwave is Broken Me: I'll have a cup of tea then please, Very Nice Lady: Certainly Sir Me: I really wish they'd fix those b***dy coffee machines and use real milk whilst they're at it |
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broadgage
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« Reply #27 on: March 04, 2009, 12:58:45 » |
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Seats in the pullman can be booked by those purchasing a first class ticket.
Well that was true when I posted it, but not now. Bookings not possible now, customers services not too sure why though. Some say its a policy, others that it is a technical problem with the booking system. EDIT, Although customer services said bookings were not allowed, and this was confirmed by the ticket office at Charing Cross*, I made the booking I wanted at Paddington. Anyone else experienced this ? (* yes I know thats not a FGW▸ station, but bookings should be possible at any main station) |
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« Last Edit: March 05, 2009, 07:35:34 by broadgage »
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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super tm
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« Reply #28 on: March 05, 2009, 12:29:20 » |
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I can tell you why. As some trains run about without a coach F (2+7) you cannot book any seats in coach F as you cannot be sure the coach will be there!!
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super tm
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« Reply #29 on: March 05, 2009, 12:54:23 » |
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How easy is it for STD ticket holders to get a seat for Pullman on 1803 or 190X from PAD» ?
Do you have to vacate your seat after your meal like on East Coast or is it only 1 sitting (travel to Cornwall)? any regulars please advise.
You are supposed to vacate the seat after the meal. I find the speed at which you have to vacate the seat is proportional to the size of the tip |
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