Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[swrural]

Would not two of Tribute and two of Proper Job be even more balanced?  Unless the one has a higher alcohol content than the other.

[broadgage]

I always thought that 4 bottles of Tribute constitutes a balanced meal....

I agree, Kernow Otter - particularly as it can be consumed, if necessary, without the need for any such adjuncts as a plate, knife, fork or spoon. 

In this, Sir, you are mistaken.
Beer is most enjoyable, but is by no means a balanced meal unless accompanied with at the minimum a roast beef sandwich, and preferably a proper meal as may be taken on the Pullman.

A balanced meal recently consisted of a gin and tonic on the platform at Taunton, another one on the 13-23 from Taunton, smoked salmon, fillet steak, and a bottle of wine in the restaurant, followed by cheese and a little port.
On arrival at Padington I felt that the meal was best rounded of with a glass or two of Golden Pride in the station pub.

[TonyK]

We health freaks go for whiskey. Made from grain, it is practically muesli.

[bobm]

On arrival at Padington I felt that the meal was best rounded of with a glass or two of Golden Pride in the station pub.

Certainly agree with you on the Golden Pride - a big fan of Fullers beers and have enjoyed many a pint at the Mad Bishop and Bear at Paddington.  As chance would have it I had a bottle with my healthy salad this evening...


On the subject of catering on the Sleeper most of my trips are in the Down direction which means boarding after 22:30 by which time I don't really want too large a meal.  However travelling in the opposite direction the slightly earlier departure might make a difference.

[swrural]

Great Western Coffee Shop (GWCS) - motto ' we keep heart surgeons in business'.

Personally I am convinced three glasses of Chilean Merlot a day are healthier than beer.  On glasses, I can get three full ones, before having to open another bottle.     

[swrural]

Back on topic:

BNM's report about no tea or coffee (as well as juice) for wake up brekkers was disappointing to read.

I looked up the blurb at

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/Night-Riviera-Sleeper/Cabin-Passenger

As you see it says:

'Your complimentary breakfast includes; a choice of cereals, a bacon baguette or a plain croissant (vegetarian option).'

Note the word 'includes'.  I would expect (and anyone else would expect, as BNM did) the orange juice or grapefruit juice and tea or coffee with that wording.

However I note that the 'host' will provide refreshments so perhaps that was an answer.

'Every train has a Customer Host who is there for your comfort and safety. Hosts are there to help you with your on board travel needs,  which includes providing refreshments to your cabin.'

Last. It says

'Cabin Ticket holders boarding the Night Riviera at London Paddington can use our First Class Lounge from 21.30, this is located on platform one.'

Again how odd not to mention that 'leavers' can too on the way back, unless BNM wasn't supposed to.

Perhaps I misread the page but then anyone else could, n'est-ce-pas??

There was annoyingly no link direct from the page about 'accommodation'' to the page from which I have quoted, or vice versa.

It needs attention, the whole suite of pages, in my view.

[thetrout]

Sleeper customers can indeed use the First Class Lounge on arrival into Paddington. I thought the website always used to say that?

I wouldn't have been too fussed about the Orange Juice and Coffee being one or t'other. It's a help yourself First Class Lounge

It's also the case with the Caledonian Sleepers into Euston. Where some sleeper passengers can use the Virgin Trains First Class Lounge and also use showers in there. You can use the Paddington Showers in the P1 Bogs if you're a sleeper passenger too for no charge. My advice... Don't...! Also the toilet attendant the last time I did this tried to take my ticket off me for "the paperwork"... Great... How exactly do I continue to Southend then??

[JayMac]

You can use the Paddington Showers in the P1 Bogs if you're a sleeper passenger too for no charge

P1 bogs are now only open 0730-1930. A long trek over to P12 and showers there may or may not be available in the early AM. That is what I've just been told in a call to the Network Rail Reception at Paddington.

Time to email FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and point out to them that their Sleeper arrives on P1 and the free shower facilities they advertise may or may not be available over the far side of the station, according to the station operator.

[thetrout]

That's interesting... I didn't think P12 Bogs had showers?? At least that was what the attendants said to me there a couple of weeks back...?!?!

I ended up paying a fiver to use the ones at Kings Cross. Which are brand new so I didn't mind too much. As I was also not on the sleeper, I would've paid a fiver for a shower at Paddington anyway... Kings Cross certainly the better decision

[JayMac]

Still waiting for a definitive response from either FGW^▸ (First Great Western), Network Rail or the contractors, MITIE (I think) about shower facilities for arriving Sleeper passengers at Paddington. So far:

FGW Call Centre:
Yes P1. But when told these don't open until 0730, YES P12, but don't know opening hours or whether Sleeper passengers can use them free of charge.

Network Rail Customer Services:
Yes P1 0730-1930. Not sure about P12, here's the number for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) reception at Paddington.

Network Rail Reception Paddington:
NR: "I don't think there are showers on P12."
Me: "Can you check?"
NR: "Okay, we'll call you back."
Not called back, and today unable to get an answer.

MITIE
I'll find out for you and call you back. Called Friday AM. Still waiting for call back.

Have now asked formally on FGW Facebook after asking Ollie informally.

An object lesson in a fractured industry at work. Privatisation. Pah! 

[swrural]

What's MITIE?  I can't find it in abbs.

Google says it's Management Incentive Through Investment Equity - some fancy recruitment agency.

[brompton rail]

Aren't MITIE a facilities management company? Cleaning, repairs, fire management etc.
mitie.com/about us

[JayMac]

What's MITIE?  I can't find it in abbs.

Google says it's Management Incentive Through Investment Equity - some fancy recruitment agency.

Um I did refer in my post to ...contractors, MITIE.

That's the name of a company that provide cleaning services for many stations and train operators. When I Google MITIE the first hit is the company concerned. Did you miss that? The only way I then find what MITIE stands for is after reading the Wikipedia entry for the company. They are quite clearly not 'some fancy recruitment agency' and I think, swrural, you are being just a little mischievous in questioning this name.

The reason you can't find it in the acronyms/abbreviations list is because it doesn't need to be there. That is list for predominantly rail related terminology, with some internet terminology/slang thrown in. Had I been talking about ICI, the RAC, IBM, Amstrad et seq. ad inifinitum I would equally not consider adding those to the list.

I see no need for a company name to be explained further or added to the forum list of acronyms/abbreviations.

And no, I won't be explaining the Latin either.

[Network SouthEast]

The plot thickens because I often see Interserve cleaners/vehicles at Paddington station? I know MITIE have a contract with FGW^▸ (First Great Western), who do also have a presence at Paddington obviously, but maybe MITIE don't clean everything there? Is it possible that Network Rail contract Interserve for cleaning at Paddington?

Anyway, I do know that the toilets on platform 12 ARE 24 hours, but I've never actually been inside to know if there is a shower or not.

[JayMac]

Ahh, the thick plottens*

Maybe it is Interserve. I'll await further response from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) (that's First Great Western, by the way).


*^Inspector Clouseau