Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[bobm]

I have noticed that the buffets have now started selling Doombar and Proper Job beers in glass bottles. I'm not sure of the wisdom of this on some of the Friday/Saturday late night trains I have been on.

[Richard Fairhurst]

As cider is the "wine of the West", it'd be lovely if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) served some proper cider rather than just (blech) Wrongbow...

[JayMac]

 ...and the equally average Bulmers Original.

Replace one of the canned ciders with something like Thatcher's Katy or Sheppy's Dabinett.

[broadgage]

I took a meal last Thursday on the 18-03 from Paddington, and whilst the Pullman was of the usual high standard, there was considerable dissatisfaction about the much reduced first class accommodation on the train.
With only one and a bit first class coaches available, the Pullman crew could not lay up 29 spaces as was the intention, but only 17 spaces in coach F.
Many who wished to dine were turned away, and there was an argument over whom preceded whom in the queue.

On board announcements stated that this was due to a "missing first class coach" which implies to me some form of breakdown, error, or omission. In fact of course the downgraded first class is the new policy. Almost every seat in the one full first class coach was reserved, leaving very little room for anyone who had not booked.

[Umberleigh]

I took a meal last Thursday on the 18-03 from Paddington, and whilst the Pullman was of the usual high standard, there was considerable dissatisfaction about the much reduced first class accommodation on the train.
With only one and a bit first class coaches available, the Pullman crew could not lay up 29 spaces as was the intention, but only 17 spaces in coach F.
Many who wished to dine were turned away, and there was an argument over whom preceded whom in the queue.

On board announcements stated that this was due to a "missing first class coach" which implies to me some form of breakdown, error, or omission. In fact of course the downgraded first class is the new policy. Almost every seat in the one full first class coach was reserved, leaving very little room for anyone who had not booked.

Sorry to hear of your experience, but we all - well most of us - saw this coming. Sadly the Pullman could very quickly become a casualty of this misguided policy, as that represents significant lost revenue. Also, customer confidence in the Pullman will rapidly evaporate if this farce continues.

The railway runs beyond Westbury for a reason, and facilities for long distance passengers should not be compromised to appease London commuters.

[Timmer]

It's crazy that West of England and South Wales High Speed Trains (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s are loosing a First class coach. These services were not running round with loads of empty First class seats. Even with restrictions of the sale of First Advance tickets the one and a half coaches won't be enough on many services and that is a fact...well it will be until those paying full fare First class tickets can't get a seat and seek an alternative to travelling by train.

Edit : VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[ChrisB]

Not a fact at all.....have you seen the pax counts? If they kill 1st class from Reading, there will be enough seating....it'll just be one seat each, not two

[Umberleigh]

Not a fact at all.....have you seen the pax counts? If they kill 1st class from Reading, there will be enough seating....it'll just be one seat each, not two

Indeed, it appears no-one was standing (on this occasion). But the issue here is that the Pullman restaurant lost 12 paying customers and if this carries on it will eventually lead to its demise. The irony is, of course, that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on the one hand have aggressively marketed the Pullman and then on the other hand ensured that non-dining customers will be sat in coach F (as was).

[Rhydgaled]

With only one and a bit first class coaches available, the Pullman crew could not lay up 29 spaces as was the intention, but only 17 spaces in coach F. Many who wished to dine were turned away, and there was an argument over whom preceded whom in the queue.

Would those 29 seats have been across two carriages, or does the buffet/kitchen car in some sets seat 29? If they can serve food to adjacent coaches, then couldn't the tables in the nearest standard class coach be reserved for overflow dining on the Pullman if insufficent first class seating is available? Not ideal I know, but surely better than turning away hungry passengers.

[ChrisB]

Tables for your food?

[Timmer]

Not a fact at all.....have you seen the pax counts?

Nope, I can only say what I see and what I experience.

[broadgage]

With only one and a bit first class coaches available, the Pullman crew could not lay up 29 spaces as was the intention, but only 17 spaces in coach F. Many who wished to dine were turned away, and there was an argument over whom preceded whom in the queue.

Would those 29 seats have been across two carriages, or does the buffet/kitchen car in some sets seat 29? If they can serve food to adjacent coaches, then couldn't the tables in the nearest standard class coach be reserved for overflow dining on the Pullman if insufficent first class seating is available? Not ideal I know, but surely better than turning away hungry passengers.

If coach F* has the full size kitchen then it also contains 17 seats. On less busy Pullman services these 17 seats are the only ones laid up for meal service.
On a busy Pullman service it is usual to also lay up the first 2 bays of seats in coach G* these 12 seats give a total dining capacity of 29.
Due to the recent downgrade of first class, it is often only viable to lay up in coach F* as otherwise insufficient space remains for first class non dining customers.

It would not be viable to provide dining in the adjacent steerage class coach because most seats are bus style without tables, and the handful of table seats are liable to be jealously guarded by those lucky enough to obtain one. Also this coach tends to contain many Reading commuters.

When the downgrading of first class started, it was suggested that a few sets would retain proper first class for use on Pullman services. This has clearly not been the case.
A cynic like me would suspect that these changes are to prepare us for the new trains as these have a very small percentage of First class, and for steerage no catering except a trolley

[ChrisB]

When the downgrading of first class started, it was suggested that a few sets would retain proper first class for use on Pullman services. This has clearly not been the case

Not sure where you dreamt that up from - certainly no one at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would have suggested this.

[broadgage]

When the downgrading of first class started, it was suggested that a few sets would retain proper first class for use on Pullman services. This has clearly not been the case

Not sure where you dreamt that up from - certainly no one at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would have suggested this.

It was suggested in an "off the record" conversation with a member of FGW management whom I met at a social event.

[bobm]

It was told to me too at a different social event.