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

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Worried about downgraded catering on the Class 800s and 801s? Just look at what CrossCountry are now offering without full kitchens or buffets:

http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/278100/cateringmenu.pdf

Available to pre-order when you've booked your travel online.

http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/catering

If the logistics are robust, this looks like an excellent offering. For the benefit of this forum I may well try this service out in the near future.

[IndustryInsider]

For the benefit of this forum I may well try this service out in the near future.

Please do let us know your findings, as it's an interesting offering.  I do hope that the order is delivered often enough and that a ropey old sandwich isn't offered as a substitute with apologies! 

Presumably these are cooked at one of the several service centres en-route, delivered to the train at the most convenient one, then prepared for service in the galley on the train before being served at-seat?

My personal experience of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) as a whole hasn't changed much over the years in that they are a 'just do enough' franchise rather than a 'going that bit further' franchise as they claim, though that may change with special offers like this one.  The only part of the franchise which consistently impresses me is the on-board staff who are the best of all the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) in my opinion - which is saying a lot given the grief they must get from overcrowding and delays.  I travelled on three XC trains yesterday and there were standing passengers on all three.

[Chris from Nailsea]

For the benefit of this forum I may well try this service out in the near future.

There's really no need for you to put yourself out - not even on our behalf. 

[stuving]

I find it odd that they only offer wine in full (75 cl) bottles. True, they are cheaper than a restaurant would charge, so maybe we should see it as "order a half bottle and get a whole one for no extra charge". I'm not sure if that would count as "going that bit further", or even as socially responsible.

[Timmer]

My personal experience of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) as a whole hasn't changed much over the years in that they are a 'just do enough' franchise rather than a 'going that bit further' franchise as they claim, though that may change with special offers like this one.  The only part of the franchise which consistently impresses me is the on-board staff who are the best of all the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) in my opinion - which is saying a lot given the grief they must get from overcrowding and delays.  I travelled on three XC trains yesterday and there were standing passengers on all three.

I do every thing I can to avoid travelling XC if the journey is longer than 1 hour. I don't blame Arriva, it was the decisions made by the then SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) that thought 4/5 car Voyagers would be suitable on a long distance operation.

I think we all know what will happen in a few years time, the remaining First Great Westerns (FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) High Speed Trains (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s will end up back with XC with the TOC/Dft heralding the arrival of 'proper' trains more suited to a long distance network. I might start using them again if that happens.

XC has always been a Cinderella network and when they did spend some money on new trains, the carriage certainly quickly turned into a pumpkin!

Still, credit to Arriva for coming up with a new initiative to improve their catering offering on the long distance services.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

[alan_s]

Is it April already?  I know you will say I am being negative but I really can't see it working.  XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) have enough trouble providing a seat.  So I book a meal, get on the train, find it's only a 4 car voyager and the reservation system is down; pax standing everywhere - would the catering manager kick someone off a table for me?  Or let me sit in first ?  I doubt it!

[ChrisB]

Check the Terms & Conditions (T&C)s but I reckon you'd simply get a refund on monies paid (well in advance, no interest sorry), probably after you having to apply for it rather than automatically, and possibly many weeks later

I share your thoughts

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[stuving]

They are not asking for pre-payment, which looks like a risk from their viewpoint.

Not also that the menus are headed "Breakfast" and "Afternoon and evening", without times, while the service hours are 06:00-18:00. How is that 18:00 cut-off defined? That could be important for a lot of people if the service is to be any use.

[ChrisB]

Strewth, I should say so.

"Oh sorry, I don't feel like eating x & y today" will be a regular (very) occurance

[Umberleigh]

I notice this is only available on the Edinburgh to Plymouth service and Manchester to Bournemouth. So basically Cross Country are looking to provide hot meals for long distance passengers who are much more likely to splash out I guess.

I'm impressed with the menu and prices, it's a huge leap forward and I would be pleased to see a similar offering on selected FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services. However I agree with those who doubt the ability of Cross Country to offer a consistent service, but I wish them well

[Umberleigh]

On reflection, are the two routes offering this menu operated by High Speed Trains (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s?

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[Brucey]

If the logistics are robust, this looks like an excellent offering. For the benefit of this forum I may well try this service out in the near future.

If the meals are served as well as they are in the pictures and are a reasonably sized portion, I would say they appear to be very good value for money, especially given the good selection of meal types.  If, however, they are just microwave meals in a plastic dish, then I would be slightly disappointed.

[Brucey]

Diverting the conversation slightly, I noticed on my recent business trip to Greece that prices of food and drink in "captive" environments (e.g. on trains, at airports, at train stations, in museums, on ferries, etc) is regulated.

If drinks are served, the following must be offered for sale:
Water 500ml bottle ^0.35
Greek coffee ^1.20
Instant coffee ^1.20
Tea ^1.20

If food is served, the following must be offered:
Cheese sandwich or toast ^1.25
Ham and cheese sandwich or toast ^1.45

I thought this was an excellent idea, especially considering some European airports (e.g. Nice) charge as much as ^2.20 for a 500ml bottle of water.  That being said, some shops (even onboard a ferry) hide the regulated price list away and keep the 500ml bottles of water out of sight.  Nevertheless, they are available on demand.

I wonder whether a similar regulation in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) would:
a) do something to help the public perception of profiteering in certain captive retail environments
b) make buffet cars or trolleys more popular, e.g. people buying an additional overpriced item whilst buying their regulated water?

[alan_s]

On reflection, are the two routes offering this menu operated by High Speed Trains (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s?

Nope, the MAN-BMH are purely voyagers.  The few High Speed Trains (HST)s are all on the routes to/from PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains), and go south in the morning and north in the evening.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[JayMac]

For the benefit of this forum I may well try this service out in the near future.

There's really no need for you to put yourself out - not even on our behalf. 

I have to continue to live up to my Trundling Trencherman epithet.