Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
No recent travel & transport from BBC stories as at 12:15 13 Apr 2025
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 15/04/25 - End, Rail Future consultation
15/04/25 - Everything Electric
16/04/25 - Walk from Chetnole
10/05/25 - BRTA Westbury

On this day
13th Apr (1854)
First (broad gauge) train ran complete line from Oxford via Worcester to Wolverhampton (link)

Train RunningCancelled
10:36 Paignton to London Paddington
10:49 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
13/04/25 11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
11:41 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads
13/04/25 12:30 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa
13:02 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:21 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13/04/25 14:00 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon
14:32 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
15:02 London Paddington to Plymouth
15:42 Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central
13/04/25 16:35 London Paddington to Swansea
17:33 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
18:11 Castle Cary to Swindon
18:15 Penzance to Plymouth
19:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
19:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
19:29 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa
20:00 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon
20:17 Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads
20:26 Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads
21:36 Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids
Short Run
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
08:47 Penzance to Cardiff Central
13/04/25 10:02 London Paddington to Penzance
10:25 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
11:27 Carmarthen to London Paddington
11:54 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads
12:09 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
12:32 London Paddington to Paignton
13:41 London Paddington to Great Malvern
13/04/25 14:09 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
14:41 London Paddington to Great Malvern
14:58 Cardiff Central to Penzance
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
16:47 Bristol Temple Meads to Castle Cary
16:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington
17:25 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
17:32 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
18:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
18:25 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
20:11 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
21:00 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon
21:09 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads
Delayed
09:18 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
09:23 Swansea to London Paddington
11:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
12:00 Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids
12:41 London Paddington to Hereford
14:02 London Paddington to Penzance
16:25 Okehampton to Exeter Central
17:32 Exeter Central to Okehampton
etc
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
April 13, 2025, 12:28:17 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[96] Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling ...
[62] Probably one of the ugliest dolls I have seen around
[53] New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and ...
[38] A36 Closed Limpley Stoke August to Spring 2025
[36] Delays on Devon services - merged posts, ongoing discussion
[35] Thank goodness for a kettle!
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 92 93 [94] 95 96 ... 117
  Print  
Author Topic: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion  (Read 748280 times)
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13306


View Profile Email
« Reply #1395 on: September 24, 2018, 11:48:21 »

As the contract would still be with Hitachi (who would be contracted to modify them, I guess)< that contract could specify that they put one (or more, depending how many get converted at a time). Solves the stock-in-use problem, but I agree there'll be a cost for conversion
Logged
CMRail
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 400


View Profile
« Reply #1396 on: September 30, 2018, 18:24:51 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) are replying to passengers on twitter that they are looking at a new first class and standard class food offering.
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5669



View Profile
« Reply #1397 on: September 30, 2018, 21:17:19 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) are replying to passengers on twitter that they are looking at a new first class and standard class food offering.

This needs watching very carefully.
From what we have seen in recent years, I naturally suspect more downgrades.

In standard class "a revised trolley offering, more in line with the results of recent market research, and resulting in a quicker service for all passengers"  That being PR (Public Relations) speak for nothing on some services, and a reduced choice on longer distance trains.

In first class "an improved catering offer available to all first class customers on selected services" That being PR speak for no more full restaurants with a microwaved airline meal instead.
Logged

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 (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10446


View Profile
« Reply #1398 on: September 30, 2018, 23:57:19 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) are replying to passengers on twitter that they are looking at a new first class and standard class food offering.

The boss has said in the latest staff circular "There are service areas we need to get right - and making the most of the catering opportunities on board our IETs (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) is one of them..."

It sounds like something is in the offing.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
1st fan
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 415


View Profile
« Reply #1399 on: October 03, 2018, 23:25:05 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) are replying to passengers on twitter that they are looking at a new first class and standard class food offering.

The boss has said in the latest staff circular "There are service areas we need to get right - and making the most of the catering opportunities on board our IETs (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) is one of them..."

It sounds like something is in the offing.

Hallelujah!
Logged
Incider
Transport Scholar
Full Member
******
Posts: 98


View Profile
« Reply #1400 on: October 04, 2018, 17:59:56 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) are replying to passengers on twitter that they are looking at a new first class and standard class food offering.

The boss has said in the latest staff circular "There are service areas we need to get right - and making the most of the catering opportunities on board our IETs (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) is one of them..."

It sounds like something is in the offing.

I have heard plenty of waffle from GWR bosses in staff communications, I wouldn’t bet my house on anything too drastic, or too expensive happening anytime soon.
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5669



View Profile
« Reply #1401 on: October 04, 2018, 22:22:57 »

Different sandwich fillings perhaps.
Calling the trolley a "gourmet at seat selection" perhaps.
Something complicated involving smartphones and apps, possibly.

Logged

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 (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
CMRail
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 400


View Profile
« Reply #1402 on: October 05, 2018, 09:05:03 »

Also apparently there are plans to operate two trolleys ok the nine cars.
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5669



View Profile
« Reply #1403 on: October 06, 2018, 10:55:15 »

Also apparently there are plans to operate two trolleys on the nine cars.

Was not two trolleys originally a promise ?
Which then became a future aspiration.
And if eventually sometimes achieved will no doubt be touted as a great step forward !
Logged

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 (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
CMRail
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 400


View Profile
« Reply #1404 on: October 06, 2018, 13:11:39 »

Also apparently there are plans to operate two trolleys on the nine cars.

Was not two trolleys originally a promise ?
Which then became a future aspiration.
And if eventually sometimes achieved will no doubt be touted as a great step forward !

Well, GWR (Great Western Railway) aren’t the best at keeping promises.
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 19304



View Profile
« Reply #1405 on: October 06, 2018, 13:19:44 »

Pullman dining is settling in on the IETs (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)). Not without its problems though:

https://twitter.com/seatsixtyone/status/1047853338790907906?s=20

 Smiley
Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10446


View Profile
« Reply #1406 on: October 06, 2018, 16:03:52 »

It's interesting to re-read the first few pages of this thread from nine years ago, to see what has changed.

People talking about the Travelling Chef (long since axed), no advance tickets on the Cotswold Line (we now have them) and Broadgage at his cynical best claiming the trend is to remove one Pullman train per timetable change and predicting it won't be long until it was gone entirely.  It was four trains a day back then, and that number has in fact increased to ten since!  Wink
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5669



View Profile
« Reply #1407 on: October 07, 2018, 09:02:14 »

Whilst I am glad to say that my cynical prediction regarding the end of Pullman dining was nor realised, my other catering prediction regarding the abolition of buffets was unfortunately true.

For years I forecast, and then stated as a fact that "the new trains wont have buffets" Many respected members of these forums took a different view and felt that I was being unduly negative.
Even after drawings of the internal layout were shown, without a buffet, it was pointed out that this was only "one possible layout"
Several members felt that my criticisms were premature because "none of us have actually seen a new train yet" I felt able to complain about the absence of a buffet without personal inspection.

I also predicted the abolition of the travelling chef, and that the trolley service on the new DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit) would be inadequate.

The retention of the Pullman service Is most welcome, but does not  make up for the building a large fleet of so called inter-city trains without buffets.
Logged

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 (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
PhilWakely
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2164



View Profile
« Reply #1408 on: October 07, 2018, 09:49:06 »

Whilst I am glad to say that my cynical prediction regarding the end of Pullman dining was nor realised..............

A few of weeks ago, I was chatting to a couple of chaps who had independently booked First Class Advance tickets (for November) for Newton Abbot to Paddington and return, specifically to sample the delights of the Pullman. Both had tickets for the Up Golden Hind and the 12:03 back from Paddington the following day.  In one case, the Up reservation was in Coach E, whilst the Down was in coach L. The other chap had reservations for coach L (Up) and coach E (return). Logic tells me that the reservations system indicates an expected 2x5 IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) formation for both services. If that is the case, one of these two is going to miss out on his Pullman dining unless an High Speed Trains (HST (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))) turns up  Sad


Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
« Last Edit: April 27, 2021, 15:28:59 by VickiS » Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7421


View Profile
« Reply #1409 on: October 07, 2018, 14:18:25 »

GWR (Great Western Railway)'s Pullman Dining page tells you:
Quote
You’ll need to reserve your seat at least one hour before your train leaves. Only make a reservation if you’re planning to dine with us.

I says nothing about whether this is the same as any seat reservation on this train, or First Advance, or whether it's an extra dining reservation (it also uses the term booking).

It also says this:
Quote
There are currently no available spaces for wheelchair users, or accessible toilets, on our Pullman services.

Our new Intercity Express Train Pullman coaches, which will start to enter service in 2018, will provide access to wheelchair users and have accessible toilets.

So I can understand if passengers can't follow GWR's instructions - or even find them. Wake up, someone in there!
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 ... 92 93 [94] 95 96 ... 117
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page