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

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

I therefore predict that the waistlines of members bobm and bignosemac will expand even more from May onwards ... 

And perhaps also my waistline 

[broadgage]

After months, if not years, of speculation about additional Pullman Services on this thread FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have confirmed to Barry Doe that from May 20th there will be two sittings of breakfast served on the 05:05 ex-Penzance from Plymouth onwards. The crew will then serve the current dinner menu on while returning on the 12:06 from Paddington.

The news is in the Fare Dealer column in issue 719 of RAIL magazine.

Excellent news, glad to hear that the rumours did have some substance behind them.
I doubt that I will use the breakfast service, but hopefully others will enjoy it.

I wonder how well the "two sittings" will work ? Is there not a risk that those served first will try and remain in the restaurant thereby not allowing others to dine.
I would expect that the average spend on breakfast will be much less than for lunch or dinner thereby requiring a fairly quick turnover of customers to make the service viable. Most customers would presumably not take wine with breakfast !

[bobm]

They used to have two sittings on the 07:30 Paddington to Penzance when it had a Pullman Breakfast in the past.

The first sitting was usually full but the second after Bristol less so. I think they used to allow people to stay unless there was a demand for seats. It is a bit harder to spin out eating a breakfast over more than an hour unlike a dinner!

[JayMac]

Just been looking at fares and timings to try out the Breakfast Pullman and down lunchtime Pullman (not the same day!) in the first few weeks of operation. Good value Advance Purchase fares mean I'll probably try breakfast from Taunton first.

I also note that the 1206 has the requisite 'knife and fork' symbol for a full restaurant in WebTIS booking engines from May 20th. The up breakfast Pullman hasn't got the catering symbol but that is to be expected with WebTIS as it only shows the catering that is available from the origin station which, being Penzance, is just a buffet until Plymouth.

Now for some advertising from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)....

[swrural]

That's a helluva way to go from Shirehampton just to get breakfast BNM.  I assume champagne will be served.   

[JayMac]

Shirehampton to Taunton isn't that far.

[swrural]

Will look forward to your reviews, which are much appreciated, BNM.

[broadgage]

If anyone fancies a meal on either of the evening services from London, it would appear that services are significantly altered and leave London earlier, at 16-30 and 18-00 instead of at 18-03 and at 19-03.

From tonight for nearly three weeks, details on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site.

Important edit, this is as shown on the pullman dining section of the FGW website, but others have stated that the information is incorrect and that the two evening Pullmans are in fact re timed by only 3 minutes

[ChrisB]

All to do with the Castle Cary diversions....thread elsewhere.

[bobm]

If anyone fancies a meal on either of the evening services from London, it would appear that services are significantly altered and leave London earlier, at 16-30 and 18-00 instead of at 18-03 and at 19-03.

According to the special timetable the evening Pullmans are on the retimed 18:00 and 19:00. 
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/Taunton%20to%20Castle%20Cary%20April%20Block%20-%20WEB.ashx

Of the Pullmans in the other direction, the 12:55 from Plymouth calls additionally at Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon but not Castle Cary or Westbury.  The 12:01 also goes via Box but only calls additionally at Temple Meads.

EDIT to add: Services go at normal times and normal routes on Fridays 19th, 26th April and 3rd May.

[JayMac]

If anyone fancies a meal on either of the evening services from London, it would appear that services are significantly altered and leave London earlier, at 16-30 and 18-00 instead of at 18-03 and at 19-03.

According to the special timetable the evening Pullmans are on the retimed 18:00 and 19:00. 
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/Taunton%20to%20Castle%20Cary%20April%20Block%20-%20WEB.ashx

Of the Pullmans in the other direction, the 12:55 from Plymouth calls additionally at Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon but not Castle Cary or Westbury.  The 12:01 also goes via Box but only calls additionally at Temple Meads.

On the 'Improvements Work: Affecting journeys to the West of England' page of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website (now a dead link) the summary did say that the down Pullmans were at 1630 and 1800. I think that was an error though, as the FGW booking engine also suggests the Pullmans are on the 1800 and 1900.

[bobm]

Wasn't aware of that summary, but thinking about it 16:30 would have been a bit problematic for the early Pullman - the crew, who travel on the 10:00 ex-Penzance, would have less than 45 minutes at Paddington to take a break and get prepared.

Incidentally the new timetables from May 2013 are on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and, as predicted, don't show the new breakfast or lunchtime pullmans.  It might have been too late for the printed copies but it shouldn't be that hard to change the PDFs. 

[broadgage]

The "pullman dining" of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site definatly shows the times that I posted, but as posted above this information may not be correct.

I have edited my earlier post to reflect this.

[bobm]

It does indeed...

I think the phrase we are looking for is ..."Paging Ollie...."   

[broadgage]

I have telephoned customer services in the last few minutes and they state that the information I qouted a few posts back is correct and that the Pullmans ARE on the 16-30 and the 18-00.