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Author Topic: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion  (Read 629267 times)
bobm
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« Reply #855 on: December 13, 2014, 21:03:00 »

All this has made me want to try one - sadly the buffet on this train has run out of them. Only got slimline tonic too - and that's far too late to be any good for me!  Grin
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #856 on: December 24, 2014, 22:03:35 »

From the Bath Chronicle:

Quote
Rail Union RMT planning new year protests against train service changes

Rail Union RMT plans to step up a campaign against changes on First Great Western services in January.

New intercity fleet trains commissioned by the government are due to come into service on the Great Western Main Line from December 2017.

The union claims there are proposals for the axing of buffet cars, on-board staff and maintenance workers.

Protest events will take place at several stations in England and Wales on January 5 from 7am to 9am.

Stations include Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter, London Paddington, Plymouth and Swansea railway stations.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash the axing of buffet cars would lead to an ^upstairs-downstairs^ service on trains. He said: ^This government of the rich, for the rich and by the rich, now intend to introduce an upstairs-downstairs service on Britain^s long haul rail services which would condemn the vast majority to pay through the nose to travel in rammed-out carriages where the catering trolley is jammed at one end while the elite glide through the country like extras from Downton Abbey.^

First Great Western has said RMT is ^merely confused about a minor change to the way executive dining in first class is being delivered.^
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« Reply #857 on: December 24, 2014, 23:03:31 »

I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.
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« Reply #858 on: December 25, 2014, 13:13:50 »

I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.

That's an interesting development!
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« Reply #859 on: December 26, 2014, 11:18:06 »

I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.
The Jan 2014 Modern Railways says that the new TOC (Train Operating Company) intends to provide an at seat meal service for all passengers on IEP trains, but doesn't say whether there would be a buffet counter. The photos of the first prototype suggest the kitchen is already fitted out, so providing a buffet would waste space unless you can move the already-fitted kitchen.
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Don't DOO (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
paul7575
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« Reply #860 on: December 26, 2014, 14:03:12 »

I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.
The Jan 2014 Modern Railways says that the new TOC (Train Operating Company) intends to provide an at seat meal service for all passengers on IEP trains, but doesn't say whether there would be a buffet counter. The photos of the first prototype suggest the kitchen is already fitted out, so providing a buffet would waste space unless you can move the already-fitted kitchen.

Inter City Railways have told northern media that there will definitely be buffets in their IEPs, and that the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are arguing about something that definitely isn't happening...
Quote
But the firms who will take over the running of the East Coast rail franchise when it is privatised in March, Stagecoach and Virgin, say the protest is ^bizarre^ as they have pledged to have a buffet car on new trains that will start service in 2018.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/rail-firms-reject-bizarre-buffet-car-axe-protests-1-7004232

Paul
« Last Edit: December 26, 2014, 14:09:13 by paul7755 » Logged
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« Reply #861 on: December 27, 2014, 14:47:38 »

I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.
The Jan 2014 Modern Railways says that the new TOC (Train Operating Company) intends to provide an at seat meal service for all passengers on IEP trains, but doesn't say whether there would be a buffet counter. The photos of the first prototype suggest the kitchen is already fitted out, so providing a buffet would waste space unless you can move the already-fitted kitchen.

Inter City Railways have told northern media that there will definitely be buffets in their IEPs, and that the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are arguing about something that definitely isn't happening...
Quote
But the firms who will take over the running of the East Coast rail franchise when it is privatised in March, Stagecoach and Virgin, say the protest is ^bizarre^ as they have pledged to have a buffet car on new trains that will start service in 2018.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/rail-firms-reject-bizarre-buffet-car-axe-protests-1-7004232

Paul

Thanks, I heard it from a reliable source, but nice to see it in writing.
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« Reply #862 on: December 27, 2014, 15:14:16 »

Will FGW (First Great Western) follow suit?  That's the big question!
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« Reply #863 on: December 27, 2014, 19:17:28 »

Depends what the Government require in their new franchise....
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JayMac
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« Reply #864 on: December 27, 2014, 21:39:28 »

Catering specifications have nearly always been absent from franchise agreements. As has been so with the East Coast franchise won by Stagecoach /Virgin. It is they who will have approached Hitachi and ask for a buffet module to be included in the East Coast trains.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #865 on: December 27, 2014, 21:47:56 »

Sen those documents? Care to share the link?
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JayMac
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« Reply #866 on: December 27, 2014, 22:12:02 »

Yes. And No.

Existing franchise agreements don't prescribe the level of catering. At most they'll reference that existing equipment is to be maintained and periodically replaced when life expired.

What is actually provided to customers, be it trolley, buffet, hot food, restaurant is up to the franchisee.

In the case of the East Coast franchise awarded to Inter City Railways, it is they who have categorically said the Class 800s in their fleet will have buffets. No mention that they were required in the Invitation to Tender. All the ITT (Invitation to Tender) mentioned was that bidders should provide 'appropriate on-board catering' and that bidders proposals for catering will be assessed and scored along with all other proposals in addition to the basic train service provision.

I think it highly unlikely that DfT» (Department for Transport - about) will tell FGW (First Great Western) what to provide by way of catering on their Class 800/801s. I also think it unlikely that DfT will prescribe catering provision in the next Greater Western ITT. They didn't in the last (cancelled) one.

As for links to past franchise agreements and ITTs, no can do at the moment as I'm on my phone. Try Google.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2014, 22:38:25 by bignosemac » Logged

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ChrisB
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« Reply #867 on: December 28, 2014, 17:02:45 »

In the case of the East Coast franchise awarded to Inter City Railways, it is they who have categorically said the Class 800s in their fleet will have buffets.

Really? Where?
It was reported up thread that there was a *rumour*....strange how this becomes a "categorically said"
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Brucey
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« Reply #868 on: December 28, 2014, 17:05:37 »

In the case of the East Coast franchise awarded to Inter City Railways, it is they who have categorically said the Class 800s in their fleet will have buffets.

Really? Where?
It was reported up thread that there was a *rumour*....strange how this becomes a "categorically said"

See this post by paul7755....
I had heard that East Coast IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will now have buffets installed, but i've not actually read it anywhere officially.
The Jan 2014 Modern Railways says that the new TOC (Train Operating Company) intends to provide an at seat meal service for all passengers on IEP trains, but doesn't say whether there would be a buffet counter. The photos of the first prototype suggest the kitchen is already fitted out, so providing a buffet would waste space unless you can move the already-fitted kitchen.

Inter City Railways have told northern media that there will definitely be buffets in their IEPs, and that the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are arguing about something that definitely isn't happening...
Quote
But the firms who will take over the running of the East Coast rail franchise when it is privatised in March, Stagecoach and Virgin, say the protest is ^bizarre^ as they have pledged to have a buffet car on new trains that will start service in 2018.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/rail-firms-reject-bizarre-buffet-car-axe-protests-1-7004232

Paul
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ChrisB
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« Reply #869 on: December 28, 2014, 17:09:03 »

oh ok, apologies.
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