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Author Topic: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion  (Read 629266 times)
TaplowGreen
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« Reply #990 on: May 05, 2015, 09:57:57 »

I have it on good authority that provision of Pullman dining services has been written into the franchise agreement starting September 2015. If so I think that's a first for catering provision to be explicitly specified.

How about catering provision for the masses rather than just the very small % who can afford the Pullman? Is that written in? Any idea what is to be provided as a minimum?
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ChrisB
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« Reply #991 on: May 05, 2015, 09:58:46 »

Hopefully, that includes the recently introduced services too
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JayMac
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« Reply #992 on: May 05, 2015, 10:33:55 »

I should think it does as the info I heard today came from a crew member. They were told that jobs were safe as FGW (First Great Western), in agreement with the DfT» (Department for Transport - about), had the Pullman restaurant services as of 2015 written into the franchise.

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« Reply #993 on: May 05, 2015, 10:46:15 »

How about catering provision for the masses rather than just the very small % who can afford the Pullman? Is that written in? Any idea what is to be provided as a minimum?

Sorry, couldn't tell you. I was only chatting about Pullmans. We'll just have to wait until the DfT» (Department for Transport - about) get round to publishing (or responding to FOI (Freedom of Information) requests for) the recently signed franchise agreement.
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broadgage
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« Reply #994 on: May 05, 2015, 11:05:14 »

I have it on good authority that provision of Pullman dining services has been written into the franchise agreement starting September 2015. If so I think that's a first for catering provision to be explicitly specified.

How about catering provision for the masses rather than just the very small % who can afford the Pullman? Is that written in? Any idea what is to be provided as a minimum?

A trolley only on IEPs (Intercity Express Program / Project.), surveys show that this what customers want !
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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.
broadgage
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« Reply #995 on: May 05, 2015, 11:07:55 »

I have it on good authority that provision of Pullman dining services has been written into the franchise agreement starting September 2015. If so I think that's a first for catering provision to be explicitly specified.

Splendid news
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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.
TaplowGreen
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« Reply #996 on: May 05, 2015, 11:50:43 »

I have it on good authority that provision of Pullman dining services has been written into the franchise agreement starting September 2015. If so I think that's a first for catering provision to be explicitly specified.

How about catering provision for the masses rather than just the very small % who can afford the Pullman? Is that written in? Any idea what is to be provided as a minimum?

A trolley only on IEPs (Intercity Express Program / Project.), surveys show that this what customers want !


Ah well..........at least my longer distance trips start from Reading or Paddington where I can get a decent pasty or something from M & S! 

One of these days I am determined to try the Pullman however, perhaps after I win the lottery!
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #997 on: May 05, 2015, 12:05:48 »

Ah well..........at least my longer distance trips start from Reading or Paddington where I can get a decent pasty or something from M & S!

And there is the reason that on board catering is a declining facility these days.  All the large stations, and the majority of smaller ones, that the long distance trains call at now have vastly superior catering options at the station than they used to up until the end of the last century.  That, and the fact that the old 'three square meals a day' at set times is also largely a thing of the past in modern society.

It's a pity, but it's an undeniable reality.
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« Reply #998 on: May 05, 2015, 12:08:19 »

And why NR» (Network Rail - home page) are pulling back their large stations under their control - to retain the vastly increasing leases being paid by these outlets.
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thetrout
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« Reply #999 on: May 05, 2015, 12:23:20 »

And there is the reason that on board catering is a declining facility these days.  All the large stations, and the majority of smaller ones, that the long distance trains call at now have vastly superior catering options at the station than they used to up until the end of the last century.  That, and the fact that the old 'three square meals a day' at set times is also largely a thing of the past in modern society.

It's a pity, but it's an undeniable reality.

London Midland pulled the Trolley Services from their trains for this very reason. They even said themselves that "Many of our trains stop for extended time periods where catering facilities are widely available"

But I think pulling Buffet Services from Long Distance InterCity services would be a very very bad idea...!
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1000 on: May 05, 2015, 14:15:56 »

Ah well..........at least my longer distance trips start from Reading or Paddington where I can get a decent pasty or something from M & S!

And there is the reason that on board catering is a declining facility these days.  All the large stations, and the majority of smaller ones, that the long distance trains call at now have vastly superior catering options at the station than they used to up until the end of the last century.  That, and the fact that the old 'three square meals a day' at set times is also largely a thing of the past in modern society.

It's a pity, but it's an undeniable reality.


Thats a very good point......if you take into account the longest trip on FGW (First Great Western) (PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-PNZ, correct me if I'm wrong?), unless you get on at one of the real one horse stations you would almost certainly be able to obtain cheaper and wider ranging food than you would find on offer on a train buffet before you board, either at the station or nearby.......I guess this helps to make the argument for a trolley rather than a full buffet, and the lack of demand for/demise of Travelling Chef is further evidence of this...........although the Pullman is popular within its niche market and seems to be thriving.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #1001 on: May 05, 2015, 22:13:24 »

... unless you get on at one of the real one horse stations ...

Ahem!  Are you even possibly suggesting that Nailsea & Backwell is one of those?  Shocked Roll Eyes Grin
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1002 on: May 06, 2015, 19:01:24 »

... unless you get on at one of the real one horse stations ...

Ahem!  Are you even possibly suggesting that Nailsea & Backwell is one of those?  Shocked Roll Eyes Grin
....

...as my local station is Taplow I would be on dodgy ground if I did! (......but I have often wondered why there was a horse trough outside Nailsea and Backwell and the station staff do look a bit odd in those ten gallon hats!)  Cheesy
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chuffed
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« Reply #1003 on: May 06, 2015, 19:23:20 »

Not to mention the green stripy aprons worn by employees of a upmarket refreshment room in Nailsea from where provisions may be obtained and delivered to your ranch for a small fee. One such employee has been known to park his steed while making deliveries,and has been heard to say Wait, Rose !
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1004 on: May 09, 2015, 09:25:51 »

Read a report earlier that the food for the evening PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains) - PNZ Pullman last night was loaded but the buffet was not..........I wonder whether a few scraps were thrown through from the privileged few for the starving masses to fight over?  Embarrassed
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