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Author Topic: Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion  (Read 629339 times)
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #1695 on: April 11, 2022, 16:46:54 »

The app was talked about in post #1576 and prior to that as well.  Originally hoped to be up and running last Spring.  Don’t think it’s been live trialled yet but looks like it’s still going to happen from what Bob has heard.
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« Reply #1696 on: April 12, 2022, 22:28:19 »

From May according to posters over on RailForums.  Thought only instead of the 18:48 rather than an additional service.
Yeah, that's what the staff told me. Also an hour earlier on the eastbound (so more lunchtimey from Wales).
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TonyK
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« Reply #1697 on: April 18, 2022, 12:28:13 »

I was told at a meeting last week that GWR (Great Western Railway) are in the closing stages of developing an app to provide at an seat buffet service in standard class on IET (Intercity Express Train) services.

If it depends on the on-train WiFi, that could mean an upgrade in the service, possible to as high as "actually working". I'm therefore all for it. A slight reservation - I have been amused more than once by users of the Wetherspoon app demanding to know where their indifferent meal is, only to find they ordered it for the wrong pub. I can't wait to see someone being told "Sorry sir, but your sandwich and cup of tea are on the 1638 to Plymouth".
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« Reply #1698 on: April 18, 2022, 23:26:36 »

I have been amused more than once by users of the Wetherspoon app demanding to know where their indifferent meal is, only to find they ordered it for the wrong pub. I can't wait to see someone being told "Sorry sir, but your sandwich and cup of tea are on the 1638 to Plymouth".

At one Wetherspoons that I used to frequent, I waited ages for my order and went to the bar to ask why it was taking so long. Turns out they had brought my meal out but the occupants of the other table with the SAME number had turned it away!
On the plus side, I have often waited less than two minutes from ordering via the app before the drink arrives at my table. But not on Thu, Fri, Sat nights when the wait times are considerably longer.
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TonyK
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« Reply #1699 on: April 19, 2022, 21:10:54 »


On the plus side, I have often waited less than two minutes from ordering via the app before the drink arrives at my table. But not on Thu, Fri, Sat nights when the wait times are considerably longer.

Best to order again before starting the first.
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jamestheredengine
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« Reply #1700 on: April 21, 2022, 18:15:33 »


On the plus side, I have often waited less than two minutes from ordering via the app before the drink arrives at my table. But not on Thu, Fri, Sat nights when the wait times are considerably longer.

Best to order again before starting the first.

Or make the same cock-up I did of connecting to the Cloud whilst ordering. Result: ordered two rounds of drinks, once on mobile data, once on Wifi.
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broadgage
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« Reply #1701 on: April 22, 2022, 09:08:30 »

In the good old days, the better class public house offered table service, at least in the lounge bar, or a prompt and efficient counter service in the saloon bar or public bar. This worked well without any electronics.

Long distance trains had a buffet with a prompt and efficient counter service for second or third class, and usually table service in first class. This also worked well without any electronics.

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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.
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« Reply #1702 on: April 22, 2022, 09:36:39 »

In the good old days, the better class public house offered table service, at least in the lounge bar, or a prompt and efficient counter service in the saloon bar or public bar. This worked well without any electronics



That's still the case in my experience, but then again Wetherspoons is not a better class of public house.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1703 on: April 22, 2022, 09:45:12 »

Both had fewer customers too....
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TonyK
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« Reply #1704 on: April 22, 2022, 22:51:50 »

In the good old days, the better class public house offered table service, at least in the lounge bar, or a prompt and efficient counter service in the saloon bar or public bar. This worked well without any electronics.

Long distance trains had a buffet with a prompt and efficient counter service for second or third class, and usually table service in first class. This also worked well without any electronics.


And the barber used to ask if I wanted anything for the weekend, rather than if I wanted my earholes trimmed.
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broadgage
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« Reply #1705 on: April 23, 2022, 07:31:24 »


And the barber used to ask if I wanted anything for the weekend, rather than if I wanted my earholes trimmed.

That puzzled me as an older child. I knew what contraceptives were but was unfamiliar with the term "and anything for the weekend" and wondered what was meant by this term.
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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.
bobm
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« Reply #1706 on: April 23, 2022, 09:31:04 »

From May according to posters over on RailForums.  Thought only instead of the 18:48 rather than an additional service.
Yeah, that's what the staff told me. Also an hour earlier on the eastbound (so more lunchtimey from Wales).

This is now confirmed on the May timetable available in the GWR (Great Western Railway) website - 12:23 ex-Swansea and 17:48 from Paddington.  However on the return, dining is only available for those joining at Paddington and Reading.  Previously it included Swindon too.
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jamestheredengine
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« Reply #1707 on: April 23, 2022, 14:29:25 »

From May according to posters over on RailForums.  Thought only instead of the 18:48 rather than an additional service.
Yeah, that's what the staff told me. Also an hour earlier on the eastbound (so more lunchtimey from Wales).

This is now confirmed on the May timetable available in the GWR (Great Western Railway) website - 12:23 ex-Swansea and 17:48 from Paddington.  However on the return, dining is only available for those joining at Paddington and Reading.  Previously it included Swindon too.
Very strange, seeing as the 1748 is the Red Dragon to Carmarthen. In terms of time, they could even do last orders at Cardiff.
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grahame
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« Reply #1708 on: April 23, 2022, 15:03:42 »

This is now confirmed on the May timetable available in the GWR (Great Western Railway) website - 12:23 ex-Swansea and 17:48 from Paddington.  However on the return, dining is only available for those joining at Paddington and Reading.  Previously it included Swindon too.
Very strange, seeing as the 1748 is the Red Dragon to Carmarthen. In terms of time, they could even do last orders at Cardiff.

Perhaps on the 18:48, there was time for the crew to tidy down and vacate the kitchen in Swansea before the train returned to London, but now with a much shorter stop in Swansea (on to Llanelli etc), they have a shorter time to get clear?
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« Reply #1709 on: May 02, 2022, 12:32:15 »

I dont know much about how the S Wales Pullman crews work, but from long years of experience of the Plymouth /Penzance restaurant car service, they only take orders up from Paddington and Reading, have always tried to finish service by Taunton, clear tables by Exeter and have a sit down with all packed up by Taunton. Always Plymouth crews, so thats where they leave. So I cant imagine practice on the Wales services would be much different, hence the early finish.
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