Red Squirrel
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Posts: 5528
There are some who call me... Tim
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« on: June 18, 2020, 17:12:21 » |
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When / if / how do you see catering returning to some trains?
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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Samyutha Bala
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« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2020, 17:15:38 » |
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We’d love to bring our catering offer back to our customers, but with the social distancing rules, it would be quite difficult to achieve on our trains. We’re working on different plans to slowly reintroduce catering, when the time is right.
Our Safety team continue to carry out risk assessments and work out how to safely reintroduce catering, but we don’t have a date in mind as yet. This depends on Government advice and how the pandemic progresses.
SB▸
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« Last Edit: June 18, 2020, 17:16:26 by Red Squirrel »
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bobm
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« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2020, 17:21:20 » |
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Talking of distancing - how much of a difference would it make to capacity if the Government's advice changed to one metre rather than two?
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CarolineCummins
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« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2020, 17:26:50 » |
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It goes without saying the smaller the social distance the more people we can fit on our trains. We're actively looking into the exact figures but we don't want to undermine the scientific and medical advice.
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grahame
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« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2020, 17:33:30 » |
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It goes without saying the smaller the social distance the more people we can fit on our trains. We're actively looking into the exact figures but we don't want to undermine the scientific and medical advice.
Key workers and essential travellers tend to travel alone but leisure travelelers in Household groups. Do you know if that will make any difference once pleasure trips are allowed? Will capacity be adjusted to group seating? |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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broadgage
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« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2020, 17:38:58 » |
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Will on train catering eventually be re-instated to the levels before the pandemic.
I appreciate that this may take a while, and my enquiry is NOT about the time taken, but will catering be restored to pre pandemic levels.
The pre pandemic trolley service was a significant backward step compared to the buffet previously offered. Various grand promises were made about the trolley service, none of which were achieved.
Will this emergency be an excuse to "tiptoe away" from previous promises and to further downgrade trolley provision.
Will the Pullman service be fully re-instated ?
Or will this pandemic be a good excuse to reduce provision.
All the Pullmans were "temporarily" withdrawn after the Hatfield accident. Most never reappeared.
Nothing like a crisis to temporarily downgrade facilities and then make it permanent.
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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▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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Samyutha Bala
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« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2020, 17:45:19 » |
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Our capacity calculations are based on individual passengers and not on groups - it would be quite difficult to work that out, as group size might vary quite considerably.
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Samyutha Bala
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« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2020, 17:49:03 » |
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We're committed to providing the same level of catering as before the pandemic. I can understand for those who were used to the buffet, the trolley might not feel like the same but the feedback we've had from a number of customers, who would have previously not used the buffet (not wanting to lose their seat, or leave their belongings behind, those with reduced mobility) the trolley has been quite welcome.
We are constantly listening to customer feedback about our products, and refreshing them to meet customer demand. We recently increased our vegan and gluten free range after customer feedback.
We're very proud of our Pullman service, and look forward to the day we can reintroduce it
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broadgage
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« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2020, 18:11:42 » |
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Had the trolley service been implemented as originally promised, it would not have been too bad.
Hot food was promised , but never regularly achieved.
A trolley in each portion of a 5+5 train was promised, but seldom achieved.
Two trolleys on a 9 car unit was promised but seldom delivered.
All too often the trolley was static and did not provide an at seat service.
Often hiding.
A proper buffet offered real coffee and freshly cooked hot snacks, and a much better range than can be stocked on a trolley.
Will ALL the Pullmans be reinstated?
Being "very proud of the service" and "looking forward to the day when we can re-introduce it" is NOT the same as a promise that it will be fully re-instated.
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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▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2020, 18:48:21 » |
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In my mind it would be foolish to promise anything given we are in the midst of the biggest challenge the railways have ever faced, with the possible exception of the World Wars, during which, incidentally, the majority of restaurants were removed.
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« Last Edit: June 18, 2020, 19:09:06 by IndustryInsider »
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To view my GWML▸ 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/ |
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