West Somerset Railway General Discussion

And do please write to the Railway with your demand. Repeating it here seems a bit pointless. A couple more points:

I can't remember if it was you, Anne, who said you need to catch the 0630 to ensure catching the first Down train at Lydeard. Whoever it was, I wonder why a hot meal on the 0630 wouldn't solve the need for a hot brekkie meal?

A quick look at other heritage railways reveals a great many terminii do not provide hot meals. Some provide absolutely nothing by way of refreshment of the cuppa kind. Those providing the whole shebang seem to be in the minority. Who'd like to do a full survey?

Steve

 

I think we all know the reality about the space limitations at BL that, at the moment, prevent a full breakfast service being available. Shouting about is as an earlier poster did will make no difference. Wherever travelling a long way some forward planning is sensible. The reality is that there are numerous destinations that don’t have full catering facilities. You just need to plan ahead. I certainly don’t let it put me off going anywhere. If it is really worth going then it always possible to find somewhere on the way or take a flask and some sandwiches. Thankfully the whole countryside is not littered with cafes everywhere..

 

As someone who thoroughly enjoys eating a "proper" meal whilst travelling by train I can sympathise with your basic point, but I think you are expecting a great deal from the WSR organisation as a whole to provide a full meal service at or from BL on a daily basis throughout the operating season.

As others have pointed out BL station is very limited in terms of space. Add to this the very large capital costs involved in providing suitable catering facilities, staffing and other on going costs I'm not sure it is either practical or financially viable. I do concur with your point about the desirability of using the Belle set more, either stationary or preferably on the move.

We all know a snack is not a meal but you shouting about that fact is not particularly helpful. I think that all of us need to accept that, whatever our personal dining preferences, most passengers do not visit the WSR with the prime purpose of consuming a meal. Most will start or end their journey at Minehead where such establishments are available in abundance. Watchet is much the same on a smaller scale.

When it comes to dining on the move QB Steward, QB Cook and their merry band have performed miracles over the last year to transform the Belle from a moribund white elephant into one of the most successful heritage railway catering trains in the country. This has not been without difficulties (caused largely by their own success) but it is clear from their postings on this forum that problems are being addressed, booking systems developed and the availability of the services expanded.

I think they, and the whole catering team, deserve considerably more credit than they often receive.

 

The Turntable cafe at MH was at one stage doing roast dinners etc, did any of you that are looking for a full meal eat then? There were often news updates on wsr.org for the cafe menu IIRC

 

WSR 2018 Leaflet

Had a meeting with the WSR Commercial Manager this afternoon.

For anyone who hasn’t seen it, here’s the 2018 WSR leaflet.

It will be seen that Our very own @Snifter (Brian) features for a second year, just above the words ‘Days Out’ on the front sheet.

Robin

 

I too sympathise with Anne, it is certainly a factor I take into account when visiting heritage railways and certainly influences return (or not) return visits. Too many accountants look at whether food outlets are self-financing rather than adding to the overall attractiveness of the railway, and hence income and financial viability of the overall business. Equally, lack of food equals negative reviews equal loss of patronage. I have had a bad experience at one unnamed heritage railway when catering was not provided (as advertised) and will therefore not be retuning; certainly my wife wouldn’t allow it (and resulted in a 1* TA review). So, all railways, not just the WSR, must wake up and smell the coffee. Thank goodness the GWSR have and are now ensuring a cafe as part of the ‘new’ Broadway Station.

 

Interesting! Can you tell us how many bad reviews (excluding any on Nat Pres please) the WSR has amassed concerning catering?

Steve

 

I can’t speak with any authority about the thinking of the present WSR plc Board, but I led For the whole Railway in obtaining Planning permission (and so the land grant) at Bishops Lydeard Station Farm. Considerably enhanced catering was part of the plan.

Since then we had built ‘Brunel House 2’ and assembled an impressive collection of porta cabins

Robin

 

Hi Steve

Probably none, but it is always a risk.

Cheers

Dave
—————————
Update; just checked and just one (2*) poor review in last three years due to catering: 5/10/17 due to buffet on train being closed when told otherwise. I note the review was titled “Hunger”..

 

If i drove from home to the WSR at BL (2 hours) I think I'd welcome a cup of tea and a bacon and tomato sandwich. I think though that I'd prefer to enjoy it on the train. Is such a facility available on the first train from BL?

 

The reason for my post was that people keep repeating that you can get snacks here there and anywhere but ignoring the fact that we want a meal not a snack. A bacon butty would be better than nothing but even that is not even available at Bishops Lydeard. I think it a sad reflection on today's society that people here seem to regard a burger from a burger van a meal. I understand why meals are not available at Bishops Lydeard but I don't understand why they were withdrawn from Minehead.

When did you last travel on a train Steve? There are very few services still providing hot meals and certainly nothing between Taunton and Cardiff on a Saturday or any other morning.

Lets see. I've had meals at the following railways, at least, over the past year
Romney, Hythe, and Dymchurch
East Kent
Bluebell
Swanage
Glocs and Warrick
North Yorkshire Moors
Forest of Dean
Severn Valley

 

I've left a bad review on tripadvisor for another preserved railway where the (rather nice) catering facilities persistently open at the exact same time as the first train of the day departs & all you can get on the train is tea and instant coffee. If I've got up early in the morning and driven for several hours to a preserved railway then a full English (or a smaller version of same) goes down really well.

 

I was rather hoping you might say you have been badgering the TOC with equal gusto in pursuit of hot meals on their trains

If I came to Somerset by train I can get a meal on both of the main line trains. Your guys seem to be missing the chance to make a fortune. Perhaps.

I agree with your views about what is a hot meal and what is not. I agree it would be great to have a full breakfast and proper hot meal lunches available at Lydeard and Minehead. And on each train. But the railway has limited capacity to invest in such things. And to be honest, the vast majority of people who use WSR trains seem not to require such things.

To have a useful survey I think we need to know if the meal was breakfast or lunch, on a train or not, and whether each terminus provided proper hot lunches and breakfasts. I've just read a survey of what food is available on Devon's heritage railways and I note only one seems to do the lot.

Once again, I urge you and others to contact the WSR and lay out your requirements. Ta.

Steve

 

At the end of the day, the Railway cannot be expected to provide hot meal facilities unless it is going to be profitable to do so. Is there enough demand?

 

Can’t wait for s160 to arrive

 

That sounds much better than a cheese and bunion roll.

 

As has been said repeatedly at the present time there simply is no chance of providing a full restaurant service at BL, unless and until, the Station Farm development. Making representations to the WSR on the topic at this time is pointless. Like it or not prudent accounting control of catering outlets on a heritage railway, or any other attraction is vital. Companies ignore such control at their peril. In some circumstances a degree of subsidisation may be viable but certainly not as a matter of course.

 

(Deleted)

 

This is the bit I don't get. If you're "driving for several hours" surely you've passed through or near enough towns to have been able to stop and get a decent meal to suit your preferences ? Why expect the railway to provide this sort of catering for what is always going to be a somewhat limited market ?

As for Anne's demand for full meals to be provided by the railway this seems to be most unreasonable. If you can't purchase enough food en route to fill your needs why not bring something from home to keep you going until you reach somewhere with a cafe/restaurant that serves the sort of meal you require ? I like good cuisine and enjoy dining out but am quite happy to settle for a decent pasty to see me through the day if that is all that is on offer. The "fine dining" comes in the evening .

 

If the catering is part of your must haves, then surely basing your railway destination choice around those that do tick your boxes is far more sensible than traveling to those that don't and then grumble when things fall below expectations - especially if you are prepared to travel some distance to start with! I'm sure everyone has their 'perfect' railway experience, and I get that a good meal in the bargain could well be part of that, but surely the expectation that any given railway is going to meet the mark is a bit far fetched!

Heritage railways are just that - railways (their reason for being, and the main attraction). Catering is important for the happy customer experience too, and can be a good money spinner for an organisation, but it has to be done so that it pays it's way so there will inevitably be practical limitations.

My personal favourite railway experience would need to start with paying a couple of thousand dollars on an airfare....gripes about catering?....hard to swallow!