Many of us take regular train journeys for work and probably don’t give the catering a second thought. Taking a trip on a train for pleasure, on the other hand, means a much keener interest in the dining carriage.

What railways need to know about on-train fine dining

Image Credit

For the train companies, that poses a potential problem; when it comes to food, consumers are usually very quick to complain, so it’s really important for the caterers to get it right, or face adverse publicity very quickly. Poor food or service of food is one of the quickest measures to affect over passenger satisfaction, and it seems that there is a significant variation between operators – everything from Michelin-starred chefs right down to a lonely vending machine.

Some operators have taken the dining experience to the next level and gone to town with that as the USP, and the food is the reason for buying tickets rather than to get to a specific destination.

The Great Western Railway example

The Great Western Railway (GWR) is one operator that has really upped its dining game in recent years, engaging Mitch Tonks, restaurateur and chef, to create menus for the London to Penzance journey, specifically incorporating ingredients from local producers along the route.

What railways need to know about on-train fine dining

Image Credit

GWR have made public their intention to recreate “the good old days” of luxury train travel as an experience in its own right, and they have incorporated all the details from linen tablecloths to silver service.

Start with the basics

All catering requires a behind … READ MORE ...