23.09.14
Southeastern to scrap on-board catering service
Southeastern has announced plans to scrap its on-board catering service from November.
The rail operator’s contract with Rail Gourmet, which provides the catering service, expires at the end of October and the operator has decided not to renew it.
Southeastern’s longest journey is the Ramsgate to London service, which takes just under two hours.
A spokesperson for Southeastern said: “We’ve written to the managing director of Rail Gourmet, which provides beverage trolley services on board some of our mainline trains, to inform them that we will not be renewing their contract after it expires at the end of October. There is little demand from passengers for this service and it has been a loss-making activity that we have subsidised for the past few years. Unfortunately it is no longer sustainable for us to do so. We will be working with Rail Gourmet to identify opportunities to support their staff during the process of winding down the contract.”
The rail operator said that it will keep a supply of water on board for emergencies.
Passenger Focus stressed to Kent Online that the money saved by not renewing the contract should not go towards the company’s bottom line.
Linda McCord, Passenger Focus manager, said: “It is important that the money Southeastern saves by scrapping on-board catering is invested in improving its services.
“Passengers who do like to buy a tea or coffee on the train will be disappointed by this decision.”
Southeastern was granted a direct franchise by the Department for Transport on 11 September, extending its contract until June 2018.
(Image: c. Goonerlewis465)
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