End of the line for free refreshments in first-class train carriages

‘The system of offering complimentary refreshments was being abused at weekends’

RAIL passengers travelling across the country over the weekend have often taken advantage of first-class upgrade deals, meaning for as little as £10 one can enjoy greater legroom and, more importantly, limitless complimentary food and drink.

However, one train company has ended this free-for-all, accusing customers of abusing the free food.

Greater Anglia previously allowed first-class ticket holders to have unlimited tea coffee, water, fruit juice, biscuits and crisps.

However, it has now discontinued the service, due to it being “abused” by passengers, making it “no longer commercially viable”.

First-class season ticketholders will still be allowed to have free food and drink, but those with one-off tickets will not.

Customers during the week are still able to enjoy the perk when they show their tickets in the buffet carriage.

While Greater Anglia did not disclose how much the average passenger ate and drank, they said it was too expensive to carry on as weekend first class tickets were so much cheaper on average.

Other rail companies, including Virgin, LNER, Crosscountry, Great Western and Grand Central still offer complimentary snacks and drinks.

One passenger from Ipswich, Suffolk, who asked not be named said: “It is a case of Greater Anglia trying to make even more money out of us.

“The train service is pretty bad and the free refreshments were a small way of helping to make up for it. I am not aware of the service having been abused. It is just penny pinching to save a few pennies.”

Another train user from Colchester, Essex, tweeted: “Great, not … is this really what Greater Anglia thinks of customers like me that used the 1st Class service at weekends and complimentary refreshments!”

A Greater Anglia spokesman said the service had been restricted, partly due to first-class travel being much cheaper at weekends if booked in advance.

They added: “We have reviewed our first-class product offer and made some changes.

“Unfortunately we found that the system of offering complimentary refreshments was being abused at weekends and it no longer was commercially viable.

“However, complimentary refreshments are still available to first-class season ticketholders on the weekend and to all first-class customers on weekdays.

“For non-season ticketholders, we have partially changed the offer.

“Complimentary refreshments are no longer available at weekends. However, a wider range of drinks and snacks are available to purchase from the café bar on board.”