Business Class Survey - New?

[mile179kingston-FFYn/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Having just enjoyed Business Class to/from Toronto:
http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2014/10/to-to-via-via-business-class.html http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2014/10/to-to-via-via-business-class.html

I was surprised to see a 5-minute-to-complete survey from VIA arrive in my inbox. (And it really only took 5 minutes, not like many online surveys which take what seems like 45 minutes!)


Specific questions pertained to every part of the meal (wine glass, cutlery, but not the coffee which is always better than coffee served in Economy - how does that happen - attendant I asked said it has never come up before), as well as service, and specific questions about car amenities (was I greeted by name, and were coat hangers pointed out to me? No and no, neither important to me.) I wonder if VIA is getting heat about meal selections running out. On return trip, meal service and drink service started from back of car.


Anyone know if this is an ongoing, random survey or perhaps it's been recently instituted after changes were made to the meal service?


Eric Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
http://newviarailbook.blogspot.ca http://newviarailbook.blogspot.ca

[Steve Taylor [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

I received the same survey after my trip to/from Toronto in Business Class in August so maybe it's an ongoing survey. I felt that the questions were definitely related to the changes in meal service.

In the comments section I stated that I felt that considering the fare charged, the least they could do is reinstate the option of preordering meals and serving the appetizer ahead of the main course. Oh, and a fig newton is not considered a dessert where I come from.

I find it interesting that they are advertising that they are providing better service in Economy (which I feel is true after a recent trip in Economy) yet they are degrading the service in Business Class.

Steve Taylor
Brockville, ON

Sent from my iPad

Post by mile179kingston-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2014/10/to-to-via-via-business-class.html
I was surprised to see a 5-minute-to-complete survey from VIA arrive in my inbox. (And it really only took 5 minutes, not like many online surveys which take what seems like 45 minutes!)
Specific questions pertained to every part of the meal (wine glass, cutlery, but not the coffee which is always better than coffee served in Economy - how does that happen - attendant I asked said it has never come up before), as well as service, and specific questions about car amenities (was I greeted by name, and were coat hangers pointed out to me? No and no, neither important to me.) I wonder if VIA is getting heat about meal selections running out. On return trip, meal service and drink service started from back of car.
Anyone know if this is an ongoing, random survey or perhaps it's been recently instituted after changes were made to the meal service?
Eric Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
http://newviarailbook.blogspot.ca

[Brian Gilhuly [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

I believe this particular survey (different from all previous) is in response to feedback about the changes to business class. The version I recently received covered basically all the changes: from pre-selection of meals to hot towels to service pattern. It was a wonderful opportunity to vent and it is encouraging that they are at least asking.

Brian

Post by mile179kingston-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2014/10/to-to-via-via-business-class.html
I was surprised to see a 5-minute-to-complete survey from VIA arrive in my inbox. (And it really only took 5 minutes, not like many online surveys which take what seems like 45 minutes!)
Specific questions pertained to every part of the meal (wine glass, cutlery, but not the coffee which is always better than coffee served in Economy - how does that happen - attendant I asked said it has never come up before), as well as service, and specific questions about car amenities (was I greeted by name, and were coat hangers pointed out to me? No and no, neither important to me.) I wonder if VIA is getting heat about meal selections running out. On return trip, meal service and drink service started from back of car.
Anyone know if this is an ongoing, random survey or perhaps it's been recently instituted after changes were made to the meal service?
Eric Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
http://newviarailbook.blogspot.ca

[Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Hi everyone!
I got the survey too and filled it out with some comments.
I preferred the old way when we got the appetizer before the main meal.Now, it feels like they are rushing us to eat quickly so that they can clearaway our dishes sooner.
I also had 2 other comments...one about the seat - my wife and I took the trainfrom Montreal to Toronto in mid-September and found that we were uncomfortable during the trip. The 'old' seats were softer and a better design for us older folks.
The other comment was about the tray. When it was lowered and ready to use,the edge was too far away from us meaning that we had to sit on the edge of theseat to be sure that the food on our forks got into our mouth without beingshaken onto the floor by the movements of the car.
On another trip, I noticed some severe vibrations which made it very difficultto drink from the water glass without spilling the liquid. I reported this to thefolks at Customer Relations at VIA.

['Mark W. Walton' [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Yes, I wish the table would slide back and forth to some degree – but that can be a double-edged sword. I remember 3459’s experimental curved tables also slid back and forth, sometimes on their own when the train started or slowed. Otherwise I’m fine with the new seats; I like having singles (long overdue) and the side table for drinks.

Mark Walton
<mailto:mark.walton-***@public.gmane.org> mark.walton-***@public.gmane.org

From: Canadian-Passenger-Rail-***@public.gmane.org [mailto:Canadian-Passenger-Rail-***@public.gmane.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 7:09 AM
To: Canadian-Passenger-Rail-***@public.gmane.org
Subject: [CanPassRail] Re: Business Class Survey - New?

Hi everyone!

<snip>

The other comment was about the tray. When it was lowered and ready to use,
the edge was too far away from us meaning that we had to sit on the edge of the
seat to be sure that the food on our forks got into our mouth without being
shaken onto the floor by the movements of the car.

<snip>

_____

Posted by: Peter Payan <backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org>
_____

[Tom Box [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Post by Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
Hi everyone!
I got the survey too and filled it out with some comments.

I had my first trip in the renovated LRC club cars (both ways on
a round trip) at the end of August. I too got the survey in question.

Post by Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
I preferred the old way when we got the appetizer before the
main meal. Now, it feels like they are rushing us to eat
quickly so that they can clear away our dishes sooner.

You have to decide between letting the main course get cold if
you start with the appetizer, or leaving the appetizer until
after the main course. I chose the latter.

The main courses were quite good on both my trains. The service
started at both ends, and I was close enough to the end to get
my first choice both times. The appetizers were inferior to the
old days, though. One was completely inedible. The other wasn't
so bad, but wasn't great. A couple of fig Newtons is a poor excuse
for a dessert. And though VIA claims the new chocolates are better
quality than the old (higher cocoa content), I preferred the old
ones.

Post by Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
I also had 2 other comments...one about the seat - my wife and
I took the train from Montreal to Toronto in mid-September and
found that we were uncomfortable during the trip. The 'old' seats
were softer and a better design for us older folks.

I've heard several people say they don't like the new seats.
I didn't mind them at all, though I wouldn't claim they were
better than the old ones.

Post by Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
The other comment was about the tray. When it was lowered and
ready to use, the edge was too far away from us meaning that we
had to sit on the edge of the seat to be sure that the food on
our forks got into our mouth without being shaken onto the
floor by the movements of the car.

That's true. It wasn't a big deal for me, but it would have
been nice if the tray slid horizontally toward you after it was
lowered. If I recall correctly, the trays on Amtrak Superliners
and Amfleet II cars do that.

I quite liked the new side table next to your seat. It's a
convenient place to put my notebook, reading glasses, etc.

Post by Peter Payan backpackca-FFYn/***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
On another trip, I noticed some severe vibrations which made
it very difficult to drink from the water glass without spilling
the liquid. I reported this to the folks at Customer Relations
at VIA.

I too though the rebuilt LRC club cars were rougher riding.
I was over the same route in LRC and HEP2 coaches a few weeks
earlier, and didn't notice any problem, so I wonder if something
in the rebuild has affected the ride quality.

Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada


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Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
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For help, send an email to Canadian-Passenger-Rail-help-***@public.gmane.org

[[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

I am not a fan of the new business class seats but I do like the single seat option and table. After 5 + rides in the new club seats I just can't get comfortable and relax. I don't like slouching seats and prefer a proper recline. In my books the new seats are inferior to anything in VIA's current fleet other than the RENs.

Service has definitely been downgraded a bit and if I paid the full fare I wouldn't be thrilled. That being said it still has a pretty familiar feel and isn't drastically different. The availability of discount fares will keep me coming back, but the overall experience isn't quite as polished as it once was.

The "new" LRC clubs are not mechanically rebuilt and strictly cosmetic. I am thinking this may explain the less than ideal ride some have commented on. These club cars with new interiors are jokingly referred to as LRC-3.5s by VIA. All rebuilt coaches are now designated as LRC-4s.


There is (was?) also one club car in the old paint with the new interior. This car was spotted July 13th at TMC and I haven't seen it on the road so I'm not sure if it ever ran in service like that. I can confirm the number later this evening.


Here's to hoping the HEP-2 clubs retain those amazing seats for years to come!


Matt Soknacki

[[e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

hey guys,

I've only had the chance once to ride the cosmetically rejunvanated clubs on a Montreal-Ottawa trip. Contrary to most I actually like the seat. The liftable armrests are awesome. These new seats are great for chunky / large individuals like myself. Lift the armrests and you get more lateral space.

I once had no problem sitting in a HEP 2 seat and to a similar extent the former LRC seats, but in the past couple of years I've put on the beef. It's now gotten to the point where I'm trying to get comfortable in a way in which I don't squish a nut in the old seats. There was also the problem that in the HEP 2 seats, the fold out table wouldn't really lye flat, it would rest on my thigh. What has also become a challenge is going to the bathroom. I use to have no problem fitting into the space in the LRCs now, it's rather tight. Rens coachs are worse. I did Matapedia-Moncton last fall and at one point had to use the facilities. I just fit into the space...any bigger and I would have needed lube to be able to fit between sink and wall.

The reclining on the new LRC seats are odd. I like however the footrests, these help with the angle of the reclining chair when fully reclined. The table was perhap a little further then normal. I second the being at the edge of one's seat. Thing is no matter how comfy the seats are, if the VIA doesn't receive/ direct funding to mechanically rehab the cars, the ride will be iffy depending where you are. It's pretty smooth once on the Alexandria sub, not sure about some parts of the Kingston sub.

Mark Charlebois
Montreal,QC

[Tom Box [e-mail] [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]]

Post by nacki_matthew-***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
These club cars with new interiors are jokingly referred to as
LRC-3.5s by VIA. All rebuilt coaches are now designated as
LRC-4s.

It seems VIA is thinking of replacing the seats on the recently
rebuilt LRC coaches (not the club cars). See
<http://goo.gl/twMUOY> or
<http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIER_Menu.asp?WCE=Show&TAB=3&PORTAL=MERX&State=7&id=PR308461&src=osr&FED_ONLY=0&ACTION=&rowcount=&lastpage=&MoreResults=&PUBSORT=2&CLOSESORT=0&IS_SME=N&hcode=spN8d5jDKpJNfMdeY3xeqw%3d%3d>.

It's asking for bids to supply seats for either 52 or 72 LRC
coaches, and explains that they want to evaluate the economical
feasibility of replacing the seats, even the ones that have been
recently "renewed".

Post by nacki_matthew-***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
Here's to hoping the HEP-2 clubs retain those amazing seats for
years to come!

I'd guess that VIA would prefer to offer a uniform level of service
in business class, and so would like the LRCs and HEP2s to be as
similar as possible. That would also facilitate equipment swaps.
If an LRC club were substituted for a HEP2 or vice versa, the
seat assignments will be messed up if one type of car has 2+1
seating and the other has 2+2.

That said, a decision on whether to rebuild the HEP2 clubs will
depend on the availability of funding, so it's not a sure thing
that they will be rebuilt, even if VIA wants to (and it's only
my guess that they would like to).

Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
temporarily in Toronto, ON, Canada


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Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
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