First Great Western to restructure catering
South-west railway operator First Great Western is reviewing its catering operations as it gears up to revamp its fleet.
The Pullman Fine Dining restaurants it provides on long-distance routes, such as London to Penzance, will be joined by a new, lighter format called Pullman Brasseries.
This new brand may replace some existing Pullman Fine Dining restaurants as well as being introduced to other, shorter lines as part of the group overhaul, due to be complete by December 2007.
A spokesman added that the buffet restaurants on shorter journeys - such as Bristol to London - could be replaced by at-seat services offering snacks and drinks.
He said many buffet carriages were underused because customers feared losing their seats on busy routes.
Although the current catering contract with Compass division Rail Gourmet expires at the end of the month, the spokesman said no firm decisions had yet been made.
Suggestions that the railway operator planned to replace the silver service at its on-board restaurants with a plated service has alarmed some Liberal Democrat and Tory MPs who tabled an Early Day Motion last week.
By Angela Frewin
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