Hull Trains, which is expected to welcome the first of its new Class 802 Hitachi trains to the city next month, said it was adopting an “airline approach” to its new service.
 |
| A Class 802 Hitachi unit on a Hull Trains driver training run |
Currently, only first-class passengers have been able to enjoy the service, but Hull Trains has now expanded its offering to all.
Louise Cheeseman, managing director at Hull Trains, said: “The Paragon Fleet takes an airline approach because that is what our customers tell us they want.
“People do not want to have to leave their seats, leaving their laptops and bags, and people fear losing their seats if they get up to go to the café bar.
“Families have told us they don’t want to leave their children on their own, so instead of them all going to the café bar, one adult stays behind, but then the adult that goes to the café doesn’t always know what the others would choose.
“There is a simple solution to these problems, and that is to bring the food and drink to every seat, so that everyone can settle in and stay where they are, relax and still have the option to buy food and drink - just like it is done on planes.”
Currently, it is only customers in First Class who enjoy an at-seat service, with passengers in standard class forced to leave their seats and walk through the train to the café bar.
Hull Trains’ customers however have told the firm they would prefer a trolley service – which is why on the new fleet, an at-seat service will be available for all.
“I believe the airlines have got it right and I’m looking forward to that being mirrored on the Paragon Fleet,” Ms Cheeseman said.
“We have had customers ask us why the café bar is being removed – but it’s not a case of us removing it, it’s a case of us replacing it with something so much better.”
Hull Trains’ Paragon Fleet is a £60m investment into five new engines which hopes to revolutionise travel between the city and London.
The name of the fleet was chosen due to its historic significance to Hull, and the first of the trains will arrive in the UK in October.
The remaining four trains will be rolled out gradually in the coming months up to Christmas.
