Yes possibly but it hadn't re-opened by the time I left the train at Warrington. (I still can't get used to calling it a shop :))

I think the earliest I've had a closed shop was on a Manchester bound train as far as Stafford after getting the shortly closing annoncement. Maybe they should slightly lower their prices, I'm sure it's like £1.70 for a cup of tea now, everyone just buys something before they board.

I've always had the impression with Virgin (both West Coast and especially Cross Country when they ran it) that the catering was run for the convenience of the staff rather than the passenger (sorry, customer).

The facility used to shut early "for a stock take" a good half hour before reaching its destination or mid- journey for a crew change. They seemed to run out of the most popular products quite frequently and I lost count of the number of times that on their high tech trains, everything seemed to work but the hot water boiler.

On rare occasions when I travelled first class, refreshments were included but a lot of what was on offer was truly dreadful - airline style only much worse. I guess they had to include it in their ticket price because if they had charged separately, no-one would have bought it.

You mean you actually bought something from them ?! :eek:

Can't be as bad as Continental Airlines "coffee" !!