Thread by @PGPDP

After some intense planning and an even more clever combination of tickets, the planets aligned today for my Great British Gourmet Railways day tour...

This app came in handy - though it does not provide live updates for UK, so treat it like a timetable book.

Start at Kings Cross with a nice cup of tea.

Breakfast is served. Very tasty. No toast, mind...

Tea break on the Transpennine Express to Leeds. A nice selection of snacks and really lovely staff.

Nip across the Pennines to Preston - but no trolley.

Now, this WAS a surprise. A late (13.00) breakfast on the TransPennine to Manchester. Again, very attentive service.

I took a big risk booking this next leg - after my last experience of Transport for Wales' finest trains...

Things are definitely looking up, but will there be any food?

Well, this is good start. Hot and soft drinks are complimentary in first class. Food and alcohol is payable. To be honest I prefer it that way.

Everything is freshly prepared by the chef, even the sandwiches in the buffet. But I didn't come all this way to have sandwiches. Here is the Welsh Rarebit for starter.

And there is the Lamb Shank for main course. Absolutely delicous too.

And finally the Sticky Toffee Pudding with a nice cup of tea. Again, exquisite.

Well done @tfwrail for the best train meal I've ever had (I've had a few), with staff to match. In fact the staff on the 14:30 were literally the best! At £25 for 3 courses it was excellent value. Sorry @ceskedrahy_ but the Welsh have stolen your crown. @seatsixtyone @_DiningCar

The journey was quite pretty too!

Back to ordinary life for the ride from Hereford to Birmingham. Nice trains for a short hop.

Birmingham New Street - and time for a cuppa. Nice lounge, staff again lovely, nice snacks. Cups a bit small...

Last @_DiningCar train - and I've already checked the menu online. I'll be having the Chicken & Pearl Barley, or else the Croque Monsieur if it's not available.

@_DiningCar Oh, no it won't be the Croque Monsieur either as this is all they've got. Honestly, @AvantiWestCoast what happened?
Beer went down well though.

Back to the 'loo... The British railway could definitely be better & the catering offer for most passengers remains poor. BUT interestingly the world's best Dining Car & the world's best Sleeper (the Night Riviera), are in, of all places, the UK.

A final word of thanks to all the staff I encountered, on trains and at stations. Every member was kind, friendly and proud to help. Excellence exists on the UK rail network - and we would do well to value the terrific human beings who make it happen.