MEALS ON TRAINS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 5, 9 March 1937, Page 16

MEALS ON TRAINS

NEW BRITISH RECORD

OVER NINE MILLION SERVED

NEW SERVICE ERA

j LONDON, January 27. Another new record was established by British railway companies last year, not this time for the number of miles travelled or for an increase of speed, but for the number of meals served. More than 9,000,000 meals were1 served on England's trains in the twelve months. All companies found a surprising increase in business, which attained proportions never before reached in the history of British railway travel, and threw interesting sidelights on the changing tastes of the public. As a result of the survey, several ideas have been revised, and the railway catering services, which had already been extended, are again in the process of development. Soon sixtynine more restaurant, kitchen, and buffet cars are to be placed in commission, each embodying new standards of design. In the new stock a much higher standard of comfort is sought. There are to be observation windows, while as a result of research it has been found possible to make further improvements in the vexed problem of railway carriage ventilation. Two of the new trains now being built—there are at present 2000 carriages, in all, under construction—will each have seats with table space for 400 passengers, and, in addition, new restaurant carriages modelled on specially spacious lines are being made for the Aberdeen-Penzance through express service. MORE KITCHEN SPACE. A new style of kitchen is also to appear. Hitherto the railway chefs have laboured in an economy of space, and the fact that in kitchens measuring 12ft by 6ft they have been able to provide table d'hote breakfasts, puncheons, and dinners for as many as 200 people has been a minor daily miracle. Kitchens 60 feet long are now being built, with ample facilities for supplying food to more than 250 passengers at one sitting, if need be. "So far as catering is concerned, we will be faced with a huge task during the Coronation season," a railway official said this week, "and we are making every effort to have as much of the new rolling stock in use by the end of April as is possible." The "domestic" improvements in many of the kitchen cars would surprise the most fastidious housekeeper. Many of the cars are already fitted with electric refrigerators, and the latest ideas _in domestic science are continually being installed. Some of the figures which have emerged from the survey are astounding. "We have found that in twelve months we require for the restaurant car services 3,500,0001b of meat—all British—2,soo,ooolb of potatoes, 260,0001b of butter, 80,0001b of coffee, 75,0001b of tea, and 250,000 gallons of cream and milk. "The buying for this class of catering presents peculiar difficulties at times, and we pride ourselves that practically everything used is British. The equipment needed for an average restaurant car includes 1000 to 2000 pieces of china, 350 to 400 tablecloths and serviettes, 200 pieces of glassware, and 1200 pieces of silver and cutlery. "WASHING-UP" PROBLEM. "The 'washing-up' problem is tremendous. For each train journey 1750 disnes and.glasses are washed, and it is estimated, that every day 250,000 pieces of table-ware are dealt with on all railway restaurant cars in Britain. "The popularity of the cup of tea, which continues to grow at a rapid rate, is shown by the fact that three cups of tea are served to every one of coffee. Certain dishes have special favour in certain districts. Bacon and eggs, for instance, are in demand at all times of the day in Scotland. The West Country remains faithful to roast beef. Sole and turbot, roast lamb and veal escallops with spaghetti are general favourites, and it is amusing to find that on trains running to Manchester there is much Lancashire hotpot consumed, just as Irish stew seems to come into its own on the Irish mail. People, it would appear, eat oftener. but eat lighter meals nowadays, and the taste for 'heavy' sweets seems to have disappeared."

The King of Egypt is providing free schooling and maintenance in Egypt for two Arab orphan boys from Aden who petitioned his Majesty two months ago for help with their education.