First-class living costs train firm £13,000 in yoghurt bars

The Yorkshire Post can reveal that nationalised rail operator East Coast is spending nearly 68,000 a month on free snacks for first-class passengers.

The biggest cost is the stock of Eat Natural mini yoghurt bars but it's not all health foods, with more than 25,000 a month spent on free portions of Farrington fruit cake, Caf Bronte biscuits and Burt's ready salted crisps.

East Coast is splashing out on catering in an attempt to attract more passengers, spending 431,118 a month on all food and drinks, and the company is carrying out a review of customer reaction, due to be published this year.

A spokesman admitted that so far there has not been a significant change in passenger numbers but they hope to see the rewards over the coming months. "The number of first class customers has not substantially changed over the last two months since East Coast took over operating the franchise.

"We have undertaken a number of initiatives to attract new customers, including removing seat reservation charges.

"We have also undertaken an initial review of our catering offer in both first and standard class, in partnership with Passenger Focus. Following this early research, steps were taken to improve the value and range of our on-train catering, including introducing a wider choice of complimentary items in first class."

The spokesman said research is currently continuing with customers and the results will be used to shape future changes which are likely to be to introduced in the spring.

East Coast revealed that 95 per cent of its produce is sourced from Britain, the principal exception being wines.

The company has changed its fares this month, with a 1.9 per cent overall rise in unregulated fares and a 0.4 per cent decrease in regulated fares.