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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)

Catering Amenities

Catering Amenities.

In the attraction of passenger business to a modern railway no surer bait exists than an adequate and pleasing catering service. On the New Zealand Railways an enviable reputation has been established by the catering department for appetising fare tastefully served, and by great railway systems in all parts of the globe, the importance of this branch of railway activity is becoming increasingly recognised.

Britain was a leader in the development of railway catering, and the dining-car and refreshment room services of the Home lines have been a big factor in the building-up of passenger business. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway operates 276 dining-cars; the London and North Eastern 188; the Southern 85; and the Great Western 80 dining cars. At all the principal stations commodious and tastefully decorated and equipped refreshment buffets cater to the needs of the traveller, while each of the group lines owns and operates a chain of luxurious hotels situated at selected centres. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway hotels actually form the largest group of hotels under one management in Europe. They are to be found in almost every corner of Britain from London to the Scottish Highlands. Gleneagles Hotel, in Bonnie Scotland, is the most famous of all British railway-owned rest-houses. It possesses elaborate Royal suites, wonderful dance-rooms, playing-fields, and every conceivable convenience for the pampered Marco Polo of today. Across the Channel, the railways of Germany have recently entered the field of hotel ownership, and other continental lines are now contemplating embarking upon activities of this nature.