Hungry journeys for BR passengers as firm folds

THOUSANDS of British Rail passengers are going hungry because a company providing buffet trolley services has gone into liquidation, writes Christian Wolmar.

Travellers have been finding notices at stations apologising for the lack of catering services explaining 'this is due to the company who provided them going bankrupt'.

Paradise Catering provided food and drink on a wide variety of Regional Railways and Network SouthEast trains including the Waterloo to Exeter line, West Anglia and Great Northern Lines, West Wales, Bristol to Weymouth, Lincolnshire and trans-Pennine routes.

The company, founded by Ralph Cross and based at a small hamlet in the Highlands, won its first contract in 1987.

It prospered under BR's tendering policy, becoming the second largest provider of trolley services.

By last summer Paradise was operating trolley services on 2,500 trains each week. The firm has gone into 'provisional liquidation' at Dornoch Sheriff Court. No one was available for comment.

BR was hoping to start restoring services on some lines at the beginning of next week.