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Coffee and rolls return to Denmark’s trains

Ritzau/The Local
Ritzau/The Local - [email protected]
Coffee and rolls return to Denmark’s trains
Photo: Ida Guldbæk Arentsen/Ritzau Scanpix

A refreshment service will soon return to some of Denmark’s DSB rail services.

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Rail passengers in Denmark will soon once again be able to buy a cup of coffee, a buttered roll or other light refreshments on board DSB's trains.

The national rail operator on Monday reintroduced sales on selected services between Copenhagen and Fredericia.

“We have introduced it because customers have asked for it and have done so for a long time,” said Ulrik Harms-Bauer, retail manager with DSB Kort & Godt which also operates 7-Eleven convenience stores at DSB's stations.

Passengers will be offered the service on 15 InterCityLyntog express departures.

But the new coffee service will not be as extensive as the popular sales trolley (salgsvogn) which was phased out in 2014.

Instead, store employees from 7-Eleven will carry a backpack with coffee as well as a holder in with various snacks and sandwiches.

The range of items will vary depending on whether it is morning, afternoon or evening, as well as from day to day.

“It will not be huge, there will be about ten items maximum, nothing more. So it will just be enough to stay your hunger and quench your coffee thirst,” Harms-Bauer said.

Previously, passengers could choose from about 100 different items, according to the retail manager.

Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht welcomed DSB’s decision to give meet customer requests.

“This is something I encouraged DSB to do when I took over as Minister. Can't we think a little outside the box?”, Engelbrecht said.

“I very much like taking the train. But being able to sit down on board a train with a cup of coffee is also just one of those things that make the travel experience a little better,” the minister added.

The sales trolley was previously phased out of all DSB trains because it was making a loss.

The year prior to its cancellation, in 2013, broadcaster DR reported that DSB made an annual loss of between 86 and 115 million on the service over a ten-year period.

Staff salaries, which amounted to 475,000 kroner per year, were cited as the primary cause of the deficit.

However, the decision to eliminate sales completely led to disappointment among many passengers. DSB subsequently introduced limited sales of water, marzipan bars and potato chips in 2017.

Sales staff for the new service been hired on the same terms as in 7-Eleven stores in order to “make the economy fit together,” Harms-Baur said.

READ ALSO: 'Help make us greener': Danish rail operator to passengers

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