英国铁路公司Mark 1型餐饮车的第一阶段建造，沿袭了自爱德华时代延续至今的传统餐饮模式：大型厨房车厢准备多道菜肴，供头等车厢与三等车厢的餐车乘客享用。然而到了1950年代初期，随着二战期间形成的餐饮观念逐渐消退，铁路旅行餐饮的社会模式正发生明显转变。

英国铁路餐饮部门面临着旅客对更廉价、更简便餐食的需求，同时社交饮酒（非用餐相关）活动日益增多。这种饮食模式的转变意味着，有时使用餐车（而非传统的厨房车/餐车组合）更为合适。1957-1962年第三阶段Mk.1型车辆建造计划中，许多英国铁路车辆都配备了自助餐设施。 自助餐车不仅作为正餐服务的补充，更逐渐取代了传统餐饮模式。东利工厂依据英国铁路餐饮服务部制定的基本要求，建造了三辆原型餐饮车，每阶段建造过程均吸纳了餐车工作人员的反馈意见——它们分别是：M1546型厨房自助餐车（RKB）、W1900型无分类餐厅车（RU）以及E1700型自助餐厅车（RB）。

The RB kept the same kitchen, staff area and seating type as the other two vehicles, but by sacrificing ten seats, the pantry was extended, and a new service counter was introduced for the serving of light refreshments. Propane gas units were introduced for gas cooking. This meant reducing the reliance on electric power which allowed for a smaller dynamo and battery. Access to the water tanks was also improved, along with door access for the catering staff; the single 24Ó doors being replaced with a ‘door and a third’ arrangement that offered a second 9Ó wide door alongside the main door.

原型车取得成功后，共订购了128辆，由Pressed Steel公司和伯明翰RC&W公司于1960至1962年间分四批制造。但与原型车不同的是，部分车窗尺寸有所调整，服务区旋转了90度，改为纵向布局。

到1977年，英国铁路公司意识到现有的Mk.1型餐饮车厢必须在长途服务中保留更长时间，远超最初预期——尤其考虑到APT和HST项目均已延期。随着车辆可用性下降而服务需求增加，餐饮车队陷入困境，导致餐饮人员士气低落，公众对列车餐饮服务的不满情绪日益高涨。

1960年，850辆餐饮车每日提供794趟预订服务，但到1977年，仅460辆车便承担了每日逾千趟的服务量。在一次高关注度的民意调查后，英国铁路公司意识到餐饮服务需成为城际列车企业形象的重要组成部分，随即启动了加速翻新计划。 车载设备与内部布局需实现标准化，以确保备件供应充足维持车辆运营，同时使全车队服务模式统一，从而改善员工工作条件。

此次餐饮车队翻新工程以图示24型车辆改造为基础，归入图示33 RB(R)类别。车厢间增设门板连接酒吧、食品储藏室与厨房区域，从而减少所需工作人员数量。内部空间通过以下改进提升舒适度：采用荧光灯提升照明亮度，拆除隔舱壁，选用更明亮的色彩，并配备易于清洁的表面与座椅。

With no Mk.2 catering cars being built from new, Mk.1 restaurants and buffet vehicles were included in Mk.3 rakes on the major main lines until the Mk.3 catering coaches became available. Certain services continued to use them into the early 1990s; The Clansman and the Holyhead trains had RBRs in 1990/1991 and Norwich services still had them in 1993 according to the coaching stock book. Once the Mk.2f RFBs were fully in service, especially on InterCity cross country services, there was no further need for Mk.1 stock and the vehicles were relegated to charter stock.