Train reported to be full and standing

[whole diary]

[johoare]

When I got off my train from Reading at Maidenhead earlier the 17.40 from Paddington to Oxford was at the next platform.. When I glanced up at the main board, underneath that train it said (and I've never seen this before) "Train reported to be full and standing"..

Erm.. well yes...that is all well and good telling people waiting at Maidenhead that.. And I've been on that train (a class 180) so I know it's true. But it's irrelevant information as a lot of those people causing the train to be full will have been getting off at Maidenhead anyway as it's one of our fast (first stop Maidenhead) trains..

[Super Guard]

We are asked to report when trains are F&S, and as a 180 has a TM^‡(resolve) on board, then he/she has done this - and when we report F&S, the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) team will sometimes put it on the screens.

[johoare]

Yep I guessed that.. Just strange on that train.. or in fact any train that is first stop Maidenhead in the evening peak... Because:

1) They will ALL be full and standing
2) The people waiting at Maidenhead don't need to know that as it won't be by the time they get on :-)

I was just interested as I've not seen it before and I've commuted for more years than I like to remember 

[Busboy W1]

As Super Guard commented F.G.W Towers are rather keen on the idea of reporting wether a train is F&S or not and also the reduction in coaches for many reasons.This is then relayed towards the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) which control the majority of screens.

Although I must say the trains in question that are operated (usually) by a 180 this being 1D53 17:18 and 1D69 19:18 are usually F&S until at least Pangbourne and its a struggle for people boarding at TWY^▸ (Twyford station) let alone Maidenhead International so the signs appearing seem fit for purpose.

[johoare]

Well having been on this train and getting off at Maidenhead I know that the percentage of people getting on there is minimal to those getting off.. So if it's still full and standing after Maidenhead then I'm not quite sure why... Unless it's boarding on/definitely dangerous conditions until Maidenhead I guess.

[JayMac]

Perhaps there needs to be a sliding scale of messages displayed on the screens to explain passenger loading:

Sardines
Swing a cat
Intimate
Cosy
Comfortable
Relaxing

[James]

Well jo thats a sign of the overpopulated south east that we now have.
What i have witnessed is something interesting or not if your not interested
70% of people disembark at maidenhead with around 10 % boarding and 20 % that is already on board until at least Reading where the whole population boards enroute to tilehurst, pangbourne and possibly goring.
What i am amazed about is how the class 180 handles all that weight, without breaking down or doors failing. Good old british engineering

[IndustryInsider]

What i am amazed about is how the class 180 handles all that weight, without breaking down or doors failing. Good old british engineering

Bien s^r que oui!

[Boppy]

I like bignosemac's idea!  He has got the scale and descriptions nailed in my opinion!  :-)

[johoare]

Perhaps there needs to be a sliding scale of messages displayed on the screens to explain passenger loading:

Sardines
Swing a cat
Intimate
Cosy
Comfortable
Relaxing

I totally agree..  We definitely need at least one ahead of Sardines though.. if not two... Sardines is almost preferable 

[JayMac]

Okay.

What about Crowbar required at the head of the list?

[mathmo]

I had the misfortune to get this train twice a week or so ago.  (I don't usually commute to London.)  It was unpleasantly busy, of course.  But in my carriages I'd estimate fewer than half the passengers got off at Maidenhead.  Is this because Off-Peak tickets can be used on it (as the announcements seemed to say)?  Or are they just going to Twyford?  Or was that rather unusual?

[James]

It could well be that people with off peak tickets travel as no one questions it, from what i have seen, travelling from Windsor to Maidenhead on a weekly basis. I presume the same can be said for other routes as well, who also allow off peak tickets. Seems crazy but at least its not quite as expensive as normal anytime tickets! Shame the mornings cant be off peak as well...

[James]

Industryinsider i love the french phrase, problem is i havent a clue what it means

[grahame]

Perhaps there needs to be a sliding scale of messages displayed on the screens to explain passenger loading:

Sardines
Swing a cat
Intimate
Cosy
Comfortable
Relaxing

I totally agree..  We definitely need at least one ahead of Sardines though.. if not two... Sardines is almost preferable 

... brimming, bulging. bursting, bursting, chock-a-block, completely full, cram full, crammed, jam-packed, overcrowded, overflowing, packed, packed like sardines, packed to capacity, stuffed ...

0 - 33% Relaxing
33% - 66 %Comfortable
66% - 100% Cosy
100% - 133% Intimate
133% - 166% Swing a cat
166% - 200% Sardines
200% up "Completely full" (to the extent that even officials who don't travel admit "it's full")
[Percentages are seats taken]

This scale replaces the historic scale of 50 years ago
0 - 8% Fresh Air
8% - 16% Quiet
16% - 24% Standard
24% - 32% Busy
32% - 40% Crowded
40% - 48% uncomfortable
49% + D**n it - what happened?
How times have changed, and how much busier the railways are these days.  I travelled to school on a quiet train (granted, it was contraflow) but how things have changed ...