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Chris from Nailsea
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« on: March 16, 2015, 19:04:17 » |
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From the Andover Advertiser: Rail passengers on a South West train were told only slim people could sit due to a shortage of space Commuters shocked as fat people told 'not to sit down' on Hampshire trainHampshire rail passengers were left shocked after a station announcer said fat people ^should not sit down^ due to a lack of space.Commuters on the busy train, that had stopped at Basingstoke on its way through to Andover, were told there was a shortage of space and that only slim people should sit. The announcer reportedly said: ^We are going to be like sardines on this train. Can I ask that only slim people sit on the three-seaters? If you are fat, then it is simply not going to work.^ One passenger on the Basingstoke to Salisbury train said they were shocked and added: ^I would get fired if I said that at my work^. South West Trains has apologised for the incident and a spokeswoman said ^all passengers are welcome^ on its services. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2015, 19:26:28 » |
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This was, according to reading on other forums, an on-train announcement made in jest by a guard. Nothing to do with station announcers as implied in the rather confusing press reports.
I suspect SWT▸ will be asking the guard concerned to stick to the script in future. One person's joke is another person's offensive remark.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2015, 20:06:07 » |
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Three-seaters? Andover? How old is this story? The answer to the last question would appear to be eight years at least, if the photograph is of the actual train in question (which might explain the first two queries, did SWT▸ 's 170s have 2+3 seating?).
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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Network SouthEast
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« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2015, 20:27:31 » |
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No, the class 170s had 2+2 in standard class and 2+1 in first too.
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JayMac
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« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2015, 20:52:47 » |
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Which begs the next question. A service with 3+2 seating on its way to Salisbury?
Salisbury to/from Basingstoke is served exclusively by SWTs▸ Class 159s.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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Network SouthEast
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« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2015, 21:27:11 » |
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I suspect that was the joke the guard may have made.
With 2+2 seating you DO have to be slim (as slim as a piece of paper) to fit in the middle seat!
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2015, 21:37:41 » |
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As a larger chap, I find his announcement quite funny.
I'm getting bored of the PC brigade shooting down every joke made by someone in customer service.
Not knowing the stock I didn't realise it was only 2+2 which makes it even more evident he was joking as there are no 3 seaters on that service.
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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stuving
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« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2015, 21:39:59 » |
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I suspect that was the joke the guard may have made.
With 2+2 seating you DO have to be slim (as slim as a piece of paper) to fit in the middle seat!
In which case, did the guard say something like "sit three abreast", only to have people (over-)react to some of the other words (like "fat") and paraphrase that bit? |
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2015, 22:00:50 » |
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I suspect that was the joke the guard may have made.
With 2+2 seating you DO have to be slim (as slim as a piece of paper) to fit in the middle seat!
Story first appeared in The Telegraph, with no mention of Andover or Salisbury. But with the same alleged announcement from the guard about 'three-seaters'. On balance, I think the announcement happened on a SWT▸ service with 3+2 seating. Just not on a train to Salisbury, particularly with the later text added to the Andover Advertiser story not quoted in the OP▸ : A spokesperson for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance said: "Our guard was aware this particular service was very busy and, in a light-hearted way, pointed out that some middle seat spaces might not be comfortable for passengers with a similar build to herself.
"This was in no way intended as a slight on any customers and the majority of passengers on the train took the comments in the spirit in which they were intended.
"However, like ourselves, she is very sorry if any passengers were offended by her remarks."
On balance, I think the journalism has been woeful. |
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« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 22:18:47 by bignosemac »
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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grahame
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« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2015, 22:06:07 » |
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Which begs the next question. A service with 3+2 seating on its way to Salisbury?
Seen 150925 on the Portsmouth run - but that's not SWT▸ ... |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2015, 22:31:48 » |
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On balance, I think the journalism has been woeful.
As do I. However, as in many such cases, I merely quote what the press choose to publish.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2015, 10:07:13 » |
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Which begs the next question. A service with 3+2 seating on its way to Salisbury?
Seen 150925 on the Portsmouth run - but that's not SWT▸ ... Not SWT, and doesn't go through Andover. Andover, I believe, is ONLY served by SWT, the line is not electrified and SWT's only DMUs▸ are the class 159 and class 158 units, neither of which have 2+3 seating as far as I know (I think it has been said they are not wide enough to fit 2+3 seating, not that you'd want to). |
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2015, 10:08:33 » |
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As a larger chap, I find his announcement quite funny.
I'm getting bored of the PC brigade shooting down every joke made by someone in customer service.
Not knowing the stock I didn't realise it was only 2+2 which makes it even more evident he was joking as there are no 3 seaters on that service.
Agreed, it was clearly meant light heartedly and people need to be less precious..............indeed it's a legitimate issue - quite often on Turbos between Paddington/Reading you will see individual seats on pairs of two that cannot be used as the person in situ is of a size that makes it impossible to get more than half of one of one's own buttock on the seat.............I am no slim Jim myself, however I flatter myself that I am not the cause of someone standing due to my size! |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2015, 10:14:14 » |
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I ask them to move up into the centre seat - perching half-on an outside seat is slightly better than no seat at all....something you can't do with half a centre seat. Not actually had any refusals yet either.
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