Use of 5 carriage IEPs on Paddington to Cornwall services

[whole diary]

[REVUpminster]

The 07.03 Paddington to Paignton was a 5 car 800011 today; usually 9 car.

[TaplowGreen]

I'm on the 1129 from Reading to Plymouth which is ironically 10 car rather than 9!

......as a result none of the reservations worked though......

[1st fan]

Actually to be fair the train I had hoped to get was late arriving into Banbury, I don’t recall why that was - but it was late. The platform was full of Easter travellers and the tannoy announced that this next train was already very busy. They further announced that the service after that was scheduled to arrive on time shortly after this one and comparatively empty. Some passengers you might have thought would have then waited for the next train. Nope, they didn’t seem to care and pushed their way onto the train like it was the rush hour in London and this was the tube.

The bird in hand worth two in the bush. From some passengers' point of view, this train is here and will be going soon. The one behind could just break down, so I wouldn't get home. If this one breaks down, the one behind would be much use anyway, so I'll get on the rammed one and complain bitterly about overcrowding.

Whilst that may be true for some, personally I would prefer to have a comfortable seat rather than stand for an hour or more.

[FarWestJohn]

Two 5 cars is ludicrous with 2 extra cabs and 2 sets of catering taking up vast amounts of unused space plus the extra crew and no connection between the sets.

[grahame]

Two 5 cars is ludicrous with 2 extra cabs and 2 sets of catering taking up vast amounts of unused space plus the extra crew and no connection between the sets.

If it's the same 10 carriage train all day joined up on the same service, then - yes - a 9 car set makes more sense.  But 2 x 5 off Paddington, divide at Westbury, rear all stations via Frome to Weymouth, front 5 Cary and Taunton, where it couples up to 5 cars from Birmingham and beyond and the new 2 x 5 carried on to Penzance - now that makes sense.

[JayMac]

If it's the same 10 carriage train all day joined up on the same service, then - yes - a 9 car set makes more sense.  But 2 x 5 off Paddington, divide at Westbury, rear all stations via Frome to Weymouth, front 5 Cary and Taunton, where it couples up to 5 cars from Birmingham and beyond and the new 2 x 5 carried on to Penzance - now that makes sense.

What have you been sniffing grahame?!

[grahame]

If it's the same 10 carriage train all day joined up on the same service, then - yes - a 9 car set makes more sense.  But 2 x 5 off Paddington, divide at Westbury, rear all stations via Frome to Weymouth, front 5 Cary and Taunton, where it couples up to 5 cars from Birmingham and beyond and the new 2 x 5 carried on to Penzance - now that makes sense.

What have you been sniffing grahame?!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064077691565

[IndustryInsider]

I'm on the 1129 from Reading to Plymouth which is ironically 10 car rather than 9!

......as a result none of the reservations worked though......

Interesting one that.  I’m on a 10 vice 9 now and the reservations are working fine in the carriages where the seats are the same on both formations which is guess is about 80%.

I think that’s usually the case, but there do seem to be exceptions sometimes, such as your example.