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r james
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« Reply #30 on: January 29, 2009, 23:26:41 » |
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Have virgin stopped using electronic seat reservations then? Have they reverted back to cards as was suggested in an earlier post?
Seems a strange moove, considering that they pushed ahead and installed it on all their services!
Anyone clarify the situation?
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Btline
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« Reply #31 on: January 30, 2009, 18:20:01 » |
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They have. But there are no holders for the card so they have to be folded between the seat back and the cushion!
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r james
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« Reply #32 on: January 30, 2009, 18:46:18 » |
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ANy idea why they stopped using the seat reservation system?
I thought one of the issues was that they literally didnt have time to put in the new reservation tickets now after vigin had recast the timetable,hence why they were using electronic system?
What was the real reason for abandoning it?
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Btline
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« Reply #33 on: January 30, 2009, 18:52:20 » |
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Umm.. perhaps because it didn't work?  It also caused delays at stations; dwell times were increased because of slow boarding due to people pausing at every seat to check the tiny screen with slow scrolling text. This "queuing" also meant that passengers standing near internal doors were squashed every 10 secs! |
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thetrout
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« Reply #34 on: January 30, 2009, 20:32:43 » |
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What does annoy me though about seat reservations in First Class is when there is loads of empty tables, yet the person who just got on insists on sitting in their reserved seat opposite you!
Does anyone prevent you sitting somewhere else, then? The point I was making was that I was already on the train before the person at the next stop got on an decided to sit opposite me  Mind you, I feel sorry for anyone who has to sit opposite me, today was the third time I knocked my cup of tea over...  *makes not to self not to be so clumbsy* |
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r james
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« Reply #35 on: January 30, 2009, 20:45:15 » |
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Umm.. perhaps because it didn't work? It also caused delays at stations; dwell times were increased because of slow boarding due to people pausing at every seat to check the tiny screen with slow scrolling text. This "queuing" also meant that passengers standing near internal doors were squashed every 10 secs! Surely that argument doesn't stand anyway, as you either saw that the seat was reserved or that 'This seat is not reserved', and walked to find the unreserved ones?! Its no different when theres tickets on the chairs. Could they have reduced the text down at all maybe on the screens? |
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Btline
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« Reply #36 on: January 30, 2009, 21:33:21 » |
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With card, passengers without reservations head straight to uncarded seats.
With screens, passengers pause at each row and wait for the scrolling text. Becuase the screens are too small for "NOT RESERVED", they say "This seat is not reserved" on a cycle.
That causes the delay.
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Ollie
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« Reply #37 on: January 30, 2009, 22:25:58 » |
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With card, passengers without reservations head straight to uncarded seats.
With screens, passengers pause at each row and wait for the scrolling text. Becuase the screens are too small for "NOT RESERVED", they say "This seat is not reserved" on a cycle.
That causes the delay.
I'm not sure how much space on the screen, but maybe it could say "SIT HERE"  |
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stebbo
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« Reply #38 on: January 30, 2009, 22:29:43 » |
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Bring back HSTs▸ - hopefully not with FGW▸ seating and pink Mickey Mouse ears
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John R
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« Reply #39 on: January 30, 2009, 22:32:47 » |
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BT Line is spot on. With cards it's easy. You walk down the train and find a seat without one. It's obvious to you which are the unreserved seats. With electronic reservations that are above head height you have to walk down the train with your head at an unusual angle, and it takes a fraction of a second to stop at each one and check. And of course, it takes a bit longer to double check the seat number with the display.
Multiply that by 20 or more passengers per coach boarding at a principle station and it's easy to see why dwell times are increased. Thank goodness the FGW▸ refurbishment didn't include electronic seat reservations.
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willc
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« Reply #40 on: January 30, 2009, 23:34:47 » |
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With cards it's easy. You walk down the train and find a seat without one. It's obvious to you which are the unreserved seats. But the issue that has got GNER▸ threatening to end free reservations is that when people don't turn up, or sit somewhere other than their reserved seat, it remains empty for the rest of the journey, as people just see the reservation card and pass on, without bothering to check what stations are indicated. Today on my way into Oxford, I sat in a seat from Moreton-in-Marsh to Oxford that was reserved from Pershore to London. Because the train was an Adelante and would be full after Oxford, I expect someone did look closely and it probably was taken from Oxford onwards but if it had been the booked HST▸ , I'd bet it that seat would have stayed empty all the way to London. Occasional rail users just see reserved and pass by - the electronic things aren't great but they do make you look, even if they are ignored by people much of the time on Voyagers, but that's down to the pitiful number of seats available, not the reservation system itself, though I agree a short snappy 'seat free' type message would be a good idea. |
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r james
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« Reply #41 on: January 31, 2009, 00:44:18 » |
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The question is... why didnt virgin realise this when they pushed ahead using electronic seat reservations?
Seems a bit odd to me! Like I say, Im sure the displays could be adapted! And if all reserved seating was in one coach, it wouldnt be a problem!
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Zoe
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« Reply #42 on: January 31, 2009, 11:29:41 » |
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The question is... why didnt virgin realise this when they pushed ahead using electronic seat reservations?
For the same reason Virgin went ahead and ordered the Voyagers without thinking that 4 coach underfloor engine DMUs▸ may not be up to the job on long distance intercity routes? |
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« Last Edit: January 31, 2009, 11:36:18 by Zo^ »
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #43 on: January 31, 2009, 14:26:22 » |
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With cards it's easy. You walk down the train and find a seat without one. It's obvious to you which are the unreserved seats. Occasional rail users just see reserved and pass by - the electronic things aren't great but they do make you look, even if they are ignored by people much of the time on Voyagers, but that's down to the pitiful number of seats available, not the reservation system itself, though I agree a short snappy 'seat free' type message would be a good idea. I think there is enough space for a non-scrolling 'Seat Unreserved' or 'Seat Available', even 'Seat not reserved'? After all, that's what the Class 222 'Meridians' say on their displays, which I think are identical to Voyagers. I'm surprised a software update hasn't changed this? |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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Super Guard
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« Reply #44 on: January 31, 2009, 17:03:08 » |
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Surely "Unreserved or Reserved" could be displayed and then it changes from Reserved to Unreserved once they arrive at the appropriate station.
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Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own. I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.
If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
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