FGW 1st Class - ongoing discussion of the benefits and their apparent reduction

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

From ITV News, a video report:

First Great Western seat upgrade

First Great Western has been showing off a new look for its first class carriages with a brand new logo on the seats.

It's part of major changes to the companies fleet of high speed trains which will see fewer first class seats to make way for more in standard class.

Over the next year scores of carriages will be improved which is part of a ^13 million upgrade.

Quite what that grimace at the end of the video was all about, I have no idea. 

Looks like poor video editing on the part of Meridian

[NickB]

I have noticed in the last few weeks revenue protection have been emptying people out of First Class on the TV services, quite a few grumpy people about who actually never make the effort to sit in Standard just sit in First Class automatically

Yes indeed. We're getting ticket checks nearly every day now.  The irony is that due to the school holiday season the carriages are half empty and so the need to enforce ticketing is less pressing.  I can only hope that this will continue once schools are back.
I even had my first EVER ticket check on a Paddington outbound service last week!

Q: I'm referring to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services here.  Is the same happening on Turbos?

[lordgoata]

There has certainly been an increase in ticket checks, but by no means daily on my turbo. As you say though, as soon as the schools are back and they can't walk through the train, they will just stop again.

[TaplowGreen]

Apologies if this has already been covered, but surely the reduction in 1st class accomodation must herald the end of Weekend First?...........I am attempting to book 1st class seats from the Westcountry back to Reading over a month hence and the prices are already very high, and in my experience Sunday afternoon trains on this route are extremely busy.

I wouldn't be too happy if I book first class at this price only for someone to stroll in and get the same service for supplement from standard class 

[ChrisB]

I'm not sure why anyone books 1st class at the weekends? Just upgrade using Weekend First?

[Timmer]

I'm not sure why anyone books 1st class at the weekends? Just upgrade using Weekend First?

Up to a few weeks ago I would have agreed with you and still do unless a)You want to use the First class lounge at Paddington now open at weekends where a First class ticket is required to access the lounge. b)You want to guarantee a seat now the amount of First class seating is reduced.

[bobm]

The weekend before last I got an Advance First class ticket from the West of England for less than the price of a standard advance and the supplement.

[ChrisB]

yup, that can happen - but I suspect won't be available too much longer....

[The Tall Controller]

Weekend upgrades are sold subject to availability (i.e. seats still vacant) so if you do want to go First Class it may be worth paying the extra few pounds to guarantee your seat. Quite a few times this summer some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) coming up through Cornwall had to turn down upgrades before Plymouth as 1st class was already full.

[grahame]

Quite a few times this summer some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) coming up through Cornwall had to turn down upgrades before Plymouth as 1st class was already full.

Question from someone who's not used these services ... do they have to leave an allowance of first class seats empty on the way up through Cornwall to allow for unreserved first class passengers joining at Plymouth?

[Super Guard]

Quite a few times this summer some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) coming up through Cornwall had to turn down upgrades before Plymouth as 1st class was already full.

Question from someone who's not used these services ... do they have to leave an allowance of first class seats empty on the way up through Cornwall to allow for unreserved first class passengers joining at Plymouth?

I see where you're going with this.. 

As far as I know, there is no requirement to hold seats back, but I personally doubt we'll see Weekend First, once the refurb is complete - especially given 1st class trolley is rumoured to being introduced at weekends.

[thetrout]

I'm not sure why anyone books 1st class at the weekends? Just upgrade using Weekend First?

Some First Class Off Peak Day Returns (FCR) and First Class Off Peak Returns (FSR^▸ (First Scot Rail)) would be more expensive on a CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day'))+Supplement than just doing the First Class ticket outright. This is especially true if the route covers 2 or more zones on the Supplement Stages Map.

Also some passengers may go out on say a Thursday with an FSR and return on the Sunday. In this case an SSS (Super Off Peak Single+Weekend First) may would out cheaper if you're going to make the journey again and want to save the return portion for a different day.

Question from someone who's not used these services ... do they have to leave an allowance of first class seats empty on the way up through Cornwall to allow for unreserved first class passengers joining at Plymouth?

I think that that is what is meant to happen. But there is a big difference between what should happen versus watch actually happens. However it is an unwritten rule that those wanting to upgrade at the weekend just go and sit in First Class regardless and pay the Train Manager IF they come round. So you could also argue at the time there were seats available.

I used a train over the weekend where I had an FCR Ticket and found First Class to be full. It was a 1.5 seating set. I totally understand where TaplowGreen is coming from. I'm not necessarily worried about someone getting a cheap upgrade. But I do have an issue with buying a First Class ticket only to find I cannot get a seat because of Weekend First upgrades have taken all the seats.

However the harsh reality is "sold subject to availability" and the seats where available when the passengers boarded and upgraded. If someone boards with an FCR/FSR/FOR/FDS/FOS 4 stops up the line and all seats are now taken. Tough!

You would however be entitled to a refund from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for having to downgrade to Standard Class because of no seats being available. As has been discussed many times in the past, FGW DO pay compensation when this happens. I see no reason why this should not include weekends irrelevant of the amount of Weekend First ticket holders or not!

I do have to say the certain types of Weekend First ticket holders who get on my nerves are the ones who are say a group of 3 or 5 who expect to keep the whole table(s) to themselves...

[NickB]

45 people standing in First Class this morning.  No ticket checks, no papers, no coffee, no trolley.  Not very good.

TM^‡(resolve) was getting an earfull from 6 or 7 irate (but polite) passengers as I left the train.  When their only response, repeatedly, is 'this is a management directive' you can understand why people get angry.

[ChrisB]

From where?

That is the reason - I feel for the staff. Maybe they ought to be supplied with business cards that contain contact details for management/customer services (Dft?  ) which would help their predicament.

[NickB]

Maidenhead to Paddington - the 7.08 which is now 1.33 first class carriages.

The TM^‡(resolve) is in a no-win situation.  If he ventures into 1st Class then he will take the wrath of standing passengers, but hiding away and saying it was too crowded to check tickets in First Class just rubs salt into the wound.

In July I contacted a senior FGW^▸ (First Great Western) manager who's details I had about the situation at Maidenhead and asked them to listen and speak with us.  They said they would find an appropriate method to 'engage'.  Two months on there has been no further word from them.