This is a bit of amI being unreasonable - and feel free to tell me I am......

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Ok, had an advance ticket first class booked for xyz train but travelling two hours earlier.  My chouce I admit.  Ticket was from newport to Reading.

Got to cardiff and went out through the barriers (hunger called)  so went to ticket office.  Explained I needed a first class cardiff to newport and asked what the cheapest way to offset my advance ticket against a ticket for the next train was.......

Got told to pay the ^10 change of journey fee (no problem with that) and then ask on the train if the guard would offset it against the ^15 upgrade since all the advance tickets are the same price regardles of train (this I discovered on booking).  I asked, if I did this, could I guarantee that ^15 was the most I'd be charged on board.  Got told yes.

So I got on.......here's where it starts to go wrong

The train is a busy train but is a nive 2+7 so missing a first carriage.  I get on to discover a whole set of four seats with one FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff blazer on a seat.  Went to sit there - most of the other tables in use with at least two people, only to get told these seats were reserved.  I didnt think FGW staff were allowed to reserve first seats.

Didnt say anything though and happily moved to the next seat.....

Guard came through and I explained what the ticket office said - and got a load of verbal about invalid tickets and bsically made to feel the size of a slug.  End of the day he did only charge me the 15.00 plus the upgrade from cardiff to newport  however it was the attitude.  When I turned around and said something - cant remember waht but bearing in mind I am from an irish family and we feck all the time!  I got told not to use that language. 

Then, when he put my card in the chip and pin I said - its a pay wave won't work!  but it did!

So I said, ah - you must have upgraded the firm ware in the last ten days then - only to get told "I havent upgraded anything" so I said "I didnt mean you personally meant FGW as a company" only to be told its the quiet carriage and if I wanted to talk, to please move!

I'm half tempted to make a complaint over the reservation of a table for FGW staff!  I'm pretty sure someone told me that travelling in FC^‡(resolve) is not a perk of the job by right .... but if there are free tables no one will bat an eyelid......so if someone wants to sit there.....

So - bearing in mind what you know of me.....was I really unreasonable!

[Mookiemoo]

Note, its not the 15 upgrade that bothers me, its the reserving a seat for staff and the attitude and humiliating me in the carriage with the tone of voice!

[Mookiemoo]

It is quite clear - the TM^‡(resolve) has booked this 4 seat table for himself!  Its his blazer and his bag and in between ticket checks thats where he's sitting.  Clearly doesnt want to rough it like the rest of them do!

I two seat table I could JUST understand but taking up four to himself!

With his justification "we're short a carriage so I have to do this"

[Mookiemoo]

Said TM^‡(resolve) was not seen again until - I assume we are approaching Swindon.

Sits down, says to, I presume someone he knows in the two seats opposite, "I've had enough, not doing anymore"

And has now disappeared again, I presume to the micro buffet - confirmed - he returned with a cappuccino thing! 

Disclaimer, If you were the TM on this train, I'd say all this to your face I just don't want BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) called and me evicted!

[Mookiemoo]

Best bit is - I think we just ran a signal

Pulled out of didcot - came to a grinding halt - TM^‡(resolve) goes down looking worried, the buffet woman looks worried and the TM's friend across the aisle is also concerned - but we are away again!

I wonder how many people on this train realised leaving didcot then grinding to a halt was off

TM just said "all I'll say is - always trust your instinct"  now he's talking in whispers!  Dammit


SAdly - on a normal journey I'd just go and ask whats wrong in a - that wasnt normal mode

Don;t think it would go down well!

[devon_metro]

Is the train reverse formation? He should be in the TGS really ifnot.

[Mookiemoo]

Is the train reverse formation? He should be in the TGS really ifnot.

yes - first class at rear

but I don't think reserving a four table seat is on since when first is st the rear normally - most guard live in h lobby before power car only sitting if genuinely no
o one wants it

[Mookiemoo]

Think cotswolds gets more than it's share of 2+7 and micro buffet but I've seen a tm do that

[Super Guard]

No member of staff in uniform should be sitting in FC^‡(resolve) under any circumstance, and the attitude you got about "being reserved" is an absolute disgrace.

To be told of the restrictions is one thing, to be made to feel "like a slug" is out of order.  I cannot condone you using bad language regardless of whether it is acceptable or not in your family, although some Guards can accept a level of it from frustration.

As for the chip & pin... was it the same bulky one as usual?  There is a new c&p being released in due course and also a software update to Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) with various improvements due.

[super tm]

No member of staff in uniform should be sitting in FC^‡(resolve) under any circumstance, and the attitude you got about "being reserved" is an absolute disgrace.
.

Drivers are allowed to when having their booked meal break on the train.  Only happens on Sat and Sun though.

[Super Guard]

Is that still the case when there is a Fare Paying passenger wanting a seat?

[inspector_blakey]

No member of staff in uniform should be sitting in FC^‡(resolve) under any circumstance, and the attitude you got about "being reserved" is an absolute disgrace.

That's interesting - almost every time I have taken an evening train from Oxford to Swansea the first class seating in coach F has been virtually monopolized by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff. I made the mistake of asking one a question once, under the misapprehansion that he was the train manager, to be told very abruptly to leave him alone because he was off duty. Silly me for reading his name badge that said "train manager"!

[Mookiemoo]

I actually have no issue with staff sitting in FC^‡(resolve), they do it all the time - but I DO have an issue with a single train manager reserving a table so he can leave his bag, ticket machine there and not haul it around all the time when fare paying passengers are sitting 2/3 to a table

[readytostart]

i know we sometimes disgagree, but I'm fully with FA on this one.

There are places kit could be left, other than a four seat table, even if the guy didn't, for whatever reason want to use the TGS. The very fact you had a change of journey excess should have proved you'd made enquiries at the booking office. There was a four seat table free for him, so it's not like you were stealing the table of full fare first passengers, plus he got commission on whatever her sold you!
Not my company but this kind of behaviour really lets down the side of those who do try harder (not necessarily their best) to try and make journeys better.

For the price paid in first I always like to try and make passengers feel welcome, even if it's by making them a cuppa if no customer is on board or telling them their platforms (if I remember) from NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service) before we get to their change point.

[inspector_blakey]

I've certainly had XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) TMs^‡(resolve) go "the extra mile" in the past - back in the summer when I thought the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) was taking action short of a strike (TMs were supposedly doing a work-to-rule, so not picking up litter etc) I took a first class journey and the TM was going up and down the train checking tickets, keeping the place tidy and even running the full first class hot food service as there was no customer host on board. A real credit!