No Standard Class standees in First Class vestibules.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

I've just read on another forum (caveat: no independent verification) that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are putting up signs in the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) First Class vestibules warning anyone standing there that they must be in possesion of a First Class ticket, or they will be charged the full First Class fare for their journey.

I appreciate that there are a few HSTs that are completely rammed in Standard (usually ones to holiday destinations in the summer) but it is rare, even in the evening peak to see all seats taken in coaches A-E as well as standees cramming every available space in Standard Class.

It appears that the majority of the standees that crowd the HST First Class vestibules out of Paddington in the evening are travelling to Reading (or Slough and maybe Maidenhead/Twyford) and just being lazy. Board a carriage nearest the concourse at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and disembark nearest the exit at RDG^‡(resolve).

If I buy a Standard Class ticket, I travel in in that section. I'm betting one of the the most common excuses TM^‡(resolve)'s get when attempting to move people out of First Class is "But Standard Class is full....." How many using this excuse have walked all the way down the platform to check, I wonder?

So bring it on I say, lets just hope FGW back up the signage with consistent enforcement.

[devon_metro]

I too was intrigued when I read this, however for the life of me cannot remember where!

Certainly thee is a perception of over crowdedness if vestibules at the barrier end of Paddington are full, when most likely there are seats in A!

[Chris from Nailsea]

See also http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6419.msg63559#msg63559 

[matt473]

Quite often I see people get on at 1st class and claim it's busy in standard and try to stay there be it standing or sitting. Realistically though as can be heard from the announcements is that coaches D-E are ufll whilst the other carriages have space but people are unwilling to move down the train. However, when the train is genuinely full I have seen 1st class coaches de-classified to ease overcrowding but obviously this decision can't be made lightly as they do not want to upset people who have piad a premium to travel 1st class

[John R]

As mentioned before some passengers try this on every day between Swindon and Bristol. They will be easy pickings for any penalty fare inspector once this comes in on the route, as almost by definition everyone standing in that area will be liable (as if they were a 1st class passenger they would be sitting down).

I suspect once someone has been PF^▸ (Penalty Fare)'d for it they will think twice.

[vacman]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are on the war path with first class abuse now thanks to numerous complaints from FC^‡(resolve) passenegrs, and with the extension of Penalty fares areas many people will unfortunately be learning the hard way soon!

[John R]

Oh good. There are also colleagues of mine who think it's OK to walk through an open barrier at Swindon and out the other end at Bristol in the evening sans billet, and wonder when some of us criticise their behaviour. So I'm quite looking forward to PFs^▸ (Penalty Fare) in some ways.

[Timmer]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are on the war path with first class abuse now thanks to numerous complaints from FC^‡(resolve) passenegrs, and with the extension of Penalty fares areas many people will unfortunately be learning the hard way soon!

Good, often people standing in the vestibule area tend to make a lot of noise because they are competing to be heard against the noise of the train which comes into the carriage because the door keeps opening. If you pay extra for something you should expect to get what you pay for and for me that is a bit of peace and quiet.

Whilst we are on this subject, and sorry to sound snobbish, I would love to ban the procession that takes place through first class on every departure out of Paddington. People really should walk down the platform. The only way I can see this being solved is to have 1st at the opposite end but this has been discussed elsewhere on this forum with the conclusion drawn that this would not find favour with many 1st class passengers. When a train is in reverse formation it is amazing how much quieter first class is at the start of the journey.

[JayMac]

Along with the procession through H-F (which I also find annoying!) can we amend the PF^▸ (Penalty Fare) rules to include a penalty for nicking the newspapers which are for FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS?

 

[Timmer]

Along with the procession (which I also find annoying!) can we amend the PF^▸ (Penalty Fare) rules to include a penalty for nicking the newspapers which are for FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS?

Best way to stop that is for the customer host to hand them out, then collect them at the end of the journey.

[Mookiemoo]

You know something - think I've complained over the same thing many a time - and often accused of being a snob or a first class bigot!  Not by anyone here but by other fora members..........

thankfully the problem is now getting wider recognition

[readytostart]

How many staff does the average HST^▸ (High Speed Train) have on board these days? Maybe a good old fashioned meet and greet from the on board team and a quick glance at tickets woud keep everyone in the right place.

[John R]

Every HST^▸ (High Speed Train) during the week has a 1st Class Customer Host for the core of it's journey (before 7pm), though from my observation they have no remit to do anything other than serve from the trolley. That feels wrong to me, though no doubt there are reasons why.   

[broadgage]

I hope that this rule will be enforced, apart from the issues already raised, standing in the vestibules of F + G impedes the work of the restaurant staff on the 18-03 which I use regularly.

I believe that first class should be at the country end as was suggested, in order to reduce the endless parade of rucksacks and baby carriages through first class.

[Timmer]

I believe that first class should be at the country end as was suggested, in order to reduce the endless parade of rucksacks and baby carriages through first class.

Maybe FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should do a survey, if they haven't done already, asking First Class passengers if this is something that they would consider. It would probably cut down on those 'trying it on' sitting in first until they are moved on as it moves the temptation further down the train by which time they would have found a seat in standard. The buffet car also tends to act as a barrier. Seems to work fine on EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) having first at the country end.