First Class "Gatecrashed"

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

I was travelling up to Bristol Parkway from Taunton yesterday, Paid ^18.50 for a First Class Off Peak Return.

The train wasn't to busy, a few empty seats, yet some people still stood in the vestibules!

The TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) was in a rather sympathetic mood and offer complimentary First Class Upgrades to about 15 pax^▸ (passengers), which is fair enough because nobody wants to be stood next to the rather obnoxiously smelling lavatory!

What has annoyed me was that a return with railcard to Bristol Parkway from Taunton is ^6.85 IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), A First Class Return with Railcard is ^18.50

So I paid more than double my fare on a Sunday which has a reduced FC^▸ (First Class, or Fat Controller, or Football Club, depending on context) service, yet about 15 passengers got the extra perks for nothing!

The question is, am I entitled to claim the difference back off of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) between FC and STD??

I travel in FC because I am a nervous traveller and enjoy peace and quiet and surroundings with low numbers of people...! I got everything but those things...! I am not a snob...

[devon_metro]

Worth a shot emailing them!

[Zoe]

I travel in FC^▸ (First Class, or Fat Controller, or Football Club, depending on context) because I am a nervous traveller and enjoy peace and quiet and surroundings with low numbers of people...! I got everything but those things...! I am not a snob...

It's one reason I object to using Advance fares, I like to sit in the least busy part of standard class (most of the time coach A) and with an Advance fare I have to sit in the reserved seat.

[Btline]

I have to say that when I travelled First Class last month, I did like the peace and quiet.

But I will not go first if I am travelling late or at weekends where there is no host.

As for your case - email them; you've nothing to lose except some internet minutes!

I travel in FC^▸ (First Class, or Fat Controller, or Football Club, depending on context) because I am a nervous traveller and enjoy peace and quiet and surroundings with low numbers of people...! I got everything but those things...! I am not a snob...

It's one reason I object to using Advance fares, I like to sit in the least busy part of standard class (most of the time coach A) and with an Advance fare I have to sit in the reserved seat.

Just use a Mixing Deck booking website and request a seat in the Quiet Zone (A). There - you can go Advance!

[Zoe]

Just use a Mixing Deck booking website and request a seat in the Quiet Zone (A). There - you can go Advance!

Yes but it may not be up the Train Manager's end of the coach (if heading for London) and so could be going backwards.  I also don't want to be forced to sit next to another person if there are other empty seats.

[devon_metro]

I very rarely sit in my reserved seat, as I often find one with an optimum window view (normally the 2 at the back of the TGS)

[Zoe]

I very rarely sit in my reserved seat, as I often find one with an optimum window view (normally the 2 at the back of the TGS)

I like to sit in the single seat at the back of the TGS when going to London.  I note that the terms and conditions of Advance tickets say that you must sit in your reserved seat so you could risk an excess if you get a very fussy guard.

[Btline]

They won't give an excess. The guard will mainly check that you are on the right train.

If they get fussy about the seat, they'll just tell you to move back.

Just make sure you remove the card from your reserved seat so another passenger can sit down.

[John R]

The train wasn't to busy, a few empty seats, yet some people still stood in the vestibules!

How do you know, if you were sitting in 1st?

I think you got what you paid for, which is a seat in 1st Class, so I don't think you can complain. Your ticket doesn't entitle you to a seat and 3 vacant seats around the table.

As a regular 1st class traveller myself, I don't have much sympathy with your predicament. These things happen now and again.  ^18.50 seems rather good value for a journey of that distance first class.

[Super Guard]

They won't give an excess. The guard will mainly check that you are on the right train.

If they get fussy about the seat, they'll just tell you to move back.

Just make sure you remove the card from your reserved seat so another passenger can sit down.

Sounds simple to me!

[Zoe]

I tend to feel a bit sick if I go backwards or don't have a good view out of the window so I am just a bit concerned about a guard asking me to move to reserved seat.

[moonrakerz]

"I am just a bit concerned about a guard asking me to move to reserved seat."

"you must sit in your reserved seat so you could risk an excess if you get a very fussy guard"

"I also don't want to be forced to sit next to another person if there are other empty seats"

"with an Advance fare I have to sit in the reserved seat."

For Pete's sake give it a rest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Btline]

I tend to feel a bit sick if I go backwards or don't have a good view out of the window so I am just a bit concerned about a guard asking me to move to reserved seat.

With me, I said "Sorry, I'm not in my reserved seat, does this matter?"

The guard said "it doesn't matter - as long as you've actually got a seat!"

Indicating that the priority is making sure everyone is seated somewhere.

Of course every guard is different, but I hardly think a guard is going to make a fuss. Person sitting in the wrong seat in Coach A - Crime of the century! Forget the fare dodgers in Coach E, they can wait while I sort out this debacle!

[John R]

"I am just a bit concerned about a guard asking me to move to reserved seat."

"you must sit in your reserved seat so you could risk an excess if you get a very fussy guard"

"I also don't want to be forced to sit next to another person if there are other empty seats"

"with an Advance fare I have to sit in the reserved seat."

For Pete's sake give it a rest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hear, hear!

And to think this Forum started life because people either didn't have a train service, or because they couldn't get on the trains they were so crowded. Now we're getting complaints because people don't want to sit next to another person or have standard class passengers in their nice first class coach.

[Btline]

You could argue that the reason for such discussions is because the railway has got better!

But obviously not in the case of TransWilts...

PS: good picture at the top right of the page ("Bring back our trains")

Anyway, back to subject!