Should obese people be charged for two seats?

[whole diary]

[johoare]

Whilst I understand that some sort of train service is better than none.. I'd prefer not to travel at all rather than be rammed into a train with (just about enough) breathing room.. It's not fun... Hence the car.. and clogging up the roads.. It might be bad stuck in traffic, but (unless you invited lots and lots of fellow passengers with you), you get to breath.. That is quite important to me 

I think it ALL needs to be sorted out and properly...It won't be though..

[grahame]

I've said it before but it bears repeating - quite frankly speaking as a Melksham resident I'd be perfectly happy to travel up to Swindon or down to Salisbury standing up in an open topped 3rd Class 1880s cattle truck. All I want is to get a b***** train service back of any description. Comfort quite frankly comes WAY down the list.

See then I'd drive!  As I am in ireland!

Hmmm ... until 6 months or a year ago, you could have gone from Rosslare to Kilkenny by train, changing at Waterford. But the Rosslare to Waterford service has been withdrawn (it had been minimal) with closure of the intermediate stations. There may be a lesson / warning in this closure that even in these days lines can be lost.

[onthecushions]

Railways ought to be good at gauging, rating axle loads on a scale RA1-10, clearances on W6a-12, with passenger stock having C1^▸ ((on coaches) National route restriction) or C3 ratings.

We could imagine intending passengers also being required to receive corresponding measurements for weight, height and width, with perhaps a dynamic clearance test for the ability to perambulate a straight line after a social evening. The results could be encoded onto a chip embedded into ones photocard/railcard and used to adjust the fare paid. This would also dispense with the need for child fares.

Seats could then be labelled with the relevant maxima.

A daft as chipping dustbins?

OTC

[Henry]

  So what about children under 5 who occupy a seat ?

[bobm]

I feel sorry for the staff in all this. I mean how would you tactfully tell a "large" person they need to pay twice?

[Henry]

 If they were charged for taking up 2 seats and their were 2 of them, could they not have bought a group-save ?

[broadgage]

  So what about children under 5 who occupy a seat ?

I think that the owners of the child should be made to pay for a seat, if one is occupied.

[smokey]

 If they were charged for taking up 2 seats and their were 2 of them, could they not have bought a group-save ?

Smart:

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A Bit of History here, back in Mid 1950's, BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Mk I open stock was built with,
First Class, 7 window bays and 2 + 1 seating (42 seats),
Third Class 8 window bays and 2 + 2 seating (64 seats), Yeah still 3rd class in them days.
Second Class 8 window bays & 2 + 1 seating (48 seats), Second class was a limited build as 2nd class was ONLY used on trains with 3 classes, IE Boat Trains.

The Second class coaches became second class restaurant cars when third class was abolished.

As a small point "  FIRST  "   Class Window Totems were Blue, (still around on some private lines),
                          "SECOND"  Class Window Totems were Green.

Of course the Pullman Cars then in use had 6 window bays & 1 + 1 seating (you may turn green)

[bobm]

Trying to remember when political correctness changed second class to standard class.

[Timmer]

Trying to remember when political correctness changed second class to standard class.

Think it was the mid 80s

[Henry]

 Was that at the same time they abolished the 'ladies only' coaches (or was that just a southern thing) ?

[smokey]

 Was that at the same time they abolished the 'ladies only' coaches (or was that just a southern thing) ?

Ladies only COMPARTMENTS were a national thing but were deemed "foul" under Sex discrimnation
so Ladies only disappeared mid 1970's

[matt473]

How long until there is a "fat carriage"? Could eventually happen if you believe all the scare stories about obesity rates rising. Maybe this is where there could be a higher fee for guranteed comfort without perks of first class. No doubt must be the carriage next to the buffet if there is one though 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

ahh see we all complain about the scrapping of catering on many trains but, perhaps the toc's are going along with prevention is better than a cure.... don't feed us !

[bobm]

Bit late in my case ......