The infamous 1915 from Paddington (police called to handle situation on 18th Sept)

[hassaanhc]

Been watching a mini-storm on Twitter.
Channel 4 weather presenter Liam Dutton tweeted that police were called to a train after it was overcrowded and a passenger with Standard ticket sat in First in protest.

Most comments in support of him and ridiculing FGW for overcrowding and not declassifying First in the name of "customer service". Anyone that dares defend FGW is showered in abuse.

Typical case of "customer is always right" and "wanting something for nothing", or am I being unreasonable and they should have declassified First Class?

Link: https://twitter.com/liamdutton/status/512682884897841152 (click on last tweet to continue viewing)

Initial comment:
So @FGW train delayed, people standing in aisles. A man sits in 1st class in protest & police called. Declassify the train, let people sit!

@FGW That is a poor response. Carriages are packed and that would be an acknowledgment of inconvenience, also good customer service.

 

[455driver]

That will no doubt be a picture of coach F (or E if there are still 2 First class coaches in the set) and coaches A and B problaby have plenty of spare seats.

I wonder how full that coach was after the train left Reading?

As for declassifying FC in the name of 'Customer service' what about the people who are travelling on FC tickets, I am sure they would be impressed with the great unwashed travelling from Paddington to Reading piling in free of charge.

 

[route:oxford]

Been watching a mini-storm on Twitter.
Channel 4 weather presenter Liam Dutton tweeted that police were called to a train after it was overcrowded and a passenger with Standard ticket sat in First in protest.

Most comments in support of him and ridiculing FGW for overcrowding and not declassifying First in the name of "customer service". Anyone that dares defend FGW is showered in abuse.

Typical case of "customer is always right" and "wanting something for nothing", or am I being unreasonable and they should have declassified First Class?

Link: https://twitter.com/liamdutton/status/512682884897841152 (click on last tweet to continue viewing)

As long as it didn't stop someone who was willing to pay for an upgrade from sitting in First...

Did the Police actually arrive?

 

[Richard1960]

Hmm i have had an argument with EMT about their Cr-p service to Norwich i sat in first class and got away with it as ( i had to change twice to get a norwich train) from Chesterfield due to an industrial dispute . Mind you the service i got from EMT was very sub substandard i could elaborate if asked.

And i also got 100% of my fare back off them.

 

[dk1]

Hmm i have had an argument with EMT about their Cr-p service to Norwich i sat in first class and got away with it. Mind you the service i got from EMT was very sub substandard i could elaborate if asked.

When was this? EMT do not have 1st class on their Norwich route.

 

[Richard1960]

When was this? EMT do not have 1st class on their Norwich route.

They do not but last year i had a ticket from Norwich to Chesterfield we were asked to change at Derby on the way up,before all of us got into the small derby lifts the chesterfield train left,and the station manager upgraded us to first class on the next one as recompense.

On the way back the direct trains to Norwich had been cancelled (on a sunday the next day) due to an industrial dispute, a very tiny notice most of us could not see was provided at Chesterfiled, i waited and waited,in the end we were told we would have to change at Derby i was so p--ed off with the service i sat in first class.

No action was taken against me as i had to change again at derby for a train to Norwich.

After telling the story of such a cr-p service both ways to the appropriate authorities 100% of my fare was refunded also.

If the police had of been called in my case the cr-p service EMT provided would surely have made them cringe..

 

[VP185]

I can never understand why passengers continue to force themselves onto what is obviously an overcrowded train and then complain it's unsafe and dangerous. Why not simply wait for the next one?

First Class is and should be for First Class passengers only. You can't start declassifying every peak train because the first carriage that everyone will head for is the First Class one. If you want to sit in First pay the appropriate fare.

Good on the train manager in this instance although I suspect there's more to this story than is being reported. I can't see the passenger politely refusing to leave can you?!

 

[91103eastcoast]

IF this was a Paddington to Reading run, there are loads of trains between Paddington and Reading, surely the man could have waited for another train instead of causing a scene.

I feel sorry for the Train Manager, who was simply doing his job.

I sometimes use FGW trains out of Paddington. I have walked past an extremely busy coach E to the front of the train to find an almost empty coach A. Perhaps next time this guy could try walking a bit further?

 

[Richard1960]

I can never understand why passengers continue to force themselves onto what is obviously an overcrowded train and then complain it's unsafe and dangerous. Why not simply wait for the next one?

First Class is and should be for First Class passengers only. You can't start declassifying every peak train because the first carriage that everyone will head for is the First Class one. If you want to sit in First pay the appropriate fare.

Good on the train manager in this instance although I suspect there's more to this story than is being reported. I can't see the passenger politely refusing to leave can you?!

Ha Ha try travelling on a Greater Anglia Route when Norwich are playing at home you do not see a ticket Guard after ELY.

I sometimes travel Ist class and non ticket holders of 1st class butt in regularly.

 

[yorkie]

If the train really was as packed as in the picture throughout all of Standard and if 1st had spare seats, then I sympathise with the customers as FGW should be declassifying in that case.

But as starmill says, sometimes people can't be bothered to walk the length of the train.

Unless we hear from other passengers, off duty staff, or the Guard, we may never know if it really was that overcrowded throughout the train.

I can never understand why passengers continue to force themselves onto what is obviously an overcrowded train and then complain it's unsafe and dangerous. Why not simply wait for the next one?

The last time I boarded an obviously an overcrowded train on FGW it was the last one with a sensibly-timed connection to my final destination.

Overcrowding was predicted, and suggested methods given to FGW to reduce overcrowding were not implemented. It turned out to be a free trip, due to receiving 100% compensation as the last sensible connection was missed.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I can never understand why passengers continue to force themselves onto what is obviously an overcrowded train and then complain it's unsafe and dangerous. Why not simply wait for the next one?

First Class is and should be for First Class passengers only. You can't start declassifying every peak train because the first carriage that everyone will head for is the First Class one. If you want to sit in First pay the appropriate fare.

1 - If that person has an advance ticket then waiting the next one could be very expensive! Also people have places to be, or connections to make. Or they may have got on the train when it was slightly less full. It may have even be the last train of the day that person could get.

2 - In general I agree with you, except in cases of disruption (say where trains are cancelled and so you have multiple train loads of people trying to get on one service).

 

[Abpj17]

Reading other tweets; there are delays of 60 mins and reservations have been cancelled.... so it seems rather unfair not to open up first class in those circumstances.

 

[bb21]

Am I missing something? I have checked departures for this morning for Reading, Paddington, Bath, Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Swindon. There is no sign of any significant delay to an HST.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Am I missing something? I have checked departures for this morning for Reading, Paddington, Bath, Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Swindon. There is no sign of any significant delay to an HST.

It wasn't this morning, it was this evening I think.
And I know there have been signalling issues between Swindon and Bristol so it may have been that?

 

[bb21]

That makes no sense. The linked tweet is time-stamped 12.21pm today, which is lunchtime.

 

[richw]

Am I missing something? I have checked departures for this morning for Reading, Paddington, Bath, Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Swindon. There is no sign of any significant delay to an HST.

I think from the time of the tweet (2021) he may be on 1B81 which was 59 late at BPW and 61L at CDF

Interesting the different time zones showing to us.

 

[bb21]

I have no idea what is going on with twitter as mine does not show 2021. *headbanging*

 

[richw]

I have no idea what is going on with twitter as mine does not show 2021. *headbanging*

I've edited my above both with a screen print just as you replied. :-?:-?

 

[WelshBluebird]

That makes no sense. The linked tweet is time-stamped 12.21pm today, which is lunchtime.

Show as 8.21pm for me, so no idea what is up with your twitter!

 

[Be3G]

I have no idea what is going on with twitter as mine does not show 2021. *headbanging*

You could simply have your time zone set incorrectly? (Profile -> Account -> Time zone). Twitter uses relative times for recent tweets in one's timeline so it could be that it's been set incorrectly for a long time and you haven't ever had cause to notice, as the error would only show when opening a specific tweet's details page.

 

[Abpj17]

https://twitter.com/liamdutton/status/512692785707638784 is a screenshot of possible delays announcement. He says he was in coach B and A was the same - both had people in the aisles. (Personally, it just sounds like a typical commuter service!)

 

[richw]

https://twitter.com/liamdutton/status/512692785707638784 is a screenshot of possible delays announcement. He says he was in coach B and A was the same - both had people in the aisles. (Personally, it just sounds like a typical commuter service!)

I was the one who asked him if coach A was half empty to get that reply about being in coach B

 

[bb21]

You could simply have your time zone set incorrectly? (Profile -> Account -> Time zone). Twitter uses relative times for recent tweets in one's timeline so it could be that it's been set incorrectly for a long time and you haven't ever had cause to notice, as the error would only show when opening a specific tweet's details page.

I checked that already. It was set correctly to London (GMT+1).

Never mind. At least now I know that I am 8 hours behind everyone else.

 

[Abpj17]

Mine shows 1ish too; but that's cos I'm logged out - so it defaults to US time

richw: yay

 

[thelongestroad]

Why do the call it signalling problems when the problem was caused by lightning? Hardly helps does it...

 

[rdeez]

I checked that already. It was set correctly to London (GMT+1).

Never mind. At least now I know that I am 8 hours behind everyone else.

I'm not logged in to Twitter and I see the time as 12:21pm too. My computer's time zone is set correctly, so it's a bit mysterious.

Edit: The replies below the tweet show "4h" as the time posted, which seems about right if the tweet was at 20:21. Even more mysterious.

 

[dakta]

am sure they would be impressed with the great unwashed travelling from Paddington to Reading piling in free of charge.

As a passenger in FC I'd feel exactly the same. I appreciate it's a bit mean seeing people packed stacked and racked inside a train whilst you're in (somewhat) comfort, but it devalues your own custom doesn't it.

If staff in this instance use the reasoning that 'people travelling in fc on standard tickets isn't so bad as it doesn't stop you with a fc ticket from getting your own seat' then it also damages the reasoning when delays and whatnot get caused because of staff having to deal with faredodgers who weren't otherwise preventing anyone getting a seat. Ok, there's more than that as reason to give time to chasing fare dodgers, but i think the sentiment should work both ways.

If you catch my logic.

I can never understand why passengers continue to force themselves onto what is obviously an overcrowded train and then complain it's unsafe and dangerous. Why not simply wait for the next one?

Used to do this a lot when I commuted, in all fairness I could easily afford the time. As daft as it sounds it was good for me. Bit of stress free do nothing time as an insulator between work stress and home stress. Read a book, go buy an overpriced sweet and sour pasty. it's a living you won't experience whilst your so focused on existing. People should try it.

 

[yorkie]

The time shows as "8:21 PM" to me.

Could it have been the infamous 1915 Paddington - Swansea? FGW are well aware of severe overcrowding on this train (especially on Fridays, when the crowds have to be seen to be believed) but nothing is ever done about it.

I'd argue the Company are putting their Train Managers in a position that they know is almost impossible to manage, it's severe incompetence by FGW management.

TMs and customers alike have suggested solutions, but FGW management refuse to implement them. The train should not stop until at least Swindon.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

As a passenger in FC I'd feel exactly the same. I appreciate it's a bit mean seeing people packed stacked and racked inside a train whilst you're in (somewhat) comfort, but it devalues your own custom doesn't it.....

Which is why you are due a refund of the difference between the standard and first fares, which in turn is why FGW would rather the unbearable conditions in standard prevail rather than declassify 1st.

 

[VP185]

The time shows as "8:21 PM" to me.

Could it have been the infamous 1915 Paddington - Swansea? FGW are well aware of severe overcrowding on this train (especially on Fridays, when the crowds have to be seen to be believed) but nothing is ever done about it.

I'd argue the Company are putting their Train Managers in a position that they know is almost impossible to manage, it's severe incompetence by FGW management.

TMs and customers alike have suggested solutions, but FGW management refuse to implement them. The train should not stop until at least Swindon.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There's not much FGW can do about it other than prevent people from boarding once it reaches the stage of being full and standing. Passengers wouldn't be happy with that and I'd imagine the police would be very busy.

Which is why you are due a refund of the difference between the standard and first fares, which in turn is why FGW would rather the unbearable conditions in standard prevail rather than declassify 1st.

Experience has shown most First Class passengers don't care about the refund. They pay First Class because they want the peace and quiet, the space, privacy and the ability to work, a large proportion will actually pay the upgrade on the train for that reason, and this happens on all evening services, not just the 1915.

The decision to declassify is at the discretion of the Train Manager.

 

[yorkie]

There's not much FGW can do about it other than prevent people from boarding once it reaches the stage of being full and standing. Passengers wouldn't be happy with that and I'd imagine the police would be very busy.

Which causes delays and very unhappy customers.

If there is "not much FGW can do about it", why is the train pick-up only at Reading and doesn't call at Didcot on Fridays? It needs them to go further: the current Friday timings should apply on other days, and on Fridays it should be non-stop Swindon or possibly even Bristol Parkway. There are other trains people to Swindon can get, such as the 1930 train.

When I travelled, the 1915 delayed various trains behind it, and last night the 1915 had to be stopped at Reading for 13 minutes so the 1930 overtook it anyway!

TMs have provided feedback to management who refuse to address the situation. I therefore conclude FGW management is incompetent, unless someone from FGW can state that they have tried to implement such changes but were over-ruled by the DfT?