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

[craigwilson]

Frankly the only way you can stop this is controlled boarding with every ticket being checked - there is no other way you're going to stop Reading commuters from boarding it.

That would mean fencing off that half of the platform and having RPI staff check every ticket and redirect Reading pax to the 19:12.

Has there been any consideration given to removing the Reading call completely?

 

[ainsworth74]

Has there been any consideration given to removing the Reading call completely?

This then gives a very large gap on the Reading - Cardiff/Swansea flow.

 

[infobleep]

As other trains run does the large gap really matter? Such gaps occur at other busy stations during the week.

 

[Failed Unit]

This then gives a very large gap on the Reading - Cardiff/Swansea flow.

Stop to pick up only? works on East Coast at busy times.

 

[Flamingo]

Stop to pick up only? works on East Coast at busy times.

It already does. People going to Reading get on regardless. Read the thread.

 

[Failed Unit]

It already does. People going to Reading get on regardless. Read the thread.

As my next point about having RPI at Reading "upgrading" everyone to open tickets to Swindon already is.

 

[Flamingo]

As my next point about having RPI at Reading "upgrading" everyone to open tickets to Swindon already is.

Don't worry, it is repetitive

 

[TheBigD]

Out of interest are there any changes in the December timetable to alleviate overcrowding on the 1915 ex Paddington???

 

[jon0844]

Yes, Reading commuters are being phased out.

 

[Bletchleyite]

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.

If reservations are cancelled, logic would be that those with reservations could be invited to upgrade for free.

Neil

 

[MCR247]

I think you're either underestimating the number of people with reservations or overestimating the capacity in first class!

 

[455driver]

If reservations are cancelled, logic would be that those with reservations could be invited to upgrade for free.

Neil

Why?
They paid to travel and they travelled, of course the TOC could reimburse them the costs of their reservations.

Why is it that as soon as something goes.wrong either people want upgrading for free or their money back?

 

[ainsworth74]

Why?
They paid to travel and they travelled, of course the TOC could reimburse them the costs of their reservations.

Why is it that as soon as something goes.wrong either people want upgrading for free or their money back?

Indeed! In fact FGW already offer compensation to passengers with reservations that are unable to use them from FGWs Passenger Charter:

If you do have a seat reserved and we fail to provide it and you have to stand we will compensate you with National Rail Travel Vouchers or e-vouchers.

So if someone had a reservation but was forced to stand then FGW already have a compensation mechanism in place. No need to do anything else as far as I can tell.

 

[Class 170101]

Yes, Reading commuters are being phased out.

Doesn't look like it.

The trains have the same status in January as now.

The 19:15 is still Pick Up On Fridays with additional 19:12 FO Pad to Oxford.

Its only different on 19 December where the 19:12 becomes a HST to Swansea first Stop Bristol Parkway and the 19:15 Swansea is still pick Up Only at Reading.

Reading Commuters have been shafted on this particular Friday.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why?
They paid to travel and they travelled, of course the TOC could reimburse them the costs of their reservations.

Why is it that as soon as something goes.wrong either people want upgrading for free or their money back?

Because it is best to handle a customer service situation on the spot with the use of sensible discretion than to force disgruntled people to wait months for a voucher to turn up, with all the effort of writing in for it.

I see the point that there may have been too many reservations for it to work in this instance (I'm not familiar with the train myself). However if you could make some people *very* happy from a situation that was very bad, why not do so? The airlines use upgrades for that kind of purpose, and why not?

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
On the general point, by the way...I do think Reading commuters are an issue in that they take a lot of capacity on IC services that wouldn't otherwise need it. I have wondered if with the coming of the EMUs it might be viable to run some 12-car fast EMU services from Reading (perhaps calling Slough only, or non-stop) and apply u/s restrictions to the HSTs in the peak, just as seems reasonably successfully to have been done at (about 5 years ago) Milton Keynes Central and (for years) Watford Junction?

It's rather a waste of resources to run a long train to Cardiff or Penzance if it empties out at Reading. But the reliefs as they are (unlike LM) don't have the capacity to take up the slack. But were they all 12-car rather than pratting about with short DMUs they likely would.

Neil

 

[ainsworth74]

Because it is best to handle a customer service situation on the spot with the use of sensible discretion than to force disgruntled people to wait months for a voucher to turn up, with all the effort of writing in for it.

I see the point that there may have been too many reservations for it to work in this instance (I'm not familiar with the train myself). However if you could make some people *very* happy from a situation that was very bad, why not do so? The airlines use upgrades for that kind of purpose, and why not?

But what about the actual first class passengers? You make one group of passengers (a small number at that) happy by negatively impacting the others (and what about the passengers that don't get the upgrade they'll now be double irritated surely). Of course they can get a refund of the difference between the the first class fare and the standard class but why should they have to write off and get vouchers? Why is one group more deserving of not having to write in than another? Also there isn't all that much first class on an increasingly number of FGW HSTs at only 1.5 carriages and eventually it will be like that on all of them.

There are situations where declassification makes sense. Reservations not being available doesn't seem like one of those to me.

 

[jon0844]

Doesn't look like it.

It was a joke that implied the commuters were being phased out!

 

[Bletchleyite]

But what about the actual first class passengers? You make one group of passengers (a small number at that) happy by negatively impacting the others (and what about the passengers that don't get the upgrade they'll now be double irritated surely). Of course they can get a refund of the difference between the the first class fare and the standard class

Is there scope to give free upgrades to *some* passengers (e.g. all those in Standard who had reservations and cannot find a seat) but not fully declassify? After all, your First Class ticket entitles you to one First Class seat. How the others are filled (or not) aren't really your business as a First Class passenger.

Neil

 

[CC 72100]

How the others are filled (or not) aren't really your business as a First Class passenger.

I suppose it is if people who have paid full whack first class tickets see people on standard tickets to come and join them - they could have therefore just purchased standard tickets in the first place, they end up with the same product. Hence why refunds are issued for declassification.

From what I understand, discretion is used and occasional ad-hoc free upgrades is given in certain situations, quietly given to a handful of people as opposed to full first class declassification.

 

[Rich McLean]

I suppose it is if people who have paid full whack first class tickets see people on standard tickets to come and join them - they could have therefore just purchased standard tickets in the first place, they end up with the same product. Hence why refunds are issued for declassification.

From what I understand, discretion is used and occasional ad-hoc free upgrades is given in certain situations, quietly given to a handful of people as opposed to full first class declassification.

Some TM's on crush loaded services will quietly offer pregnant women (when it looks obvious) and the Infirm access to sit in first class on a case by case basis, instead of declassifying first class to everyone

 

[Bletchleyite]

Some TM's on crush loaded services will quietly offer pregnant women (when it looks obvious) and the Infirm access to sit in first class on a case by case basis, instead of declassifying first class to everyone

This seems a good idea. By contrast, if not doing so would leave people on the platform, declassification should always be applied, IMO.

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I suppose it is if people who have paid full whack first class tickets see people on standard tickets to come and join them - they could have therefore just purchased standard tickets in the first place, they end up with the same product.

True, though you've also got the complexity that a Standard ticket holder with an Anytime Return probably paid more than a First Class ticket holder with an Advance.

Though as Advance tickets are intended for filling empty seats, if there are none on a given train there should be no Advance tickets either on that train.

You've also got the option of what VT did in the days of the 8 car Pendolinos - declassify one first class coach (prior to them being reduced to 1.5) in which you get the wider seat but not any of the other service (assuming fGW has that, I can't remember).

And there's the LM approach, which is that you declassify as the train is leaving Euston, meaning first class ticket holders are most likely to get first pick. (Most LM commuter services don't pick up significant numbers of passengers along the way).

Neil

 

[CC 72100]

True, though you've also got the complexity that a Standard ticket holder with an Anytime Return probably paid more than a First Class ticket holder with an Advance.

Though as Advance tickets are intended for filling empty seats, if there are none on a given train there should be no Advance tickets either on that train.

Neil

That's the added complication (which did also go through my mind as I typed my post!) but I was keeping this just to class of travel as that is essentially what declassification is all about.

Although you mention Virgin, they have a lot more first class capacity to potentially play with. I imagine that with the now limited first class accommodation, full declassification on FGW will be much more rarer, with situations such as that described by Rich McClean being more common.

I too would expect full declassification if it got to such a stage whereby people would be left on the platform if this was not used, although as posters like Flamingo have stated, certain commuters have the habit of trying to 'self-upgrade' whenever they find themselves standing, regardless of whether them standing is typical of the whole train or not.

 

[yorkie]

Its only different on 19 December where the 19:12 becomes a HST to Swansea first Stop Bristol Parkway

Excellent! So it can be done.

Anyone else can't wait until the Reading commuters who think every train calls at Reading ask for the first train back from BPW?

(for the record, that'll be 2104, due into Reading at 2210. Remember that for the inevitable complaints to FGW on Twitter as the train sails through Reading, while falsely claiming the departure boards stated Reading)

 

[455driver]

What about the people who have paid for 1st class and are then invaded by standard class passengers?
I am sure they will be well impressed!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Excellent! So it can be done.

Anyone else can't wait until the Reading commuters who think every train calls at Reading ask for the first train back from BPW?

(for the record, that'll be 2104, due into Reading at 2210. Remember that for the inevitable complaints to FGW on Twitter as the train sails through Reading, while falsely claiming the departure boards stated Reading)

You mean just like last time when the 1915 was first stop Swindon!

 

[Class 170101]

Still won't solve the 19:15 problem - in fact on this particular Friday its likely to make it worse.

 

[yorkie]

Worse? How so?

 

[Class 170101]

Because the 19:12 FO additional is first stop Bristol as I noted above. Where do the 19:12 / 19:15 people go?

 

[yorkie]

Yes, it's not so good for the Reading/Didcot/Oxford commuters, but people for Bristol Parkway & beyond have an additional train, so it will help alleviate the 1915.

There will be more pressure on the 1918 Oxford, but overcrowding on commuter services is more acceptable than on long-distance InterCity services.

There will be huge additional demand for Bristol & beyond on this date, less so for commuter destinations.

 

[GlosRail]

Looks like it only ran as far as Southall last night due to a person hit by a train.

 

[Flamingo]

Reading Commuters have been shafted on this particular Friday.

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind