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

[Gareth Marston]

Don't some on here claim that the passengers want to be told the truth?

My point is that it's hardly unusual and pretending so smacks of being out of touch. There's more demand than we can cope with would be more honest.

 

[richw]

My point is that it's hardly unusual and pretending so smacks of being out of touch. There's more demand than we can cope with would be more honest.

When it doesn't call at Reading it is more overcrowded than usual, so I agree with them its unusually busy.
Its not normally so crowded it cant call at Reading.

 

[jon0844]

What phrase would you use?

F*** load of people? Shorter on the boards too.

I wonder if the unusually large passenger flow resulted in another type of flow when some passengers discovered the train wasn't going to stop at Reading.

I do hope that the TM forgot to speak clearly into the PA in case anyone tried to get off....

 

[3141]

Doesn't the industry make it self look stupid with that phrase "unusually large passenger flow"

I'm wondering at what time they make the decision not to call at Reading.

If they mean there's an unusually large number of passengers who want Swindon and points west, at what stage do they know that, and therefore conclude there's no room for the unofficial Reading passengers? Presumably, not till only a few minutes before departure time. And they then have to make the announcement in sufficient time for Reading passengers to get off.

I also wonder what proportion of passengers usually get off at Reading. If it's a large proportion, you'd assume that after reading most people can get a seat.

I'd change the wording to "an unusually large number of passengers". That's plain English. "Passenger flow" is not how normal people talk.

 

[richw]

There are tweets tonight on @FGW of people moaning they had to stand all the way from Paddington to Cardiff. I cant see any moaning the service didn't stop at Reading.

Edit** only one angry tweet, and FGW told them Reading passengers shouldn't be on that service.

https://twitter.com/FGW/status/568859673803300864

 

[Agent_c]

What phrase would you use?

"We failed to predict notoriously busy train would be busy"

 

[Controller1701]

.

Edit** only one angry tweet, and FGW told them Reading passengers shouldn't be on that service.

https://twitter.com/FGW/status/568859673803300864

Lets hope a suitable welcoming committee was awaiting their arrival at the first stop post Reading, to deal with all those people holding short tickets

 

[richw]

Lets hope a suitable welcoming committee was awaiting their arrival at the first stop post Reading, to deal with all those people holding short tickets

I'd like to think so, although getting home very late for dinner might be suitable punishment for not reading the displays which always clearly say no drop down at Reading, or don't even mention Reading,

 

[reb0118]

And they then have to make the announcement in sufficient time for Reading passengers to get off.

Surely there is no requirement to make any announcement at Paddington nor on the the train itself. The train is not advertised to call at Reading so there should be no reason to state that it does not call if Reading is not shown on the departure boards in the first place.

Announcements must be made at Reading, however...........

 

[Hadders]

Remember that this train is pick up only at Reading on Fridays only. Monday-Thursday it is an advertised stop.

I'm not defending the Reading commuters who shouldn't be on this train but when you are a regular commuter you tend to memorise certain trains and their destination. For example, regular passengers aiming for the 1915 for Reading will know that they want the Swansea train and look out for this on the boards.

Remember also that Reading (or lack of) is displayed far less prominently than Swansea on the boards, the calling points often scrolling round depending on how many calling points there are and what the latest safety messages are etc.

The fact that it's only on Fridays that you can't use this train to Reading does not help matters in my opinion. I'd put the restriction on Monday-Thursday as well.

 

[s3an]

F*** load of people? Shorter on the boards too.

I wonder if the unusually large passenger flow resulted in another type of flow when some passengers discovered the train wasn't going to stop at Reading.

I do hope that the TM forgot to speak clearly into the PA in case anyone tried to get off....

I was on this train and one of the TMs made a clear announcement before we left.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There are tweets tonight on @FGW of people moaning they had to stand all the way from Paddington to Cardiff. I cant see any moaning the service didn't stop at Reading.

Edit** only one angry tweet, and FGW told them Reading passengers shouldn't be on that service.

https://twitter.com/FGW/status/568859673803300864

There were empty seats in E from Bristol Parkway.

It was very crowded, considering the Reading people were not on board.

There didn't seem to be a big rush to get off before we left and no complaints when we went through Reading.

 

[Class 170101]

The fact that it's only on Fridays that you can't use this train to Reading does not help matters in my opinion. I'd put the restriction on Monday-Thursday as well.

I have to agree - commuters behave in a certain way and it usually includes getting the same train to and from work everyday including Fridays.

 

[grid56126]

Whilst I absolutely "get" why people "think" it is funny when people get over carried and get oh so excited at the prospect of somebody getting fined for a short journey payment, the reality is somewhat different.

I was out all day yesterday on the Thameslink route and there were a hell of a lot of people out and about, day tripping grans with the grand kids, families enjoying half term and a lot of the usual Friday travelers swelled bu people going home / away with half term induced reasons.

Did the industry expect these? Who knows, did they do anything about it, apparently so as it appeared on journeycheck.

Is deliberately not telling people something in the hope they get overcarried and slapped with an extra payment funny? To armchair warriors with no idea what it is like to be genuinely concerned with good customer service and business reputation, apparently so.

The second a company does do something a bit stupid or an agent for that company makes a mistake in selling, lack of understanding or training the thread on here reaches 20 pages.

 

[Iskra]

I have to agree - commuters behave in a certain way and it usually includes getting the same train to and from work everyday including Fridays.

I'm not so sure, a lot of people seem to finish earlier on Fridays or go socialising after work rather than just go straight home like Mon-Thurs.

 

[gnolife]

Is deliberately not telling people something in the hope they get overcarried and slapped with an extra payment funny? To armchair warriors with no idea what it is like to be genuinely concerned with good customer service and business reputation, apparently so.

So, taking what your saying to an extreme, using a generic example of a service:
"The 14:07 Northern, not {rattles off a list of all other TOCs}, service to Manchester Airport, not {rattles off a list of all 2000-odd other stations}, will depart from platform 13, not platform 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 14. This service will call at Manchester Airport only. This service does not call at {rattles off a list of all 2000-odd other stations}. First class accomodation is not offered on this service. A trolley service is not offered on this service. A restaurant is not offered on this service. A buffet counter service is not offered on this service. Platform 13 for the 14:07 Northern service to Manchester Airport"

 

[Hadders]

Some but certainly not all finish earlier. But my point still stands, in my opinion it should be pick-up only at Reading every day or not at all. Friday's only is asking for trouble.

 

[185]

F*** load of people?

In fairness, that is a far more honest and accurate reply than the 'omgz we've never seen anything like these numbers before' tripe that gets put out by tocs.

 

[43074]

Whilst I absolutely "get" why people "think" it is funny when people get over carried and get oh so excited at the prospect of somebody getting fined for a short journey payment, the reality is somewhat different.

I was out all day yesterday on the Thameslink route and there were a hell of a lot of people out and about, day tripping grans with the grand kids, families enjoying half term and a lot of the usual Friday travelers swelled bu people going home / away with half term induced reasons.

Did the industry expect these? Who knows, did they do anything about it, apparently so as it appeared on journeycheck.

Is deliberately not telling people something in the hope they get overcarried and slapped with an extra payment funny? To armchair warriors with no idea what it is like to be genuinely concerned with good customer service and business reputation, apparently so.

The point is that Paddington to Reading customers should not be on the 19:15 on Fridays anyway, so if in the event that the Reading call is omitted it shouldn't affect anyone on board the train anyway (yes it does affect those wishing to board at Reading though).

 

[Agent_c]

So, taking what your saying to an extreme, using a generic example of a service:
"The 14:07 Northern, not {rattles off a list of all other TOCs}, service to Manchester Airport, not {rattles off a list of all 2000-odd other stations}, will depart from platform 13, not platform 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 14. This service will call at Manchester Airport only. This service does not call at {rattles off a list of all 2000-odd other stations}. First class accomodation is not offered on this service. A trolley service is not offered on this service. A restaurant is not offered on this service. A buffet counter service is not offered on this service. Platform 13 for the 14:07 Northern service to Manchester Airport"

I believe you forgot "This train does not pass Go, and does not collect £200"

 

[grid56126]

The point is that Paddington to Reading customers should not be on the 19:15 on Fridays anyway, so if in the event that the Reading call is omitted it shouldn't affect anyone on board the train anyway (yes it does affect those wishing to board at Reading though).

And I "get" that - as I said in my first post.

FGW advertised it in advance for both people joining at Reading (those that needed to know) and then went a bit further by announcing both on the concourse at Paddington and on board the train prior to departure.

It was done for the right reasons. It was rammed full, stopping at Reading to pick up would have been fruitless, would have caused more delay and potential safety issues so the correct decision was made. My point was simply that I am somewhat saddened by the people whose only comment on this is wishing people get over carried and then chung up. The real story here is of course, trains are now so popular that we need more stock and we need it now. Never mind the fact that some staff did a good job in comms yesterday and people at the coal face probably got loads of abuse and those who made the decision did so knowing the consequences. The railway doing what it should do and those watching from a safe distance doing what they do best, twisting the knife for no apparent reason.

 

[Andrewlong]

As a Reading commuter who has travelled from Paddington on a friday night, a number of trains do not stop at Reading and finding a fast service is tricky! Why the overcrowding - I suspect much of it due to those from London escaping to the Country for the weekend or those who have stayed in London all week and are returning home.

 

[jimm]

Some but certainly not all finish earlier. But my point still stands, in my opinion it should be pick-up only at Reading every day or not at all. Friday's only is asking for trouble.

So running the 19.12 Fridays only Paddington to Oxford service - first stop Reading, laid on specially for the Reading commuters who use the 19.15 the rest of the week - is also "asking for trouble", is it? The 19.22 to Hereford is also open to all comers. What is the problem with using either of those options?

The people who persist in using the 19.15 to travel between London and Reading on Fridays are, I would venture to suggest, hardened commuters, who know full well that the service is pick up only at Reading on a Friday, as they have probably heard the staff announce it umpteen Fridays running, but still decide to chance it.

As noted above, it was made clear prior to departure from London yesterday that the train would not be stopping at Reading at all but I expect those caught out thought the staff were just bluffing.

And the 19.15 also calls at Didcot from Mon-Thu, yet the Didcot passengers seem able to remember to use the 19.12 instead on Fridays.

 

[6Gman]

So running the 19.12 Fridays only Paddington to Oxford service - first stop Reading, laid on specially for the Reading commuters who use the 19.15 the rest of the week - is also "asking for trouble", is it? The 19.22 to Hereford is also open to all comers. What is the problem with using either of those options?

The people who persist in using the 19.15 to travel between London and Reading on Fridays are, I would venture to suggest, hardened commuters, who know full well that the service is pick up only at Reading on a Friday, as they have probably heard the staff announce it umpteen Fridays running, but still decide to chance it.

As noted above, it was made clear prior to departure from London yesterday that the train would not be stopping at Reading at all but I expect those caught out thought the staff were just bluffing.

And the 19.15 also calls at Didcot from Mon-Thu, yet the Didcot passengers seem able to remember to use the 19.12 instead on Fridays.

I agree with Jimm.

 

[Flamingo]

So running the 19.12 Fridays only Paddington to Oxford service - first stop Reading, laid on specially for the Reading commuters who use the 19.15 the rest of the week - is also "asking for trouble", is it? The 19.22 to Hereford is also open to all comers. What is the problem with using either of those options?

The people who persist in using the 19.15 to travel between London and Reading on Fridays are, I would venture to suggest, hardened commuters, who know full well that the service is pick up only at Reading on a Friday, as they have probably heard the staff announce it umpteen Fridays running, but still decide to chance it.

As noted above, it was made clear prior to departure from London yesterday that the train would not be stopping at Reading at all but I expect those caught out thought the staff were just bluffing.

And the 19.15 also calls at Didcot from Mon-Thu, yet the Didcot passengers seem able to remember to use the 19.12 instead on Fridays.

Sounds reasonable to me as well...

 

[infobleep]

Doesn't the industry make it self look stupid with that phrase "unusually large passenger flow"

I can see where your coming from. The train always has a very large passenger number so what's the difference.

However there appears to be very large and very very large and this was obviously very very large.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have to agree - commuters behave in a certain way and it usually includes getting the same train to and from work everyday including Fridays.

Agreed as well; most commuters either look for the destination or often the departure time alone. Or if not doing that, they should perhaps look to spare a few staff just for that train to do a manual ticket check at the platform ends to ensure nobody boards in error. Perhaps the latter would be preferable.

If anyone is obviously deliberately taking the mick, OTOH, I would be quite happy to see them overcarried and charged for getting back.

Neil

 

[fairysdad]

Probably won't happen for practical reasons I'm unaware of, but given that most trains are timetabled for specific platforms and generally (except for cases of disruption) stick to them, you could have the non-stop-at-Reading train and the stops-at-Reading train on either side of one of the island platforms, with signs on the fast (an A3 piece of paper in the windows perhaps?) saying that "This train DOES NOT stop at Reading - for Reading, turn round and catch the train behind you".

(Yes, taking the signs off the doors after departure from Paddington might be awkward if it's a rammed service, but it's only the fledgling of an idea! Perhaps boards on the platform with arrows instead or something... I also realise that most people won't take the blindest bit of notice of it...)

 

[Class 170101]

Rather than paper destination displays in the windows how about electronic ones to get around this problem?

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Doesn't the industry make it self look stupid with that phrase "unusually large passenger flow"

What phrase would you use?

"busy"

 

[221129]

Rather than paper destination displays in the windows how about electronic ones to get around this problem?

What problem? The paper ones don't advertise the train as stopping at Reading on a Friday.