Southern railway first class problem

[James Wake]

Hi all,

This morning I was travelling on one of my regular trains into work (1C55) led by 377132. As we were just coming into to East Croydon, the OBS made her way through to first class, and managed to get someone out of first class who shouldn't have been there. He said "why do you class this as first class"? I thought he was just moaning and continued trying to plan the rest of my journey due to the Waterloo derailment.

At Clapham Junction, I went to alight and found there was only 2 out of 12 seat antimacassars in place. There is no dividing door on that unit and only one first class sticker in a window and the two on the panes of glass by the doors, which could be obscured by standing passengers.

I'm not sure on the situation if there is no first class seat antimacassars in place and think this could be perceived by some people as a bit of a trap for tourists at Gatwick.

Obviously I'm in the know about the different classes, but what does everyone else think?

 

[maniacmartin]

Whilst GTR's signage leaves a lot to be desired, I believe that most people who occupy first class on Southern hold a Standard class ticket and know that they are not supposed to be there. This is best demonstrated at stations when people board. They look into the standard class section, see that there are no empty seats/table seats/whatever, and only then do they turn around and go into the first class area where there's often free seats.

If a passenger was unaware it was a first class area, they'd just go straight to it as it is obviously emptier. Likewise if they held a first class ticket, they would be unlikely to bother checking out the standard class area first.

 

[Bletchleyite]

TBH I'd like to see a rule that 1st must be differentiated clearly by a different type of seating or similar. The 1st on these units is a sham.

 

[ZFE95]

Hi all,

This morning I was travelling on one of my regular trains into work (1C55) led by 377132. As we were just coming into to East Croydon, the OBS made her way through to first class, and managed to get someone out of first class who shouldn't have been there. He said "why do you class this as first class"? I thought he was just moaning and continued trying to plan the rest of my journey due to the Waterloo derailment.

At Clapham Junction, I went to alight and found there was only 2 out of 12 seat antimacassars in place. There is no dividing door on that unit and only one first class sticker in a window and the two on the panes of glass by the doors, which could be obscured by standing passengers.

I'm not sure on the situation if there is no first class seat antimacassars in place and think this could be perceived by some people as a bit of a trap for tourists at Gatwick.

Obviously I'm in the know about the different classes, but what does everyone else think?

I make you right, as a guard for Southern this is a nuisance to keep on top of, even if the stock has the dividing door, people still insist on sitting there, especially to/from Gatwick. I personally specify in my announcements at key stations such as ECR that 1st class is in operation with a reference to the white cloth on the head of your seat.

 

[maniacmartin]

TBH I'd like to see a rule that 1st must be differentiated clearly by a different type of seating or similar. The 1st on these units is a sham.

In rush hour they are extremely different. Standard class seats are already occupied and first is sometimes available . I don't think different seats are necessary, but I do think signage should be improved.

 

[LLivery]

In rush hour they are extremely different. Standard class seats are already occupied and first is sometimes available . I don't think different seats are necessary, but I do think signage should be improved.

GTR needs to provide better info on the suburban routes too. The fact first class is declassified and nobody knows is silly. I've directly asked them before, and nothing has changed. First class on the 377/6-7s are just carting around fresh air outside the peaks. A quick announcement or better signage would go a long way.

 

[Holly]

And for goodness sake, this is the 21st Century!
It is long past time that second/standard class was abolished.

 

[dcsprior]

And for goodness sake, this is the 21st Century!
It is long past time that second/standard class was abolished.

I disagree. Consider the Edinburgh-London journey (one I used to make very frequently by train): having two classes allows rail to compete with both of the main competitors competitors - coaches/std (rail slightly dearer but a lot faster and similar comfort) and air/1st (rail similarly priced and slower, but a lot more comfortable and better freebies).

On commuter routes I'd agree that no-one should pay more for a better service when there are others who don't receive the basics, but the problem is that most 'commuter' services are also providing a longer distance service for some passengers.

P.S. the reason I no longer travel EDB-KGX very frequently by rail is that in the early days of VTEC, they moved away from 1st in the train being prices in line with flying+transfers.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[mirodo]

I make you right, as a guard for Southern this is a nuisance to keep on top of, even if the stock has the dividing door, people still insist on sitting there, especially to/from Gatwick. I personally specify in my announcements at key stations such as ECR that 1st class is in operation with a reference to the white cloth on the head of your seat.

I commute on one of the Metro services where first class is declassified. In my experience, the dividing door makes a significant difference in the number of other pax who choose to sit there. I suspect most of those who sit in a non-doored declassified first class section do so not because they know they are allowed to, rather they don’t realise it isn’t standard class.

 

[Bishopstone]

There is a great deal of 'perching' in the 377 sub-classes without a door into first. Ready to move, when an OBS is spotted...

The evasion on 377/4s tends to be more blatant or noncholant.

 

[physics34]

There is a great deal of 'perching' in the 377 sub-classes without a door into first. Ready to move, when an OBS is spotted...

The evasion on 377/4s tends to be more blatant or noncholant.

They couldve installed a door during the refresh a few years but didn't. Frustrating