Then there's another lottery aspect - you're comfortably settled in the half empty rear unit initially, enjoying the space, but it gets locked out (and maybe detached) en-route, sometimes as scheduled, but sometimes not, and you're punted into the full-and-standing front unit (if you can even board it).I had a 4+4 yesterday and had a chat with the catering staff. They said that coaches A to F are always packed because that is where the reservations are, and they prioritise that for catering. In contrast, the other half, be that G to L or whatever, doesn’t have reservations and may not end up with catering, but you are much more likely to find it comfortably loaded.
Play the XC lottery every time you board!
Perhaps not an ideal way to attract repeat business.
I think most of us are repeat punters because we have no other option. I certainly wouldn’t if there was a choice.
Newcastle have recruited about 7 TM’s in the last six months or so, at various stages of training with first couple out working trains now but they have come from catering grade so that is having to recruit to fill vacancies with full times contracts being offered.
I have had the same for a non traincrew role. They have in the last month advertised for TM's at Manchester, Bristol and Reading.
Indeed. I'm always banging on about lack of capacity to XC, DfT and now my MP. I don't have much of a choice but a friend does who recently had a normal XC journey (packed and late) and vowed 'never again!'.
Just last week my single set train to the North East had no catering after Birmingham.
No point in having catering if there's no way they'd get through the train
Can someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure Avanti was able to have both sets in use with just one TM on their voyagers (and the 805s). What makes XC different?
Unless they are a wheelchair user, blind or have some other reason for not being able to walk very easily through the train.
As far as I know XC never used to have this issue either.
And of course anyone in the wrong set is stuffed. Something which wasn't an issue in HST/LHCS days.
But they are operating a service from Nottingham to Bromsgrove which seems to be running okay.
Two cancellations in each direction leaving two two hour gaps, not sure I'd call that OK! The services after the cancelled ones are going to be pretty "cosy". I suppose by XC's Sunday standards it could be worse (consecutive cancellations with three hour gaps are not unusual).
After all these years i doubt it but what can they do?
Absolutely not, and why do they need to? The money rolls in no matter what they do to break the service, and anyway, they only spend what DfT tell them they can these days, so that means no more staff. Blame culture!
I know, it’s a perverse situation.
You only have to look at XC‘s X account. They often belittle those who complain or want a moan or simply reply with a casual ‘Yep’.
I simply can’t see how anything can change.
Probably makes a good case, from a GBR viewpoint, to leave XC till last...
