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Any excuse to declassify on Virgin

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MKB

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The level of overcrowding that means declassification and no first-class service on Virgin

Speaks for itself:
 

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Llanigraham

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The level of overcrowding that means declassification and no first-class service on Virgin

Speaks for itself:

You appear to be complaining about nothing, as far as that picture shows.
Perhaps an explanation would be helpful. :roll:
 

MKB

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Standard has a handful standing. One of the least busy trains after a match in a long time. Complete over-reaction by train manager and no reason to deny first-class passengers of the service they have paid for. Sadly typical of Virgin.
 

cjmillsnun

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Standard has people standing... Even with the extra people in FC...

Seems like a perfectly reasonable decision by the guard. You'll get a refund back to the standard ticket price...
 

MKB

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Rapid turnaround. First-class service now being provided after all contrary to previous announcement.
 

Polarbear

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Standard has a handful standing. One of the least busy trains after a match in a long time. Complete over-reaction by train manager and no reason to deny first-class passengers of the service they have paid for. Sadly typical of Virgin.

To be fair, we only have your word for this - no concrete evidence and a photo of a 1st class coach doesn't prove anything.

As for the lack of 1st class service, that could be for any number of reasons, and is rarely connected with de-classifying one coach (which is normally the case on VTWC). When one coach is de-classified, the service is still rolled out in those coaches that are still designated 1st class.

I'd add that with Pendolinos, they are weight sensitive & the TM could have decided to even out the loadings to avoid any issues with weight distribution on board.
 

MKB

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Oh I bet you tutted and sighed your little outraged heart out.

No just expect people to play fair. If you charge extra for premium service, then it should be provided. You disagree?
 

Mag_seven

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Is this the 17:47 Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston? VT Journey Check states:

Facilities on the 17:47 Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston due 19:59.
Service full and standing from Liverpool Lime Street. There are no reservations on this service throughout.
 

Darandio

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No just expect people to play fair. If you charge extra for premium service, then it should be provided. You disagree?

Don't think anyone is going to disagree. But sometimes things happen and you won't get the service. That is why there are processes in place to compensate you for lack of said service.
 

jopsuk

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"we were packed in in Standard Class but 1st was almost empty, why didn't the guard declassify?"
 

MKB

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Don't think anyone is going to disagree. But sometimes things happen and you won't get the service. That is why there are processes in place to compensate you for lack of said service.

Nothing had happened that wasn't entirely predictable. Essential problem is that VT have no incentive to up the level of service at times of predictable excess demand.
 

Darandio

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Nothing had happened that wasn't entirely predictable. Essential problem is that VT have no incentive to up the level of service at times of predictable excess demand.

But the service is being provided now, yes? Or is the service being provided along with first class being de-classified, so there are people present that normally wouldn't be?
 

MKB

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Oh joy of joys! Now the Stafford-Nuneaton connection has been cancelled due to "crew shortages". Oh for the days of BR when the intercity service would have made additional stops to compensate. The current set-up is a farce.
 
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Polarbear

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Oh joy of joys! Now the Stafford-Nuneaton connection has been cancelled due to "crew shortages". Oh for the days of BR when the intercity service would have made additional stops to compensate. The current set-up is a farce.

Really? I well remember BR & the Trent Valley services & I can't recall IC services having additional stops along that bit of line for one cancelled service? Maybe if there was a major issue somewhere maybe, but not to cover for one cancellation.

Even when the TV local service was in the hands of the ever bouncy 304's, it would have been a case of waiting for the following service or a taxi to the local stations.
 

Polarbear

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Nothing had happened that wasn't entirely predictable. Essential problem is that VT have no incentive to up the level of service at times of predictable excess demand.

By "up the level of service", what do you suggest? No TOC has spare trains and/or crews sitting around just in case extra people turn up.
 

MKB

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Really? I well remember BR & the Trent Valley services & I can't recall IC services having additional stops along that bit of line for one cancelled service? Maybe if there was a major issue somewhere maybe, but not to cover for one cancellation.

Even when the TV local service was in the hands of the ever bouncy 304's, it would have been a case of waiting for the following service or a taxi to the local stations.

I can only say that we have different recollections then. I remember several times during the 80s when it happened.
 

Silver Cobra

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"we were packed in in Standard Class but 1st was almost empty, why didn't the guard declassify?"

If first class on the service in question is/was anything like how it was when I was travelling back from Liverpool last week (on the 1547 service rather than 1747, mind), I wouldn't blame anyone in a 'full and standing' standard class requesting/demanding for first to be declassified. On that service, Coach G never had more than 5 people in it, and between Stafford and Euston I had the coach all to myself :P At Euston, only around a dozen people alighted from the first class end of the train, showing how empty first was overall.
 
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MKB

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Now on an involuntary re-route via Birmingham and all toilets are out of service. Honestly, you couldn't make it up.
 

Master29

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It is common at the moment for GWR to use a 1st carriage declassified in place of any of the standard positions.
 

backontrack

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Now on an involuntary re-route via Birmingham and all toilets are out of service. Honestly, you couldn't make it up.

No, MKB, you're right. Better to turf all those passengers out of the train, it's not like they've paid for the privilege of having a ticket or anything.

And an involuntary re-routing? You mean, they didn't even ask you personally before making the diversion? Words fail me...
 
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