Well yesterday was fun, not. Returning from the Isle of Wight, on XC from Basingstoke to Birmingham NS. Originally booked in Standard, however on impulse we decided on Tuesday to hang the expense and book 1st Class, having enjoyed trolley offerings on our way down on the Tuesday including some very nice sandwiches. We usually go
to our destination in 1st (when affordable), and come back in Standard, but being aware of the Bournemouth to Manchester crush loading especially on Fridays and weekends it seemed like a good idea. Cost £114 (for two, with railcards) as it was so close to the travel date. Managed to bag the only pair of airline seats left, the rest of the coach only had singles dotted about.
Boarded at Basingstoke, no seat reservation displays working but luckily no-one was sitting in ours. There were only four coaches, A, C, D and F, goodness knows what happened to B and E. Immediate ticket check, during which a couple of people got booted into Standard "if you can find a seat" - we hadn't seen what the situation was but even at that point it sounded dodgy. Asked if there was a trolley... No, not until Birmingham
. We had only brought a couple of snack bars and luckily a bottle of water each, and there was absolutely nothing on offer. We were told in no uncertain terms that refreshments were "complimentary", so obviously they didn't feel like complimenting us on that train.
Still, having eventually made a trip to the toilet at the end of coach A, I was extremely grateful we'd spent the money, as at least we had comfortable seats. The toilet vestibule must have had at least a dozen people crammed in, including a pram, at least one small child, and a chap sitting on the floor who had to stand up to let me through and back again. Couldn't access the toilet opening button but someone pressed it for me. I imagine Standard must have been an absolute nightmare. At Coventry there was a scrum in 1st, with people presumably on open tickets trying to find seats, and having to vacate the ones they had grabbed as the TM shouted down the coach the seat numbers that were reserved for people just boarding. I don't know where the unlucky evictees ended up, not acceptable to have to stand in a crush if you've paid for 1st Class.
It's not even the holiday season yet, or half term, and yet they still under-provide. Lesson learned there, in future we will book 1st Class when we make our original plans if XC are involved. I don't know how they justify the inadequate provision, they must know how bad it gets.
Incidentally, if you have a Standard ticket, but find seats in 1st and pay for an upgrade, is that seat then yours for the duration of your journey or might someone get on at the next stop who has reserved them? Similarly say someone had paid for an upgrade at Bournemouth and was sitting in our reserved from BSK seats? Would they be required to vacate them?
