This weekend, me and the wife went to Brighton - went down on FCC and came back on Southern (on account of the fact there was the weekend blockade AND the Northern Line wasn't stopping at King's Cross I believe).
Left Friday evening at 6pm, to get train from Farringdon to Brighton. I'd paid £5 each for a (Gold Card) 1st class upgrade so wanted to ensure we got a 377 and got SOME value from it.
I haven't used the TL route for some time, bar the odd late night service, and can see why FCC commuters are so angry if this was in any way representative of a normal evening peak service. There had been signalling problems at St Pancras and our train arrived 25 minutes late. Is this is a sign of problems to come when they ever try and run 20 or 24tph and something goes wrong through the core?? I do hope the platforms at the finished Farringdon station will be made a lot wider as there was no room to move about by the time it came in.
Anyway, upon boarding the train and going into first class - it was almost full and we got seats only because people were more keen on standing, and two seats were occupied by bags which we asked to be moved. A 377 doesn't have many seats in each compartment, but it was quite likely to me that it was made up of commuters who had 'upgraded' themselves. This got me thinking, FCC declassified all first class compartments during the driver 'dispute'. Besides commuters just wanting to get on (by London Bridge, first class was rammed), I wonder how many still think they CAN go in there still? Has FCC made it quite clear that the restrictions are back in place?
Anyway, by East Croydon it emptied a little and the journey was fairly pleasant. Still nicer than sitting in standard and we got chatting to some interesting people. All in all, a nice start to the weekend.
On the way back, we took Southern to Victoria - and were treated to free tea as we had first class tickets! I am not sure if a £5 supplement qualified us for this, but who were we to argue? I only wish I'd been cheeky and asked what else we could get (free biscuits perhaps?!). A guard came by very soon after and, funnily enough, nobody upgraded themselves to FC as a result. What a difference - the wife was most impressed and spoke of wanting to use the train much more in the future, as it is so much more relaxing than driving.
I do wonder why FCC has first class in operation at peak times, or perhaps any time! Clearly you'd use FCC if you worked in the city, but the journey to/from Victoria is so much more civilised and you might actually get a seat and be able to get some work done.
Now all that needs to be done is to fix the track to make it less bumpy!
Left Friday evening at 6pm, to get train from Farringdon to Brighton. I'd paid £5 each for a (Gold Card) 1st class upgrade so wanted to ensure we got a 377 and got SOME value from it.
I haven't used the TL route for some time, bar the odd late night service, and can see why FCC commuters are so angry if this was in any way representative of a normal evening peak service. There had been signalling problems at St Pancras and our train arrived 25 minutes late. Is this is a sign of problems to come when they ever try and run 20 or 24tph and something goes wrong through the core?? I do hope the platforms at the finished Farringdon station will be made a lot wider as there was no room to move about by the time it came in.
Anyway, upon boarding the train and going into first class - it was almost full and we got seats only because people were more keen on standing, and two seats were occupied by bags which we asked to be moved. A 377 doesn't have many seats in each compartment, but it was quite likely to me that it was made up of commuters who had 'upgraded' themselves. This got me thinking, FCC declassified all first class compartments during the driver 'dispute'. Besides commuters just wanting to get on (by London Bridge, first class was rammed), I wonder how many still think they CAN go in there still? Has FCC made it quite clear that the restrictions are back in place?
Anyway, by East Croydon it emptied a little and the journey was fairly pleasant. Still nicer than sitting in standard and we got chatting to some interesting people. All in all, a nice start to the weekend.
On the way back, we took Southern to Victoria - and were treated to free tea as we had first class tickets! I am not sure if a £5 supplement qualified us for this, but who were we to argue? I only wish I'd been cheeky and asked what else we could get (free biscuits perhaps?!). A guard came by very soon after and, funnily enough, nobody upgraded themselves to FC as a result. What a difference - the wife was most impressed and spoke of wanting to use the train much more in the future, as it is so much more relaxing than driving.
I do wonder why FCC has first class in operation at peak times, or perhaps any time! Clearly you'd use FCC if you worked in the city, but the journey to/from Victoria is so much more civilised and you might actually get a seat and be able to get some work done.
Now all that needs to be done is to fix the track to make it less bumpy!