Odd incidents in 1st class

[GodAtum]

A few odd things have happened to me while travelling in 1st class this year!

• All seats taken, RPIs comes in to check tickets, I'm one of the few with a 1st class ticket so they kick some people out and I get a table seat to myself!
• Another time a youth came in, RPIs checked tickets. His excuse was that he saw me sitting here. I said so what? He said why would you buy a 1st class ticket for a 15 mins journey. I said the world does not end at Victoria :roll: (I was travelling to Cheltenham and it was cheaper buying a 1st class ticket for the whole journey).
• A similar incident during the Olympics, middle aged gentleman wearing a pinstripe suit with cuffed shirt and tie asked me to give up my seat. I apologised and asked him why. He said he had a 1st class ticket (I was wearing my Games Makers uniform and we got free Oyster cards Z1-6). I replied saying I had a 1st class Gold card. He looked a bit shocked and demanded to see it. I politely refused (maybe I was mean and should have showed him?). He then left and walked down the train.

 

[Temple Meads]

maybe I was mean and should have showed him?

Nope, what right did he have to look at your ticket?

That's akin to backseat moderation on forums, the job of checking of ticking tickets is for a guard or RPI, not a snooty passenger.

 

[bluenoxid]

A few odd things have happened to me while travelling in 1st class this year!

• A similar incident during the Olympics, middle aged gentleman wearing a pinstripe suit with cuffed shirt and tie asked me to give up my seat.
  I apologised and asked him why.
  He said he had a 1st class ticket (I was wearing my Games Makers uniform and we got free Oyster cards Z1-6).
  I replied saying I had a 1st class Gold card.
  I looked a bit shocked and demanded to see it.
  I politely refused (maybe I was mean and should have showed him?).
  He then left and walked down the train.

A man talking to himself is certainly strange in First Class but by no means unusual. No wonder he walked off down the train. Probably called the authorities.

 

[table38]

Bloke opposite me today tried the "the guy on the platform said I could sit here" and "there aren't any other seats free now" routines when the guard asked him to upgrade or move. He was unsuccessful

 

[dk1]

Sometimes you see fare paying passengers in 1st class when officially this accomodation is designed for traicrew travelling pass

 

[Monty]

Does catching two passengers 'at it' count? :P

 

[wintonian]

I like it when the guard checks tickets in first class on peak trains to London, it stops the rest of the occupants from giving me funny looks from behind the FT - mind you if they knew how much I pay (somewhere less than 1/3 of the full FDR for the journey and no I don't have a PRIV let alone a first class one) there would be a riot!

 

[fgwrich]

Sometimes you see fare paying passengers in 1st class when officially this accomodation is designed for traicrew travelling pass

I've been mistaken for a member of FGW Train crew staff before by one of the Passenger Focus staff. Was sitting in the Buffet Car at the time which also happen to have several off duty FGW staff travelling too. He came in, started to ask a few of the survey questions, found that it was mostly full of FGW Staff and just said You obviously all work for FGW then, Thanks & have a nice evening.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I've travelled first class twice, both pretty short journeys (less than an hour each), but I managed to get cheap advances, so thought may aswell. What annoyed me was the looks I got because me, a slightly scruffy student, was sitting in first class. I am sorry - however I paid for my ticket and there is no dress code to travel in first class! That and the positioning of the electric sockets only an inch or so above the tables meant I could not plug my laptop in.

 

[richw]

I've travelled first class twice, both pretty short journeys (less than an hour each), but I managed to get cheap advances, so thought may aswell. What annoyed me was the looks I got because me, a slightly scruffy student, was sitting in first class. I am sorry - however I paid for my ticket and there is no dress code to travel in first class! That and the positioning of the electric sockets only an inch or so above the tables meant I could not plug my laptop in.

I got the same as you, the only occasions I've travelled first class I've been wearing Jeans, and a hoody with trainers

 

[Eagle]

I'm travelling first class tomorrow afternoon (with three TOCs) and I'll likely not have slept, washed or changed from what I'm wearing now.

Wonder how long before I'm called a pleb?

 

[dcd]

That and the positioning of the electric sockets only an inch or so above the tables meant I could not plug my laptop in.

I take a multi plug adapter with me. Plug it in then plug laptop into top socket on the adaptor. I does seem silly that the put them so close to the table top.

 

[NSE]

Ahhh I booked First Class home back from Reading Festival. Stinking of beer sweat and unwashed young man. I had my ruck sack tent, hadn't showered for like a week. I loved it. The looks I got in the First Class lounge at Birmingham were fantastic. I had wellies, trackies and a tshirt emblazoned with marker pens reading "Joey Barton Dream Team" and "Barton FC". I also had some gaffer tape on my back which had spelt a swear word, but I'd hacked enough off to not read properly :P I had such fun. :L

 

[causton]

Ahhh I booked First Class home back from Reading Festival. Stinking of beer sweat and unwashed young man. I had my ruck sack tent, hadn't showered for like a week. I loved it. The looks I got in the First Class lounge at Birmingham were fantastic. I had wellies, trackies and a tshirt emblazoned with marker pens reading "Joey Barton Dream Team" and "Barton FC". I also had some gaffer tape on my back which had spelt a swear word, but I'd hacked enough off to not read properly :P I had such fun. :L

I got bad enough looks travelling in standard class after a weekend at Reading Festival!

Perhaps the bar is lower on East Coast first class, as I never wear a suit when I travel FC and never get any funny looks! Although I do have my netbook so I probably look businessmanlike still...

 

[MCR247]

I got the same as you, the only occasions I've travelled first class I've been wearing Jeans, and a hoody with trainers

Same, except adding on the word teenager

The FC passengers probably aren't even expecting me to have a SC ticket never mind about first

 

[transportphoto]

The FC passengers probably aren't even expecting me to have a SC ticket never mind about first

Tell me about it... It's alright if I'm in a suit (Sheringham commutes for North Norfolk Railway), but for leisure travel, in a track-suit, landing my self dreary eyed on a 0600 off Norwich, on a Saturday morning, heading into London. Then over to St Pancras for an East Midlands to Sheffield. First Class. I had paid £1 for the ticket up to Sheffield... The looks I got as I walked in and took my seat.

Talk about Stereotyping...

TP

 

[MCR247]

I've even got funny looks off guards/RPIs before!

 

[Urban Gateline]

Not being funny, but if travelling first class then why not "dress to the occasion"?

It may not be a fair comparison but if you go to an elegant restaurant you wouldn't turn up in Jeans and trainers and a hoody, would you? Yes some have dress codes, but for me it's just showing a bit of style.

First class is supposed to be a premium environment after all

 

[telstarbox]

In an elegant restaurant you wouldn't get a lukewarm tea in a rubbish paper cup!

 

[Yew]

I hear once somebody got two slices of toast on EC's first class breakfast.....

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Not being funny, but if travelling first class then why not "dress to the occasion"?

It may not be a fair comparison but if you go to an elegant restaurant you wouldn't turn up in Jeans and trainers and a hoody, would you? Yes some have dress codes, but for me it's just showing a bit of style.

First class is supposed to be a premium environment after all

Eh?
I had you in mind as an intelligent poster!

I speak as a regular first class passenger (almost allways travelling between Newcastle and London or Edinburgh, to the extent that I'm very well aquainted with lots of EC's on-board CSA personnel). I must assure you that my choice of clothes when I get out of bed will reflect what is immediately available, what I expect to be doing during the day, and more than anything else - the weather.
I'm also a regular cyclist, so I'll dress to suit my early morning cycle journey to Newcastle station, the train journey to London, the cycle journey through London to my appointment in the Strand or elsewhere, my duties while there; and then the reverse journey to Newcastle, in first class, with bike (and cycling through two of the worst concentrations of Newcastle's pub culture).

What on earth posesses you to imagine that I would, for a moment, consider dressing for the rail company (nor confuse a train for an elegant restaurant - perhaps you know I was on-board for the last East Coast service of Restaurant and have spoken regularly on that topic).

 

[ainsworth74]

Not being funny, but if travelling first class then why not "dress to the occasion"?

Why should I? I've paid my fare just like the rest of the passengers, why should I have to 'dress up'? TOCs don't have a dress code (well beyond wearing clothes I suppose ) so why should I or anyone else have to behave as if there is one? Forgive me but I don't see that it's any of anyone else's business how I decide to dress when I'm going about my travels and happen to be using first class.

 

[Urban Gateline]

Eh?
I had you as an intelligent poster!

Speaking as a regular first class passenger (almost all between Newcastla and London or Edinburgh, to the extent that I'm very well aquainted with lots of on-board personnel) I must assure you that my choice of clothes when I get out of bed will reflect what is immediately available, what I expect to be doing during the day, and more than anything else - the weather.
I'm also a regular cyclist, so I'll dress to suit my early morning cycle journey to Newcastle station, the train journey to London, the cycle journey through London to my appointment in the Strand or elsewhere; and then the reverse journey to Newcastle in first class with bike.

What on earth posesses you to imagine that I would for a moment consider dressing for the rail company (nor confuse a train for an elegant restaurant - perhaps you know I was on-board for the last East Coast service of Restaurant and have spoken regularly on that topic).

I see your point, and admittedly it is valid!

I would not be dressing for the TOC, but simply for myself! If one travels in style then why not dress in style too? Yes it is not exactly a posh restaurant, however it is still a premium offering.

I am flattered that you had me down as an intelligent poster DaveNewcastle, however that is debatable I suppose

 

[ainsworth74]

If one travels in style then why not dress in style too?

Because there's no requirement and I'm more comfortable in a t-shirt and trousers than I am in suit? Surely that's all there is to it?

 

[AlexS]

Ahhh I booked First Class home back from Reading Festival. Stinking of beer sweat and unwashed young man. I had my ruck sack tent, hadn't showered for like a week. I loved it. The looks I got in the First Class lounge at Birmingham were fantastic. I had wellies, trackies and a tshirt emblazoned with marker pens reading "Joey Barton Dream Team" and "Barton FC". I also had some gaffer tape on my back which had spelt a swear word, but I'd hacked enough off to not read properly :P I had such fun. :L

All great and hugely funny until the point you get refused travel under Byelaw 5 - "No person shall enter or remain on the railway if, in the reasonable opinion of
an authorised person, he is in an unfit or improper condition or his clothing
may soil or damage any part of the railway or the property or clothing of any
person on the railway."

Whether fair or not, much more likely to be enforced in first class than standard!

 

[Urban Gateline]

Why should I? I've paid my fare just like the rest of the passengers, why should I have to 'dress up'? TOCs don't have a dress code (well beyond wearing clothes I suppose ) so why should I or anyone else have to behave as if there is one? Forgive me but I don't see that it's any of anyone else's business how I decide to dress when I'm going about my travels and happen to be using first class.

At the end of the day it's a personal choice, you may not care about your appearance as much as I do when out and about and that is your perogative. I tend to make an effort if it is something special. (I consider 1st Class special!) I suppose there is alot of stereotyping when it comes to 1st Class, my take on it is people can dress how they like, however should remember that sometimes first impressions count

 

[big_dirt]

I travel in First Class most often on FGW from Paddington to Temple Meads, courtesy of my employer. To be honest, the carriage is usually quite empty and the seat backs are so substantial that, if I am unlucky, I see the guy on the other side of the aisle and nobody else!

I've been first class on EC and looked up the carriage and thought it to be empty due to the well built seats. It's only upon walking to the gents that I realise that there are quite a few in there!

 

[ainsworth74]

]however should remember that sometimes first impressions count

First impressions!? I'd be amazed if I ever see any of the people in first class (or standard class) again so I couldn't care less what they may think about me

 

[Urban Gateline]

Because there's no requirement and I'm more comfortable in a t-shirt and trousers than I am in suit? Surely that's all there is to it?

I'm not suggesting a suit, that may be taking things a tad too far unless you actually are wearing it to work or to a meeting! Just a long smart'ish shirt and some smart trousers, nothing wrong with that!

Whilst you may prefer comfort, some people will prefer looking more formal, especially in a premium environment
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

First impressions!? I'd be amazed if I ever see any of the people in first class (or standard class) again so I couldn't care less what they may think about me

That's probably why you never see them again If you made more of an effort to "fit in" then you may get someone's attention

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . my take on it is people can dress how they like, however should remember that sometimes first impressions count

Yes, I'm sure you'd often be correct in applying that principle. But the difference between us is that some of us are considering 'the impression' we make at our destination - our job, workplace, renunion, meeting, court, field, theatre, caravan site, bank, TV studio, restaurant or whatever, and you seem to be claiming that one would want to be making 'the impression' on board the train.

I cannot agree with that. The train is the means of getting to the place that matters. First Class travel is still just the means of getting there. I don't pay a lot of money to be in a train. I pay it to be in London (while living in Newcastle).