Odd incidents in 1st class

[90019]

What I do detect here however is a hint that some posters deliberately "dress down" for travelling 1st class purely to provoke some of the reactions described.

I disagree - the majority of people here are saying that they're wearing what they'd normally wear elsewhere, and are commenting on the reactions that are occasionally recieved.

 

[Eagle]

Sitrep: am in EC first class (on an advance ticket that's significantly cheaper than the equivalent standard-class walkup fare), I'm wearing a baggy t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, and clearly have unwashed hair, and yet I'm still not the scruffiest person in this carriage.

Only two people are wearing a tie, and they're both crew.

Will report if it's any different on the VT and XC legs of my journey :P

 

[SS4]

A quick flash of my ticket soon rectified the situation It's just as well I'm not one to take comments to heart!

Would have been far more amusing if you'd omitted "of my ticket"

I disagree - the majority of people here are saying that they're wearing what they'd normally wear elsewhere, and are commenting on the reactions that are occasionally recieved.

That's exactly it. A lot of said people are travelling on 1st Advances for leisure and why shouldn't one dress leisurely/comfortably on a leisure trip? It doesn't help that there is a notion that First Class is for toffs and businessmen.

TOCs/BR* must have known that by allowing first class advances you'd get a number of people who aren't suited and booted (OT: is it me or are shoes clearly designed to look good and not to walk in?)



* Delete as appropriate

 

[matchmaker]

A number of years ago both our sons were from travelling Stirling to Inverness to visit their grandparents. The boys were aged 14 and 12 at the time but were both sensible so we decided to let them travel alone.

I booked first class tickets (at a very reasonable price) on the down "Highland Chieftain" and reserved seats for them.

When the train drew in to Stirling I showed them where their seats were and told the GNER onboard staff that they would be met at Inverness. I then noticed that a well-dressed middle-aged couple had also got on and were sitting in my boys reserved seats.......................

My older son went up to them, asked them to leave, and when they refused, called one of the GNER staff members, who promptly turfed Mr & Mrs out of the seats and directed them to standard class

 

[AntoniC]

About 20 years ago my family booked a weekend away at the Beamish Open Air Musuem in Co Durham, with us staying in a hotel in Gateshead ( I think !).

Family are from Liverpool but I was working for the Civil Service in London (still do work for them but now in Liverpool).

As part of the package I got First Class Train Tickets for Kings Cross to Newcastle (and return of course), departing Fri evening peak approx 5pm.

I got to Kings Cross dressed in jeans, trainers & T-Shirt (and like others) was asked to show my ticket as the guard (and some of the passengers) didnt believe that I should be travelling first class because of my attire - as soon as I produced the ticket the guards attitude changed !.

(Had a really good journey there and back and had a great time with the family, sadly it was the last family holiday I went on as my mum died soon after).

 

[Squaddie]

I am puzzled and amused by the attitude shown in this thread (and on this forum in general) towards first class accommodation on trains. It's just a bigger, more comfortable seat in return for a higher fare - no more and no less. Thanks to cheap Advance tickets, you're just as likely to find families and students in first class as business people, particularly at weekends, and I don't think I've ever encountered a situation where a passenger was looked down on for not wearing the right clothes. I rarely travel by train on business, and so am nearly always dressed casually (often in jeans and trainers) in first class.

Some of the instances described in this thread appear to relate to situations where the individual's appearance was so bad ("Stinking of beer sweat and hadn't showered for like a week") that it would also have been completely unacceptable in standard class, and even on the no. 38 to Hackney.

 

[MCR247]

, and even on the no. 38 to Hackney.

Ahaha

 

[NSE]

Some of the instances described in this thread appear to relate to situations where the individual's appearance was so bad ("Stinking of beer sweat and hadn't showered for like a week") that it would also have been completely unacceptable in standard class, and even on the no. 38 to Hackney.

Hahaha, you've clearly never been to a festival. I can confirm the whole train was packed with us. As was pretty much every single train departing Reading that day. As happens with every festival every year every time.
I also suspect you've never been on London Buses. As a regular on many London Buses night and day, I can confirm I have often seen passengers get on in a worse state than myself after Reading.

 

[burneside]

A few years whilst boarding a first class carriage on an FGW service I noticed the train manager giving me a very odd look and obviously decided I couldn't possibly be a bona fide first class passenger. I carried on down the train to find my seat and before I could even stow my bags away she bounded over and demanded to see my ticket, the look of disappointment on her face when I produced my valid first class ticket was palpable.

 

[sheff1]

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

Debatable whether many TOCs First Class offering is 'travelling in style' nowadays. If, however, we accept that it is, then in whose style should I be dressing ? My own, surely, and I see no need to purchase a suit and tie (or anyting else someone considers to be style) just to travel by train

It is always noticaebale that the FT brigade giving the funny looks suddenly become unable to look at one once the ticket check has taken place.

 

[Goatboy]

Hahaha, you've clearly never been to a festival.

And to be fair, neither should a carriage he sits in smell like he has. It's a bit antisocial, don't you think?

 

[Polarbear]

I suggested in my earlier post that the attitude towards people travelling 1st class has changed since BR days & I think that's true. Two other incidences spring to mind of those days...

The first was on a service from Chester to Manchester (in the days of a class 40 & Mk1's). The guard came along & slammed open the door to the compartment I was sat in (and the sole occupant of) & shouted "where's your ticket sonny"! I produced my 1st class day return, he examined it carefully, clipped the outward portion of the ticket, then said "thank you sir" & closed the compartment door quietly!

The second incident was when I was travelling between Banbury & Bicester. The guard came into the carriage, checked one or two tickets in standard, then looked up & saw me sitting in the first class compartment at the front of the train. Guard stormed up to the front, slammed open the door & asked me for my ticket which was duly produced. He then returned to the guards compartment without another word, not bothering to check the tickets of the other people in the standard accommodation...!!

 

[sheff1]

Not sure whether it counts as odd, but a couple of years back on a lateish train from Manchester a group of about 8 teenagers came into first class. There presence was seemingly too much for the only other occupant who muttered he was going to fetch the guard.

The guard asked for tickets and immediately the leader of the group produced a huge roll of £20 notes and said they wished to upgrade to first class. The guard, presumably, made a bit of commission and Mr Grumpy was left glowering in the corner !

 

[Squaddie]

Hahaha, you've clearly never been to a festival. I can confirm the whole train was packed with us. As was pretty much every single train departing Reading that day. As happens with every festival every year every time.

That doesn't really excuse your obvious pride in stinking of beer, sweat and body odour.

 

[SS4]

Can it really be helped if you've just come back from a festival? You could drown yourself in deodorant but short of a shower there's little you can do.

 

[Tubeboy]

Have been in 1st Class many a time, always casually dressed. Sometimes even with a hoodie [hood down!] and a week of stubble, but body and clothes have been clean. I cant say I have noticed any other FC passesngers observing me. I did have a LM guard a little while back looking generally surprised that I did in fact have a 1st class ticket On LM they are only a bit more than standard when booked a bit in advance. I do find FC in general to be nice and quiet. That in itself for me is worth the upgrade, and the perks of course.

 

[dk1]

You cannot spot a business man so easily these days as many do a Branson & give the tie a miss.

As for not looking 1st class material, i saw the ultimate the other day when the passenger opposite produced sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil & to top it off, carried in a Lidl bag

 

[NSE]

That doesn't really excuse your obvious pride in stinking of beer, sweat and body odour.

I never said pride. i just thought it was funny. Doesn't excuse the 70,000 other festival goers, from Reading alone that travelled back that day, we all did though. All of my mates and every person we encountered smelt of 'festival' you think I'm not gonna get the train home simply because I smell of festivalling? Don't think so pal. I also had a chat with the Trolley guy about my weekend, as he liked some of the bands playing. He didn't have a problem. Sides on a Pendolino there is more than one first class carriage, it was bank holiday Monday and therefore quiet, should you have ended up in my carriage, you could have moved. Sorted.

For your benefit I would like to add that coming home from said festivals is the only time I have ever travelled dirty. Yes I may dress in trackies or shorts or whatever, but asides from this one weekend, they are clean.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

My 2 student sons often get "targeted" by staff in 1st (as they have facilities thanks to me) , but are kindly treated (extra soft drinks etc !) - there was always an elitist element and many years ago when I was travelling in from Wimbledon and the proud owner of 1st class regional pass for the Southern it happened.

In the peak , only standard class was available from Wimbledon , one morning an 8 VEP stopped in the up fast (though driver made every effort not to!) - and I took the last empty seat in a 1st compartment. 5 seats occupied by middle - oldish commuters (Telegraph readers and 1 FT) - and one muttered "you don't belng here" . With such a challenge I realised the C/guard was next carriage - so nipped in and had a word and returned.

C/G breezily asked for "all tickets and passes please" - flashed my pass and rewarded "thank you Guvnor" (true Southern response) - 2 of the other 5 were excessed (around £7 a fair bit of money in 1984) - at Waterloo , making sure I was first off , I mentioned out loud that perhaps some people didn't belong there , not that I hung around to find out.

 

[MCR247]

In the peak , only standard class was available from Wimbledon , one morning an 8 VEP stopped in the up fast (though driver made every effort not to!) - .

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by that?

 

[scotsman]

I hold a ScotRail Advance pass - I used it on a train from Queen Street - Edinburgh last year. I was challenged by a punter "Excuse me, you do know this is First Class?" "Yes" *taking my seat, leaving standard ticket in full view*

 

[Matt Taylor]

In the slam door days if a train stopped in a platform out of course (by a red signal) there was no way of preventing passengers joining or leaving the train so it became good practice for drivers approaching red platform signals to do so in a manner to prevent people opening the doors to get on or off.

 

[HSTEd]

Boarding a train to Manchester at Euston.

"Mate, that's first class"
"Yes I know"
"You need a first class ticket for this coach"
"Yes.... that would follow"
"Can I see your ticket please then?"
"Sure, here you go"

"Oh.... sorry, sir"

Apparently I (in my travelling clothes - old cargoes and T-shirt with a fleece under my arm) don't look like a typical first class passenger

 

[AndyLandy]

I've travelled in FC on advance fares a few times in the past, indeed I've got a FC advance tomorrow. I'll be clean, but unshaven and wearing jeans and a hoodie. I've had the occasional look of some other passenger turning their nose up at me, but never had any problems.

As for the dress code, I wear jeans and hoodie to work and when I'm out in the evening, so that's what I'll wear when travelling. There are plenty of quality restaurants that don't have dress codes. I wear what I find comfortable. If a venue has a problem with my attire, they don't get my business, simple as.

Personally, I consider the idea of "smart attire" to be a rather outdated societal meme. What is it about a collar and a necktie that magically makes a person "smart"?

 

[neilmc]

Never ever travel first class - until last year when, by a quirk of Virgin demand, a first class advance on a particular train proved to be cheaper than a standard advance. Sadly I was travelling on business so I did look reasonably smart by my standards.

 

[scotsman]

Oh yeah, the time I did a shift in Edinburgh. Sat in First (I had my pass) in my uniform, it became clear someone thought I was security. They hung around outside the compartment door until I left the train!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

[QUOTE=Matt Taylor;1236589]In the slam door days if a train stopped in a platform out of course (by a red signal) there was no way of preventing passengers joining or leaving the train so it became good practice for drivers approaching red platform signals to do so in a manner to prevent people opening the doors to get on or off.[/QUOTE]



Spot on - even in those days , nothing stopped Surbiton - Waterloo on the fast lines in the peaks, if a red was spotted , drivers made every effort to creep through without stopping as the train (with slam doors) , would inevitably be invaded by the SW19 Plebs mixing with the likes of Cobham man !!!. - then a job to get it away safely.

The Up Sleeper got invaded at Harrow & Wealdstone once ...did not go down well withe the very late Caledonian travellers.

 

[WillPS]

The snobs in First Class really really annoy me.

There was an occasion when I was travelling to St. Albans on business from Nottingham, and had booked First Class so that I'd get space and facilities to prepare for my meeting. Adjacent to me was an elderly couple who were clearly travelling for leisure (fine by me!).

When the Host asked to see my railcard, one of them actually tutted. I couldn't believe it! What got to me was they too were travelling on a bloody railcard!

 

[tsr]

Declassified First Class on FCC is the most hilarious thing... nobody in Standard Class bothers to listen to or read the announcements and in many cases they don't even read the temporary "First Class is Declassified" stickers that are officially supplied, but when those sitting in First Class with an FC ticket don't know either, that's who gets really annoyed.

 

[jon0844]

Has FCC removed the '1' from the outside of the end of the 377s that now has the declassified FC section?

They did once try putting signs up outside the FC compartment on the GN side (317s) but presumably they realised how much effort it would be to take them down and put them back up during the day for the services with FC and without. I saw them once a few years ago and never, ever, again.

I very occasionally had people in FC on a declassified service (on a 317) looking at me as if I shouldn't be in there. The obvious stares (either that or they fancied me) and I am sure they were thinking 'Haha! Busted' when an RPI came in.

Now, if the RPI knew it was declassified then that would be it. I couldn't exactly say 'Ha, I only had a standard class ticket!'.

But on the trains where RPIs didn't know, they'd begin to go for the PF before I could convince them it was declassified. In 99% of cases, they'd then apologise and move on.

On more than one occasion where this happened, I'd then joke with the RPI and say 'Well, you didn't think I'd be stupid enough to pay for a first class ticket to sit in this compartment' and they'd always laugh back, or at the very least smile or give some sort of 'approval'.

Cue the embarrassment of the person that has paid for a first class ticket and now realises they're effectively only in standard class.