222s regularly turn up on the 0730 Nottingham-Leicester (2L52). I do wonder if EMT will correctly apply the rules in relation to the presence of "first class" accommodation on these trains... Somehow I doubt it.
What rules are you referring to? Firstly there are no rules stopping the official in charge of the train stopping any passenger from using any particular accommodation on board a train whether it is first class or standard class... (There is no entitlement to use first class accommodation on a service which is deemed by the timetable to be standard class only, but equally if it's not taken out of use and made inaccessible it's reasonable to expect to be able to use it without additional charge)
However if what I suspect you're actually getting at is a daft pot shot that you doubt EMT are allowing the accommodation to be used (it's not a "rule") then I'm afraid you're wrong anyway - how else do you expect boarding on a 4 coach train fitted with selective door opening using mostly short platforms to be done in any reasonable timescale when the first class vehicle and composite are leading 50% of the time? The crockery is cleared away before the train enters service and the whole train is available for use of standard class passengers. It's confusing enough as it is running a 4 coach Intercity spec train on a local service without making life anymore difficult and it's hard work for the train crew. The revenue protection and passenger management side is dealt with by local side senior conductors using managers or train managers to conduct on the traction so I can assure you they aren't fussed about first class as they don't have it anyway.
As it happens whenever EMT use Intercity stock on standard only trains (additional, football specials, summer Saturday Skegness services) the whole train is invariably made available for the use of standard class passengers.
