Great Western Coffee Shop

When will the HST fleet be fully refreshed?

Will all the HSTs be of a similar formation/similar seating pattern? I am not sure whether some will be "high density" and other "low density."

When will the final Adalante be taken out of service?

If someone could clarify the ??? confusion ??? I am having with FGW HST fleet, I would be grateful!

Thanks!  :)

The HST refresh should have been finished by December, but it's late! there will be High density sets which will be the 2+7 sets and the high density sets which will be 2+8, all the Adelantes should be gone by april.

April? Gosh it is running late!

Question: I have booked a ticket from Worcester to Oxford on the 22nd February. On my 2nd class ticket I have been given a seat in coach D.

This indicates that I will be on an HST (D on an Adelante is 1st class).

Is this guaranteed? What happens to my reservation if an Adelante turns up? The train in question, which I see daily, currently runs as an Adelante (sometimes a Thames Turbo). I take it then, that it will have been changed to an HST by this time.

On the way back the next day, I have been given a seat in coach B (still 2nd class ticket). Will this be an HST?

Are the HSTs on the Cotswold Line high density/low density and are they buffet/trolley?

The reason why I am asking these questions is that the train is often very busy and I want a reservation. I don't care what stock I am in (as long as it is not a Thames Turbo). If I have bothered to book ahead - NB no "Firstminutefares" were availiable! - I want a seat.

I suppose I will have to keep an eye on it for the next few weeks.

Thanks  8).

Trains are booked HST, so the reservations are too ;)

If its a 180, sit in your seat, as long as it exists and if the TM bothers to notice, he may move you, but you are sat in your reserved seat. Some of the guards on here may have different opinions though?

And the passengers!

No scum in first!

'D' are moved to 'C' on 180's if it's booked up for HST.

Ok.

If an HST turns up: Sit in my seat.

If an Adelante turns up: Sit in my seat, but in Coach C (not First Class, alas!)

Correct?

(If my seat does not exist: Moan to guard!)

Sit in any seat, unless its full, in which case, enquire with the guard.

Thats wrong, if you have LEI ADVANCE the ticket actually requires you to sit in your seat, unless it is not valid!

Its not that

Its just if I have paid full price for a first class ticket, i dont expect space to be taken by people who havent

To my mind, it doesnt matter if there are seats available

At the moment I am on a HST with a full set of four seats to myself.  If there are passengers with first tickets to sit there - then fine. 

However, the extra space to my mind is a perk and I wouldnt be too happy having to cramp up to allow a standard class passenger to sit there unless they paid for the privalege.

I've never seen FC busy enough to need somebody to join a 'set' of seats, whether it be a 2 or 4 batch.

You havent been on a peak journey into or out of Pad then!

No, you are right. Only ever gone to Bristol/Westbury/Newquay in First Class

Coach was always a un-reserved coach. In fact it was the only coach on a set that had no reserved seats. Has this changed and if so, when?

I share your sentiments! I hate it when i'm sat on a train off duty and loads of people who are sat around me are blaitently travelling for free!

If the Worcester-London journey referred to is by any chance on the 08.37am from Foregate Street, then since the timetable change the guards are usually careful to announce that standard class coach D reservations have been placed in C. May be the case that by late February, this service will be 125-worked anyway, though it's starting to feel as though it may be one of the last Adelante diagrams to go.

And why no First Minute fares? If it is the 8.37, that's easy. There's no problem filling this train, as it's the first one of the day from Worcester and the Cotswolds that CDRs, Network Railcards and Cotswold Railcards are valid on. Hence no need to offer dirt-cheap tickets. It's a bit quiet just now as it's post-Christmas, but in school holidays and the summer, Adelantes on this service can be full and standing beyond Charlbury - pity those trying to join at Oxford.

I have a degree of sympathy with you. I sit in second class having paid full fare - perhaps able to take advantage of some marketing discount, but I don't have a forces card, nor an employee discount, nor a student card, an unemployed card, a senior citizens card, a disabled persons card. I'm a UK resident so can't get myself a Britrail pass, and so on. I'm sure it costs the train company just as much to carry them (more in some cases, when you think about it - special facilities needed, more customer support needed, and so on ...) and yet they get the cheapened travel.  And I pay the tax that indirectly subsidises their travel as well as the higher fare!

But it's the way the system works and a propsal that said "one fare for all - 2 pound per ticket sold + 38p/mile (standard class) or + 50p/mile (first class) for everyone ... prior to providing marketing adjustments such as some cheaper rates off peak, and some adjusted mileages to allow a higher fare for the Tamar bridge, Severn Tunnel, etc." would probably get howls of protest!  I would, though, couple it with things like proper pension provision .... and I'm sure I'll find my fellow moderators telling me I'm going way off topic and into politics  ;)

Would we ever do such a thing?  ;)

D is now the family CarnageCoach!

Should I point out the obvious?  ;D

Even if you are staff!!

I may be staff but I have a RIGHT to free travel and I pay tax on my free travel (it's reflected in my tax code as it's a privilege of my employment)! The people who fare dodge do not have the right to travel for free!

I wasn't critisising you!

Fair comment, vacman: as a fare-paying passenger, I too get well and truly tee'd off with those who should pay but don't!

Hopefully, d_m, you're back on vacman's Christmas card list now!  :)