Great Western Coffee Shop

As I had to stand on the XC voyager train again this morning, I just wondered if I could bring my own fold up camping chair and put it out in one of the vestibules?

I was going to get the earlier train but I am finding that extra half of sleep just to precious.......

There were plenty of seats in Carriage D - it does seem to be getting busier though I agree

Good old carriage D - trouble is I was with a work collegue and we just couldn't be bothered to try and look for seats so probably my own fault this morning although why was the train information missing of the displays this morning?......strange!  Knowing where first class is going to be often helps get a seat....

Yeah - I was also slightly confused when the info stated tat the first train was the 0903. I also get on with a work colleague normally as well so it was easier today I guess as I was by my lonesome.

Any idea why half the carpark is fenced off? Didn't have time to read the notices - saw it was NR notices though

The fencing was odd - like you said, something to do with NR but I was very late this morning so didn't have time to read it.  It's sad but I know if I leave the house at 7:44 its a brisk walkl, by 7:47 its a bit of a panic and this morning I left the house at 7:48 so running was involved.....

That's a good point, actually: if they're quite happy for us to stand like sardines (sorry, but you know what I mean!) in the vestibules, why can't we bring along a suitcase / camp stool / armchair to sit on?

Because it lowers the total capacity :P

A bit like having 3 bikes on board, as happened on the 1753 to Nailsea last night.

I've seen people use them, doesn't seem like a big issue, unless they fall over I suppose.

Bikes, another 1 of my Gripes!

Agree. It's a shame Wessex caved in to the bikes lobby. It's so antisocial to lean a bike against the three dieways tip up seats thus depriving 3 people of a seat. Yet I often see it happen. 

As is mine but I suspect for totally different reasons

As a cyclist who cycles from paddington to work i now have to leave my bike at paddington (have has one trashed since last october already).

It folds in half (so bigger than a brompton) and I used to keep it in the disabled space of carriage G on the understanding that if a disabled person needed the space, I would remove it and if that meant getting off the train and having to wait for the next one, so be it

Then we started to get non regular train managers and a couple of jobs worths kicked up a fuss

At the same time, FGW started insisting reservations be made if you want to take a bike...... except they wont let me reserve it on the 1722, 1822 and 1922 on the same day - I can pick one only - which is great except I usually do not know in advance which one I am going to be getting and I'm not waiting for the 1922 just to be on the safe side.

End result - bike has no choice but to stay at paddington.

At a time when organisations are supposed to be encouraging green travel, this lack of joined up thinking is daft

I often take my Brompton to London, but occasionally take the full size bike on the HST. I know I should have a reservation, but I have never been asked to show one, and fortunately there has always been plenty of room. I'm not sure what would happen if six cyclists with reservations wanted to board later in the journey. Perhaps the guard would have to identify the unauthorised cycle and its owner, and eject us?

Over crowding on a voyager?? never .thats only something that happens on those nasty great western trains.
Joined a voyager at btm last week which was off to Newcastle with one working toilet

Was the carriage containing the only toilet a little smelly by any chance?

Toilets are always smelly on voyagers

And people never close the doors!  POOOOOOO!

Needed to bring your own chair this morning!

Why do people feel the need to claim two seats for themselves? Are their bags so vitally important that they require comfort (if that exists on voyagers) of their own? Do they consider the rest of us scum???? >:(

I deliberately chose to ask the woman who had blatently set up her two seats so noone would sit next to her to move her stuff despite an easier seat being available further up the carriage. Pisses me off royally. She moved them - rather begrudgingly though. Grrrrr..... >:(

Aye, it was a busy train this morning, the service is suffering from being a carriage down, no chance of a window seat looking over the sea this morning.....  :'(

I too hate the whole "I'll put my bag on the seat next to me so that I don't get anyone near me".  Maybe just don't even ask, just pick the bag up and throw it on the floor! :D

This is where we need it to be an HST and follow Mookiemoo's example of direct action - out the window with it! :D

Ha ha, yes - I think she has shown us the way!

Worst thing VXC ever did was replace HSTs with voyagers the nasty things have been continually overcrowded from Day 1

John, I agree with you entirely on this one - with specific reference to the regularly crowded 1753 BTM to Nailsea. Folding bikes, which compact to the size of a (large) suitcase, perhaps fair enough - but to the full size mountain bikes, which some people force onto the carriages, scraping your legs with all the muck from the tyres without so much as an 'excuse me' - No!  As you say, one mountain bike, let alone two or three, takes up the space of three standing adults and prevents three more people from using the fold-down seats.  Bikes that do not fold down should be barred from such peak commuter services.

As to their stowage on HSTs ... well, FGW themselves have admitted that the rather Heath Robinson arrangement in the guard's van was 'over-engineered', so hopefully those will be removed to make room for a more sensible rack soon!