Oversize luggage

[whole diary]

[willc]

niether the Vomiters or 180s have enough space for luggage oversize or not

In many, many journeys on 180s in the past five years or so, outside the Christmas holiday periods, I really can't remember any problems with luggage - in the aisles or vestibules. They have good-sized luggage racks, right at the entrance to the coaches and with lots of tables, there are lots of seat backs to put cases and bags between as well

[r james]

I feel that half of the trouble is that the luggage satcks in the main carraiges are just simply not using the space correctly.  i mean they have just one shelf, and do not go to the height of the trains ceiling.

Look at the ones on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HSTS..... thats how tall a luggage stack should be.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Indeed - I've often seen up to four teenagers travelling quite comfortably in those luggage racks on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)! 

[RailCornwall]

The problem would of course be solved if there was a reasonably priced and efficient process to send luggage in advance. The Swiss system is fantastic, basically get your bag put on the preceeding service that you intend to use yourself and it'll be ready to pick up at your destination when you arrive (even including changes). Similar systems are in use elsewhere.

Having unified rolling stock for many markets seems to program the assumption in the existence of this type of system in all markets, hence luggage space is reduced and at a premium.

Lets hope the issue isn't forgotten when the new expresses are finally designed.

[thetrout]

Maybe if the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Powercars where used for luggage, Leave your luggage with the platform staff, who will load them onto the train for you...?? Or is that to efficient?

Only problem is the Platform staff will need a manual handling course which = ^

and such a system would be frowned upon by security...!

Boring!!!

[Super Guard]

Maybe if the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Powercars where used for luggage, Leave your luggage with the platform staff, who will load them onto the train for you...?? Or is that to efficient?

Only problem is the Platform staff will need a manual handling course which = ^

and such a system would be frowned upon by security...!

Boring!!!

On Easter Monday/Tuesday when people were travelling back up to London, we were having to use the rear Powercars for luggage to Paddington/Reading, as the trains were so busy.  This of course adds dwell time at stations, unless dedicated staff are on hand while the lead dispatcher is closing/checking doors etc, which of course will mean more manpower = ^ = customers probably paying for service.  Then there is the added "I don't want to be away from my baggage crowd", which in this day of bags looking so alike, is understandable.

Of course, if a system was bought in to get bags "checked-in", this would mean customers would need to be on the platform a little earlier than 40 seconds before departure  .... add in the arguments that would ensue due to some passengers refusing to pay and want to take their bags on board for free, and you have yourself quite a pickle 

[RailCornwall]

To implement a service would of course need major station redesign. All the transactions in Switzerland are done within the station building and not on the Platform.

[super tm]

Last year summer weekends they were loading luggage for plymouth and penzance into wheeled cages as people were walking along the platform.

These cages were loaded into the powercars.  AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) a similar thing will happen again this year.