First/standard class signage: best practice

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Putting aside the perspective that there's a lot to be said for one-class travel (and at the same time, raising the quality of 'Standard'), it can be really difficult for travellers to identify the class of a carriage.

Even for those needing to avoid first (usually me) the 'Unobtrusive but highly prominent if you knew what it was' 'Yellow stripe on the carriage exterior' worked well for those who knew, so of course it's been discontinued, but perhaps bring that back?

TfW are currently struggling - and on some of its Manchester services, their train managers frequently need to redirect standard class passengers away from first. Unfortuntately they've attempted to sort this by covering literally 30% of the area all first class windows with an enormous adhesive notice announcing to those already in it that the carriage is first class - which doesn't actually work as people, unable to see the signage from outside, continue to mistake the carriage for standard. Hopefully the feedback on the window desectation will see the banners going the same way as the graphics that once obscured some of the current generation Caledonian Sleeper windows.

Mark

[ChrisB]

Looks as though 30% is a tad exaggerated?

[Mark A]

You're right, just measured it: the window's 25% obscured.

Turn to the view along the carriage, the rest of the windows being behind the seats, 100% of what remains is obscured.

Mark