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Great Western Coffee Shop > Journey by Journey > London to Reading (Data Manager: Ollie) > First Class experience today (28th Feb)
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Author Topic: First Class experience today (28th Feb)  (Read 7005 times)
johoare
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« on: March 01, 2013, 01:39:49 »
9.03 Maidenhead to Paddington today.. First Class was full and standing.. I had work I needed to do.. I had a coffee.. It was so full in there I wasn't even able to remove my coat (or move.. or in fact have anything easily to hold onto to), and FGW▸ (First Great Western) had kindly turned the heating up which was blasting away nicely to help the situation..

End result.. No work done.. I felt quite ill.. coffee not drunk (tho it was just about warm still when I got off the train (always the optimist me))..

And FGW STILL sell First Class tickets from Maidenhead and STILL don't check tickets (very often)... Angry
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gpn01
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« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2013, 21:49:48 »
Quote from: johoare on March 01, 2013, 01:39:49
9.03 Maidenhead to Paddington today.. First Class was full and standing.. I had work I needed to do.. I had a coffee.. It was so full in there I wasn't even able to remove my coat (or move.. or in fact have anything easily to hold onto to), and FGW▸ (First Great Western) had kindly turned the heating up which was blasting away nicely to help the situation..

End result.. No work done.. I felt quite ill.. coffee not drunk (tho it was just about warm still when I got off the train (always the optimist me))..

And FGW STILL sell First Class tickets from Maidenhead and STILL don't check tickets (very often)... Angry

Was it a free coffee from the buffet?  Quite an achievement!  On earlier trains it's rare to see the buffet trolley in First Class so some passengers queue up in the buffet to get a drink first before heading off to First Class.  Not such a good plan as sometimes there aren't any seats left!
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johoare
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« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2013, 22:01:51 »
Erm no.. It was a turbo.. as most trains from Maidenhead are.. I paid for my coffee then wasn't even able to drink it (even with a first class ticket)... marvellous.. not...
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johoare
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« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2013, 22:03:50 »
And I don't think there are any trains from Maidenhead where you might see a buffet trolley in first class? unless someone knows a secret I don't?  Roll Eyes
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thetrout
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« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2013, 10:15:23 »
I had a particular dire experience last week on a HST▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) in First. The host in the Buffet Car refused to serve me a complimentary coffee because I had missed the trolley going through. I asked what difference it made. Apparently it was because they couldn't be bothered to get the cafetiere from the Trolley which was parked in Coach H. I replied politely saying instant was fine and that I actually prefer it (No word of a lie; I prefer Instant coffee in some cases). Begrudgingly the host made me an instant coffee...

Sods law dictates that having been on the train for 30+ minutes. The few minutes I decided to go to the toilet, I missed the trolley going through...! Angry
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NickB
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« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2013, 12:49:30 »
Quote from: johoare on March 03, 2013, 22:03:50
And I don't think there are any trains from Maidenhead where you might see a buffet trolley in first class? unless someone knows a secret I don't?  Roll Eyes

The 7.08 used to have a trolley, but I haven't seen it this side of Christmas. 
In related news I did have my ticket checked today (I reckon thats 4th time this year) but probably because it was in reverse formation.  A good 20 people got turfed out of my carriage.
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gpn01
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« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2013, 13:38:08 »
Quote from: johoare on March 03, 2013, 22:03:50
And I don't think there are any trains from Maidenhead where you might see a buffet trolley in first class? unless someone knows a secret I don't?  Roll Eyes
07:08 Maidenhead-Paddington on Thursday 28th Feb had a buffet service.  Such was the rareness of the event that I tweeted @FGW▸ (First Great Western) to say thank you for providing the service that I pay for.
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NickB
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« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2013, 14:52:52 »
Quote from: gpn01
07:08 Maidenhead-Paddington on Thursday 28th Feb had a buffet service.  Such was the rareness of the event that I tweeted @FGW▸ (First Great Western) to say thank you for providing the service that I pay for.

Hahaha - maybe that was to apologise for the Wednesday 7.08 which arrived in 3 carriage Turbo format where the only catering was the sweat dripping down the carriage walls.


Edit Note: Quote marks fixed for clarity - bobm
« Last Edit: March 04, 2013, 15:33:35 by bobm » Logged
gpn01
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« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2013, 12:51:19 »
Quote from: NickB on March 04, 2013, 14:52:52
Quote from: gpn01
07:08 Maidenhead-Paddington on Thursday 28th Feb had a buffet service.  Such was the rareness of the event that I tweeted @FGW▸ (First Great Western) to say thank you for providing the service that I pay for.

Hahaha - maybe that was to apologise for the Wednesday 7.08 which arrived in 3 carriage Turbo format where the only catering was the sweat dripping down the carriage walls.

Edit Note: Quote marks fixed for clarity - bobm


I did find the decision to operate the service with a turbo intreguing.  Was it that they were keen to provide at least some service to the commuters?  Or was it a cynical ploy that mean't that the service was classed as operating normally, without any cancellation penalties?
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johoare
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« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2013, 21:08:54 »
which is all kind of missing the point of the original post in a way.. however I had a very prompt reply from FGW▸ (First Great Western).. to say very sorry that tickets weren't checked.. etc etc.. Train manager should have really been able to do so  etc etc... deep deep sigh.. do they not read their emails properly and know that the 9.03 is a turbo.. Unless turbos now have train managers that is.. now wouldn't that be nice?  Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
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