Plan to reduce morning service between Maidenhead and Paddington?

[whole diary]

[gpn01]

I heard from a fellow commuter today that there's a plan to remove a 1st class carriage from the 07:08 Maidenhead-Paddington service.  I presume (as I haven't seen anything offical) that this may provide an opportunity to swap it for a standard class carriage.  Normally I'd support such an idea as 1st class carriages are often under occupied whilst standard class is heaving.  On the 07:08 that isn't however the case and 1st class is often full (sometimes standing room only).  I'll declare a vested interest too that I have a 1st class ticket (I pay the additional premium as a way of improving my chances of getting a seat as it is!).

Is anyone able to confirm if there is a plan?  Also, does anyone know what compensation will be given to those who've paid 1st class with the expectation (albeit low already) of a certain availability/standard of service?

[chrisr_75]

The changes to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) first class accommodation have been fairly well publicised in national media and discussed at some considerable length elsewhere on the forum:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4600.0

[NickB]

I am a fellow 07:08 traveller.
I did a quick count of those standing on the platform in front of the First Class carriages this morning and counted 56.  That means we would nearly fill the 1.33 carriages by ourselves even if no one else was already on board.

[gpn01]

The changes to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) first class accommodation have been fairly well publicised in national media and discussed at some considerable length elsewhere on the forum:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4600.0

Thanks for the link.  Wasn't aware of the onging discussion. 

I would question your assertion that the changes have been fairly well publicised.  I haven't seen any FGW adverts anywhere saying that the service is being altered (although I have seen an extensive marketing campaign about how FGW is investing - which upon scrutiny reveals that FGW isn't investing and that the ^7Bn+ is actually being funded by NetworkRail but that's another story!).

The only thing I recall in the press was a report that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government was exploring an option to switch 1st class and standard class carriages across the UK network.  Only thing I'd seen where FGW was mentioned in this context was that they were seeking to explore compensation from the Government to FGW!......So, they're seeking compensation for failing to provide a satisfactory service to their customers.

[chrisr_75]

Apologies, I didn't get my point across terribly well. It has not been particularly well advertised in itself, but has appeared in various national papers and TV news programmes under a more general context with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bring the first (excuse the pun!) to implement. It has appeared as a press release on FGW website, but I do agree that more targeted publicity on trains, at stations and by email for those of us who have purchased first class tickets online would be more appropriate and would perhaps help to alleviate some of the issues and frustrations starting to be seen now.

[ChrisB]

This will probably happen shortly before the first altered HSt is due back into service

[didcotdean]

Maybe a carriage could be re-classified for that service

[NickB]

This will probably happen shortly before the first altered HSt is due back into service

Are there not many altered services running?
We had a 1.3 carriage HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on Monday forming the aforementioned 07.08 service. The train manager announced it as a 'permanent change' on the PA^▸ (Public Address), although they've found full sized HSTs for Tuesday and Weds.

[Southern Stag]

The are already quite a few sets with 1 less First Class, and 1 extra Standard Class carriage, running around. None of the sets with the micro buffets have been converted yet though as they are awaiting the delivery of the new composite vehicles, none of which have arrived yet. Does the 07:08 from Maidenhead normally have a full or micro buffet? If it normally has a micro buffet then should mostly still have 2 First Class carriages for now.

[gpn01]

Apologies, I didn't get my point across terribly well. It has not been particularly well advertised in itself, but has appeared in various national papers and TV news programmes under a more general context with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bring the first (excuse the pun!) to implement. It has appeared as a press release on FGW website, but I do agree that more targeted publicity on trains, at stations and by email for those of us who have purchased first class tickets online would be more appropriate and would perhaps help to alleviate some of the issues and frustrations starting to be seen now.

Thanks for clarifying. 

Does seem amazing that FGW has chosen to not make passengers more aware.

At Paddington station there have been loads of notices about access to Bakerloo being susdpended for a month or so for maintenance. This morning there are lots of TFL^▸ (Transport for London) staff handing leaflets out about the closure too. Clearly they want their customers to be fully informed.  Haven't seen a single notice at Maidenhead regarding the change in 1st class (even though they could use it to suggest that servicer overall could be improved by increasing overall capacity). Instead customers are having to quiz staff over rumours they've heard.

[Super Guard]

To be fair, they are very early on in the process of converting the 1st to standard, whereas the Bakerloo access is going to affect a greater number in the immediate short-term.

[chrisr_75]

Yes, but they have known what their plans are for 6 months now, that is more than sufficient time to properly inform people well in advance of changes actually starting to happen. Pretty pathetic not to have printed up a few posters and/or leaflets forewarning of possible disruption during a long in the planning and long winded conversion.

[ChrisB]

People very quickly forget - which is why TfL^» (Transport for London - about) are only doing the Bakerloo now, a couple of days or so before it starts there.

I do suspect, maybe with only a couple of HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) stopping at MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station), they may forget you, possibly. Has anyone seen posters etc anywhere yet? I doubt it,

[chrisr_75]

I think the point is that TfL^» (Transport for London - about) publicised their disruption before it actually started and is usually posted online some months before the posters go up. All most people want is to be forewarned - unexpected changes or disruption just agitate people. Maybe a leaflet distributed with each first class ticket sold or an information email with online sales, it's really not difficult informing people. They happily manage the 'before you travel' emails following online ticket purchase...

[gpn01]

I think the point is that TfL^» (Transport for London - about) publicised their disruption before it actually started and is usually posted online some months before the posters go up. All most people want is to be forewarned - unexpected changes or disruption just agitate people. Maybe a leaflet distributed with each first class ticket sold or an information email with online sales, it's really not difficult informing people. They happily manage the 'before you travel' emails following online ticket purchase...

Exactly.

I used to receive the odd letter from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to tell me about the upgrade to Reading Station.  Completely irrelevant because my ticket was between Maidenhead and Paddington.  Nonetheless they obviously realise I'm a season ticket holder.  It would have been nice to have received a "we see you're a first class season ticket holder from Maidenhead and so may be affected by a reduction in seats....".  This could have been done before they ramped the service down - in fact they should have advised people at time of purchase/renewal and granted existing ST holders opportunity for a refund & downgrade.  Also they should very clearly publicise how to obtain compensation AND make it easy to claim.