Refreshed HSTs

[whole diary]

[12hoursunday]

Coach was always a un-reserved coach. In fact it was the only coach on a set that had no reserved seats. Has this changed and if so, when?

[vacman]

No scum in first!

Its not that

Its just if I have paid full price for a first class ticket, i dont expect space to be taken by people who havent

To my mind, it doesnt matter if there are seats available

At the moment I am on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with a full set of four seats to myself.  If there are passengers with first tickets to sit there - then fine. 

However, the extra space to my mind is a perk and I wouldnt be too happy having to cramp up to allow a standard class passenger to sit there unless they paid for the privalege.

I share your sentiments! I hate it when i'm sat on a train off duty and loads of people who are sat around me are blaitently travelling for free!

[willc]

If the Worcester-London journey referred to is by any chance on the 08.37am from Foregate Street, then since the timetable change the guards are usually careful to announce that standard class coach D reservations have been placed in C. May be the case that by late February, this service will be 125-worked anyway, though it's starting to feel as though it may be one of the last Adelante diagrams to go.

And why no First Minute fares? If it is the 8.37, that's easy. There's no problem filling this train, as it's the first one of the day from Worcester and the Cotswolds that CDRs^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')), Network Railcards and Cotswold Railcards are valid on. Hence no need to offer dirt-cheap tickets. It's a bit quiet just now as it's post-Christmas, but in school holidays and the summer, Adelantes on this service can be full and standing beyond Charlbury - pity those trying to join at Oxford.

[grahame]

Its just if I have paid full price for a first class ticket, i dont expect space to be taken by people who havent

I have a degree of sympathy with you. I sit in second class having paid full fare - perhaps able to take advantage of some marketing discount, but I don't have a forces card, nor an employee discount, nor a student card, an unemployed card, a senior citizens card, a disabled persons card. I'm a UK^▸ (United Kingdom) resident so can't get myself a Britrail pass, and so on. I'm sure it costs the train company just as much to carry them (more in some cases, when you think about it - special facilities needed, more customer support needed, and so on ...) and yet they get the cheapened travel.  And I pay the tax that indirectly subsidises their travel as well as the higher fare!

But it's the way the system works and a propsal that said "one fare for all - 2 pound per ticket sold + 38p/mile (standard class) or + 50p/mile (first class) for everyone ... prior to providing marketing adjustments such as some cheaper rates off peak, and some adjusted mileages to allow a higher fare for the Tamar bridge, Severn Tunnel, etc." would probably get howls of protest!  I would, though, couple it with things like proper pension provision .... and I'm sure I'll find my fellow moderators telling me I'm going way off topic and into politics 

[Timmer]

and I'm sure I'll find my fellow moderators telling me I'm going way off topic and into politics 

Would we ever do such a thing? 

[Jim]

Coach was always a un-reserved coach. In fact it was the only coach on a set that had no reserved seats. Has this changed and if so, when?

D is now the family CarnageCoach!

[devon_metro]

No scum in first!

Its not that

Its just if I have paid full price for a first class ticket, i dont expect space to be taken by people who havent

To my mind, it doesnt matter if there are seats available

At the moment I am on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with a full set of four seats to myself.  If there are passengers with first tickets to sit there - then fine. 

However, the extra space to my mind is a perk and I wouldnt be too happy having to cramp up to allow a standard class passenger to sit there unless they paid for the privalege.

I share your sentiments! I hate it when i'm sat on a train off duty and loads of people who are sat around me are blaitently travelling for free!

Should I point out the obvious? 

Even if you are staff!!

[vacman]

I may be staff but I have a RIGHT to free travel and I pay tax on my free travel (it's reflected in my tax code as it's a privilege of my employment)! The people who fare dodge do not have the right to travel for free!

[devon_metro]

I wasn't critisising you!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Fair comment, vacman: as a fare-paying passenger, I too get well and truly tee'd off with those who should pay but don't!

Hopefully, d_m, you're back on vacman's Christmas card list now!