Reading FC at Wembley: Fans criticise First Great Western over rail fares

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Police said earliest arrivals at RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) (where I'm staying tonight, lucky me!) was 2100

[Thatcham Crossing]

I was on the 2330 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) (and onwards to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) - rammed!

The train I took up in the morning, the 1001 from THA, was full and standing at RDG, and then made an extra call at MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station), where it became full and squeezed with some left behind, I think.

[TaplowGreen]

Some pretty grim journeys home judging by reports after a disappointing result for the Royals - apparently train faults reduced the already inadequate capacity in the evening so things got rather cosy - would be interested in how the queuing system worked at Reading in the morning?

[didcotdean]

I was on 1D77. Left rammed with people being directed to 1C32 for at least five minutes before departure. Could see 1B91 leaving with a rammed first class, possibly either declassified officially or by 'passenger action'.

After Slough it was merely full; a bit under half full after Reading and about a quarter full after I left at Didcot.

I heard a couple of people discussing the queuing system favourably and questioning why there wasn't a similar action at Paddington to share the load, even if this meant a bit of wait (whether it would have worked out that way if there had been one is a different matter). Certainly when I went to London in the early afternoon there seemed to have been a separate grouping organised to get in the 4 carriage turbo I was in compared with the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) on the adjacent platform, meaning it went full rather than crammed.

[TaplowGreen]

Queueing system at Paddington would have made sense - they do it for Glastonbury every year......football fans may perhaps not be so cooperative though?

Anyone who has experienced post rugby queuing at Cardiff Central on a cold night would not relish the prospect however!!!

[brizzlechris]

Queueing system at Paddington would have made sense - they do it for Glastonbury every year......football fans may perhaps not be so cooperative though?

There was a queuing system in operation at Paddington for Bristol City fans following last month's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

It seemed to work fine from my experience there and there was a larger travelling following for Bristol City than Reading would have had yesterday.