IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/great-western-railway-bring-back-the-buffet

A petition that some people may wish to sign. Not sure it will have any effect, but at least someone is trying to keep interest going in the subject.

Broadgage may sign it.....not sure though, he tends to sit in the fence when it comes to this issue......😉

[broadgage]

Already signed, before the link was posted here.

I have a cynical suspicion that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will eventually and reluctantly fit a microbuffet to a limited number of sets. AKA^▸ (also known as) as a static trolley.
This has the merits of combining the worst features of a trolley, limited range and volume of stock, with having to go and look for it.
Hide said microbuffet, seldom open it, and never advertise it.

Then withdraw all catering, "we tried a trolley, then we tried a buffet, but neither was much used" Thus achieve the ultimate end of no catering.

[1st fan]

As overheard at Paddington this evening from a couple of ladies:

"You shouldn't have to bring a cushion to sit comfortably on a train"

That made me smile. Currently on the 19:52  to Great Malvern and had five station calling at announcements before we left Paddington. Three of those were.automated two were the Train Manager. Personally that's a bit much in just 7 minutes but your tastes may vary. Seats are in the sandpaper effect fabric and far too hard as normal. Also the lighting is far too bright but the train is on time and the airline style mini nibbles trolley was well stocked.

[grahame]

...  and had five station calling at announcements before we left Paddington ...

Matter of taste ... they could go over the top with other stuff.   Writing in jest:

The next train at platform 9 will be for Paddington. First class will be in zones 1 and 2 and standard class in zones 3 to 9. Cycle spaces are in zones 4 and 7 and wheel chair access in zones 1 and 9. The buffet is currently in zone 5 but will be closing at Twyford and the quiet carriage is in zone 9. The family carriage is in zone 7 and Yolo in zone 6. Passenger with reservations in carriage B should board in zone 8, and passengers with reservations in carriage J should join in zone 2. Any passengers not yet in possesion of a ticket should join in zone 5 where the train manager can currently be found.  Ooops ... I said "next train" but it's been and gone while I've been announcing.  Please cross to platform 11 for the next train to Paddington.

I think, though, that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are aware of the over-announcing issue.

[Celestial]

Alternatively just wait for the bilingual Heart of Wales service announcement to be repeated in English and the train will be half way to the next stop before it's finished.  And only a couple of the stations sounded any different in the two languages.  (Also writing in jest, before Cymdeithas yr lath Gymraeg get the hump, and I'm not talking about a Harrington one.)

[grahame]

I fear they are damned if they do and damned if they don't include or exclude anything / anywhere.  I note that the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) spider maps show all stops within 1.5 miles and just major stops beyond (for example http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/paddington-a4.pdf ) - perhaps the Heart of Wales solution would be major stops, plus minor ones before the next major one.

"This train is for Bynea, Llangannech, Pontardulais, Pantyfannon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Llandeilo and all stations to Llanwrtd, Llandrindod, Craven Arms and Shrewsbury.  If daily there are just 16 passengers departing from Llandybie, and 2 passengers arriving at Llanbister Road ... what chance is there than any of the 16 will be one of the 2, so what real need is there for the full announcement from that distance out.

[1st fan]

...  and had five station calling at announcements before we left Paddington ...

Matter of taste ... they could go over the top with other stuff.   Writing in jest:

The next train at platform 9 will be for Paddington. First class will be in zones 1 and 2 and standard class in zones 3 to 9. Cycle spaces are in zones 4 and 7 and wheel chair access in zones 1 and 9. The buffet is currently in zone 5 but will be closing at Twyford and the quiet carriage is in zone 9. The family carriage is in zone 7 and Yolo in zone 6. Passenger with reservations in carriage B should board in zone 8, and passengers with reservations in carriage J should join in zone 2. Any passengers not yet in possesion of a ticket should join in zone 5 where the train manager can currently be found.  Ooops ... I said "next train" but it's been and gone while I've been announcing.  Please cross to platform 11 for the next train to Paddington.

I think, though, that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are aware of the over-announcing issue.

Probably take a year to get Hitachi/Agility to agree to change it.  

Just say where the train is calling at leaving people enough time to get off if they've boarded the wrong train. Announce that there's no buffet or propper coffee just a trolley serving instant and then close the doors and go. Simples!

I made a joke out of this by suggesting to the Train Manager I had no idea if we stopped at Great Malvern. He looked at me like I had a screw loose and said he'd just made an announcement listing all the stops but yes it went to Great Malvern. I explained that I was making light of the numerous destination messages and that I preferred his to the automated one.

Also there were no electronic  reservations on this service.

[IndustryInsider]

Also there were no electronic  reservations on this service.

None of the 9-car services have working electronic reservations as yet.

[CyclingSid]

None of the 9-car services have working electronic reservations as yet.

So the concept of booking a space for a bike is fairly meaningless?

[IndustryInsider]

Well, the reservation can be made, and the crew can find out about it, though it won’t be displayed on the outside of the cycle spaces on the electronic display.  The 9-car trains have ten spaces (not all of which are reservable) so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 

The quicker this is resolved for the 9-car fleet the better though, as paper labels are being applied to some but by no means all trains.

[Celestial]

no meals all trains.

You're beginning to sound like Broadgage's predictions.

[1st fan]

Also there were no electronic  reservations on this service.

None of the 9-car services have working electronic reservations as yet.

For some obviously erroneous reason  I thought that had been fixed.

[IndustryInsider]

Not yet, it has been (mostly) resolved on the 5-car units (and when they’re working in multiple as a 10-car), but not on the 9-car ones.

[CyclingSid]

Sorry if I am being thick, but you say

(not all of which are reservable)

does that mean that they
 announcements that you can't board a bicycle without a reservation aren't entirely accurate?

[IndustryInsider]

Not entirely accurate, no.  And rightly so on some routes and at some times of the day.  9-car IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) have a theoretical ten spaces but I think only four are reservable.  The others can and do get used by luggage/buggies etc., so might not necessarily be available, but often are.