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

[whole diary]

[rogerpatenall]

During a break at Grahame's meeting at Westbury some of us had an interesting and informal chat with the Senior Lady from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (whom we were delighted to see at the meeting, and whose name I forget). At the time I thought that all of her answers to questions were logical, (courteous) and 'off the cuff' except for one response which seemed pre-scripted - "you can give up any idea of seeing buffets reinstated".

[broadgage]

Whoah, broadgage!  I'm dealing with it! 

Another point to avoid wiggle room/ irrelevant replies. When referring to short formed IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) it would be well to stress that this refers to use of a single 5 car unit, when 9 or 10 should have been provided. This avoids the standard reply,
"we do use the flexibility inherent in our new train fleet to sometimes run a 9 car train instead of a 10 car, this provides almost the same number of seats"
Which is true but not relevant to the real issue of half length new trains.

[Timmer]

At the time I thought that all of her answers to questions were logical, (courteous) and 'off the cuff' except for one response which seemed pre-scripted - "you can give up any idea of seeing buffets reinstated".

And I believe that will always be the case. I think in the main people prefer seats to buffets.

[GBM]

I think in the main people prefer seats to buffets.

Any chance of "thumbs down" emoticon to the opposite of the "like" button please? 

[TonyK]

During a break at Grahame's meeting at Westbury some of us had an interesting and informal chat with the Senior Lady from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (whom we were delighted to see at the meeting, and whose name I forget). At the time I thought that all of her answers to questions were logical, (courteous) and 'off the cuff' except for one response which seemed pre-scripted - "you can give up any idea of seeing buffets reinstated".

So we can tell broadgage that it hasn't been ruled out completely.

[IndustryInsider]

A cynic might suggest that telling Broadgage to 'give up an idea' might fall on deaf ears. 

[broadgage]

At the time I thought that all of her answers to questions were logical, (courteous) and 'off the cuff' except for one response which seemed pre-scripted - "you can give up any idea of seeing buffets reinstated".

And I believe that will always be the case. I think in the main people prefer seats to buffets.

Translation "you can give up any idea of seeing buffets re-instated WHILST WE ARE IN CHARGE"  GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have put a lot of trouble and effort into trying to persuade us that buffets are no longer wanted. Any return of buffets would be seen as a climb down or as an admission of defeat.
A future operator might however fit buffets. It would be an easy win for a new operator to enhance their popularity.

As to the old argument that people want seats rather than buffets, what about the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) on non GWR routes ? These DO have buffets and I have not heard of any significant calls to remove the buffets to provide a few more seats.

I also believe that a significant minority of passengers would stand THROUGH CHOICE in a decent sized buffet, if in convivial company and taking refreshment, just as many people stand through choice in a public house.
I recall the crowds standing through choice in the buffet cars on the Wessex Electrics, back in the good old days.

[IndustryInsider]

It's possible, but not likely in my opinion, whilst the DfT are really in charge.  A change of operator won't change that.

[grahame]

I think in the main people prefer seats to buffets.

Any chance of "thumbs down" emoticon to the opposite of the "like" button please? 

Let's see what comes when the software's updated.   As it stands the current "like" system is something I have cobbled together and will need re-implementing if the main new software updates or patches don't include it ... will thinks about "like", "dislike", "sad", "love", "haha", "sympathy", "jealous" and "tired of subject".

[Robin Summerhill]

I think in the main people prefer seats to buffets.

Any chance of "thumbs down" emoticon to the opposite of the "like" button please? 

Let's see what comes when the software's updated.   As it stands the current "like" system is something I have cobbled together and will need re-implementing if the main new software updates or patches don't include it ... will thinks about "like", "dislike", "sad", "love", "haha", "sympathy", "jealous" and "tired of subject".

I don't know what all this has got to do with "IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) into passenger service, "but as you've both started...

I don't have a problem with like and dislike - that is fairly standard as on Youtube for example - but taking it any further is another issue. Even like and dislike has potential implications; too many "dislikes" against a post may make a poster think twice about posting, or indeed whether they want to continue posting on the forum at all. That could be bad for the site's traffic.

But there is one on that list which, in my view, is an absolute no-no. If someone is "tired of subject" then the answer is already to hand - stop reading it and leave it to others who are interested in the subject.

[JayMac]

Unfortunately, this is a wide ranging subject so it's possible to be tired only by one aspect of it. I really do think IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) catering should only be discussed in the dedicated catering topic so that those of us bored to tears by the subject can ignore it and get on with discussing IET operation and performance here.

[grahame]

The latter ideas were tongue in cheek.   Like - YES - "approve of post / feel negative/sad about what it talks about" - shortened to "dislike" usually - maybe.   Others - not so sure.   When I first implemented the "like", consideration was given to how many levels to add - decision (and I think the right one at the time and perhaps now) was very few levels.

[TonyK]

I recall the crowds standing through choice in the buffet cars on the Wessex Electrics, back in the good old days.

I used to drink heavily on rail journeys, too.

[bobm]

I don’t need a rail journey to drink heavily.
.....oh sorry wrong thread.   

[MVR S&T]

Most of my rail journeys seem to make a drink afterwords a good idea, not been on a IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) yet, lets hope they have the same effect even if on time, full length and woroking on electric.