GWR bans surfboards from IET services

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

Travellers to Newquay may be in for a surprise this Summer - particularly during Boardmasters - as they may find that they will be unable to take their surfboards with them as GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) has apparently banned surfboards from IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) services.

[MVR S&T]

Yet another case of putting customers (who pay their wages) first last.

[Timmer]

Going to be interesting to see how they plan to police that when people show up with their surfboards who were used to travelling with them on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train). An issue even Broadgage’s crystal ball failed to see this. There may be trouble ahead.

[TaplowGreen]

Going to be interesting to see how they plan to police that when people show up with their surfboards who were used to travelling with them on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train). An issue even Broadgage’s crystal ball failed to see this. There may be trouble ahead.

I suspect that like the "ban" on bicycles on LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) services during the rush hour, it'll simply be ignored/not enforced.

[grahame]

Searching "surfboard GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)" on Google gave me a link to the GWR passenger's charter dated September 2015 which includes on page 13. Sadly no link to quote as clicking on the link on Google gave me an automatic download.

Bringing luggage on our trains

Please don’t bring more luggage onto the train than you can carry.

If you have large cases or other large items, you might be able to put them in our guard’s van. But that’s only for our high-speed trains, and we may charge you a fee. You can find out how much in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage or by calling our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125.

We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage, including things like surfboards. But if the train is busy, or loading your luggage could cause delays, injury or inconvenience, we won’t be able to take it. We also won’t take unaccompanied luggage or anything that we think might be dangerous.

Searching "surfboard" on GWR's site gave me 7 links - all to pages about "springboard"s and nothing on surfboards at all.  Let's see what the outcome is - if any how deep and official any ban on surfboards turns out to be.

[jamestheredengine]

Yet another case of putting customers (who pay their wages) first last.

If the surfboard were a fare-paying passenger, that would be a fair point. Maybe if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were to sell tickets for surfboards, double basses, bicycles, outsize prams, and dogs it would have more interest in providing a service to such customers.

[ellendune]

Yet another case of putting customers (who pay their wages) first last.

If the surfboard were a fare-paying passenger, that would be a fair point. Maybe if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were to sell tickets for surfboards, double basses, bicycles, outsize prams, and dogs it would have more interest in providing a service to such customers.

And if they had been selling such tickets it would have shown whether there was a business case to provide luggage space in the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) to provide the space to carry them.

[PhilWakely]

Yet another case of putting customers (who pay their wages) first last.

If the surfboard were a fare-paying passenger, that would be a fair point. Maybe if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were to sell tickets for surfboards, double basses, bicycles, outsize prams, and dogs it would have more interest in providing a service to such customers.

I am not sure whether this intended as irony given that GWR DO charge for surfboards and double basses [£5 IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)]! I have no idea whether/how it is policed.

[stuving]

Yet another case of putting customers (who pay their wages) first last.

If the surfboard were a fare-paying passenger, that would be a fair point. Maybe if GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were to sell tickets for surfboards, double basses, bicycles, outsize prams, and dogs it would have more interest in providing a service to such customers.

I am not sure whether this intended as irony given that GWR DO charge for surfboards and double basses [£5 IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)]! I have no idea whether/how it is policed.

The national conditions (NRCOT^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Travel)) have a list of "not allowed unless the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) says so" items in section 23:

Mobility scooters.
Canoes; surfboards; sailboards.
Skis and ski-boards; golf equipment; other sports equipment except where shown as not
permitted below.
Musical Instruments exceeding these dimensions, 30 x 70 x 90 cm
Unloaded firearms, properly licenced, with prior permission of the Train Company and
carried in accordance with the law and any other specific instructions

(There's also a list of "never on any train" items.)

GWR's current passenger's charter has a section on mobility scooters, and apart from that I can only see this:

Luggage
We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage. If the train is busy, or
loading your luggage could cause delays, injury or inconvenience, we won’t be
able to take it. We also won’t take unaccompanied luggage or anything that we
think might be dangerous.
Please don’t bring more luggage onto the train than you can carry.
There is more information about taking luggage and other articles with you
on your journey in paragraphs 23, 25 and 26 of the National Rail Conditions of
Travel.
If your property is damaged, we will only give you compensation if the damage
was caused by the fault of our staff.

Surfboards
Surfboards can be carried in the Guards Van on our Night Riviera service. On
local stopping services surfboards are permitted if the train is not busy, or
loading your luggage will not cause delays, injury or inconvenience. We are not
able to carry surfboards on any High Speed Trains or Intercity Express Trains (in
any circumstances).

Now, has that changed? Has anyone got an old copy of the passenger's charter that shows it?

[grahame]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s current passenger's charter has a section on mobility scooters, and apart from that I can only see this:

Luggage
We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage. If the train is busy, or
loading your luggage could cause delays, injury or inconvenience, we won’t be
able to take it. We also won’t take unaccompanied luggage or anything that we
think might be dangerous.
Please don’t bring more luggage onto the train than you can carry.
There is more information about taking luggage and other articles with you
on your journey in paragraphs 23, 25 and 26 of the National Rail Conditions of
Travel.
If your property is damaged, we will only give you compensation if the damage
was caused by the fault of our staff.

Surfboards
Surfboards can be carried in the Guards Van on our Night Riviera service. On
local stopping services surfboards are permitted if the train is not busy, or
loading your luggage will not cause delays, injury or inconvenience. We are not
able to carry surfboards on any High Speed Trains or Intercity Express Trains (in
any circumstances).

Now, has that changed? Has anyone got an old copy of the passenger's charter that shows it?

As per my post above, I have a September 2015 charter which states

Bringing luggage on our trains

Please don’t bring more luggage onto the train than you can carry.

If you have large cases or other large items, you might be able to put them in our guard’s van. But that’s only for our high-speed trains, and we may charge you a fee. You can find out how much in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage or by calling our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125.

We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage, including things like surfboards. But if the train is busy, or loading your luggage could cause delays, injury or inconvenience, we won’t be able to take it. We also won’t take unaccompanied luggage or anything that we think might be dangerous.

No link to the original as the darned thing downloads ... but I have put a mirror ((here)) so you can see the whole thing. Look like the two generations of the passenger charter show a complete switch from "if we can, we will" to "we won't".

2015:
We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage, including things like surfboards.

2019:
We are not able to carry surfboards on any High Speed Trains or Intercity Express Trains (in any circumstances)

[TaplowGreen]

Problem is, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have "rules" like this too, which are totally  ignored/not enforced and have become meaningless.

Bikes aren’t allowed on services:
arriving at London Paddington between 07:45 and 09:45
leaving from London Paddington between 16:30 and 19:00

-more honoured in the breach than the observance as they say, which has probably been the case with surfboards too.....it's become "custom & practice" I'd suggest that GWR need to publicise this widely to avoid more dreadful PR^▸ (Public Relations) & conflict in the summer. Either way, it'll just mean more cars on the road.

Let's hope the Famous Five don't have any surfing planned.

[stuving]

As per my post above, I have a September 2015 charter which states

Bringing luggage on our trains

Please don’t bring more luggage onto the train than you can carry.

If you have large cases or other large items, you might be able to put them in our guard’s van. But that’s only for our high-speed trains, and we may charge you a fee. You can find out how much in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage or by calling our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125.

We always do our best to accommodate all your luggage, including things like surfboards. But if the train is busy, or loading your luggage could cause delays, injury or inconvenience, we won’t be able to take it. We also won’t take unaccompanied luggage or anything that we think might be dangerous.

No link to the original as the darned thing downloads ... but I have put a mirror ((here)) so you can see the whole thing. Look like the two generations of the passenger charter show a complete switch from "if we can, we will" to "we won't".

It's odd that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) said the fees were in the NRCOC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage). That used to say much as it does now, including the same two lists of "never" and "only if a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) says so" items, then in appendix B. The only reference to the amount of a fee I can see (this is 2012, so a little earlier) is:

6. Luggage that exceeds the limits set out above is carried at the discretion of the Train Company. A charge may be made for this. Each train company is responsible for setting the charges that apply to luggage conveyed in these circumstances; however, it will not exceed half the adult single fare for the journey or part of the journey over which the luggage is being conveyed on that Train Company. Train Companies will provide information about their additional luggage policies via their website and enquiry offices, or on request or from the Ticket Seller before you buy your ticket.

[chuffed]

Why don't the surfers just take an 'ironing board'  seat back with them, when they alight at Newquay ?

[grahame]

-more honoured in the breach than the observance as they say, which has probably been the case with surfboards too.....it's become "custom & practice" I'd suggest that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) need to publicise this widely to avoid more dreadful PR^▸ (Public Relations) & conflict in the summer. Either way, it'll just mean more cars on the road.

I was tempted to ask in my earlier post "do GWR actually want the surfer customers for Boardmasters" as banning surfboards for those going to a surfing competition is a pretty good way of turning them off.  But, perhaps, that business is more trouble than it's worth ... and perhaps spectators outnumber competitors 20 to 1 so the number actually denied are not great.

How about https://www.carrymyluggage.com

[Rob on the hill]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) laid on 13 extra trains for Boardmasters last year. If they are providing extra trains again this year, surely they won't ban surfboards...
https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-centre/news/2018/july/extra-trains-for-boardmasters-festival-but-reservations-must-be-made-to-travel

Extra trains for Boardmasters Festival but reservations must be made to travel
 Thursday 12th July 2018


Get a ticket, get a seat

Travel in style to the Boardmasters Festival this summer with train operator Great Western Railway set to run 13 additional trains to/from Newquay, however passengers must make a reservation to travel.

With the ever-popular Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach festival attracting more and more visitors each year, train operator GWR will operate a specific train reservation only system ensuring everyone who wants to travel is able to book a service of their choice.

Newquay Station Manager Mike Trotter explains:

“Newquay Station is set to serve more people in a day than it usually does in a week, so we will be operating a reservation only system, with customers only able to board their booked service.

“This will allow those travelling to board the service more easily, and will help us to manage queuing at the station more efficiently.”

Specific train reservations will be required on all services to Newquay on Wednesday 8, Thursday 9, and Friday 10 August and from Newquay on Monday 13 August.

Book now to guarantee your choice of train time.

Those travelling should:
Allow extra time because trains to and from Newquay will be busy
Expect queues
Get to the station at least 30 minutes before your reserved train is due to depart

What can I take?
Only bring what you can carry:
Remember your Railcard:
Worry about losing your ticket? Download the GWR app
Charge your phone: