How busy is the Pullman?

williamn

Newbie

Posts: 3

How busy is the Pullman?

« on: September 03, 2019, 14:46:58 »

Hi all,
I'd like to take the 12.03 or 13.03 from Paddington to Penzance on Friday 20th and am wondering how busy the Pullman usually is. Is a first class ticket essential to secure a seat? Or could I get a standard and manage to get a walk-up place? Any advice appreciated!

Thanks.


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bobm

Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 10234

Re: How busy is the Pullman?

« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2019, 16:44:55 »

The 12:03 tends to be busier. On the 20th there are currently nine seats available on that service and 14 on the 13:03.

For this Friday the figures are currently five and 13 respectively.


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AMLAG

Sr. Member

Posts: 260

Re: How busy is the Pullman?

« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2019, 12:48:25 »

On Thurs 29 Aug I caught the 1803 Padd / Pz 'Golden Hind Pullman' for Exeter; being school holidays this train was as usual very lightly loaded beyond the returning commuters' stop at Newbury.
No meal service was available due to the wrong set in the working as a reaction following the very lengthy delay of 73 mins. to the 0925 Pz/ Dundee XC^▸ HST^▸ at Liskeard (and to following trains) caused by a 'person being taken ill'.
I was in a carriage (G) with just 10 other passengers beyond Newbury and I doubt if more than about 30 passengers alighted at Exeter.

I appreciate few if any GWR^▸ 'Movers & Shakers' regularly travel on the B & H Express trains and it would seem the GWR Marketing people need to review the continuing costly fares structure of this and other mainly business use trains during school holiday times.
Surely they continue to miss a commercial Trick which could be to their Company's and its shareholders benefit and of course to their passengers ?


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broadgage

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 5674

Re: How busy is the Pullman?

« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2019, 15:10:28 »

"No meal service due to wrong set" was not one of the alleged advantages of the new trains the fact that they all have similar kitchens and the Pullmans would therefore no longer be cancelled because of the wrong train being sent.


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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU^▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.

IndustryInsider

Data Manager
Hero Member

Posts: 10450

Re: How busy is the Pullman?

« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2019, 18:18:54 »

The kitchens are all identical.


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To view my GWML^▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/

johoare

Hero Member

Posts: 2818

Re: How busy is the Pullman?

« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2019, 18:45:56 »

I used the Pullman back in May (not in the school holidays) on a Tuesday - Penzance to Paddington (10am ish departure). First class was over full (the rest of the train wasn't) so people were having to sit in the Pullman carriage to travel which took a bit of unpicking when it was time to move other people in there for their lunch.

Some people therefore decided to pay the extra and stay in the Pullman and eat meaning there were only two single seats left unused.. One walk up passenger from standard class came in to ask if he could dine and was told no.. The two single seats remained empty though.


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