Priority Boarding Trial at Paddington - August 2021

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

Isn’t this just an extension to the existing passenger assist scheme just using GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staff?

I assume the Customer Ambassadors have highlighted a particular problem that causes a delay and they’ve now got this scheme so those who need assistance can be identified before arriving at the station rather than picking them up when they’re confused, lost on the platform or struggling with the kitchen sink!

[stuving]

Competition in every level of our lives. Pit passengers against each other with special treatment.

That's what it sounds like to me too.

Really? So who do you think it is aimed at, or is likely to take it up?

It sounds to me like it's intended as a level of help below that of Passenger Assist, for those who can't cope with the traditional boarding scramble unleashed when a train goes up on the screens. So, if anything, it's avoiding competitive behaviour!

It copies what airlines do, rather more easily as no pre-booking is needed when you're all in the lounge and can be invited to board first if with children, or old or otherwise slow etc.

[broadgage]

From my perspective I think this would be irrelevant - I never travel from Paddington without a seat reservation and have never not been able to occupy said reserved place. I don't believe GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) would be so unprofessional as to plonk any of these 'priority' passengers in reserved seats.

There are no reservations on a half length train.

[infoman]

Its seems a good idea,but a lot of those services seem to be W-of-E services,and they are based at the west of England depots.

If they arrive late,maybe after departure imagine the free for all and no seat reservations applied.

[IndustryInsider]

If they arrive late,maybe after departure imagine the free for all and no seat reservations applied.

One benefit of the electronic reservations is that they load and display in around 30 seconds when requested by the driver or TM^‡(resolve).  On the arriving service, if either of them is clued up and feeling helpful to their colleagues, then they can load the reservations upon arrival.

Much quicker than the paper system.

[broadgage]

Assuming this including early-boarding, it’ll piss off those non qualifying as all the table seating will go first

Surely not! When I suggested that table seats were inadequate for an inter city train, several respected members replied that table seating was "ample" or "better than most trains" and even that many passengers preferred the bus unidirectional seats.

[TonyK]

Interesting to know how it works if the train on the other side of a platform has a similar departure time and is not one of the priority boarding trains (particularly if it would also be a valid option for where you're going) .
At least, unlike E***jet, they are making it clear that the number of slots for this service is limited. I've always wondered what would happen at the departure gate on the day that the entire  flight has booked (and paid for) Speedy Boarding!

I never even consider paying extra for priority boarding, when I have  a boarding card with a seat number. During Easyjet's brief experiment with not having seats allocated, I flew back from a chaotic Venice Marco Polo airport. The speedy boarding customers were led through to the bus. We were then checked in, and sent to the same bus, but standing rather than sitting. I think the speedy boarders were last to get on, and they weren't happy. You could tell.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Assuming this including early-boarding, it’ll piss off those non qualifying as all the table seating will go first

Absolutely. It effectively means there are two levels of reservations: reserved seats, reserved boarding, plus of course no reservations at all. I give it 0 minutes until someone comes up and says "but I have this reservation, why can't I board now"?

But then the railway industry does sometimes have a magnificent ability to over-complicate things.

[broadgage]

No, four levels.
1) Reserved seat but no priority boarding.
2) Priority boarding but no reserved seat.
3) Reserved seat and priority boarding.
4)Nothing.

And even if this works, to a degree, then I foresee priority boarding customers taking seats that have been booked by ordinary fare payers.
"But I am a priority customer and can sit where I want. And anyway I NEED THIS seat because of my giant baby carriage/excess luggage/multiple children."

[grahame]

No, four levels.
1) Reserved seat but no priority boarding.
2) Priority boarding but no reserved seat.
3) Reserved seat and priority boarding.
4)Nothing.

And even if this works, to a degree, then I foresee priority boarding customers taking seats that have been booked by ordinary fare payers.
"But I am a priority customer and can sit where I want. And anyway I NEED THIS seat because of my giant baby carriage/excess luggage/multiple children."

Taking an overall view, I can recall leaving London for Swindon/Chippenham/Melksham on the first train that wasn't at anytime fares on a hot afternoon.  Quite a time ago as the train was an HST^▸ (High Speed Train).  Things were happening that lead to the platform of this and other trains being called late, and in the scramble all the fit (looking) people got all the seats, leaving old slower movers, people with children and a pregnant woman or two crammed into the lobby.

It got better at Reading when a lot of the seated people got up and left the train, and the situation was "corrected" from Didcot, from where there were seats do all.

As an observer from the community (and not as a fit young person but tired after a hard day in the office), I do feel we should have been able to do better for those amongst us who needed seats.  Sunflower lanyards were really useful (seem to be few bothering now), and "nervous dog" leads help(ed) us identify people/animals who need extra space, and I am aware of "baby on board" badges.  Is there any sort of answer in there, or would fit "Reading (wo)man" still grab the seats ahead of pregnant Bath (wo)man?

[TaplowGreen]

No, four levels.
1) Reserved seat but no priority boarding.
2) Priority boarding but no reserved seat.
3) Reserved seat and priority boarding.
4)Nothing.

And even if this works, to a degree, then I foresee priority boarding customers taking seats that have been booked by ordinary fare payers.
"But I am a priority customer and can sit where I want. And anyway I NEED THIS seat because of my giant baby carriage/excess luggage/multiple children."

As an observer from the community (and not as a fit young person but tired after a hard day in the office), I do feel we should have been able to do better for those amongst us who needed seats.  Sunflower lanyards were really useful (seem to be few bothering now), and "nervous dog" leads help(ed) us identify people/animals who need extra space, and I am aware of "baby on board" badges.  Is there any sort of answer in there, or would fit "Reading (wo)man" still grab the seats ahead of pregnant Bath (wo)man?

Courtesy?

Not a fashionable view these days I guess but I was brought up to step back/give up my seat for someone who needed it more than me, if memory serves there used to be signs on public transport reminding people..............I'm not sure if that would extend to a pregnant man from Bath however! 

(Although I get the concept of pregnant men is more fashionable in some quarters than the aforementioned courtesy these days!) 

[Lee]

No, four levels.
1) Reserved seat but no priority boarding.
2) Priority boarding but no reserved seat.
3) Reserved seat and priority boarding.
4)Nothing.

And even if this works, to a degree, then I foresee priority boarding customers taking seats that have been booked by ordinary fare payers.
"But I am a priority customer and can sit where I want. And anyway I NEED THIS seat because of my giant baby carriage/excess luggage/multiple children."

As an observer from the community (and not as a fit young person but tired after a hard day in the office), I do feel we should have been able to do better for those amongst us who needed seats.  Sunflower lanyards were really useful (seem to be few bothering now), and "nervous dog" leads help(ed) us identify people/animals who need extra space, and I am aware of "baby on board" badges.  Is there any sort of answer in there, or would fit "Reading (wo)man" still grab the seats ahead of pregnant Bath (wo)man?

Courtesy?

Not a fashionable view these days I guess but I was brought up to step back/give up my seat for someone who needed it more than me, if memory serves there used to be signs on public transport reminding people..............I'm not sure if that would extend to a pregnant man from Bath however! 

(Although I get the concept of pregnant men is more fashionable in some quarters than the aforementioned courtesy these days!) 

He's always been forward-thinking has grahame  - And as 2019 taught us, sometimes you cant see huge changes in the way the world works even 6 months ahead!

[Bmblbzzz]

Competition in every level of our lives. Pit passengers against each other with special treatment.

That's what it sounds like to me too.

Really? So who do you think it is aimed at, or is likely to take it up?

I think the people likely to take it up are those who are organized, future oriented, willing and able to commit to fixed plans in advance: as opposed to those who are spontaneous, present or past oriented, and value flexibility over certainties.

[TonyK]

Not a fashionable view these days I guess but I was brought up to step back/give up my seat for someone who needed it more than me

I still do it by force of habit, even though I am now that person who needs it more than me.

[broadgage]

I always used to give up my seat on a bus or local train, for someone less able than myself.

Not perhaps on an intercity train for which I have paid the full open fare and booked a seat. I appreciate that this is double standards, but on the 19-03 from Paddington there were ALLWAYS standees.

And saying that I should have given up my seat, was in effect saying saying that I should NEVER sit  on that train, since there would always be someone standing.

All this talk of priority boarding, of sunflower lanyards, of "baby on board" badges, and no doubt other schemes is all trying very hard not to admit that there is an underlying problem with new shorter trains.
Reduced passenger numbers during the pandemic hid this problem for well over a year, but passengers are now returning.
Staff shortages whether pandemic related or otherwise, also hid the problem for some time.