First class declassified question

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

An odd one. If the catering crew have decided for some reason to run the standard class catering from a static location over the threshold of the kitchen at the 1st class end of a nine car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - the now official name for the replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)), does this count as declassifying the first class carriages?

Mark

[Oxonhutch]

As an ex-First Class commuter, I would say yes.

[Mark A]

A less-than-annual event-related trip that I've been making since 2014 and I'm keenly aware that people worldwide have bigger problems than the storms that have battered and degraded GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - not least that the 2014 return was marked by Russia-backed forces reaching 38000 feet into the stratosphere to bring down a civilian airliner, and yesterday sullied by strikes across Ukraine that included devastation to a childrens hospital, the work and lives of its people and patients.

There were good aspects to yesterday's return though: advance 1st tickets were available, the train ran on time through weather that wouldn't have been the first choice for driving to Cornwall, the travel needs of several disabled travellers were being met, with reassurance given that people would be ready with a ramp at Paddington. Those IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) interiors are getting tired though: worn seats and a floor covering that's a dirt magnet, and odd bits of corrosion starting to appear on their exteriors.

Mark

[ChrisB]

An odd one. If the catering crew have decided for some reason to run the standard class catering from a static location over the threshold of the kitchen at the 1st class end of a nine car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - the now official name for the replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)), does this count as declassifying the first class carriages?

Definitely not - unless you can get approval from the on train manager. Of course one can pass through to access the catering, but return to your seat in Standard with whatever you purchase.

fyi Mark - Those IETs carry their own ramps both front & rear.

[Mark A]

Good point. For first class ticket holders, its effectively declassified first class*.

Mark

*Unless it's now part of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) first class offer to sit people next to a queue of people making purchases from the door of a sweet shop.

[ChrisB]

Can't remember the last time I saw a queue for a static trolley, mind.