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Author Topic: Oversize luggage  (Read 17308 times)
woody
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« on: August 24, 2008, 05:43:49 »

One thing I have noticed this year on the very busy Penzance/Paddington summer services through Devon and Cornwall are the problems being caused by the sheer size and volume of some passengers luggage. Extended loading and unloading times on some summer Saturday trains in particular mean trains have regularly struggled to keep to time through the two counties with ticket checks nigh on impossible on some busy services as a result.Some of the luggage is so large that it almost blocks vestibules and saloon doors seriously hampering movement as passenger with equally large "trunks" try to board at stations causing log jams and delays.

 What do you think is the answer,has the time come to limit the size of luggage carried or even make a charge as the airlines do?.
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dog box
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« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2008, 17:59:12 »

Take a look at The National conditions of carriage where it clearly states a fee not exceeding half of the adult fare is payable for any item over 90--70---30cm
also any item can be refused if in the opinion of staff there is not enough room for it, and the handling or un loading of the item would case delays to trains amongst other things.
I really do think everyone should have a copy of this document as ignorance of it is no excuse really
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devon_metro
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« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2008, 18:02:47 »

I was on 158959 yesterday on the 1022 Ports - Cardiff.

Luggage strewn all over the seats with no apparent owner whilst people were forced to stand. If I was the guard, the owner would be charged for the use of the seat. In true retaliation I sat in the luggage rack.
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swlines
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« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2008, 18:12:25 »

In true retaliation I sat in the luggage rack.
Grin Grin

Should have done it the proper way, and slept in the luggage rack over the seats!  Tongue
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2008, 21:11:38 »

Take a look at The National conditions of carriage ...
I really do think everyone should have a copy of this document as ignorance of it is no excuse really

Thanks for your comments, dog box - and I agree!  Wink

Just so we all have no excuse for not being aware of the terms of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage, FGW (First Great Western) have helpfully made them available on their website (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=373
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Worcester_Passenger
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« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2008, 00:34:37 »

The dimensions of the luggage in the conditions of carriage, like too many things on the railway, date from a former age. Those are the sort of suitcases you'd get in 'Brief Encounter'. The only thing that has changed is that the size is now expressed in metric.

The dimension that has changed is thickness. I've just measured our big suitcase (which isn't the largest in its range by any means) and it's 30cm thick. A lot of luggage nowadays will be nearer 40cm thick, well over the condition limit.

Which means that this condition is unenforceable - are you seriously going to start charging "half adult fare" for most of the luggage on a train? One headline in one national daily would be enough to stop that.

But the provision for this luggage has got worse and worse of late. It's all very well producing airline seating on an HST (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) that's doing a commuter run from Oxford to London. But airline seating means there's no behind-the-seat space, and if you try running the same train to Newquay in the summer you must expect luggage. The luggage pen on the Turbos is more generous than a lot of HST space. And I've always assumed that luggage provision on Voyagers was designed around how much stuff R. Branson took with him on a balloon.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2008, 00:41:55 »

And I've always assumed that luggage provision on Voyagers was designed around how much stuff R. Branson took with him on a balloon.

That was just a lot of hot air, though?



 Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01
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« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2008, 01:08:18 »

i realise it has been 10-15 years since most trains had a guards area for large luggage and parcels but could this be the cause....you cant tell me that its just because people have started buying bigger suitcases?

the cram as many seats into a carrage dont help eather
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Super Guard
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« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2008, 13:24:33 »

And I've always assumed that luggage provision on Voyagers was designed around how much stuff R. Branson took with him on a balloon.

That was just a lot of hot air, though?



 Grin

I'll get your coat sir...
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Btline
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« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2008, 16:46:15 »

Hopefully the HST2 will be like IC225s and have not just a guards van, but a DVT (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) guards van!!

(or power cars like FGW (First Great Western)).

Do Pendolinos have guards vans?
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dog box
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« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2008, 18:12:59 »

Hopefully the HST2 will be like IC225s and have not just a guards van, but a DVT (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) guards van!!

(or power cars like FGW (First Great Western)).

Do Pendolinos have guards vans?

of course they dont have guards vans after all they are a voyager clone
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Btline
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« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2008, 19:01:14 »

Yes, but the 180s are Vomiter clones, and they have the bike store!
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willc
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« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2008, 12:02:55 »

Yes, but the 180s are Vomiter clones, and they have the bike store!

Bit of an insult to the Alstom design team, who produced a train that in terms of passenger environment, at least, is far superior to a Voyager. Pity the reliability of the running gear isn't to Voyager standards though.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2008, 14:41:03 »

Pity the reliability of the running gear isn't to Voyager standards though.

Which in itself isn't really saying much!  Wink
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willc
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« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2008, 16:16:19 »

Pity the reliability of the running gear isn't to Voyager standards though.

Which in itself isn't really saying much!  Wink

But they do tend to get a bit further between breakdowns!
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