FGW 1st Class - ongoing discussion of the benefits and their apparent reduction

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

The vast majority of Standard class passengers will be unaware they have an extra coach.....

I would notice!

.... but FC^▸ (First Class, or Fat Controller, or Football Club, depending on context) passengers will raise merry hell on the train and in the media if they are forced to stand.

Agreed if it happens

A few 2nd class peak passengers will get to sit down. Ok, a few more people might be able to fit on the trains at Reading.

More than a few.  That would be the upside

But I doubt it'll compensate for the huge numbers downgrading their First Class seasons to standard (or switching to the car).

If all the displaced 1st class passengers moved to standard there would still be additional seats in standard class.

And at off peak times, 1st will still be even emptier with fewer upgrades and advances!

I don't see the logic in this.  Advances will be made available to match demand.  If indeed they do remove weekend upgrades then there will be correspondingly more advances.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) make money by filling seats not running them empty.

[John R]

I suggest all those who are concerned write to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) (preferably stating how often you use first class). If this isn't a done deal then at least FGW will have some evidence which could be used in discussions with DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

Surely FGW have ticket sales data to show how much First class is used as well as revenue from sales of Weekend First tickets.

I'm sure they do, but it wouldn't harm to tell DfT that there has been some adverse customer feedback to the proposed changes. Else the view will be  - we announced it, nobody complained, so we did it.

[Btline]

A few 2nd class peak passengers will get to sit down. Ok, a few more people might be able to fit on the trains at Reading.

More than a few.  That would be the upside

But I doubt it'll compensate for the huge numbers downgrading their First Class seasons to standard (or switching to the car).

If all the displaced 1st class passengers moved to standard there would still be additional seats in standard class.

I was talking about revenue. Any extra 2nd class passengers attracted will not offset the loss of revenue from 1st class commuters downgrading.

[ChrisB]

I think the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) are more concerned by overall capacity frankly - and there is a good argument for that!

[Btline]

True - and this is fair enough on sub 1 hr commuter trains (e.g. the Thames Turbos*). No-one will drive to London because there is no 1st class compartment from Taplow.

But on long distance services, I think it is a bad idea because we need to get people out of cars and planes - 1st class can help with this, especially off peak and at weekends.

*Ignoring when Thames Turbos are put on inappropriate 3 hr journeys from the Cotswolds

[stuving]

Is this the end of First Class rail? Ministers pay train firms to do away with premium seats

• First class carriages will become a rarity as a result of the move
  
• It is designed to placate passengers angry at being in packed trains
  
• Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is behind the plan
  
• He is understood to have authorised millions of pounds for it
  
• Move emerges on day passengers face the annual rise in fares

By JAMES CHAPMAN
PUBLISHED: 22:33, 1 January 2014 | UPDATED: 09:15, 2 January 2014

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532349/Is-end-class-rail-Ministers-pay-train-firms-away-premium-seats.html#ixzz2pHap1MUA
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I post this here for reasons of completeness - having seen the headline on a copy of the paper.

It's actually quite a long piece - though consists of the usual heap of half-digested snippets.

[Btline]

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Calm down, Btline - it's from the Daily Mail ... 

[John R]

Was looking forward to my Wednesday wine this evening but there was none on the trolley. On enquiry the customer host told me its only available as far as Reading. Given I get on at Swindon and its been available until now is this a new restriction?

[JayMac]

Nothing in the public domain as far as I can see, John R. Best to ask via social media, I'd suggest.

[thetrout]

I caught the 17:30 from Paddington (Boarded at Bath Spa 18:59) and there were plenty of wine bottles in First Class. As I write this between BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains) and Bristol Temple Meads there is a passenger with a wine glass still full on the table.

Maybe the Customer Host has misunderstood the restriction?

I second BNMs suggestion. Send them a tweet or write on their Facebook Page

[John R]

Thanks for the advice both, though as I don't have a Facebook or twitter account those avenues aren't open to me.  I was on the 1630 ex Paddington, so maybe I should have stayed at work for another hour!

[John R]

I've emailed Customer Services, though I expect the reply won't be as quick as it would be on Facebook or twitter. My fault for being a luddite!

[thetrout]

Seen a few interesting things with First Class on HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets recently. Possibly related to the removal of some First Class Seating on HST sets?

Anyway this is a Coach H which has been Rebadged as a Coach G but the First Class Sign was Gaffer Taped out. The next Coach was a Micro Buffet and Standard Class Seating. If you look at the Coach H next to it on the right, you can see that Coach H has the First Class Sign Visible



Inside this Coach G we had no head rest covers. Coach H DID^▸ (Didcot Parkway) have them.



On speaking with the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) they informed me that the Coach G was still classified as a First Class Vehicle despite these anomalies. I was inclined to disagree considering the external tape and lack of headrests certainly implied it's been declassified. Although the internal sliding door First Class Stickers were still attached.

Not that at 22:35 it mattered too much


Now we have this set which is missing a Coach H:



Could this be a Coach H that is being converted to Standard or Composite Seating? Or is this still nothing more than Mess Room Rumors for HST Sets?

[Btline]

I think that this is a really bad idea! (even as a person who rarely uses FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 1st class)

Has it been confirmed?

When 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.) comes in, perhaps they will be 9 or 10 car, with two 1st class coaches and extra 2nd class seating.