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

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

What's that saying?
"You can't please all of the people..."

But the most vocal get what the most vocal want.

[thetrout]

Just a word of warning regarding First Class availability on services in and around the Bristol / Bath Spa / Westbury area. With regards to the improvement works at Bath Spa and the mass changes to the timetable; It appears there has become an assumption that Class 15x Trains have miraculously grown First Class seating...

For some reason several trains are showing as having First Class Accommodation and also appear in the Online Journey Planners as having such accommodation too. Yet when the train turns up you actually get a unit of Class 15x type. Which of course does not have First Class seating.

The way would check is to put the time of the train into realtimetrains.co.uk and then select more detail as shown here:



This will bring up the below information. You are looking for the "Pathed as:" information. As shown below, this train is advertised as having First and Standard Class seating. But the "Pathed as:" information shows as running as a Class 150/153/155/156 Unit - which of course will not have the First Class seating.



If you find yourself on one of these phantom First Class seating trains; I would advise contacting FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and raising a compensation request under condition 38 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage:

38. Travelling in standard class accommodation with a first class ticket
If you have a first class ticket (or the equivalent) and the first class accommodation (or the equivalent) shown in the National Rail Timetable is not available in any train you travel in, you may claim a refund of the difference in price between the first class and the standard class ticket for the relevant part of your journey.

As said earlier in the post, these trains ARE in the National Rail Timetable as having First Class seating.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/46427.aspx

[SandTEngineer]

Sorry to question your logic a bit.  'Pathed As' means the 'point to point' timings allocated to the service not the particular type of train unit allocated to the service.

[Adelante_CCT]

Sorry to question your logic a bit.  'Pathed As' means the 'point to point' timings allocated to the service not the particular type of train unit allocated to the service.

This is correct, its purely for timing reasons rather than what stock is to be used, for example all the London Birmingham Chiltern services are pathed as 158s, yet they use 168s and Class 68/Mk3s

[thetrout]

Thank you both.

I had always misunderstood that for 2 reasons.

1) The "Pathed As" always showed which trains on the GreaterAnglia Norwich services were EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vs. Class 90+Mk3

2) The Weymouth Wizard train shows as being "Pathed as" a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Service instead of the timings of Class 150 etc. The timings I believe are almost identical to when this is run by a unit.

Hope that clears up the logic I was using. Thanks for the correction however

[Oxonhutch]

Moving the conversation over to the Thames Valley local services ^ for those that haven^t been following the Rebrands thread the new 6th September timetable is being quietly rolled out that shows the almost complete removal of first class on all but the morning and evening semi-fasts:

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/train-times-and-tickets/train-times/from-17-may-2015

I find the level of stealth here astonishing.  When HST^▸ (High Speed Train) reductions were rolled-out they were hailed as an increase in standard accommodation with the finger pointed towards the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).  This step change in service commitment is almost secret ^ certainly most silent.  I look forward to a press release from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) regarding their commitment and compensation for first class season ticket holders ^ and the level of price reduction of a first class ticket since part of a TV to London commute is likely to be in standard only trains.

[ChrisB]

I doubt there will be any - posters at stations affected possibly.

Those with 1st class seasons are being contacted individually & offered various options, all of which seem fair to me.

[thetrout]

Those with 1st class seasons are being contacted individually & offered various options, all of which seem fair to me.

Could you elaborate on that please?

I'm at a loss as to why some of these trains between 09:00 - 20:00 for arguments sake don't have First Class seating, yet trains at 00:00 - 05:00 are advertised as having First Class.

Playing devils advocate, I strongly doubt that will be at all policed in any way. Looking at the amount of Gatecrashers in First Class on late night services in Essex... It just doesn't make sense.

Throw into that the various staff on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) services who openly say "don't buy First Class tickets for trains X, Y and Z late at night as it's not checked. Just offer to pay if it's checked."

Considering the amount of posters saying "Buy before you board" I find such advise dangerous and distasteful... You can't win

[ChrisB]

To save me typing out the whole piece, can you elaborate on which services you are referring to, bearing in mind I'm referring to 1st class *season* holders

[thetrout]

Sure, You mentioned that all 1st Class season ticket holders affected are to be contacted and various options given. Concluding with "all of which seem fair"

Forgive me if I've taken that too literally; but that suggests you know what these various options are... Can you elaborate as to what they are?

Thanks

[ChrisB]

Sure, but it'll be tomorrow.

You might get your letter if you're a 1st class season holder too

[Jason]

If it's any kind of data point, I was given a cheque by way of compenasation when first class was withdrawn from the Reading to Basingstoke line.
From speaking with other first class season ticket holders whose tickets included some or all of that line it appeared to be related to how long the season ticket had left to run.

[Oxonhutch]

Officially, I know nothing about this withdrawal. Only from gossip on here and now checking the forward timetables.

No letter for me yet - no information at the station. I've just checked and I can buy right now a 1st class annual season ticket on-line for travel between TV local station and London Terminals with no indication the that 364 day service I have contracted for is to be withdrawn in less that a fortnight. If this was the natural resources industry (my profession), Council would be receiving instructions.

[ChrisB]

Sure, but it'll be tomorrow.

Sorry, been too busy to dig this out today - I'll try again tomorrow

[Chris from Nailsea]

... Council would be receiving instructions.

Counsel, possibly, Oxonhutch - but I do share your ... err, astonishment that such annual tickets are still apparently being sold online!