Changes to FGW complimentary service?

[whole diary]

[James Vertigan]

Currently on my way back to London on the 15:35 from Newton Abbot, and have had a bit of a bad experience unfortunately.

 I went to the buffet car between NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) & EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and asked for a Diet Coke and a still water - I was given both but upon presenting my First Class ticket (not a Weekend First upgrade) I rather briskly had the Diet Coke taken away from me and replaced with another bottle of water.

I felt a bit annoyed at the rather rude service I had received from the member of staff, so when the train manager came round a little while ago I complained. He assured me that the member of staff was a nice person but was under a lot of pressure as it's a busy train, he also exxplained to me that Diet Cokes were no longer part of the complimentary service and it was fruit juices instead, but I wasn't even given the option to pay for the Diet Coke by the member of catering staff.

Have I been told the correct information? If so, when did this change come into force, seems a bit silly to me.

[Btline]

It's correct. FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s First Class is woeful when compared to other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

e.g. Virgin where you get free alc, soft drinks, hot drinks, cold meal or hot meal (depedning on time of day), Wifi, newspsper, guaranteed 2+1 seating, free headphones for onboard radio system.

I would go standard in future.

[devon_metro]

Weekends:

Water, hot chocolate, tea and coffee and biscuits only.

Much better selection on weekdays (but not coke)

I'd ignore btlines advice and stay in First. Its a much nicer environment.

[Timmer]

It's correct. FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s First Class is woeful when compared to other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

e.g. Virgin where you get free alc, soft drinks, hot drinks, cold meal or hot meal (depedning on time of day), Wifi, newspsper, guaranteed 2+1 seating, free headphones for onboard radio system.

I would go standard in future.

Virgin's offering is all part of the cost of the ticket and in their franchise agreement I believe. I would be surprised if you still get that level of service once the new franchise starts in a few years time whoever wins it. Hope I'm wrong though.

[Btline]

I'd ignore btlines advice and stay in First. Its a much nicer environment.

True, it's a better environment. But is getting a leather seat worth the (high) cost? If you want a guaranteed seat and a relaxing environment, go First. If you want freebies, don't.

Virgin's offering is all part of the cost of the ticket...

NB: I can get a Virgin First Class ticket for cheaper than standard class return on FGW^▸ (First Great Western). But yes, that's my area, fair enough.

[Mookiemoo]

I'd ignore btlines advice and stay in First. Its a much nicer environment.

True, it's a better environment. But is getting a leather seat worth the (high) cost? If you want a guaranteed seat and a relaxing environment, go First. If you want freebies, don't.

Virgin's offering is all part of the cost of the ticket...

NB: I can get a Virgin First Class ticket for cheaper than standard class return on FGW^▸ (First Great Western). But yes, that's my area, fair enough.

And for regular travellers in the west midlands, virgins first season tickets are usually priced around the same as a FGW first season into london - and they are every half hour and much quicker!

[Btline]

Don't you mean every 20 minutes?

[James Vertigan]

I only go First Class when I book early and can get a reasonable price ticket - and particularly when I know standard will be packed!

FC^▸ (First Class, or Fat Controller, or Football Club, depending on context) is also very good for the leg room, and more room for the netbook!

I could've sworn that I was offered soft drinks (cans) on both my journeys into and out of London in FC in the last month though (apart from this one).

Next thing you'll know they'll stop you taking your own food on the train, even stuff you've bought at an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) station!

(Oh, and you are right about the wi-fi, taken me ages to post this travelling through Berkshire on a GPRS^▸ (General Packet Radio Service - e.g. data over mobile phone) signal!)

[moonrakerz]

It's correct. FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s First Class is woeful when compared to other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

Have you tried SWT^▸ (South West Trains) ?

[JayMac]

It's correct. FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s First Class is woeful when compared to other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

Have you tried SWT^▸ (South West Trains) ?

or NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia)?

[vacman]

Currently on my way back to London on the 15:35 from Newton Abbot, and have had a bit of a bad experience unfortunately.

 I went to the buffet car between NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) & EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and asked for a Diet Coke and a still water - I was given both but upon presenting my First Class ticket (not a Weekend First upgrade) I rather briskly had the Diet Coke taken away from me and replaced with another bottle of water.

I felt a bit annoyed at the rather rude service I had received from the member of staff, so when the train manager came round a little while ago I complained. He assured me that the member of staff was a nice person but was under a lot of pressure as it's a busy train, he also exxplained to me that Diet Cokes were no longer part of the complimentary service and it was fruit juices instead, but I wasn't even given the option to pay for the Diet Coke by the member of catering staff.

Have I been told the correct information? If so, when did this change come into force, seems a bit silly to me.

Your meant to show your first class ticket before ordering comps at the buffet, they usually announce this.

[Mookiemoo]

Currently on my way back to London on the 15:35 from Newton Abbot, and have had a bit of a bad experience unfortunately.

 I went to the buffet car between NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) & EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and asked for a Diet Coke and a still water - I was given both but upon presenting my First Class ticket (not a Weekend First upgrade) I rather briskly had the Diet Coke taken away from me and replaced with another bottle of water.

I felt a bit annoyed at the rather rude service I had received from the member of staff, so when the train manager came round a little while ago I complained. He assured me that the member of staff was a nice person but was under a lot of pressure as it's a busy train, he also exxplained to me that Diet Cokes were no longer part of the complimentary service and it was fruit juices instead, but I wasn't even given the option to pay for the Diet Coke by the member of catering staff.

Have I been told the correct information? If so, when did this change come into force, seems a bit silly to me.

Your meant to show your first class ticket before ordering comps at the buffet, they usually announce this.

The wholse point is - the lack of decent soft drinks is ludicrous

as I understand it - the cans were removed because of small numbers of people who were pocketing 6-8 numerous cans on a trip to take with them

Simple answer

Customer host pops them before giving them out

Why throw the baby out with the bath water

I do not drink coffee or tea - and im on a diet - so the only option FREE is water

What is wrong with free pop - even if its out of a bottle and poured like the OJ

[r james]

So do people expect that the virgin offer will really drop after this franchise ends? Assuming virign get it again?

[TerminalJunkie]

I do not drink coffee or tea - and im on a diet - so the only option FREE is water

What's stopping you buying something?

[JayMac]

The wholse point is - the lack of decent soft drinks is ludicrous

as I understand it - the cans were removed because of small numbers of people who were pocketing 6-8 numerous cans on a trip to take with them

Simple answer

Customer host pops them before giving them out

Why throw the baby out with the bath water

I do not drink coffee or tea - and im on a diet - so the only option FREE is water

What is wrong with free pop - even if its out of a bottle and poured like the OJ

If you want it that badly then pay for it (like everybody else does), and if you can justify it, put the expenses claim in.  What's a weight loss diet got to do with anything? Even if it's a special medical diet, you'll be hard pushed to find anything in railway by-laws, franchise agreements, anti-discrimination legislation, the European Convention on Human Rights or the Geneva Convention that says that the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) has to take this into account when selecting refreshments to offer their customers!

Fallenangel, you don't seem to grasp the concept that they are complementary refreshments, given as a courtesy to passengers travelling in First Class. What you've paid for is a journey, with a seat in the First Class section of the train, and the improved environment this may offer. If anybody says that they are travelling in First Class just so they can receive the complementary items, it's like saying you fly to New York every day as it's one way to get a lunch and some peanuts.

If the TOC's were reducing the personal space by adding in 20 more seats per carriage, or reducing the number of seats available by taking off a 1st class carriage, then I'd understand the moaning.  

ps. I'm hacked off the complementary diet coke is gone as well - but guess what, it's not the end of the world, if I want one, I pay for it - and I'm not on ^520 a day.

edited to add - Sod! I've bitten again!

Edited again to add - Sorry James, they should have been served with more grace than they were to you.

The items may well be complimentary, however they are still budgeted for, and paid for from 1st class revenues. They sure as hell ain't complimentary to First Great Western. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have to pay for them. Removing the fizzy pop is therefore a cost cutting exercise. I note there are also no sandwiches provided in the first class lounge at Paddington any longer. Bristol Temple Meads no longer has a first class lounge. (Cardiff only kept it's lounge so as not to upset Welsh politicians). There is also no longer complimentary wine on Friday evenings. So all this has resulted in a saving to FGW. Has that saving been passed on the the 1st class passenger, has it hell!
I'm with FallenAngel on this one. There is a steady erosion of 1st class as a distinct product, all in the name of cost cutting. I only travel 1st class on a few occasions per year and it is getting less worth the extra each time I travel. Offering the extras is part of the enticement of paying for a first class ticket; downgrading the product without passing on any saving to the passenger just means less people willing to pay the extra; meaning less passengers in first class; meaning less staff needed.....a slow downward spiral that will ultimately lead to redundancies and a single class inter-city train service.
Oh and how much someone earns a day is irrelevent, that was just a cheap shot, flamingo. And invoking all that tosh about human rights.....come on already!