Bit of an over zealous CH tonight........and poor choice

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Got on train at Reading, did my usual - deposit back pack on seat, any additional bags on the luggage rack - go to buffet...........by the time I got back (and there was no queue), the CH had confiscated my carrier bag with dirty laundry which was on the rack. 

Got a lecture about leaving my luggage unattended - although she didnt do anything about the BACKPACK with COMPUTERS in them - so whether from a potential bomb point of view or a not getting my stuff half inched, I dont think she made a good selective choice there!  Which was likely to be the most dangerous to myself or other passengers if it exploded or disappeared.

I think if I go back to the buffet later, I may just make a point of putting my laptop away, packing everything up and going there - then asking them to carry my purchases back to the table as my hands are full of baggage!

[Btline]

Ridiculous. What do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) expect their passengers to do?

Btw, don't you sit in First - isn't the Steward meant to offer "at seat service"?

[Mookiemoo]

They do - she went through once between Reading and doth Wales - I've learned if you want sellables it's easier to go to buffet yourself rather than wait for them to appear and find a convenient moment to go fetch

[Mookiemoo]

Taking the theory to the logical conclusion.........surely this means luggage racks are to be done away with.

Carriage G was quite busy until Didcot/Swindon - that bag could have been anyones - and no way did she have time to make her way with the trollery from the end, spot the bag, ask all the occupents if it were theirs and then take it to the buffet!  Or maybe because all the other occupents were men, she assumed two skirts were not theirs - bad mistake in this day and age especially since they werent size 0.

Maybe this gives an excuse to put your bags on the seat next to you - after all you have to keep it with you and with the airline seating in standard, its either the seat next to you or block the aisle.

I might try that next time someone wants the seat next to me.......

[broadgage]

I have not had any luggage confisicated yet! but I have been told off for leaving it unattended whilst visiting the buffet.
Is one really expected to take luggage with one to the buffet !

And yes I was in first class, and the alleged table service only appeared once between London and Exeter.

The limited luggage space on improved trains (the ones with high density bus seats and no tables) is a huge problem, standard class being impassible at times due to luggage in gangways.

I have also been told off for leaving luggage unattended on a stationery train at Paddington, whilst returning the luggage trolley to the proper place in order to reclaim my ^1.
I believe that you are meant to abandon the trolley on the platform, near the train, in order that the staff may reclaim the ^1.

The answer no doubt will be to ban luggage !
In the past one was allowed 50 KG in second class and 75 KG in first, but I understand that the limit is now " 3 items, one of which may be a large article such as a suitcase or rucksack, and the other two must be small items such briefcase, handbag etc."
Virgin trains enforce this with some rigour, owing to the very limited luggage space on the new trains.

I do not look forward to the new trains that are promised with electrification, I have no doubt that we will get a shorter multiple unit  interurban type train with high density bus seats, minimal luggage space, and of course no restaurant.

[r james]

I guess this is why XCs^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trolley service is good....

[IndustryInsider]

I guess this is why XCs^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trolley service is good....

That's correct, and it is an often overlooked benefit of a trolley service over a buffet counter service. As we all know, there are disadvantages though!

[JayMac]

I guess this is why XCs^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trolley service is good....

That's correct, and it is an often overlooked benefit of a trolley service over a buffet counter service. As we all know, there are disadvantages though!

like no longer being able to pay with credit/debit card. 21st century.....pah!

[Mookiemoo]

I guess this is why XCs^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trolley service is good....

That's correct, and it is an often overlooked benefit of a trolley service over a buffet counter service. As we all know, there are disadvantages though!

like no longer being able to pay with credit/debit card. 21st century.....pah!

Which sinceI am royalty and rarely carry cash - is a no no!

Last time I did XC - you couldnt use a card in the buffet even

Although I do suspect why.........

[r james]

Why couldnt you use it at the buffet?

I know Ive always used cards at the shop on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))?

Surely some sort of payment system could be set up for them to accept card payments?  Lets face it, shops used to take it years ago using the manual imprinters, so surely something modern could have come along by now?

[Btline]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are fussy. Once the woman refused me paying with a ^10 note (I had no ^5s as they are so rare these days) I tried to pay with my Visa Electron debit card. She said "we don't take Solo".

_{She was extremely rude and unhelpful, and I should have walked off without paying! ^1.60 for hot water and a tea bag is criminal. It should be no more than 99p.}

Thankfully a fellow passenger changed the ^10 into two ^5s.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Erm ... why did she accept payment using a ^5 note, but not a ^10 note?? 

[Btline]

She said she hadn't enough change. Probably not true.

[Mookiemoo]

Erm ... why did she accept payment using a ^5 note, but not a ^10 note?? 

Probably cos she had few pound coins and no fivers!

Typical example of limited floats cos they dont trust the staff

[Mookiemoo]

Why couldnt you use it at the buffet?

I know Ive always used cards at the shop on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))?

Surely some sort of payment system could be set up for them to accept card payments?  Lets face it, shops used to take it years ago using the manual imprinters, so surely something modern could have come along by now?

All cards SHOULD be checked with a central computer to see if there are funds - SOLO HAVE TO BE NO EXCEPTION

But for most debit and credit, there is a maximum limit agreed with the vendor that the bank will honour even if no funds.  If there is no agreement in place (and it costs money to put one in place and the cost is proportional to risk) then ANY transaction taken that is not pre authed will be declined.  Given the dodgy connections on most trains......... few tranactions can e pre authed. 

Suspect XC are skin flint and dont (or didnt) have such an agreement in place