Was good to see the customer host this morning taking a stand........

[whole diary]

[Btline]

For what reason?

The H&C line is the least used of all LU lines, so I doubt there are crowds scurrying to the H&C line platforms.

[John R]

There will be from December. And even now if you arrive at the country end of Paddington, it's a lot quicker to get to the H&C line platforms then trudge all the way to the Circle line (and then wait 10 minutes for a train going beyond Edgware Road).

I'm a bit worried that the staircase on the H&C will get horribly overcrowded. It already does sometimes, and that's without the greater volume of pax that will be using it. 

[welsharagorn]

Swings and roundabouts... punters at Pewsey wouldn't have so far to go - in fact, first class customers would have the luxury of stepping out onto an actual platform!

Not really, as SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) Operation just means the driver would pull down further so that the TGS (Coach A) is platformed!!

On the subject of first class though, why can't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) just retro fit the old barrier to the buffet cars that read "First class passengers only beyond this point" ( or words to that effect! ), these were suprisingly effective deterents!  You could also apply them at the end of the new micro buffet sets, as the reason for painting the yellow line and "1" symbols on the buffet end of these standard class only vehicles is to discourage standard class passengers from board that end!!

[inspector_blakey]

And even now if you arrive at the country end of Paddington, it's a lot quicker to get to the H&C line platforms then trudge all the way to the Circle line (and then wait 10 minutes for a train going beyond Edgware Road).

I have an awful habit of jinxing the H&C. Whenever I get on a train at Padd it limps to Edgware Road and breaks. It's a bit like my mysterious Portsmouth-Cardiff curse where you can almost guarantee if I'm there it'll be on of those rare occasions when it's 2-car 150 vice 3-car 158...

[JayMac]

For what reason?

The H&C line is the least used of all LU lines, so I doubt there are crowds scurrying to the H&C line platforms.

In terms of yearly footfall, I think that the least busiest line is the Waterloo and City.

[vacman]

For what reason?

The H&C line is the least used of all LU lines, so I doubt there are crowds scurrying to the H&C line platforms.

They're not doing it for that reason, it's generally easier at the majority of stations for FC^‡(resolve) to be at the country end and also allows for the TM^‡(resolve) to dispatch from the TGS at Pad

[Super Guard]

At EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) it always seems a little harsh that first class have to get wet when it rains.  Having said that, it always delays crew changes as the TM^‡(resolve) inevitably puts their bags in the TGS at the front and then strolls to the rear, but would cut it out on the down-London services.

I witnessed at Plymouth the other day the Penzance-Plymouth unit arriving to connect with the 1657 PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) with about 3 minutes before departure and as the train was in reverse formation floods of people were getting on G/F until the TM started barking instructions not to board unless you were holding FC^‡(resolve) tickets.

[paul7575]

...It's a bit like my mysterious Portsmouth-Cardiff curse where you can almost guarantee if I'm there it'll be on of those rare occasions when it's 2-car 150 vice 3-car 158...

I must be lucky - I got on one at Southampton the other day and it was a 2.150+3.158 combo. Always seems a bit odd to see a catering trolley on a Silverlink liveried 150 for some reason though... 

Paul

[broadgage]

I wish more on train staff would be a bit stricter about keeping standard class passenger out of first class accomadation !
First class appears to be open to all between Paddington and Reading, with tickets usually only checked West of Reading.

As for running HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) with FC^‡(resolve) at the country end, I think that this would be an improvement, despite the longer walk at  Paddington.
Anyway, the new trains will probably be suburban mulitple units with FC at random locations, rather than one end.

[Btline]

So FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to turn the sets around, after putting up HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Stop markers (of both 2+7 and 2+8) everywhere, putting signs and posters up telling where bikers should wait, made special arrangements at WOF lest the signal prevents the guard's van being platformed, AND moving the disabled area to fit onto more platforms.

Once again, great long term planning FGW!

[John R]

At EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) it always seems a little harsh that first class have to get wet when it rains. 

Ditto up services at Swindon.

[IndustryInsider]

So FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to turn the sets around, after putting up HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Stop markers (of both 2+7 and 2+8) everywhere, putting signs and posters up telling where bikers should wait, made special arrangements at WOF lest the signal prevents the guard's van being platformed, AND moving the disabled area to fit onto more platforms.

Once again, great long term planning FGW!

Has this actually been confirmed then?

And, apart from the odd exception, the stop car markers will still be used and won't need moving - they'll just be used the other way round more often. The situation at Foregate Street won't change at all (though 1st Class carriages will be more often in the platform), and the disabled area will surely still fit on exactly the same number of platforms as it does now?

So, it's just the bike signs (which are easily moved) and some small signs on some platforms telling you where coaches should stop that would need changing. Stop making mountains out of mole hills.

[Super Guard]

Once again, great long term planning FGW^▸ (First Great Western)!

If it is something that is going to benefit first class passengers, then why shouldn't they try it ?

[readytostart]

For what reason?

The H&C line is the least used of all LU lines, so I doubt there are crowds scurrying to the H&C line platforms.

They're not doing it for that reason, it's generally easier at the majority of stations for FC^‡(resolve) to be at the country end and also allows for the TM^‡(resolve) to dispatch from the TGS at Pad

How about the TM just dispatches from a normal door panel at the rear at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), and then checks the first class tickets before RDG^‡(resolve), slight issue with bikes in the TGS but surely platform staff can help with that! *Puts big wooden spoon away*

[Mookiemoo]

For what reason?

The H&C line is the least used of all LU lines, so I doubt there are crowds scurrying to the H&C line platforms.

They're not doing it for that reason, it's generally easier at the majority of stations for FC^‡(resolve) to be at the country end and also allows for the TM^‡(resolve) to dispatch from the TGS at Pad

How about the TM just dispatches from a normal door panel at the rear at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), and then checks the first class tickets before RDG^‡(resolve), slight issue with bikes in the TGS but surely platform staff can help with that! *Puts big wooden spoon away*

I have to say - between PAD and RDG - it is normally ONLY first class that is checked by the TM.  After RDG - its ratre first gets a check at all and it mainly seems to be SC

Well that my experience on the Cotswolds