What's the point of paying for 1st class when you get a 2nd class service?

[whole diary]

[gpn01]

Today I couldn't even get on the 07:31 because it was so full.  Even though I have a 1st class ticket (for which I'm paying a premium over the normal fare) there were no spaces in 1st class and the entry to it was blocked by other passengers becasue the train was so over crowded.

Earlier in the week, the morning train (can't remember which one) was standing room only in the 1st class compartment.  Another morning there didn't seem to be a 1st class area at all.  Managed to catch the 07:08 (HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) one morning but there was no sign of the drinks trolley.  This morning the 07:08 seemed to completely disappear (let alone the coffee!).

HOW can First Great Western be allowed to (a) sell tickets as "First" class when they don't seem to have the capacity and how is the company allowed to promote themselves as FIRST or GREAT ?

Grrrr...

 

[JayMac]

If you are unable to secure a seat in First Class then you need to seek out the Train Manager (appreciate not easy on a busy train) and request that your ticket be endorsed. You can then claim a refund for the difference in price between First Class and Standard for the journey involved.

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Passenger Charter:

If you hold a First Class ticket for a high speed service and have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one stop where this is longer than 20 minutes), we will refund you in National Rail vouchers the difference between the cost of your First Class ticket for the affected leg of your journey and the corresponding Standard ticket. To claim your refund, you must contact a member of the on-board staff at the time of travel for verification, and then make your claim by contacting our Customer Services team.

[gpn01]

Thanks for that but...
(1) What/who is a train manager?  Seriously.  most of the time the only FGW^▸ (First Great Western) person I see on the train is the driver when I alight at Paddington.  I often catch the 07:31 from maidenhead to Paddington and I think this only has the driver on board.
(2) Does this only apply to 'high speed' services?  If so, what's a high speed service - does it mean a particular type of train or a specified service?
(3) refund suggests that your ticket is endorsed each time the problem occurs.  As I hold a season ticket it would become seriosuly 'endorsed' by the time it's due for renewal!

[devon_metro]

(2) is an interesting one. As a rule, if it's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) or a turbo with a limited stop service between paddington and reading (ie only calls Slough) then chances are it's a high speed service.

I suspect many of the driver only services with full up FC^‡(resolve) compartments are full of standard class pnters! Definitely worth emailing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to have a good moan, as presumably you are a season ticket holder and pay a fair amount for your travel!

[Mookiemoo]

On the turbo DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) services - there is a nominal FC^‡(resolve) which they charge for but never uphold

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) does not demonstrate any interest at all in protecting First Class accommodation on Turbos between Padd & Rdg.  It's particulalry bad between Padd & Slough where anyone and everyone uses it.  How often do you get a ticket examination on these services?  FGW is happy to take your First Class fare, but they do little if anything to ensure you get the service provision you've paid for on Padd - Rdg Turbos.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I'm frankly amazed anyone pays for a 1st Class fare on anything between Reading and Paddington that stops and is operated by a Turbo.  It must be especially galling having spent that much to sit next to four lads in hoodies playing tinny music through their mobile who probably haven't paid for a ticket at all!

[dviner]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) does not demonstrate any interest at all in protecting First Class accommodation on Turbos between Padd & Rdg.  It's particulalry bad between Padd & Slough where anyone and everyone uses it.  How often do you get a ticket examination on these services?  FGW is happy to take your First Class fare, but they do little if anything to ensure you get the service provision you've paid for on Padd - Rdg Turbos.

To be fair, I have seen a FGW conductor squeeze his way through a packed 7:31 and eject people from 1st class. Admittedly it did make things even more crowded in the vestibule where I was standing...

Saying that, I would prefer to see either more ticket checking or have the 1st class section on Turbos replaced with a standard class layout. Neither are very likely though.

[johoare]

Welcome to the forum dviner..

And yes I'm sure I posted it here at the time.. But on a late night service back to Maidenhead from Paddington a while back I was in first class.. And every time other people came and sat in there, a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) employee (who was travelling in the cab) would burst out, surprise them, and clear them all out.. I quite enjoyed watching it 

[thetrout]

Interesting you should say that Jo...

I was told by a member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff that if your on a turbo and you want a First Class fare on the late evening services, don't buy a First Class ticket, buy a standard and if ticket checked onboard, then pay the extra.

The worst offenders i've found recently on late night services for STD ticket holders sitting in 1st are on NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia) (National Express East Anglia). It was interesting to watch when an RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) started doing the rounds, just how quickly the amount of passengers miraculously decreased from 8 to 2 (the 2 remaining were me and my girlfriend). What we weren't too impressed about was once the RPI disappeared off somewhere, those pesky 6 pax returned to First Class

[hornbeam]

It doesnt make it right, and I dont do it but the problem is people feel they pay enough so if its a choice of standing in second or sitting in first people sit in first....

[SDS]

Should just lock first class compartment OOU^▸ (out of use). Then watch them moan.
"Well sorry but if you cant be trusted you'll be treated like kids."

[johoare]

On the really busy trains (of which there are many since there are now so few on my route at least)  I'd pay to travel first class if it was worth it.. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should make it worth it..

[dviner]

Resurrecting the thread - the last couple of days I've ended up in seats that have been facing the rear 1st class section on the Bourne End - Paddington turbo, and I have been amazed at the number of people who got on at Slough and immediately piled into 1st class without even a glance at standard.

Have I missed a memo about 1st being de-classified?

[JayMac]

No memo, just an acknowledgement from the Sluff regulars that they know that the chances of being 'caught' are slim on a DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) turbo.

That said, don't be tempted to join them, because you can be sure that the one time you do there will be an eager RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) also joining at John Betjeman's least favourite town.