Virgin trains

[User]

 

[Ravenz]

.. on first reading.. thought you taking a piddle in the corridor!!!

 

[thomas]

....hence you need a 1st class ticket to sit in 1st class...

I dunno, first class would seem to need a first class ticket, where ever you are.

As for the flippy seats, once when going up to London the loo door wouldn't shut so the lady next to me reached up and pushed the button to shut it. She went to sit down but didn't realise that her seat had flipped up...She fell on the floor.

It was quite funny and she did see the funny side but it was far too early in the morning for me to process information or really care that much (was in Zombie state).

 

[Bollo]

Unbelievable! I've never had a problem with Virgin staff, even though I put my bike on, for one stop only, without a reservation. I guess there's always a jobsworth out there.

 

[Ravenz]

WTF is this doing in the commuting section?

tiny act of anarchy....

 

[LLB]

You know those flip-up seats by the toilets?

Well, apparently if you're at the ones in the first class carriages you're not allowed to sit on them without a first class ticket. But you can stand in the doorway. Or so I was told this morning, in the middle of a rake of 3 first class carriages with about 4 seats taken.

Strange.

You could always buy a 1st class ticket if you want to sit in there with them

The same happens when I buy some Cinema tickets. I will always reserve the ones where I want to sit given the option, and then have an awkward moment when I have to hoik someone else out of them who decided that the seats they were given weren't good enough and have claimed mine.

If they knew where they wanted to sit in the first place, WTF didn't they reserve them in the first place - frigging morons

 

[Cranky]

Unbelievable! I've never had a problem with Virgin staff, even though I put my bike on, for one stop only, without a reservation. I guess there's always a jobsworth out there.

Yes there certainly is.

I've lost count of the times we've had to pull out up to five bikes from the luggage compartment to get to ours hanging up, yet one 'Train Manager' would only allow one of our two bikes on the only train from Cheltenham to Carlisle that day. As a consequence we had to let it go and find a circuitous route around the country with lots of changes. I usually make reservations for the bikes with our tickets in advance but this couldn't be done for that service for some reason.

I could recount many tales of woe regarding train travel with a bike but we'd be here all day!

 

[Eat MY Dust]

WTF is this doing in the commuting section?

I assumed he was commuting.

 

[redjedi]

....hence you need a 1st class ticket to sit in 1st class...

I would be very P***** off if I had a first class ticket but had to sit on ones of those fold up seats by the toilet.

 

[Bollo]

I take it the 'service improvements' for which we're all now paying haven't kicked in yet? No? Me neither.

 

[gavintc]

I take it the 'service improvements' for which we're all now paying haven't kicked in yet? No? Me neither.

Where is the relationship between your assertion that service standard have not improved and the need to have a first class ticket to sit in a first class carriage. Perhaps what Mr Paul wants is a ticket that says 'standard class and the uncomfortable 1st class seats'. Virgin are simply applying a fairly sensible ruling. If you want to sit in 1st class - buy a ticket.

 

[Will1985]

Stupid Virgin jobsworths. Not the first time. I would have stood up against the seat and blocked it anyway. Flip-up seats aren't exactly first class luxury standard.

 

[Bollo]

Where is the relationship between your assertion that service standard have not improved and the need to have a first class ticket to sit in a first class carriage. Perhaps what Mr Paul wants is a ticket that says 'standard class and the uncomfortable 1st class seats'. Virgin are simply applying a fairly sensible ruling. If you want to sit in 1st class - buy a ticket.

Please tell me you're being ironic?

I'm assuming (I admit I am assuming) Mr Paul was attempting to sit on one of these urine-perfumed dickie-seats because all the seats in standard class were full. Overcrowding is one of the issues that 'service improvements', the quoted reason for the latest above-inflation rise in fares, promises to address.

Now I was being ironic, as even someone as unreasonable and sarcastic as myself would not expect 'service improvements' to be implemented the minute we start paying for them. What I am expressing is a certain scepticism that the improvements will happen at all.

 

[domd1979]

National Conditions of Carriage say:

If you have a standard class ticket and you travel in first class accommodation without permission (which includes occupying seats or standing in any part of the carriage), you will have to pay:
(i) the difference between the price of that ticket and the price of the first class ticket for the accommodation you have used; or
(ii) where Condition 4 ( applies, a Penalty Fare.

Have you not been on one either? It's not a 1st class seat.

 

[domd1979]

The new timetable has been introduced. Improvements have happened. Admittedly that doesn't stop pendolinos from being horrible and nor does it mean fares are sensible.

What I am expressing is a certain scepticism that the improvements will happen at all.