VTEC Remove 1st Class Quiet Coach

[Hadders]

Just had this email from VTEC

From 20th May 2018, we’re removing the Quiet Coach seating option in First Class. We’re doing this to create a more flexible space and greater freedom for more customers travelling in First Class.

As a regular Quiet Coach customer we appreciate that this may not be ideal for you. However, research has told us that while most of our customers love the chilled out ambience of First Class, only 9% really value the Quiet Coach offering.

So by creating more flexible seating options in First Class, we feel we can offer a better experience for more of our customers.

Finally, we wanted to let you know any reservations made now for First Class travel on our trains from 20 May 2018 will be in the new seating arrangements. And we look forward to welcoming you on board again.

Best wishes,
The Virgin Trains East Coast Team

This is hugely disappointing. I wonder what the more flexible seating options in 1st Class are?

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is hugely disappointing. I wonder what the more flexible seating options in 1st Class are?

I think it's business bull for "anyone can sit where they like unless it's reserved".

 

[Hadders]

Sounds like the railway/Tesco version of simplification then.....

 

[Clansman]

Having the quiet coach in Coach J was counter productive anyway.

 

[Hadders]

They'd better not get rid of the quiet coach in Standard.

 

[All Line Rover]

Another of the joys of Virgin / Stagecoach extends to the ECML, then. What a surprise.

Dogmatic as usual. No attempt to consult passengers, unlike First / MTR with South Western Railway (where 90% of over 2000 respondents selected the answer "Quiet Zones should stay!").

 

[All Line Rover]

I wonder what the more flexible seating options in 1st Class are?

Compartments!

If 9% said that they "really value" the quiet coach (not just value, but "really value"), I wonder what percentage said that they "really value" a "chilled out ambience".

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm not sure how bothered I am about quiet coaches. I'd rather people used respect in all coaches, such as not playing music/films out loud and when speaking on the phone doing so at the same volume at which they would speak to the person next to them.

 

[humbersidejim]

"Chilled out ambience".
Does David Brent do their marketing?

 

[Starmill]

I'm not sure how bothered I am about quiet coaches. I'd rather people used respect in all coaches, such as not playing music/films out loud and when speaking on the phone doing so at the same volume at which they would speak to the person next to them.

The problem is that people quite understandably feel uncomfortable asking others to behave in a considerate manner.

 

[dk1]

Personally I would remove the quiet coach from both classes on all train companies. So difficult to police & more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Fuzzytop]

Surely it’s a pre-requisite for the roll out of the Azuma fleet. With such limited First Class facilities on the 5 car Azuma, and with VTEC keen to ensure parity among their trains, I just can’t see how a separate First Quiet section would be practicable.

Additionally, First Class on Azuma will always have two half-length compartments at each extremity (a composite coach at the country-end, and a driving trailer with kitchen at the other) which surely will, by their nature, be no louder than sitting on top of the crew area?

 

[AndrewE]

Surely it’s a pre-requisite for the roll out of the Azuma fleet. With such limited First Class facilities on the 5 car Azuma, and with VTEC keen to ensure parity among their trains, I just can’t see how a separate First Quiet section would be practicable.

Additionally, First Class on Azuma will always have two half-length compartments at each extremity (a composite coach at the country-end, and a driving trailer with kitchen at the other) which surely will, by their nature, be no louder than sitting on top of the crew area?

That doesn't explain why it has been done on the WCML Pendolinos including the 11-coach ones for quite a while now...

 

[DenmarkRail]

I'm split on this... I strongly feel that no one should be overly loud in a normal carriage (listening to music/movies without headphones, and talking overly loud) but then I also feel that, the quiet coaches allowed a much better work environment, than one where everyone is talking around you.

 

[Hadders]

Personally I would remove the quiet coach from both classes on all train companies. So difficult to police & more trouble than it's worth.

It's not difficult on a full length train. What it does provide, particularly in standard is some quiet relief away from the general cackle many passengers seem to create these days.

 

[Failed Unit]

I got that mail as well. Which is odd as I hate sitting in the quiet coach. In fact I did comment they should have an option when booking which explicitly excludes sitting in it. So I am one that is very happy it is gone. (A few times I have being forced to sit in it as L & M are full).

 

[Agent_Squash]

In all honesty, from my experience First has always been quiet, even outside the quiet coach.

 

[Hadders]

In all honesty, from my experience First has always been quiet, even outside the quiet coach.

Certainly quieter ambience than Standard but I've noticed it getting increasingly noisy at weekends.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'm not sure how bothered I am about quiet coaches. I'd rather people used respect in all coaches, such as not playing music/films out loud and when speaking on the phone doing so at the same volume at which they would speak to the person next to them.

But they don't "use respect" that is the problem!

 

[Iskra]

1st is quieter than standard anyway and considering it was treated more like the 'staff coach' anyway, it's hardly a great loss.

 

[bb21]

Personally I would remove the quiet coach from both classes on all train companies. So difficult to police & more trouble than it's worth.

Agreed. Impossible to police at times.

For peace of mind, I would strongly recommend a decent headset + ear plugs and you won't then have to worry about Quiet Zones. Even Quiet Zones quite often aren't quiet.

I am in agreement about this being a prelude to the introduction of the new fleet.

 

[Marton]

I am disappointed. I try to use K if possible.

On the WCML yesterday most of the way from Glasgow to Euston there was a cacophony of business calls. Often using speaker phone.

We who want to work read or sleep are disadvantaged.

 

[Mag_seven]

Agreed. Impossible to police at times.

For peace of mind, I would strongly recommend a decent headset + ear plugs and you won't then have to worry about Quiet Zones. Even Quiet Zones quite often aren't quiet.

I am in agreement about this being a prelude to the introduction of the new fleet.

Perhaps just a notice in all coaches asking passengers to consider their fellow passengers when making calls or using personal electronic equipment would be suffice?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Perhaps just a notice in all coaches asking passengers to consider their fellow passengers when making calls or using personal electronic equipment would be suffice?

I much prefer glaring looks and an over exaggerated 'tut'. That seems to work just fine for me.

 

[tiptoptaff]

FGW/GWR got rid of 1st Class quiet coaches quite a while ago when they went to 2+6 rather than 3+5, and I have to say, it hasn't made the blindest bit of difference.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Additionally, First Class on Azuma will always have two half-length compartments at each extremity (a composite coach at the country-end, and a driving trailer with kitchen at the other) which surely will, by their nature, be no louder than sitting on top of the crew area?

Wha? The First is split between the two ends of the unit? I didn't know that, thought it was a coach and a half at one end a bit like 5-car Meridians.

 

[robbeech]

I too got the email. I usually pick seats in that coach particularly on mk4 sets, it can be quieter but there’s more chance of an extra lemonade or two up there too.

 

[Alan2603]

Awesome! Not.

 

[jopsuk]

seems fairly sensible. The number of people ticking "quiet coach" in the booking preferences is probably a good indicator for demand for it, so if it's under 10% then having one whole coach out of 2 1/2 or 3 coaches dedicated to it is clearly not working and so most of the people sitting in it will not have wanted to be in the quiet coach.

 

[boxy321]

The sort of people who talk loudly in 1st are the types who would ignore quiet coach rules anyway. I have a good eye for these lot now so sit as far away as possible.

There's typically one or two in each coach who dominate the conversation when in a group and have megaphone mouth when making those vital calls, criticising colleagues or discussing staff performance in public.

For me the most irritating sound is from the keyboard warriors. I have a silent virtual keyboard so if I do a bit, it doesn't like Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d minor accompanied by a triumphant bash of the return key at the end of each momentous sentence. Quiet coaches don't forbid this at all so I don't miss them.

Having said the above, such annoyances pale into insignificance after one has travelled on an (ex) London Midland service from, say Solihull, just after the local college chucking out time. Worse than a school bus.