London Paddington and GWR first class

[roadie]

A busy evening here at Paddington. The following probably already cover before! Minimum connection time is 15 minutes but crowds trying to get through limited gates as so much space taken up by cabins for things Heathrow Express etc rather than gates, it's starting to feel like Euston but without the staff whistling and expecting customers to run. The 18:00 to Reading has seats available at the front of the train but nothing announced about to those who scrambled on just past 1st class. If you could board earlier life would be easier. You pay a premium for 1st class but should the premium not be many times greater for essentially a private carriage as theirs probably only a dozen people across two coaches The taxpayer and standard class passengers seem to be subsidising dragging a few passengers.

 

[Merseysider]

It’s not quite clear what you’re getting at, but are you claiming that first class fares need to be more expensive?

 

[Topological]

Paddington can be more difficult because of the 2 5-cars on many services. At least with pendolinos at Euston it is possible to get to the front.

I always walk forward, but then Swansea is a long journey. Were I to be only going to Reading it would be tempting not to bother.

 

[StarCrossing]

The 18:00 to Reading has seats available at the front of the train but nothing announced about to those who scrambled on just past 1st class.

Based on my experience, the train manager could make 100 announcements that there's room at the front and almost no-one would move.

 

[Hadders]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. Should passengers move to the front of the train where it's less crowded or should 1st class be abolished? I certainly would not be favour of abolishing 1st class.

Those in the know will use the gateline on the footbridge and head to the front of the train. While Paddington is far from ideal I wouldn't compare it to Euston.

Yesterday afternoon I travelled between Paddington and Reading. I held a First Class ticket but had to stand in Standard Class because the who train was full and standing - every seat taken in 1st and standard.

 

[JamieL]

Rather than charging more, if anything First Class on evening GWR services between Paddington and Reading should be regarded as declassified. So many Reading passengers just disregard the First Class rating and sit there anyway. The guards rarely come round until after Reading. Indeed, as a regular user of the service, I can think of only one instance where a guard came in just after leaving Paddington and shouted "tickets please".

 

[sh24]

The presumption that First class is a dozen people across 2 (technically 1.5 if a 9 car IET) carriages isn't born out by my experience. it can be remarkably busy on some routes at key times.

Paddington gate staff have their moments, but the biggest constraints are people unable to scan tickets and the inevitable flurry/rush to switch the gates into boarding mode after the platform has been announced.

 

[Hadders]

Rather than charging more, if anything First Class on evening GWR services between Paddington and Reading should be regarded as declassified. So many Reading passengers just disregard the First Class rating and sit there anyway. The guards rarely come round until after Reading. Indeed, as a regular user of the service, I can think of only one instance where a guard came in just after leaving Paddington and shouted "tickets please".

Rather than declassify, the train managers could just check tickets. LNER generally manage it between Kings Cross and Stevenage, consequently there’s little abuse of 1st class.