No first class? Caerdydd to Penzance

[cholsey-choose]

Hi all,

I'm currently at Bristol Temple Meads with a 1st class advance ticket from Centre Caerdydd to Penzance, reserved seats on the GWR 10:59 train in carriage D. First time I've ever bought 1st class, holiday treat and with an advance ticket it was only slightly more expensive. I'm in carriage D and there are no seat reservations, luckily I got on early so got myself a seat. It looks like there is no 1st class... this is just regular GWR standard class. No announcements about it or anything. From browing the forum it looks like this declassification is a common issue on this route? Is it possible to apply for compensation, for example the difference between the 1st class fare and what a standard fare would have been?

Cheers

 

[TYC2]

10:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance is being operated by a 9 car train (800309) according to RTT; https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G45094/2024-08-26/detailed#allox_id=0

1st will be in coaches K and L. Assuming no other declassification, it's possible your train was originally booked to be a 5-car train, where 1st is in coach D.

 

[ikcdab]

Are you saying there is no first class accommodation at all and all coaches are standard class or are you saying that standard class passengers have use of first class accommodation with no restrictions?
Whatever the case, if you paid for something and you haven't got it, then you should apply to customer services for some money back. I guess there least they should do is refund the difference between the standard class fare and what you paid but you say this wasn't that much.
You will be passing my house at 1248. It's a very slow train.

 

[John R]

10:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance is being operated by a 9 car train (800309) according to RTT; https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G45094/2024-08-26/detailed#allox_id=0

1st will be in coaches K and L. Assuming no other declassification, it's possible your train was originally booked to be a 5-car train, where 1st is in coach D.

It’s pretty unusual in my experience for the Cardiff Penzance services to be 9 coach, so I suspect that is exactly what has happened.

 

[cholsey-choose]

Ah that's interesting thanks... maybe I should move. Hope that's not technically against the rules since I won't be in my booked seats on an advance ticket!

 

[AlterEgo]

Ah that's interesting thanks... maybe I should move. Hope that's not technically against the rules since I won't be in my booked seats on an advance ticket!

You should move, and nothing will happen except you will now be sitting in first class

 

[cholsey-choose]

Thanks for the help! I’m moving at the next stop. Very annoyed they didn’t make announcements tbh.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2024 ==

Predictably enough 1st class is basically empty... I suspect I'm not the only one in this situation. When I was sitting in coach D the conductor did do a double-take at my ticket but didn't say anything, a little surprised he didn't tell me to move. Oh well, no harm done and in a much comfier seat now! Definitely not going to bother spending the extra next time though.

 

[ikcdab]

You have another 4 hours yet. Make sure you get your complementary drinks and biscuits!

 

[Haywain]

from Centre Caerdydd to Penzance,

As we're an English language forum, that would be Cardiff Central. If we were working in the Welsh language it would be Caerdydd Canolog, not the bizarre hybrid you've used, which I struggle to see the point of.

 

[6Gman]

Thanks for the help! I’m moving at the next stop. Very annoyed they didn’t make announcements tbh.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2024 ==

Predictably enough 1st class is basically empty... I suspect I'm not the only one in this situation. When I was sitting in coach D the conductor did do a double-take at my ticket but didn't say anything, a little surprised he didn't tell me to move. Oh well, no harm done and in a much comfier seat now! Definitely not going to bother spending the extra next time though.

I would have expected the Conductor to have invited you to move. Not good customer service.

 

[cholsey-choose]

As we're an English language forum, that would be Cardiff Central. If we were working in the Welsh language it would be Caerdydd Canolog, not the bizarre hybrid you've used, which I struggle to see the point of.

Oh sorry been in Welsh Wales for a couple of weeks, often make these slips when going back to England. Was chatting to my sister all morning in Welsh about where to get food near the station, so bit of a brain fart when posting here in English about the same place.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2024 ==

You have another 4 hours yet. Make sure you get your complementary drinks and biscuits!

None on this service unfortunately. But to TBF the GWR website does warn about that.

 

[Belperpete]

. When I was sitting in coach D the conductor did do a double-take at my ticket but didn't say anything, a little surprised he didn't tell me to move.

And I am more than a little surprised that you didn't say anything to him! He probably thought that you seemed happy where you were, so why stir the pot.

 

[cholsey-choose]

And I am more than a little surprised that you didn't say anything to him! He probably thought that you seemed happy where you were, so why stir the pot.

Haha fair dos! Truth be told I did almost ask but I was at a crowded table and I couldn't think of a way to say "excuse me, I'm supposed to be in first class is this first class?" that wouldn't sound extremely ... off ... especially in Wales.

 

[74A]

You have another 4 hours yet. Make sure you get your complementary drinks and biscuits!

There won't be any tea and biscuits. No catering provided on Cardiff to Penzance trains.

 

[voyagerdude220]

For future reference, you may possibly find it much cheaper to buy a Standard Class ticket and upgrading to First Class via Seatfrog.

E.g. Tomorrow's 10:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance is only £8 (plus booking fees) to buy a First Class upgrade.

It's all subject to availability and sometimes it will only allow you to bid for an upgrade, not just buy one straight away.

 

[Belperpete]

Haha fair dos! Truth be told I did almost ask but I was at a crowded table and I couldn't think of a way to say "excuse me, I'm supposed to be in first class is this first class?" that wouldn't sound extremely ... off ... especially in Wales.

I would have started off by asking "Am I in the correct coach?" and hoping he might get the hint.

 

[contrex]

Oh sorry been in Welsh Wales for a couple of weeks, often make these slips when going back to England. Was chatting to my sister all morning in Welsh about where to get food near the station, so bit of a brain fart when posting here in English about the same place.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2024 ==


None on this service unfortunately. But to TBF the GWR website does warn about that.

Fair play to you, mate! I enjoy seeing and/or hearing a bit of Welsh, it does nobody any harm and reminds me of how very nice and friendly Welsh people are.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Oh sorry been in Welsh Wales for a couple of weeks, often make these slips when going back to England. Was chatting to my sister all morning in Welsh about where to get food near the station, so bit of a brain fart when posting here in English about the same place.

No problem! It's a common occurrence with bilingual speakers of languages. A friend of mine always comes up with strange utterances in English, as her home life, social life and work life is almost entirely in Welsh. Even her education was Welsh-medium, including university, so it's entirely common for her to write something randomly in Welsh when chatting online.