Credit to GWR on board catering staff

[Fast Track]

On the 1627 Paddington to Castle Cary tonight a 2 unit IET. A number of passengers found themselves at Hungerford in the wrong half of the train to disembark. Some very stressed but well done to the female catering attendant for the support and reassurance she gave abling them to disembark safely. Their role is much wider than people may appreciate.

 

[styles]

Please send this feedback in using the contact form on the GWR website also

 

[FGW_DID]

On the 1627 Paddington to Castle Cary tonight a 2 unit IET. A number of passengers found themselves at Hungerford in the wrong half of the train to disembark. Some very stressed but well done to the female catering attendant for the support and reassurance she gave abling them to disembark safely. Their role is much wider than people may appreciate.

This would have been the ‘lead customer host‘ who has extra responsibilities above their normal catering role. It was a role introduced by GWR for the IETs when 2x 5 cars are operating together, to alleviate the need for 2x Train Managers to be rostered. One 5 car will be under the supervision of the LCH, the other 5 car will be supervised by the Train Manager.
if there is no LCH available then one of the 5 cars will have to be locked out of use.

 

[sh24]

GWR catering staff are often very good. As noted above, please do write in with praise.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

May I ask how they disembarked?

 

[Fast Track]

An onboard pa announcement had said anyone for Hungerford should walk through to the front half of the train. On finding the door to the next unit locked before arrival at Hungerford some people were understandably very worried where they could disembark. All was well at Hungerford after some kind reassurance and the carriage made the platform.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==

Please send this feedback in using the contact form on the GWR website also

Will do.

 

[800Travel]

An onboard pa announcement had said anyone for Hungerford should walk through to the front half of the train. On finding the door to the next unit locked before arrival at Hungerford some people were understandably very worried where they could disembark. All was well at Hungerford after some kind reassurance and the carriage made the platform.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==


Will do.

For reference, the door to the next unit that was locked was likely the galley door or cab door. There is no gangway/passageway between 80x units

 

[Ashley Hill]

Five and a half coaches fit at Hungerford. If the galley is leading on the rear set then unless the buffet crew let passengers out through the galley (which they shouldn`t) passengers are taken through to the next station. The auto-announcer dosen`t help by suggesting passengers can walk between the two sets. In the above case passengers will be told to transfer at Newbury.

 

[irish_rail]

Unfortunately this happens all too often at Hungerford, Ivybridge, Hayle etc etc. The trouble is people don't listen to the TMs announcements with their great big noise cancelling headphones on. In an ideal world, you wouldn't put 10s on the WofE trains and only use 9s, but sadly GWR management seem preoccupied with keeping the much nicer and more convenient 9 car sets on the Bristol route.

 

[father_jack]

On the 1627 Paddington to Castle Cary tonight a 2 unit IET. A number of passengers found themselves at Hungerford in the wrong half of the train to disembark. Some very stressed but well done to the female catering attendant for the support and reassurance she gave abling them to disembark safely. Their role is much wider than people may appreciate.

Off topic slightly but on another thread there are people calling for no "front set leads" or even any staff.....

 

[RPI]

This happens every night, the amount of people who fail to take note of the announcement at Newbury is unreal, what makes it worse is that the majority are regular commuters!

 

[321362]

This situation has caught me out at Long Eaton on a 10 car 222 formation. No announcements at all telling you that only the front unit will open doors. Nobody told to transfer at the previous station.

 

[Carlisle]

Off topic slightly but on another thread there are people calling for no "front set leads" or even any staff.....

Staff presence is always welcome but if shortages occur is locking half the train out on a busy service really considered best practice ? several other TOCs seem to have managed for decades without this policy.