Next fastest train to ...

[Nicholas43]

At some big stations (eg Reading) there are a few boards which claim to display the Next Fastest train to popular destinations (eg Oxford).
They mean "The train that will get you to Oxford soonest unless there is some mess-up we don't yet know about". So, in this example, they will display, for example, a Hereford which is expected to overtake an all-stations. I don't know how clever they are at working out that the Hereford is now so late that you'd be better off on the all-stations.
What do members think of Next Fastest? Logically, it's nonsense. In principle, in a day's timetable there can be a fastest train (which happens to be timetabled to take 2 minutes less than standard), and a next fastest train, which happens to be timetabled to take 1 minute less than standard. So Next Fastest isn't what they mean.
"Best train" is attractive. But in this case (Reading to Oxford) it might need a footnote "if you don't mind a cramped noisy smelly Voyager / Thames Turbo whose air conditioning has failed, obvs"
Would "Recommended train" do?
Or "Suggested train" ?
Or "Normally quickest train" ?

 

[SeanG]

"Train which arrives first at XXXXX"?

or how about

"Learn to read a Bloody timetable :-P

 

[cle]

"First train for" seems clear.

 

[Nicholas43]

"Train which arrives first at XXXXX"?

Probably too long, I think. And would be even longer in the more accurate form "Train which we expect to arrive first at XXXXX"

"Learn to read a Bloody timetable" :-P

Yesss!

 

[D6975]

They also tend to ignore the possibility of getting somewhere much earlier by changing. Usually only direct services show.

 

[Nicholas43]

"First train for" seems clear.

Clear, yes, but not what they in fact display. The first train can be a stopper that will, they hope, be overtaken by the second train. If so, they display the second train.

 

[D6975]

"Learn to read a Bloody timetable :-P

Sadly there are lots of people out there who can't read a timetable. And I don't mean due to any kind of disability, just lack of education/common sense.

 

[jopsuk]

Clear, yes, but not what they in fact display. The first train can be a stopper that will, they hope, be overtaken by the second train. If so, they display the second train.

Indeed. This is part of the whole idea.

 

[cle]

Clear, yes, but not what they in fact display. The first train can be a stopper that will, they hope, be overtaken by the second train. If so, they display the second train.

Yep I get that. The 'for' should imply 'to arrive at' rather than first train to leave.

 

[Class377]

I don't mind the boards, means the sheep pile on to the first train to save a few minutes and therefore I can get on a slower train with a more peaceful journey!

 

[Tetchytyke]

It depends which way you're going. If everyone at Paddington for Reading piled on the stopper, there'd be no room for people who live at the local stations. It's a good way of directing people to the most appropriate train.

 

[DarloRich]

They do it at Milton Keynes and include...... Bletchley in the list of stations! The next fastest train to Bletchley from Milton Keynes will be the next one doh!

 

[jopsuk]

Weirdly, whilst you might not like the exact wording or question their very existence, I find them quite helpful- and given their proliferation, I'd guess many people do.

 

[AM9]

Could this get a bit complicated at stations where destinations can be reached using two (or more) TOCs services, where tickets are sold for use on one TOC only? Such cases could occur at Crewe, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, and even Reading, (post Crossrail).

 

[steevp]

I find them very valuable, especially now there are no printed pocket timetables on FGW. As someone who has (occasionally) caught a train that went to right way, but was not booked to stop at my station, I need all the help I can get

 

[swt_passenger]

How about this?

"Recommended train to..."

Probably no room...

 

[b0b]

How about this?

"Recommended train to..."

Probably no room...

Or just "To ..."