Please don't walk through first class

[TUC]

On arrival at Kings Cross on East Coast this morning, an announcement asked standard class passengers to not walk through first class when leaving the train-an announcement I'd never heard made before.

Quite apart from it being somewhat pointless-after all, when everyone is leaving the train it seems to matter little if passengers momentarily pass through first class-it is also slightly offensive, as if having standard class passengers in first class even for a moment would somehow contaminate or offend first class passengers.

Has anyone else come across this announcement before?

 

[merlodlliw]

On arrival at Kings Cross on East Coast this morning, an announcement asked standard class passengers to not walk through first class when leaving the train-an announcement I'd never heard made before.

Quite apart from it being somewhat pointless-after all, when everyone is leaving the train it seems to matter little if passengers momentarily pass through first class-it is also slightly offensive, as if having standard class passengers in first class even for a moment would somehow contaminate or offend first class passengers.

Has anyone else come across this announcement before?

No doubt one of the new rich who forgets his/her background as complained,I have seen some in first with offensive habits,they all use the same platform.

 

[ainsworth74]

It's quite common (though perhaps not on East Coast now I think about it) and it's to avoid a rush of people all making their way into first class before the train actually arrives at it's destination. I think they're less fussed once the train actually arrives and doors open.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Without knowing any details, speculation is risky, but my first thought was there there might have been a particularly sensitive group of passengers on-board, who merit protection.

. . . . it is also slightly offensive, . . . .

I'm sure no offence was implied!

 

[4SRKT]

I had it on EMT once. My train was late into St Pancras so I moved to the front to bail. I wouldn't normally bother with this as frankly walking along the platform is easier than through a busy train. A silly wee girl working in the buffet car told me not to but I ignored her because I had a connection onto FCC to make. She followed me and told me again not to, but I explained that I was only doing this because EMT, her employer, had made me late and therefore necessitated this move, adding that I wouldn't normally dream of invading the rarefied atmosphere of first class with my offensive (and presumably smelly) second class personage. She left me alone then.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Unless it was really vital i see no reason why you would do it really, walking along a platform is much easier than down a train.

 

[PG]

If the formation was reversed would an announcement be made for pax not to walk through std coaches

 

[Moonshot]

Interesting that John Major pops up in the news today following a speech he made recently....and I quote

He reportedly said: "In every single sphere of British influence, the upper echelons of power in 2013 are held overwhelmingly by the privately educated or the affluent middle class.

"To me, from my background, I find that truly shocking."

 

[CyrusWuff]

One possible reason is that an eight coach train has 16 doors and it empties a hell of a lot quicker if you use all the available doors instead of everyone trying to use the same door, whilst at the same time the crew are trying to undertake their turnaround duties...

 

[Yew]

Moving walkways on platforms at termini would solve this problem...

 

[4SRKT]

Moving walkways on platforms at termini would solve this problem...

And help ensure that the average weight of the population eventually reaches 20 stone!

 

[Squaddie]

British Airways also prevents economy class passengers using the toilets at the front of the plane, even if only the first two or three rows are designated as business class. I don't think there's any doubt that having people wandering through a premium coach or cabin isn't good for the ambience for which some passengers have paid so much.

 

[tractakid]

If London Midland ever request this on their Desiro trains...

 

[Moonshot]

Maybe a conductor on a Pacer should announce " Please wipe your feet as you disembark !! "

 

[Welshman]

I suppose it could be a little annoying if you've travelled in first class, and are standing-up in the aisle to retrieve luggage from the rack or putting your coat on, etc, and there's a constant stream of people barging past you to try to be amongst the first off the train.

But not that much of a problem on the world scale of things.

 

[colchesterken]

Odd how things work.on GE the first class on the Norwich trains is always at the London end. At Liv St the platform staff pile everyone in the first class door nearest to the buffers at departure time. so they only have to close one door it gets the train away on time but there is a prosession of us plebs walking through the toffs bit for some time after departure

 

[broadgage]

If the formation was reversed would an announcement be made for pax not to walk through std coaches

NO ! a first class ticket is valid in standard, nothing prevents a first class ticket holder from sitting in, passing through, or standing in steerage if they so wish.

A standard ticket is not valid in first (unless specialy authorised) and holders of such tickets should not use first class accomadation, even briefly to pass through.

As a fairly regular first class rail user I object to first being invaded by standard class passengers for the last 30 minutes or more.
On long distance FGW services into London, large numbers of standard class passengers regulary move forward into First in order to alight at Reading, and after the Reading stop a second batch move forawrd to be first out at Paddington.
This results in considerable congestion with the aisles being blocked by luggage and baby carriages. Those who hold first class tickets are then unable to alight promptly because they have to wait for the hoards in the gangways and vestibules to move.

 

[Johnny_w]

This happens regularly on commuter-hours greater Anglia services.

Only Time it gets annoying is the occasional draft as the door opens/closes. No different from standard. I try and sit in the center of the carriage for this reason!

I can see why some people could get a bit donkey over it.

JW

 

[asylumxl]

NO ! a first class ticket is valid in standard, nothing prevents a first class ticket holder from sitting in, passing through, or standing in steerage if they so wish.

A standard ticket is not valid in first (unless specialy authorised) and holders of such tickets should not use first class accomadation, even briefly to pass through.

As a fairly regular first class rail user I object to first being invaded by standard class passengers for the last 30 minutes or more.
On long distance FGW services into London, large numbers of standard class passengers regulary move forward into First in order to alight at Reading, and after the Reading stop a second batch move forawrd to be first out at Paddington.
This results in considerable congestion with the aisles being blocked by luggage and baby carriages. Those who hold first class tickets are then unable to alight promptly because they have to wait for the hoards in the gangways and vestibules to move.

My my, what a dim view you have of the great unwashed. Your view of what entitlement you have as a first class passenger seems somewhat skewed too.

Does the first class ticket entitle you to alight from the train uninhibited? No.

Does it even entitle you to be free from luggage or baby carriages? No.

As far as I'm aware (and has been repeatedly stated) first class does not entitle you to anything more than a different style of seating and a few amenities. Niceties such as complimentary drinks and food are not required under the terms of your ticket and are purely discretionary.

If fellow first class ticket holders did the same would you be screaming bloody murder?

If promptness is of importance to you, perhaps you should follow suit and get up in advance.

 

[A-driver]

I had it on EMT once. My train was late into St Pancras so I moved to the front to bail. I wouldn't normally bother with this as frankly walking along the platform is easier than through a busy train. A silly wee girl working in the buffet car told me not to but I ignored her because I had a connection onto FCC to make. She followed me and told me again not to, but I explained that I was only doing this because EMT, her employer, had made me late and therefore necessitated this move, adding that I wouldn't normally dream of invading the rarefied atmosphere of first class with my offensive (and presumably smelly) second class personage. She left me alone then.

I think that that is very rude, unfair and totally unnecessary from you.

Please explain why she was 'silly' as you claim?

Also, are you sure it was her employer who made you late and not another operator delaying the train or a network rail issue?

And also for what reason did you feel justification to ignore a request from staff? If delayed by traffic in a car would you ignore a policeman giving a hand stop signal as the road network has already made you late?

Sorry to bite but that post is totally over the top, both how you wrote it and what actually happened. No need whatsoever to call that member of staff a 'silly wee girl' for daring to challenge you when you strayed into part of the train you arnt entitled to be in and to choose to ignore her as you feel you are too important to miss a connection is pretty out if order and says a lot about you.

It's not a snobbery thing but one benefit of first class on some trains is being at the right end for London. It's not fair for half of standard class to block the isles and vestibules meaning first class ticket holders can't get out of their seats or to the luggage racks until everyone else has got off.

 

[work-traveller]

Slightly less annoying than what I observed on a Swiss flight from Zurich to Hong Kong, where the business class passengers were blocked from leaving via the front exit until the first class passengers had exited. Annoying for those who'd paid several £1000s for the 'privilege' of business class!

 

[PG]

As a fairly regular first class rail user I object to first being invaded by standard class passengers for the last 30 minutes or more.
On long distance FGW services into London, large numbers of standard class passengers regulary move forward into First in order to alight at Reading, and after the Reading stop a second batch move forawrd to be first out at Paddington.
This results in considerable congestion with the aisles being blocked by luggage and baby carriages. Those who hold first class tickets are then unable to alight promptly because they have to wait for the hoards in the gangways and vestibules to move.

In respect to FGW services into Paddington, years ago I do recall what you describe being the case. Since the Circle line was cut at Edgeware Road and thus the Hammersmith & City (HC) line became easier for eastbound travel it is less of a problem as being near the buffers at Paddington makes for a longer walk to get to the HC platforms.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think that that is very rude, unfair and totally unnecessary from you.

Please explain why she was 'silly' as you claim?

Also, are you sure it was her employer who made you late and not another operator delaying the train or a network rail issue?

And also for what reason did you feel justification to ignore a request from staff? If delayed by traffic in a car would you ignore a policeman giving a hand stop signal as the road network has already made you late?

Sorry to bite but that post is totally over the top, both how you wrote it and what actually happened. No need whatsoever to call that member of staff a 'silly wee girl' for daring to challenge you when you strayed into part of the train you arnt entitled to be in and to choose to ignore her as you feel you are too important to miss a connection is pretty out if order and says a lot about you.

It's not a snobbery thing but one benefit of first class on some trains is being at the right end for London. It's not fair for half of standard class to block the isles and vestibules meaning first class ticket holders can't get out of their seats or to the luggage racks until everyone else has got off.

I'd have to agree, the member of staff was correctly doing her job so degrading comments are poor form.

Have to ask: would a few RPIs with a tensa barrier set up on the terminus platforms at the doors from First Class coaches excessing anyone exiting First Class not in possession of a First Class ticket be a way to discourage this practice?

 

[6Gman]

I suppose it could be a little annoying if you've travelled in first class, and are standing-up in the aisle to retrieve luggage from the rack or putting your coat on, etc, and there's a constant stream of people barging past you to try to be amongst the first off the train.

I think my fellow countryman may have hit the nail on the head!

 

[Geezertronic]

VT do it a lot, and they also stop Standard Class passengers from walking through First Class so they can exit the train and station quicker at Euston

 

[ryan125hst]

A standard ticket is not valid in first (unless specialy authorised) and holders of such tickets should not use first class accomadation, even briefly to pass through.

What about when standard class passengers are passing though to use the toilet at the other side of the first class accommodation, or when there is standard class accommodation on either side of first class accommodation (e.g. on Class 185's, 350's/450's, 180's etc..)?

 

[455driver]

I had it on EMT once. My train was late into St Pancras so I moved to the front to bail. I wouldn't normally bother with this as frankly walking along the platform is easier than through a busy train. A silly wee girl working in the buffet car told me not to but I ignored her because I had a connection onto FCC to make. She followed me and told me again not to, but I explained that I was only doing this because EMT, her employer, had made me late and therefore necessitated this move, adding that I wouldn't normally dream of invading the rarefied atmosphere of first class with my offensive (and presumably smelly) second class personage. She left me alone then.

So its okay for you to travel in 1st class because the train is a bit late, how much time did you actually save using the 1st class door compared to the first standard class door, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, maybe more?

As you consider it acceptable to name call how would you feel if she called you back with a-

'Oye idiot you are not allowed in there'

I bet you would be spouting off on here and writing letters etc but its okay for you to do it!

What a <deleted> :roll:

 

[Muzer]

IMHO (speaking as a mostly standard class passenger) the only time it's acceptable to walk through first is when you're in a multiple unit coupled to another and want to get to the rest of the standard seating (or a toilet, should the others be out of order). I wouldn't walk through first and then remain in the first class vestibule waiting to get off.


@broadgage: the conditions of carriage specifically forbid only *remaining* in a first class area, not passing through. What I suggest is perfectly compliant.

 

[Crossover]

I don't think the announcement in uncalled for at all. I'd say one of the perks of travelling First Class on a journey into London is being at the concourse end of the terminal platform, and being able to make a quick escape.

On the lines of Pendolinos, Voyagers etc, there is no reason why anyone from Standard should need to go through First anyway. Naturally, on the likes of Desiros, the same cannot be said

 

[Squaddie]

Slightly less annoying than what I observed on a Swiss flight from Zurich to Hong Kong, where the business class passengers were blocked from leaving via the front exit until the first class passengers had exited. Annoying for those who'd paid several £1000s for the 'privilege' of business class!

That's almost always the way it works: first class passengers disembark first (sometimes they have a separate exit), then business class, then premium economy and finally the hordes. There are typically no more than a handful of first-class passengers so business class passengers don't usually have to wait for too long.

 

[GodAtum]

Ive always found people walking through 1st class very annoying and wish more TOCs would stop it :-x

This is especially common on the London bound FGW HSTs and SWT 444. The mass of people coming from standard class creates queue to get off!!