221129
Established Member
Like it or not, No one in their right mind is going to allow you to delay a train to download reservations. In fairness after a couple of attempts at a download most of us just give up.
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Problems with Virgin (WC) seat reservations on 390s Pendelinos
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Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
In that case do you clearly and repeatedly announce what the situation is, i.e. if reservations apply or not in such a case? Is it procedure to do so? It needs to be.
It in a way doesn't matter what the policy is - what is important is that everyone on that train knows what it is. That way conflict is avoided or at least minimised.
That's why I think it would make sense to have labels stating this.
Well, about £30 has got me from Horsham to Salford in my car, with little stress thanks to a clear run all the way, only one stop for food and toilet break, and a bit quicker door to door. This compares to a little under £50 for a standard one way ticket because there weren't any advance tickets left. Having the car in Salford means it is feasible to take a day trip to Snowdonia yesterday, climb Snowdon via Crib Goch, and get back in time to start the evening meal, something which is not practical at this time of year by public transport.
Sorry, but unless you can buy an advance ticket (which I couldn't), and don't need a car whilst at your destination, a train is not going to be competitive with a car when it comes to cost, timing or comfort. That is one reason the vast majority will choose to drive. This is before you add the risk of disruption from the Southern strike nonsense, which seems to be going for the world record of longest unresolved dispute.
LeylandLen
Member
OK I am following this thread as I started it. All very interesting especially those regarding Virgin.I know the Pendelinos were first used for Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, 15 years ago so I assume the technology dates from 2002 as well. Obviously technology has evolved a lot in the 15 years, but its not been updated on the 390s or Voyagers.So I assume we have to put up with the problems with seat reservations for the foreseeable future. It would be good in my opinion , if only from a PR perspective, for Virgin (WC) to let us passengers/customers know the state of play with technology on the 390s especially for those paying full fare on Peak services and the precise technical reasons why reservations are downloaded AFTER passengers have boarded the train . I should add for those not familiar with Pendelinos , they are narrower than an HST or mark 3 stock so not easy to move seats if there are passengers boarding in the aisles with luggage/ bags etc, yes seat reservations are free so not always taken up if passengers decide to take a later train .
How do reservations work on 40 year old HSTs on FGW ?..
How do reservations work on 40 year old HSTs on FGW ?..
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DarloRich
Veteran Member
same as they always did - low tech ticket in the back of a seat?
221129
Established Member
It would be safe to assume that the technology would be slightly older when it was developed.
If only it was that easy....
Unsure if you are aware but Euston is underground where the signal is at best poor. Added to the fact that the train crew have several other more important things to be doing as well in the time between them arriving to the train and it leaving.
A piece of paper stuck into the seat back. Which in the event of disruption you can forget reservations at all.
VauxhallandI
Established Member
I agree it is an issue, a real pain in the butt and imagine caused consternation with many a passenger.
I really don't understand why software can be a hassle to update, it's not physical. Granted I don't know the detail but if the software was that inept at my place of work to internal customers never mind paying external customers there would be some serious questions asked at a high level
I really don't understand why software can be a hassle to update, it's not physical. Granted I don't know the detail but if the software was that inept at my place of work to internal customers never mind paying external customers there would be some serious questions asked at a high level
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
There may be a limit of what you can do with old embedded system software almost certainly written in assembly language.
As another example, people might recall that on Southern you get train-side displays saying something like:
This is coach number 1
<scrolls>London Victoria.....calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
...which while useful is really not the optimal layout for such screens. However, I suspect the screens are relatively hard coded (i.e. on a physical EPROM) to do a fixed first line plus a scrolly message sent in via RS232 or similar, as the original layout was something like the following (as still used on other Electrostar and 172 TOCs who don't do as much portion working):
London Victoria
<scrolls>calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
So what they did was a pragmatic choice that allowed the information required to be provided. But not the ideal which would be something like:
Coach 1 - London Victoria
<scrolls>calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
or somesuch.
Therefore to me any solution (certainly in this franchise) is going to be more of a procedural one, such as announcements and stickers that reservations apply regardless of display and to go to the unreserved coaches without (which need to be unreserved fully at all times, no overspill into F etc). That way they can be downloaded en route, and then once verified an announcement could be made saying people standing should go and try again.
Or somesuch, e.g. the other option of trying a couple of times then switching it off and declaring a free for all. Again, it barely matters what it is as long as there is one and it's clear - presently it is not, and it causes conflict and stress unnecessarily. I don't think it works leaving it to staff discretion, I think a clear policy is needed to be followed at all times and to be well publicised.
As another example, people might recall that on Southern you get train-side displays saying something like:
This is coach number 1
<scrolls>London Victoria.....calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
...which while useful is really not the optimal layout for such screens. However, I suspect the screens are relatively hard coded (i.e. on a physical EPROM) to do a fixed first line plus a scrolly message sent in via RS232 or similar, as the original layout was something like the following (as still used on other Electrostar and 172 TOCs who don't do as much portion working):
London Victoria
<scrolls>calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
So what they did was a pragmatic choice that allowed the information required to be provided. But not the ideal which would be something like:
Coach 1 - London Victoria
<scrolls>calling at Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere, Clapham Junction and London Victoria
or somesuch.
Therefore to me any solution (certainly in this franchise) is going to be more of a procedural one, such as announcements and stickers that reservations apply regardless of display and to go to the unreserved coaches without (which need to be unreserved fully at all times, no overspill into F etc). That way they can be downloaded en route, and then once verified an announcement could be made saying people standing should go and try again.
Or somesuch, e.g. the other option of trying a couple of times then switching it off and declaring a free for all. Again, it barely matters what it is as long as there is one and it's clear - presently it is not, and it causes conflict and stress unnecessarily. I don't think it works leaving it to staff discretion, I think a clear policy is needed to be followed at all times and to be well publicised.
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