The Queen is on my train from King's Cross!

[jon0844]

Say, like a Royal party?

Wonder if the cleaners had to pick up dozens of quails egg shells and Swan sandwich wrappers.

Probably nicer than some of the stuff you see on these trains at times, like KFC chicken just piled up on the seat and food smeared on tables, windows and the floor - as well as drink that has been sprayed everywhere. Not so much a party (it is possbile to eat and drink on a train without making a mess!) but more like feeding time at the zoo, by the extremely dumb animals that would otherwise be extinct by now.

Really? So they were issued reservations for a non reservable train or did they just pay for 12 hoping they wouldn't have to stand?

She can't just demand the whole carriage to herself (and party), who does she think she is? The blooming Queen of somewhere?

If all the seats were booked with valid tickets, I guess you could effectively reserve the first class compartment. How does it work if you have valid tickets but no passengers - and you're not royal?

In any case, FCC can surely take any section of a train out of service? I've been on a press trip on a 377 with Southern and they took the front carriage out of public service for us. There was a member of staff by the internal door to stop anyone coming in (or, perhaps to stop any of us getting out!).

 

[wintonian]

In any case, FCC can surely take any section of a train out of service? I've been on a press trip on a 377 with Southern and they took the front carriage out of public service for us. There was a member of staff by the internal door to stop anyone coming in (or, perhaps to stop any of us getting out!).

I know one must obey instruction form authorised persons, but where does it say such authorised people are permitted to discriminate between passengers when giving such instruction (legal and H&S reasons excepted)?

In any case is discrimination on the basis of social class prohibited under the Equality Act?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

I presume that, in the absence of any posts from HRH on the "Red Pen" thread, the unit concerned was not a "winner"...

 

[jon0844]

I know one must obey instruction form authorised persons, but where does it say such authorised people are permitted to discriminate between passengers when giving such instruction (legal and H&S reasons excepted)?

In any case is discrimination on the basis of social class prohibited under the Equality Act?

I am not sure we'll ever find out! I doubt even Graham Smith from Republic would seek to embarrass himself by pursuing such things!

She took a train at a time when I expect it was pretty quiet and nobody cared, besides the press that were told of her journey and could fill some column inches on an otherwise slow pre-Christmas news day.

 

[A-driver]

Most train companies offer group reservations for a big enough group or for VIP visitors. Southeastern used to often reserve an ebtire coach of an off peak train for local school round dart ford and filling ham to go into London-reserved stickers were on the windows and doors to give a full coach to the school. Southern locked off the front coach of a Brighton express when Gordon brown travelled with them just before the last election and I have seen it done on other TOCs. Just because they don't offer seat reservations dosnt mean they don't offer reserved coaches for various things.

 

[wintonian]

If it was a HST I suppose you could get a couple of picnic chairs and shove her in the DVT?

 

[Manchester77]

If it was a HST I suppose you could get a couple of picnic chairs and shove her in the DVT?

HSTs don't have DVTs.....

 

[asylumxl]

HSTs don't have DVTs.....

They do have parcel space in the power cars though...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I had Princess Margaret on one of my 321 units at short notice - back in the day - we had a very clean unit and I decided to give the internal glass in the 1st section another going over before she arrived. She came early , and when I did the "Good Afternoon your Royal Highness etc spiel" to accompany her to the train , she chortled "I seem to have taken you unaware" - as the yellow duster was hanging out of my suit pocket. (the smell of Pledge being overpowering also) - a great sense of humour and a no nonsense attitude....

 

[Yew]

They do have parcel space in the power cars though...

Thats when they enter preservation. Chairs in the parcel space behind the re-instated valentas

 

[wintonian]

They do have parcel space in the power cars though...

That's what I meant

 

[yorksrob]

Sounds like one of those occasions when a proper compartment - as opposed to a first class saloon, would have been ideal.

 

[bnm]

I had Princess Margaret on one of my 321 units at short notice - back in the day

Arf arf, fnarr fnarr. Margaret was always something of a good time girl...

 

[snail]

I know one must obey instruction form authorised persons, but where does it say such authorised people are permitted to discriminate between passengers when giving such instruction (legal and H&S reasons excepted)?

In any case is discrimination on the basis of social class prohibited under the Equality Act?

Surely a TOC can do what they like with their trains? It's a security matter, not a class distinction.

 

[wintonian]

Surely a TOC can do what they like with their trains?

As long as it's within the law yes - obviously.

It's a security matter, not a class distinction.

You could look at it either way, besides it wasn't a serious point I was making.

 

[AeroSpace]

Surely a TOC can do what they like with their trains? It's a security matter, not a class distinction.

No, they're contractually obliged to offer a certain level of service, and the counterparty is the Government - which acts on behalf of the public.

They wouldn't be allowed to reserve an entire public train for the Queen, so why should part of a train be allowed?

 

[A-driver]

No, they're contractually obliged to offer a certain level of service, and the counterparty is the Government - which acts on behalf of the public.

They wouldn't be allowed to reserve an entire public train for the Queen, so why should part of a train be allowed?

Reserving part of the train isn't any different to looking part of the train out of public use which they often do - train faults can often see the front or back coach locked out and on occasion on late night trains if full if drunks or in the summer if the air con isn't working in the cab we often lock out the first class behind us as drivers.

 

[wintonian]

Reserving part of the train isn't any different to looking part of the train out of public use which they often do - train faults can often see the front or back coach locked out and on occasion on late night trains if full if drunks or in the summer if the air con isn't working in the cab we often lock out the first class behind us as drivers.

Trains can also be cancelled due to unforeseen faults or track conditions etc. but I don't see any services cancelled due them being booked for private use.

 

[stevefreestone]

Interesting question, but would the security team be searching every other passenger on a train with Her Maj on board?

 

[A-driver]

Interesting question, but would the security team be searching every other passenger on a train with Her Maj on board?

No-they would run a sniffer dog etc round the train and then monitor everyone getting on. They may discreetly have the sniffer dog at the top of the platform but that depends. I was on a southern train which Gordon brown was on and he had the front coach. They had security just by the internal doors into the front coach preventing people from entering, others at the doors to direct other passengers to other coaches at stations and at vic a sniffer dog with handler walking up and down the front 2 coach lengths on the platform.

There is only so much they can do and intelligence is the best method.

 

[SPADTrap]

In the summer if the air con isn't working in the cab we often lock out the first class behind us as drivers.

How come?

 

[A-driver]

How come?

You can then open the 1st class windows and leave the cab door open to get some air circulating at speed-the cab air con is very poor and being that the cabs have huge windscreens they get like a greenhouse. It's difficult to drive at speed with the cab windows open as they get too noisey and you can't hear the DSD and AWS alarms so with the first class windows open and cab door open it nicely cools the cab down. It's what was advised rather than actually fixing the cab cooling units or fitting proper air con.

 

[brianthegiant]

Yes they do.

FCC will have been notified at least 24hrs in advance. A unit will have been selected for the service (one that's recently been through a heavy clean and has no open reliability issues) and a travelling fitter or RSI will be on board.

It used to be the trailer vehicle with the disabled toilet was LOOU for the use of HRH.

Various members of the royal family have been using 365's for years, including Prince Andrew.......

I rode in the back cab on one royal service back in the day and it was run as a normal service, no priority from signallers. The driver didn't even know he was driving a special until a DM and the route director turned up to ride up front with him.

I wonder if FCC pass on these additional costs to the Palace? just curious who is footing the bill..?

 

[SPADTrap]

You can then open the 1st class windows and leave the cab door open to get some air circulating at speed-the cab air con is very poor and being that the cabs have huge windscreens they get like a greenhouse. It's difficult to drive at speed with the cab windows open as they get too noisey and you can't hear the DSD and AWS alarms so with the first class windows open and cab door open it nicely cools the cab down. It's what was advised rather than actually fixing the cab cooling units or fitting proper air con.

I had thought this would be the answer but stopped myself before typing it to think 'really?!' Haha.

Guess it makes things err interesting

For what its worth, the grill always makes me laugh a little as the smiling train pulls into Welwyn with a platform full of moody commuters!

 

[millemille]

I wonder if FCC pass on these additional costs to the Palace? just curious who is footing the bill..?

What additional costs?

All of the staff involved were already employed and paid for and were just doing their job.

It's not as if any revenue was lost due to passengers being turned away.

 

[Jordeh]

I wonder if FCC pass on these additional costs to the Palace? just curious who is footing the bill..?

In addition to the point made in the post above; I'm sure the good annual publicity from this is more than good enough for FCC anyway.

 

[34D]

In any case is discrimination on the basis of social class prohibited under the Equality Act?

I don't believe so.

 

[6Gman]

She probably does...

She's certainly done some interesting routes loco-hauled!

( 2x20s to Aberystwyth takes some beating!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Say, like a Royal party?

Wonder if the cleaners had to pick up dozens of quails egg shells and Swan sandwich wrappers.

I had a swan sandwich once - they make you really thirsty.

I was spitting feathers!


[I'll get my coat]

 

[brianthegiant]

What additional costs?

All of the staff involved were already employed and paid for and were just doing their job.

It's not as if any revenue was lost due to passengers being turned away.

that's not the impression given in the rest of this thread, for example it was mentioned that a fitter travels with the train, which is beyond the normal level of service. If the fitter is on a train, failure probabilities dictate that he's probably reading the paper & not servicing trains. So there is clearly an opportunity cost to that provision.

 

[jon0844]

The Queen doesn't travel every day. I am sure FCC did what it did to ensure a smooth and reliable journey, and to avoid being featured in the Daily Mail after having delayed her because the train broke down or something.

She doesn't travel in the peak and the photos in the papers are all amazing publicity for FCC. Everyone is happy, bar those who have to moan to be happy or have an agenda (e.g. Being anti-monarchy).

I bet she caused less hassle than a bunch of drunk chavs chucking rubbish and puke all over the train!