Thomas Ralph
05-04-2010, 12:19
On a large number of services I've travelled on recently, the seat reservation notices have either not been up at all or have only come on at random. For example, on the train I'm sitting on (1230 Cork-Heuston), we're currently between Mallow and Limerick Junction. The seat reservation notices for passengers who boarded at Mallow are up, but there's nothing for seats reserved from Cork, nor any warning for seats reserved from Limerick Junction or Portlaoise. The train is booked out, so once we get to Limerick Junction it'll be cue massive musical chairs.
If there's a genuine fault with the reservation signs, anyone with a minimal level of cop-on would surely be able to make announcements at the stations before the train arrives, and on the trains, saying "carriages A, B, and C are fully reserved, please do not board these carriages unless you have a reservation". And even if there isn't a fault, it's good practice to make that announcement anyway. The staff at Cork were, in fairness, directing people to the right carriages.
There is not one member of staff on this half of the train (it's a 2×3 22K, so I presume they're all in the other half) to resolve any conflicts.
Most of this is nothing other than laziness and sloppiness and is causing passengers unnecessary grief and conflict. I imagine it'll only be a matter of time before there is a physical conflict between someone who tries to move someone else from their reserved seat.
I'm sure other people have had similar experiences, post here if so.
If there's a genuine fault with the reservation signs, anyone with a minimal level of cop-on would surely be able to make announcements at the stations before the train arrives, and on the trains, saying "carriages A, B, and C are fully reserved, please do not board these carriages unless you have a reservation". And even if there isn't a fault, it's good practice to make that announcement anyway. The staff at Cork were, in fairness, directing people to the right carriages.
There is not one member of staff on this half of the train (it's a 2×3 22K, so I presume they're all in the other half) to resolve any conflicts.
Most of this is nothing other than laziness and sloppiness and is causing passengers unnecessary grief and conflict. I imagine it'll only be a matter of time before there is a physical conflict between someone who tries to move someone else from their reserved seat.
I'm sure other people have had similar experiences, post here if so.