Re: Overbooking of TGVs (Was Eurostar electrical and signalling)

"David Eerdmans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> P.L.Guillemin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in article
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
 that they have the choice of overbooking
> > 
> > Because that can make the journey a misery for both seated and
> > standing passengers. A cheaper fare for standees would help swallowing
> > the pill.
> 
> So you're turning away customers who are even willing to accept a bad
> service? Sounds like a weird practice to me...

Because those customers will rant anyway after travelling for 1-4 hrs
standing...


> > At least airlines are forced to compensate grounded overbooked
> > passengers.
> 
> Of course. Despite the fact that they were told they could fly, they had to
> remain on the airport. That's a completely different situation.

Some airlines now tend to be more transparent and warn passengers that
they have been overbooked.


> > > They chose so themselves, so it seems that they perfer standing above
> > > taking another option. Why would you forbid passengers taking such a
> > > choice?
> > 
> > Because that can create inconvenience for seated passengers. Eg: If
> > they can not use the toilets or catering facilities or if standing
> > passengers abusively smoke in the vestibules... A ban on standing
> > passengers is clearly a question of image.
> 
> So the image of the company will be better if passengers are turned away on
> a regular basis because trains are full?

At least, the operator will not be blamed tyo make money for the sake
of it. When Operation Princess was launched 1 year ago, Virgin XC
Voyagers were really crowded, and you could hear many people blaming
Virgin for making profit at their expense...

The image of the operator will also be improved to seated passengers,
as they will not experience the misery associated with overcrowding.


> > Beyond 20 standing passengers per TGV carriage, speed restrictions are
> > also applicable (220 kph until 40 standing passengers, 160kph beyond
> > IIRC), which is not good for timekeeping either...
> 
> Ok, but now you're talking about gross overcrowding. That should not happen
> on long distance service,

It sometimes happen, with passengers using services other than that
where their ticket is booked. Hence the access control you now have in
major mainline French stations.


 except in very special situations. If there's so
> much demand that it happens regularly, the answer should be to provide more
> capacity or if that's too expensive you could raise prices. Turning away
> customers sounds like a very bad idea to me.

You can offer alternatives, instead.


 If that happens a couple of
> times and are forced to fly or drive instead, they won't even bother to
> check seat availability on the train next time....

On many French ODs, there is simply no air travel alternative...
People have little choice but to travel by train.

  
> Of course, having many standees on a long journey is not acceptable. But on
> short hops, it can be very handy to accomodate peaks in travel. In German
> IC/EC trains, there are often a couple of standees on a short part of the
> ride, between two busy stations. They'll probably find a seat at the next
> stop of the train. 

Agreed. But TGV services are arranged in a different pattern, with
long non-stop rides. Like
Paris-Avignon/Bordeaux/Montpellier/Marseille/Toulon/les Arcs...

And even if a seat is released at the next station, there is always a
risk that a passenger with a valid reservation for the remainder of
the journey will claim it...


> > On Eurostar, such policy would cause uproar in view of the current
> > fares. And in 1st class, overbooked passengers would not only
> > kiss-it-goodbye to their seat, but they would also forfeit their meal
> > (which is definiteley part of the Eurostar First travel experience)
> > should no seat be available at all...
> 
> Why having obligatory meals at all?

Because that is part of the First Class product of Eurostar, and the
fares mirror that extra.


Best regards.

Phil