FGW - reserving (multiple) seats with a season ticket

DRP

hi

I have an annual season ticket for my new commute bath spa to oxford.

The ticket office get quite grumpy printing reservations for the didcot to bath return section of my route (this is the only section where a reservation is required to get a seat), as each day must be looked up on their system and printed separately. One guy said to me there is no other way to reserve other than at the station. I would like to book weeks (ie. 5, 10, 15 reservations) or even months in advance if possible. Is there any other way to do this?

Clearly this isn't against FGW rules, it is just that it takes a while and the staff clearly don't want to cooperate...

wealdroam

Why don't you find another ticket office and speak to the guy saying that you realise this might be an onerous task, ask him to do a couple of days now, and suggest he does another 2/3 weeks worth at slack times over the next couple of days?

I hasten to add that I have no idea whether that is feasible or even technically possible... just an idea.

PBA

A colleague buys a monthly season ticket from Newport to Reading, she has to get the assistant at the station to book every reserved seat manually. Same grumpy response!

Altarf

wealdroam wrote: »

Why don't you find another ticket office

Why should the OP put themselves out, because yet another railway employee cannot be bothered to do the job they are paid for without moaning.

wealdroam

Altarf wrote: »

Why should the OP put themselves out, because yet another railway employee cannot be bothered to do the job they are paid for without moaning.

Simply because he might find it easier to deal with a different person.

Owain_Moneysaver

DRP wrote: »

The ticket office get quite grumpy printing reservations for the didcot to bath return section of my route (this is the only section where a reservation is required to get a seat), as each day must be looked up on their system and printed separately. One guy said to me there is no other way to reserve other than at the station.

FGW Telesales might be able to do this, especially if you have purchased the season ticket from them, and their telesales system might be easier for the staff to do this 'in bulk'

DRP

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

On Saturday after posting here, I actually contacted FGW by Twitter message, and was told they would look into it. I received a reply yesterday telling me to email forward@firstgroup.com with all ticket and journey details.... So it seems it can be done, its just that rail companies don't necessarily publicise it.

I will update the thread with their response.

Altarf

wealdroam wrote: »

Simply because he might find it easier to deal with a different person.

Alternatively the OP could see if they could get the useless moaning employee sacked, then they wouldn't need to go elsewhere.

wealdroam

Altarf wrote: »

Alternatively the OP could see if they could get the useless moaning employee sacked, then they wouldn't need to go elsewhere.

Yes, he could do that, but that probably won't get him a seat to sit on before his season ticket expires.

Altarf

wealdroam wrote: »

Yes, he could do that, but that probably won't get him a seat to sit on before his season ticket expires.

You are correct. The end of the universe would occur before the railway companies would do anything about their (many) useless employees.

johnmcga

A grumpy First Great Western employee? Who'd have thought.

I used to live in Reading - one of the best things about moving into London was not having to deal with their incompetence on a regular basis.