Pram & pregnant in cycle rack Transpenine Express

[MumAlwaysWorries]

Big up to Paul from Transpennine Express on the 14.35 service to Newcastle from Manchester for explaining that being of reduced mobility and sciatica while pregnant is not a good enough reason to sit in first class for one stop. That's great, but offering help on and off the train into the next carriages where we then had to stand in a cycle rack would have been appreciated, rather than leaving it to the cleaner to help lift the pram, who himself needed to get to the next train to clean on time.

You all had tickets and he moved you?!

Well he’s not wrong but I agree he could have helped you move

Should probably add - there aren't any other seats for people with disabilities on the train, but there are priority seats 👍 good to know

Yep @MichelleScarn we have timed tickets and we're on the correct train. And now we've just been kicked out of the cycle rack to make room for a large bike in a case

TPE have shockingly bad service all round. You were lucky the train was even running.

Surely you can ask someone to give up their seat for you?

did you just decide to sit in first clsss without having tickets?

Technically yes for ticket price @Hoppinggreen but in terms of discrimination, no. Although trying to impress the two ladies sitting in flirt class by laughing at me while trying to explain wasn't a helpful approach either. Transpennine Express - it's not for common pregnant mums!

@Hoppinggreen first* class haha

being of reduced mobility and sciatica while pregnant is not a good enough reason to sit in first class for one stop.

I find a first class ticket usually makes a good reason.

Did you have one? Offer to pay for one?

Did you have first class tickets? If not, well you can't expect to sit in first class!

Thanks @RampantIvy, it's a nightmare and we do all we can to completely avoid using Transpennine Express while travelling together. We've been on a Transpennine Express service from Manchester when a woman who explained she'd been in Christie's for chemo needed a priority seat, but because it was reserved for someone else a stop later they told her the only place left to sit was in the toilet. She was visibly very sick and sweating and obviously people gave up their seats thankfully.

Sometimes travelling with them is totally unavoidable when we can get timed/reserved ticket prices more cheaply. Can't wait to get a car 🙏

But did you have a ticket for first class or just think you could sit there because you needed a seat?

I've fixed your OP for you.

Big up to Paul from Transpennine Express on the 14.35 service to Newcastle from Manchester for not issuing a Penalty charge of £100+ the full single applicable for the intended journey and not telling her to leave at the next stop as his authority allows him to do so to somebody who was bunking their fare in First Class because she was being of reduced mobility and sciatica while pregnant and had a pram.

Had you reserved a seat?

I don’t think that not allowing someone to sit in a type of seat they haven’t paid for is discrimination, unless he was allowing other people to but not you just because you are pregnant

The entitlement is strong in this one.

Lots of train companies do upgrade pregnant women to first class for free if struggling, but you need to ask at the station and get your ticket upgraded rather than just demand it. He could have helped but posting on here is odd when you could raise a complaint through the correct channels and probably get a response and some money back.

The attitude that rings out from the post could well have something to do with why the staff were less keen to help too!

Am I missing something?
You got yourself and your pram on a train without assistance, sat in first class because you’re pregnant and are complaining that Paul didn’t help you off the train and into the next carriage?
Did the carriages not have connecting doors?
Did you expect a free upgrade?
were you only going 1 stop????

If you’re not happy with customer services then you should complain to the company not post on MN as your first port of call,

How many are in your party @MumAlwaysWorries?

So much to unpick... why were you in first class if you didn't have a first class ticket?

Why didn't you sit on your designated seat? Park folds to go in luggage rack and baby/ toddler from the pram sits on your knee? (Unless you paid for a seat for them).

Ridiculously entitled post!

Pram not park.

Also who is "we"? Just you and toddler?

Where else do you think a bike is going to go? It’s literally the only space on the train for a bike.