Friday, 6 November 2009
More Inspiration
We've been getting poor service recently (the stats FGW produced are not correct for my route), and since we are not going to be given the usual 10% crap service discount I sent my 5 month log of real-life statistics to FGW. I hope to receive a nice payment...perhaps in time for Christmas.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Inspired again!
Due to popular demand the blog is back! We feel a need to start recording our experiences, as although we have enjoyed a long period of relative calm, we are starting to see it slipping. And with the prospect of losing the poor performance discount, there is a need to document the perofrmance we experience.
For starters, the 1742 to BTM is delayed due to a fault on this train. Chris is rather worried about this and thinks it sounds quite serious.
The morning journey went well, so it looks like a 50% service today. We had 50% yesterday, but 100% on Monday. So far this week we have 66% performance this week.
For starters, the 1742 to BTM is delayed due to a fault on this train. Chris is rather worried about this and thinks it sounds quite serious.
The morning journey went well, so it looks like a 50% service today. We had 50% yesterday, but 100% on Monday. So far this week we have 66% performance this week.
Saturday, 8 December 2007
It's only taken them a year, give 'em a chance
Come on, it's only taken them a year to work out that wasting an hour of your life every day if not good customer service. So roll on Monday 10 December for the old, sorry, new, timetable. (Even if it means 5-6 min connections....and yes, you 1721ers from Oxford, you know what that means! 'It's not a connecting service')
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
9, 12 and 14 March - 3-day birthday pressie
I haven't posted anything for a while as everything seems to have settled down and I have not had anything to day or winge about.
It was my birthday on 9 March and FGW kindly ensured that the Cheltenham train was delayed at Didcot so that we could catch it and then get on the BTM train at Swindon. Bit of a nightmare legging it between trains with a bike, a heavy bag and a bottle of wine, but it was worth it! Same thing happened on 12 March. And today on 14 March the train for Bath stopped at Didcot so we went straigh through to Bath, just like in the old days. It was fab.
It was my birthday on 9 March and FGW kindly ensured that the Cheltenham train was delayed at Didcot so that we could catch it and then get on the BTM train at Swindon. Bit of a nightmare legging it between trains with a bike, a heavy bag and a bottle of wine, but it was worth it! Same thing happened on 12 March. And today on 14 March the train for Bath stopped at Didcot so we went straigh through to Bath, just like in the old days. It was fab.
Monday, 19 February 2007
19 Feb - Driver didn't know the way to Chippenham!
I was sitting at Swindon station this evening, thinking that I wouldn't have to do a special entry for today's on my blog, as this morning's journey had been uneventful, when the train to Bristol Temple Meads turned up (this train calls, and has always called, at Chippenham, Bath, then Bristol TM). I had caught 2 trains to get this far, and it had taken me over 1 hour. I was pleased to be getting on the thrid and final train of the day.
So we got on and sat down, and started to settle down. After a few minutes we were still sitting in Swindon station. 'What's going on?' we thought. I said, 'I bet you they are going to tell us that we are not stopping at Chippenham or Bath'. Then the train manager came on the tannoy and made an announcement. Well, I guess that's what she did, but the sound system in our carriage was broken so we didn't hear it. Concerned, JF got up to see what was happening as now the electronic departure board said that the train was only calling at Bristol TM (I could be a psychic). I went into the next carriage and asked the passengers if they heard the announcement. Nobody in that carriage had either. So I announced that it looks like we won't be calling at Chippenham or Bath. I then went back into my carriage and informed the passengers in there. Someone asked me why. I replied 'I dunno, just one of their whims', which is sort of true - one never knows what is going to happen next of a FGW train, the timetable is a fantastic piece of fiction!
So we got off the train. I ran along the platform (with my 10kg bike) and tried to ask the train manager why we weren't stopping. She refused to talk to anyone, so I had to ask the train dispatch man. He said, and I quote 'the driver does not know the route to Chippenham or Bath'. I replied that it was one railway and there were a few lights along the way, so what is the problem? (I could tell her the way as I've done it enough times!) He then said, she could not 'sign' for the route. Essentially, she should have been relieved at Swindon and another driver should have taken us to the advertised stops.
Needless to say, most people were livid. Especially when 90% of the passengers on that train were going to Chippenham or Bath.
Am I being cynical ifI were to suggest that this was a ploy to get to BTM on target? Much better to reach your target than the serve the paying passengers. Why was it that the driver could go to BTM but not the stations inbetween?
So, I arrived 30 mins late. Not impressed. What a shambles. What a pathetic excuse for a train company. A long complaint is in the post.
---
Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 37/44
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 34/44
---
FGW alerts:
nothing exciting to say for themselves today. Of course, no reports of what really happened!
So we got on and sat down, and started to settle down. After a few minutes we were still sitting in Swindon station. 'What's going on?' we thought. I said, 'I bet you they are going to tell us that we are not stopping at Chippenham or Bath'. Then the train manager came on the tannoy and made an announcement. Well, I guess that's what she did, but the sound system in our carriage was broken so we didn't hear it. Concerned, JF got up to see what was happening as now the electronic departure board said that the train was only calling at Bristol TM (I could be a psychic). I went into the next carriage and asked the passengers if they heard the announcement. Nobody in that carriage had either. So I announced that it looks like we won't be calling at Chippenham or Bath. I then went back into my carriage and informed the passengers in there. Someone asked me why. I replied 'I dunno, just one of their whims', which is sort of true - one never knows what is going to happen next of a FGW train, the timetable is a fantastic piece of fiction!
So we got off the train. I ran along the platform (with my 10kg bike) and tried to ask the train manager why we weren't stopping. She refused to talk to anyone, so I had to ask the train dispatch man. He said, and I quote 'the driver does not know the route to Chippenham or Bath'. I replied that it was one railway and there were a few lights along the way, so what is the problem? (I could tell her the way as I've done it enough times!) He then said, she could not 'sign' for the route. Essentially, she should have been relieved at Swindon and another driver should have taken us to the advertised stops.
Needless to say, most people were livid. Especially when 90% of the passengers on that train were going to Chippenham or Bath.
Am I being cynical ifI were to suggest that this was a ploy to get to BTM on target? Much better to reach your target than the serve the paying passengers. Why was it that the driver could go to BTM but not the stations inbetween?
So, I arrived 30 mins late. Not impressed. What a shambles. What a pathetic excuse for a train company. A long complaint is in the post.
---
Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 37/44
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 34/44
---
FGW alerts:
nothing exciting to say for themselves today. Of course, no reports of what really happened!
Friday, 16 February 2007
15 and 16 Feb - Half term correlation with driver sickness?
Both 15 and 16 Feb went well. All trains (2 going to work and 3 going home on both days) appeared on time. The only excitement was tonight at Swindon when a few drunk lads got hold of the microphone on platform 4 and started making annoucements. At first we ignored this as we are used to hearing incomprehensible utterings from the station staff, however, when they started giggling and getting a bit giggly we realised what had happened.
Other gossip from this week: DT gave a member of the Oxford station staff a lesson in how to say thank you. And today, the 0755 connected with the 0754, sorry DW!
I was going to entitle this entry 'nothing too exciting' but then I remembered about the messages I had received this week about why trains were cancelled: driver sickness. And then I noticed all the kids hanging around Didcot station. It was half-term week! Of course, I might just be imagining it all.
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Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 36/43
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 34/43
---
FGW alerts:
15 Feb
0650 Wchstr FG St yo Oxf cancelled, traincrew sicknedd. Next train 0728, road transport. 0733 Oxf Paddington, train fault.
1605 Oxford-Paddington cancelled. Possible delays between Swindon and Chippenham due to signalling problem.
16 Feb
Late start expected 0651 Oxford to Paddington approximately 10 mins.
Full advertised service. No problems reported.
nothing to note
Other gossip from this week: DT gave a member of the Oxford station staff a lesson in how to say thank you. And today, the 0755 connected with the 0754, sorry DW!
I was going to entitle this entry 'nothing too exciting' but then I remembered about the messages I had received this week about why trains were cancelled: driver sickness. And then I noticed all the kids hanging around Didcot station. It was half-term week! Of course, I might just be imagining it all.
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Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 36/43
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 34/43
---
FGW alerts:
15 Feb
0650 Wchstr FG St yo Oxf cancelled, traincrew sicknedd. Next train 0728, road transport. 0733 Oxf Paddington, train fault.
1605 Oxford-Paddington cancelled. Possible delays between Swindon and Chippenham due to signalling problem.
16 Feb
Late start expected 0651 Oxford to Paddington approximately 10 mins.
Full advertised service. No problems reported.
nothing to note
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
14 Feb - Go With What You Know, My Lucky Day
I caught the usual 0642 today - I couldn't face another 0612 and not actually reaching my destintation on time. Did the usual wait at Didcot for 25 mins, but we got in on time.
Caught the 1621 home - we were lucky when we got to Didcot as a Cheltenham train was delayed so we got on that, then went to plaftom 4 and caught the slightly delayed BTM train, and I was in Bath for 1740! Fantastic! Enough time to make myself beautiful for my Valentine...
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Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 34/41
Journey home punctuality: 78%, 32/41
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FGW alerts:
nothing to note or of amusement
Caught the 1621 home - we were lucky when we got to Didcot as a Cheltenham train was delayed so we got on that, then went to plaftom 4 and caught the slightly delayed BTM train, and I was in Bath for 1740! Fantastic! Enough time to make myself beautiful for my Valentine...
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Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 34/41
Journey home punctuality: 78%, 32/41
---
FGW alerts:
nothing to note or of amusement
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
13 Feb - What's a connecting service? Physical Abuse, and Getting Tired
Another bad day. I am so tired that I have just made my gin and tonic in a wine glass. Things are getting bad.
Caugth the 0612 Bath-Padders train, but had to get off at Swindon to catch the 0649 to Padders train as it stopped at Didcot. I didn't really want to get off at Swindon as carriage B was an old First Class carriage and I enjoyed having an extra-wide chair and table all to myself! However, after having got off at Swindon the 0649 was delayed by a few mins and we were slowed down on the track for a while. So of course, yet again, we missed the 0714 from Didcot to Oxford. So, yet again, we had to wait for 40 mins for the next train to Oxford. 40 mins! Yes, 40 mins. What, although Oxford is only 12 miles away and it is rush hour? Yes, it is only 12 miles away, I could probably cycle it quicker, and it is rush hour.
While we were in Didcot, we bumped into DT and he told us that someone had nearly barged him off the platform at Bath while he was trying to get on a train. Apparently, everyone was moving slowly towards the door and as DT approached the door, someone pushed him from behind. DT called him an idiot, which he obviously was, but fortunately, there were no fisty-cuffs.
I also found time to write to the station manager asking him to hold the 0714 for the 0649 from Swindon in the hope that that connection may one day work.
So I arrived at work 45 mins late - again.
Journey home was not as bad. 1653 from Oxford to Didcot then 1741 to Bath. And the 1721 from Oxford connected with it today (I could tell by the stream of latecomers on to the train who were slightly out of breath).
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Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 33/40
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 31/40
---
FGW alerts:
0544 H'ford to Padd cancelled, train fault. 0710 Bri TM to Padd cancelled, train fault. 0752 Oxf to Padd cancelled, staff sickness. (There seems to be a lot of staff sickness in this half-term week.)
Full advertised service. No problems reported. (What nobody's sick or there's no train fault?)
Caugth the 0612 Bath-Padders train, but had to get off at Swindon to catch the 0649 to Padders train as it stopped at Didcot. I didn't really want to get off at Swindon as carriage B was an old First Class carriage and I enjoyed having an extra-wide chair and table all to myself! However, after having got off at Swindon the 0649 was delayed by a few mins and we were slowed down on the track for a while. So of course, yet again, we missed the 0714 from Didcot to Oxford. So, yet again, we had to wait for 40 mins for the next train to Oxford. 40 mins! Yes, 40 mins. What, although Oxford is only 12 miles away and it is rush hour? Yes, it is only 12 miles away, I could probably cycle it quicker, and it is rush hour.
While we were in Didcot, we bumped into DT and he told us that someone had nearly barged him off the platform at Bath while he was trying to get on a train. Apparently, everyone was moving slowly towards the door and as DT approached the door, someone pushed him from behind. DT called him an idiot, which he obviously was, but fortunately, there were no fisty-cuffs.
I also found time to write to the station manager asking him to hold the 0714 for the 0649 from Swindon in the hope that that connection may one day work.
So I arrived at work 45 mins late - again.
Journey home was not as bad. 1653 from Oxford to Didcot then 1741 to Bath. And the 1721 from Oxford connected with it today (I could tell by the stream of latecomers on to the train who were slightly out of breath).
---
Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 33/40
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 31/40
---
FGW alerts:
0544 H'ford to Padd cancelled, train fault. 0710 Bri TM to Padd cancelled, train fault. 0752 Oxf to Padd cancelled, staff sickness. (There seems to be a lot of staff sickness in this half-term week.)
Full advertised service. No problems reported. (What nobody's sick or there's no train fault?)
Monday, 12 February 2007
12 Feb - arrrggghhh, arrggghhh
I had recovered from Friday night's abyssmal service on the way home and had regained some confidence so that I went for the 0612 from Bath. The 0612 turned up and got us to Swindon on time but the 0649 to Didcot was cancelled. This meant that we could not make our connection at Didcot to get us to Oxford. We asked the train manager but he said that the driver wouldn't know about stopping at Didcot (and going on past experiences they do not really know where thet usually stop). So we huddled around a table at Swindon until the next train for Didcot. We got on the 0711, the train I would have caught from Bath if I had stayed in bed for another 30 mins. So we got to Didcot and we sat in the Pumpkin Cafe for 25 mins until the 0754 to Oxford. So I got into work 50 mins later than planned.
Journey home was not as bad but we were 15 mins late getting into Bath.
Not a good day today.
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Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 33/39
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 30/39
---
FGW alerts:
0534 Gt Malv to Pad service start Oxf. 0540 Chelt to Padd service cancelled. 0700 Padd to Bri TM cancelled. All due to traincrew sickness. (Well, I bloody hope they are feeling better tomorrow otherwise I might start to fee a bit ill.)
1548 Padd-Cheltenham not calling Reading or Didcot. 1630 BTM-Pad not calling Didcot or Reading. (No excuse given. I suppose that's one way to get your train to its destination to meet its target...why stop at stations, it only slows the train down...)
Journey home was not as bad but we were 15 mins late getting into Bath.
Not a good day today.
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Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 33/39
Journey home punctuality: 77%, 30/39
---
FGW alerts:
0534 Gt Malv to Pad service start Oxf. 0540 Chelt to Padd service cancelled. 0700 Padd to Bri TM cancelled. All due to traincrew sickness. (Well, I bloody hope they are feeling better tomorrow otherwise I might start to fee a bit ill.)
1548 Padd-Cheltenham not calling Reading or Didcot. 1630 BTM-Pad not calling Didcot or Reading. (No excuse given. I suppose that's one way to get your train to its destination to meet its target...why stop at stations, it only slows the train down...)
Saturday, 10 February 2007
9 Feb - arrrgggghhhh!
Caught 0612 from Bath, changed at Swindon and Didcot. Problem-free journey. Journey home was awful - and it was a Friday, and I felt quite pants as I am developing a cough. Caught the 1621 from Oxford to Didcot and went to Pumpkin Cafe as the 1656 train to Swansea, which is our connecting train to get us on a BTM train, was delayed. DW fird up his laptop and we watched the live update screen for Reading. To our dismay, the BTM train was allowed in front of the Swansea train and so we would not be able to catch our connecting train. The BTM whistled through Didcot and so I had to wait for the 1741 train to BTM. This eventaully turned up and left Didcot at 1801, and arrived in Bath at 1854. So it took me from 1621-1854 to get to Bath (2 hr 33 mins), when it should have taken 1621-1756 (1 hr 35 mins). Needless to say I was fuming - and I got some forms to fill in 'forms for compensation' and 'tell us your views'. I had to ensure Didcot station for 1 hr and 25 mins. I think I will introduce a how much time I spend at Didcot count and how much of my life I am spending there, although I think that will be depressing reading.
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Journey to work punctuality: 87%, 33/38
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 30/38
---
FGW alerts:
1522 Pad-Oxf and 1705 Oxf-Pad cancelled. No futher major problems notified.
1545 Pad-Swansea cancelled. No futher notified cancellations. Possible delays due snow in S.Wales.
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Journey to work punctuality: 87%, 33/38
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 30/38
---
FGW alerts:
1522 Pad-Oxf and 1705 Oxf-Pad cancelled. No futher major problems notified.
1545 Pad-Swansea cancelled. No futher notified cancellations. Possible delays due snow in S.Wales.
6, 7 and 8 Feb - Well done FGW
Feb 6 and 7 passed uneventfully, but the 8 Feb was the 'snow' day. I decided that it was worth a go at getting to work and so set off at the usual time. My train turned up on time, and my connecting train turned up on time at Didcot and we got to Oxford on time - amazing really.
The journey home was OK too. I caught the 1621 and caught my 2 connecting trains at Didcot and Swindon without any hitch.
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Journey to work punctuality: 86%, 32/37
Journey home punctuality: 81%, 30/37
---
FGW alerts:
nothing of note, apart from all the warnings about possible disruption.
The journey home was OK too. I caught the 1621 and caught my 2 connecting trains at Didcot and Swindon without any hitch.
-
Journey to work punctuality: 86%, 32/37
Journey home punctuality: 81%, 30/37
---
FGW alerts:
nothing of note, apart from all the warnings about possible disruption.
Monday, 5 February 2007
5 Feb - Fight for the Door! Tour of Didcot
Morning journey was OK. Only thing to note was that as the train was approaching Bath Spa someone called someone else a T**T. I am not sure who he was referring to but it might have been the short chap with the very large bag who scoffs yogurt with great gusto. We have observed that he is very keen to get on to the train and into his favourite seat. So keen that he will stop at nothing and no-one! DT got barged out of the ay twice by another bloke - it was OK though as he apparently apologised...so this is what we are reduced to.
Evening journey was quite amusing. The first we heard was the train manager saying 'Don't panic, but...there is a points failure at Didcot so we have to bypass Didcot, change lines and then go back in.' We didn't mind as it whiled away the usual 35 mins we have to wait there anyway. Trains were about 10 mins late by the time we got into Bath, so that's a LATE!
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Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 29/34
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 27/34
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FGW alerts:
nothing of note.
Evening journey was quite amusing. The first we heard was the train manager saying 'Don't panic, but...there is a points failure at Didcot so we have to bypass Didcot, change lines and then go back in.' We didn't mind as it whiled away the usual 35 mins we have to wait there anyway. Trains were about 10 mins late by the time we got into Bath, so that's a LATE!
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Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 29/34
Journey home punctuality: 79%, 27/34
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FGW alerts:
nothing of note.
2 Feb - Adelantes...
Friday was quite good aprat from we keep being put on Adelante trains, and I cannot touch the floor on these. Thie excuse is that the HSTs keep developing technical problems.
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Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 28/33
Journey home punctuality: 82%, 27/33
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FGW alerts:
nothing of note
-
Journey to work punctuality: 85%, 28/33
Journey home punctuality: 82%, 27/33
---
FGW alerts:
nothing of note
Thursday, 1 February 2007
1 Feb - Other Fab Blogs; Nail Clipping on Trains?
For my regular readers, I apologise. It will take a while for me to get around to telling today's story.
Graham Ellis is still asking for support with his petition. Please sign. The petiton may be signed on line at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wessextrains/ As of 1.2.07 he has over 1500 signatures, making it eighth out of 370 petitions relating to Transport and Intfrastructure.
I have also learnt of some other fantastic blogs and websites. Please have a look at:
I Hate FGW http://www.ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/
Great Western Sucks http://firstgreatwesternsucks.blogspot.com (see 15 Dec entry!)
Farce Great Western http://www.farcegreatwestern.com/
Oldfield Park blog http://oldfieldparktrains.blogspot.com/
Railvoice (a way to complain) http://www.railvoice.co.uk/
More Train Less Strain http://www.moretrainlessstrain.org.uk/
Oxford Rail Action http://oxrailaction.wordpress.com/
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/ By a customer, for customers
(prelaunch)
Save The Train http://www.savethetrain.org.uk
Saltash Rail User's Group http://www.srug.org.uk
Ivybridge Rail User's Group http://www.irug.ik.com/
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways http://www.fosbr.org.uk/
Severn Tunnel Junction Campaign http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/index.htm
North Devon Rail Users http://ndrailusers.wikispaces.com/
Severside Rail Community Partnership Group http://www.severnside-rail.co.uk/
0642 turned up on time. Journey could have been boring if DT had not spotted the chap sitting clipping his nails with his shoes off. Fortunately, he was not clipping his toe nails. Still, I advise anyone not to get into carriage B and sit at one of the tables on the LHS of the train when travelling towards London, unless you are prepared to share the area with someone's nail clippings.
Got to Didcot at 0727, sat around for 25 mins waiting for the connecting train. This is normal, but a 25 min wait should not be nornal.
Caught the 1653 home. Got to OXF station and there were huge crowds of people. Apparently, there was a broken down train. I didn't get too wound up as I thought that it would mean less time waiting a Didcot. And that's a good thing. Got to Didcot 10 mins late (what a shame) so we went to the shop and then sat on the seats on the platform. Noticed that more seats had disappeared - where have they gone? Got on the BTM train, which had metamorphosized from an HST into an Adelante as the HST had 'technical problems at Paddington'. We're lucky to get seats. Had to change seats at Swindon as I am quite short and my feet are 3 inches off the floor on Adelantes and my left leg was beginning to ache due to lack of blood. (I really don't like those trains.) Some bloke was listening to his MP3 player, meanwhile his phone was ringing and vibtrating. (I think I might turn this into a most annoying habits on train column.) Got home to bath slightly early. Amazing.
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Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 27/32
Journey home punctuality: 81%, 26/32
---
FGW alerts:
cannot be bothered to list them, they thought the network was perfect, little did they know of the goings on in Oxford, and our broken down train.
Graham Ellis is still asking for support with his petition. Please sign. The petiton may be signed on line at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wessextrains/ As of 1.2.07 he has over 1500 signatures, making it eighth out of 370 petitions relating to Transport and Intfrastructure.
I have also learnt of some other fantastic blogs and websites. Please have a look at:
I Hate FGW http://www.ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/
Great Western Sucks http://firstgreatwesternsucks.blogspot.com (see 15 Dec entry!)
Farce Great Western http://www.farcegreatwestern.com/
Oldfield Park blog http://oldfieldparktrains.blogspot.com/
Railvoice (a way to complain) http://www.railvoice.co.uk/
More Train Less Strain http://www.moretrainlessstrain.org.uk/
Oxford Rail Action http://oxrailaction.wordpress.com/
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/ By a customer, for customers
(prelaunch)
Save The Train http://www.savethetrain.org.uk
Saltash Rail User's Group http://www.srug.org.uk
Ivybridge Rail User's Group http://www.irug.ik.com/
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways http://www.fosbr.org.uk/
Severn Tunnel Junction Campaign http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/index.htm
North Devon Rail Users http://ndrailusers.wikispaces.com/
Severside Rail Community Partnership Group http://www.severnside-rail.co.uk/
0642 turned up on time. Journey could have been boring if DT had not spotted the chap sitting clipping his nails with his shoes off. Fortunately, he was not clipping his toe nails. Still, I advise anyone not to get into carriage B and sit at one of the tables on the LHS of the train when travelling towards London, unless you are prepared to share the area with someone's nail clippings.
Got to Didcot at 0727, sat around for 25 mins waiting for the connecting train. This is normal, but a 25 min wait should not be nornal.
Caught the 1653 home. Got to OXF station and there were huge crowds of people. Apparently, there was a broken down train. I didn't get too wound up as I thought that it would mean less time waiting a Didcot. And that's a good thing. Got to Didcot 10 mins late (what a shame) so we went to the shop and then sat on the seats on the platform. Noticed that more seats had disappeared - where have they gone? Got on the BTM train, which had metamorphosized from an HST into an Adelante as the HST had 'technical problems at Paddington'. We're lucky to get seats. Had to change seats at Swindon as I am quite short and my feet are 3 inches off the floor on Adelantes and my left leg was beginning to ache due to lack of blood. (I really don't like those trains.) Some bloke was listening to his MP3 player, meanwhile his phone was ringing and vibtrating. (I think I might turn this into a most annoying habits on train column.) Got home to bath slightly early. Amazing.
-
Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 27/32
Journey home punctuality: 81%, 26/32
---
FGW alerts:
cannot be bothered to list them, they thought the network was perfect, little did they know of the goings on in Oxford, and our broken down train.
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
31 Jan - Good Morning, Crowded and Late Evening
0642 turned up on time and I got to Didcot on time. Sat in Pumpkin Cafe doing things until Brenda appeared. We arrived into Oxford on time. A lovely morning, nice and sunny.
1621 left Oxford on time, but 1656 from Didcot to Swansea turned up a few mins late, and then we sat outside Swindon station for ages. Long enough to have a nice nap. We got chucked out on platform 3 (usually platform 4) at 1740, 25 mins late, and were met by a huge wall of people - 'eak! What's happened here?' Started making my way downstairs to platform 4 (usual platform for Bath train) but then go told it was on platform 3. Struggled back to platform 3: I carry a 10kg bike. Waited for a few mins then got on BTM train - it was heaving. But the bike comes in handy, sort of, if I hold it still nobody who does not want bruises will barge me out of the way (there was obviously not going to be enough seats for us all). I don't hit people with it, rather they walk into me in they get pushy. Arrived into Bath 15 mins LATE. Apparently, there were signalling problems around Swindon...
DT: you did not miss anything today!
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Journey to work punctuality: 84%, 26/31
Journey home punctuality: 81%, 25/31
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FGW alerts:
cannot be bothered to list them, they thought the network was perfect, little did they know of the goings on at Swindon.
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
30 Jan - So Cruel! Pumpkin Cafe Waiting Room
hello. 0642 showed up and got to Didcot on time! Then we waited for 25 mins for the train to Oxford. 0754 left Oxford on time, which was the same time as the 0755 pulling into Didcot with Jolyon and David on it. We waved at them from the window. It ws doubly cruel as our train to Oxford then sat for 3 mins waiting for a Virgin train to go through. Why couldn't the train have left the platform only when it was clear passed next next signal, then Jolyon and David (and a whole host of other people) would have also got the train? Got to work on time.
1653 also left Oxford on time and then we waited for 35 mins in the Pumpkin Cafe. I pity the staff as it is our favourite waiting place at Didcot, with the real waiting rooms being rather cold, too metal and not large enough. Got home on time.
--
Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 25/30
Journey home punctuality: 83%, 25/30
---
FGW alerts:
0710 Bristol TM to Padd is canx. The 0629 Liskeard-Looe and 0701 Looe-Liskeard are canx. 0600 Swansea-Padd stops at Didcot. (Blimey!)
Full advertised service. No major problems reported.
1653 also left Oxford on time and then we waited for 35 mins in the Pumpkin Cafe. I pity the staff as it is our favourite waiting place at Didcot, with the real waiting rooms being rather cold, too metal and not large enough. Got home on time.
--
Journey to work punctuality: 83%, 25/30
Journey home punctuality: 83%, 25/30
---
FGW alerts:
0710 Bristol TM to Padd is canx. The 0629 Liskeard-Looe and 0701 Looe-Liskeard are canx. 0600 Swansea-Padd stops at Didcot. (Blimey!)
Full advertised service. No major problems reported.
Monday, 29 January 2007
29 Jan - Not a Good Start to the Week, Hanging Around
The 0642 was cancelled. At first it was delayed and then it was cancelled. No reason given. So then we had to wait for the 0707, but that was delayed as it couldn't leave Bristol until all the people on the 0630 from BTM go off and then got on to the 0655 (0707 from Bath). So we missed our original connection from Didcot and we were also late into Didcot for the next connection, usually we have to wait for 25 mins, but we only had to wait for 15 mins. I suppose that's a good thing really. Caught 0825 from Oxford (otherwise known as the second-most slowest train in the world). Got to work late.
Left work at 1635 and got 1653 to Didcot. Had to wait at Didcot for 35 mins. DT and I had quite tiring days so we bought a beer or two, and some crisps, and relaxed. 'Not Long til the Weekend!'. We only had to get 1 train from Didcot to Bath so rest of journey was OK. Got to Bath on time.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 83%, 24/29
Journey home punctuality: 83%, 24/29
---
FGW alerts:
0626 Hereford to Padd starts at Worcester SH. 0600 Moreton in Marsh starts Oxford.
Full advertsied service. No major problems reported.
Left work at 1635 and got 1653 to Didcot. Had to wait at Didcot for 35 mins. DT and I had quite tiring days so we bought a beer or two, and some crisps, and relaxed. 'Not Long til the Weekend!'. We only had to get 1 train from Didcot to Bath so rest of journey was OK. Got to Bath on time.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 83%, 24/29
Journey home punctuality: 83%, 24/29
---
FGW alerts:
0626 Hereford to Padd starts at Worcester SH. 0600 Moreton in Marsh starts Oxford.
Full advertsied service. No major problems reported.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
26 Jan - Morning Bliss, Evening Hell
Journey to work was OK. Got to work on time. Also, I only had to catch 2 trains.
However, journey home was not so good. I caught the early train so this meant getting 3 trains - on a Friday night! OXF-DID was OK, but trains from Didcot were a bit delayed. Our 1656 turned up at 1704. It was heaving. We stood in the vestibule area between the last cattle-class carriage and the buffet-soon-to-be-gone carriage. I was glad when we got to Swindon. I then waited for the delayed 1726 service to Bath. It was delayed by 10 mins. It was crowded but I managed to get a seat. Got home late, so that's another late to record.
The only good thing was that Brenda bought some nice red wine, which we drank, and so the horribleness of the 2 overcrowded fast trains was slightly dulled.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 86%, 24/28
Journey home punctuality: 82%, 23/28
---
FGW alerts:
0610 Chelt to Pad start Glouc, customers on 0604 Chelt and change at Gloucester. All other lines report good service. Visit www.firstgreatwesternoc.o.uk for live updates.
Full advertised service. Delays between Chippenham and Bath due to points problem. Earlier bridge strike Slough now cleared.
However, journey home was not so good. I caught the early train so this meant getting 3 trains - on a Friday night! OXF-DID was OK, but trains from Didcot were a bit delayed. Our 1656 turned up at 1704. It was heaving. We stood in the vestibule area between the last cattle-class carriage and the buffet-soon-to-be-gone carriage. I was glad when we got to Swindon. I then waited for the delayed 1726 service to Bath. It was delayed by 10 mins. It was crowded but I managed to get a seat. Got home late, so that's another late to record.
The only good thing was that Brenda bought some nice red wine, which we drank, and so the horribleness of the 2 overcrowded fast trains was slightly dulled.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 86%, 24/28
Journey home punctuality: 82%, 23/28
---
FGW alerts:
0610 Chelt to Pad start Glouc, customers on 0604 Chelt and change at Gloucester. All other lines report good service. Visit www.firstgreatwesternoc.o.uk for live updates.
Full advertised service. Delays between Chippenham and Bath due to points problem. Earlier bridge strike Slough now cleared.
Thursday, 25 January 2007
25 Jan - FGW 24 Jan Letter?, Didcot-Bath Not Allowed, First Bus Service
hello
0642 turned up OK, and we got to Didcot OK. It stopped today! Got into work OK. Then went off to London and all worked OK. Super!
Left meeting and aimed to catch the 1600 to Bridgwater (stops at Bath). But hold on, it does not stop at Didcot and my ticket is Pad-DID then DID-Bath. mmm. OK, let's get on a train that stops at Swindon, then pick a Bath train up from there. OK. But as we approach Reading, paranoia steps in and as we were delayed by 10 mins (but I had not seen the Bath train overtake us) I thought I'd get off here and then get on to the Bath train at Reading. And if anyone checked my ticket and told me off for getting on a train that did not stop at Didcot, I'd just smile and act all innocent. To be honest, my brain hurt from thinking too much about which blinking train I needed to get on, be legal, and get home! In the end my ticket wasn't checked once! Arrived in Bath 10 mins late, so that's a late in my book. And I missed the bus.
Which brings me on my new topic of First buses in Bath. I had just missed one bus and started to wait for the next. I did think about walking but as the plumber was coming over I wanted to get home quickly.
So the bus arrived, and I asked how much to Lambridge. £1.60! I only had £1.40 in change. 'OK, how much to Ballustrade?' £1.60! 'OK, how far can I get for £1.40?' Hilton Hotel!!!!!! I told the bus driver that that was ridiculous and walked off the bus.
So I started walking. The bus finally overtook me at Morrisons, after about 1 mile and a quarter. OK, it beat me home by 10 mins, but I saved £1.60!!! I was tempted to get on at the Hilton Hotel (if I could have been bothered to wait for it) in the hope that the fare would have been 60p, but I doubt that somehow.
Back to the main issue, trains. Don Foster, my local MP has signed the Wessex Trains petition. Watch this space. He gave a speech in the House of Commons. My favourite bit was: 'The fare from Bath to London on the high-speed train is one of the highest priced train journeys per mile in the entire world.' Why is this?
I am also going to have to admit that I picked up a discarded letter off the ground near Oxford station this morning. It was a letter from FGW. It was wet and soggy, but as they did not have any dry copies to hand out, my ticket-check friend suggested I went into the ladies' loos and used the hand dryer to dry the letter. FGW said lots of things in the letter, like 'but we'll have leather seats, etc.,' but they also mentioned that they will lease some more units and FirstGroup are going to lend them some Class 158 units. Checking my Spotters Guide to Train Units in Reach magazine, I was a bit disappointed to see that they were the carriages for the slower services. Although, to be honest, they are probably needed more that more HST carriages, by the sound of things.
I never thought of myself as a potential train spotter. And I had never thought of any connection between the chaps who stand around Didcot with them camcorders (yes, the 21st century has reached train spotting) and myself.
Time to go.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 85%, 23/27
Journey home punctuality: 85%, 23/27
---
FGW alerts:
0730 Carmarthen to Padd, starts at Swansea, due to maintenance problems.
1545 Pad-Swansea cancelled. Train from Pad delayed in Reading area to due [sic] failed train London side of Reading.
0642 turned up OK, and we got to Didcot OK. It stopped today! Got into work OK. Then went off to London and all worked OK. Super!
Left meeting and aimed to catch the 1600 to Bridgwater (stops at Bath). But hold on, it does not stop at Didcot and my ticket is Pad-DID then DID-Bath. mmm. OK, let's get on a train that stops at Swindon, then pick a Bath train up from there. OK. But as we approach Reading, paranoia steps in and as we were delayed by 10 mins (but I had not seen the Bath train overtake us) I thought I'd get off here and then get on to the Bath train at Reading. And if anyone checked my ticket and told me off for getting on a train that did not stop at Didcot, I'd just smile and act all innocent. To be honest, my brain hurt from thinking too much about which blinking train I needed to get on, be legal, and get home! In the end my ticket wasn't checked once! Arrived in Bath 10 mins late, so that's a late in my book. And I missed the bus.
Which brings me on my new topic of First buses in Bath. I had just missed one bus and started to wait for the next. I did think about walking but as the plumber was coming over I wanted to get home quickly.
So the bus arrived, and I asked how much to Lambridge. £1.60! I only had £1.40 in change. 'OK, how much to Ballustrade?' £1.60! 'OK, how far can I get for £1.40?' Hilton Hotel!!!!!! I told the bus driver that that was ridiculous and walked off the bus.
So I started walking. The bus finally overtook me at Morrisons, after about 1 mile and a quarter. OK, it beat me home by 10 mins, but I saved £1.60!!! I was tempted to get on at the Hilton Hotel (if I could have been bothered to wait for it) in the hope that the fare would have been 60p, but I doubt that somehow.
Back to the main issue, trains. Don Foster, my local MP has signed the Wessex Trains petition. Watch this space. He gave a speech in the House of Commons. My favourite bit was: 'The fare from Bath to London on the high-speed train is one of the highest priced train journeys per mile in the entire world.' Why is this?
I am also going to have to admit that I picked up a discarded letter off the ground near Oxford station this morning. It was a letter from FGW. It was wet and soggy, but as they did not have any dry copies to hand out, my ticket-check friend suggested I went into the ladies' loos and used the hand dryer to dry the letter. FGW said lots of things in the letter, like 'but we'll have leather seats, etc.,' but they also mentioned that they will lease some more units and FirstGroup are going to lend them some Class 158 units. Checking my Spotters Guide to Train Units in Reach magazine, I was a bit disappointed to see that they were the carriages for the slower services. Although, to be honest, they are probably needed more that more HST carriages, by the sound of things.
I never thought of myself as a potential train spotter. And I had never thought of any connection between the chaps who stand around Didcot with them camcorders (yes, the 21st century has reached train spotting) and myself.
Time to go.
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 85%, 23/27
Journey home punctuality: 85%, 23/27
---
FGW alerts:
0730 Carmarthen to Padd, starts at Swansea, due to maintenance problems.
1545 Pad-Swansea cancelled. Train from Pad delayed in Reading area to due [sic] failed train London side of Reading.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
24 Jan - Our Lucky Day, On-Off-On-Off-On-Off, Wessex Trains Petition
hello. 0642 turned up and stopped at Didcot today - many people asked the train manager to ensure it did though, after yesterday. After last night's disappointment at us not being clever enough to get home for 1800, we were pleased to see that the 0714 DID-OXF was delayed, so as soon as our train pulled into DID, we hopped on to this one and got into work 25 mins early. Although we're weren't as disappointed as Alma who did not get home til 1945 (as she had an unexpected visit to Bristol Parkway) and had to sit on the floor on the train as there were no seats.
Journey home was OK but it sure is tedious having to catch 3 trains to go 75 miles.
Graham Ellis of Save the Train is leading a petition to the Prime Minister concerning train services in the South West of England, with special concentration on the "Wessex" area and
the TransWilts service. I have signed the petition, and so should you (please)!
The petition is an "official" one on the No. 10 Downing Street web site; it's at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wessextrains/ and we're promised that it will be looked at and each signatory will receive an emailed response/answer once it closes in 3 weeks' time.
The background ... last December, new timetables were introduced by the First Group at the behest/specification of the Department for Transport that drastically reduced many service - in Graham's case, the schedule of trains calling at Melksham was cut from 10 a day to 4. And that's in spite of greatly increased train use over the last five years.
He now has inconvenient and unusable services in some areas, dreadfully overcrowded ones in others - and a horrendous reliability problem too. Have a look at his "Worst train in the West" post, for example:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1115.0
The petition asks for the return of an appropriate service on all the lines with trains based in Bristol. He is not asking for what WAS there before - but for a service for the future that caters for traffic flows that went by rail until December, and for new ones for the future. If you're from another part of the South West / FGW area / UK, you can support us too - the same story has been repeated from Saltash to Slough, from Ealing to Exmouth and from Iver to Ivybridge.
And .. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, FELLOW TRAVELLERS and COLLEAGUES. And write to the key players who are listed here:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melkshamrailway/187_.html
and visit our forum to support us, learn more ...
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum
Graham says that most of his website's visitors, who used to travel by train, now drive!
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 86%, 22/26
Journey home punctuality: 88%, 23/26
---
FGW alerts:
(These are brief as my husband lost my first draft and I am doing this from memory.)
No infrastructure problems. Check website
Full advertised service. No further problems following signal/points problem earlier.
Journey home was OK but it sure is tedious having to catch 3 trains to go 75 miles.
Graham Ellis of Save the Train is leading a petition to the Prime Minister concerning train services in the South West of England, with special concentration on the "Wessex" area and
the TransWilts service. I have signed the petition, and so should you (please)!
The petition is an "official" one on the No. 10 Downing Street web site; it's at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wessextrains/ and we're promised that it will be looked at and each signatory will receive an emailed response/answer once it closes in 3 weeks' time.
The background ... last December, new timetables were introduced by the First Group at the behest/specification of the Department for Transport that drastically reduced many service - in Graham's case, the schedule of trains calling at Melksham was cut from 10 a day to 4. And that's in spite of greatly increased train use over the last five years.
He now has inconvenient and unusable services in some areas, dreadfully overcrowded ones in others - and a horrendous reliability problem too. Have a look at his "Worst train in the West" post, for example:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1115.0
The petition asks for the return of an appropriate service on all the lines with trains based in Bristol. He is not asking for what WAS there before - but for a service for the future that caters for traffic flows that went by rail until December, and for new ones for the future. If you're from another part of the South West / FGW area / UK, you can support us too - the same story has been repeated from Saltash to Slough, from Ealing to Exmouth and from Iver to Ivybridge.
And .. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, FELLOW TRAVELLERS and COLLEAGUES. And write to the key players who are listed here:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melkshamrailway/187_.html
and visit our forum to support us, learn more ...
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum
Graham says that most of his website's visitors, who used to travel by train, now drive!
--
Journey to work/meeting punctuality: 86%, 22/26
Journey home punctuality: 88%, 23/26
---
FGW alerts:
(These are brief as my husband lost my first draft and I am doing this from memory.)
No infrastructure problems. Check website
Full advertised service. No further problems following signal/points problem earlier.
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