| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2966 Written by C Shearn on Saturday, 13th January 2007 Having moved from Bath to Reading, it's the same old story...... At first I bought first class tickets to get a seat..... no seats so I thought I might as well buy a standard ticket if I'm standing for 35 - 45 mins. I then bought an upgrade when a seat was available in First, only to be arrested for fare evasion at Reading and held for 1 1/2 hrs at the barrier in freezing conditions. It cost me Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2969 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Saturday, 13th January 2007 Indeed, there's a very great deal of frustration with the company! It would be dangerous for me to comment on any specific case, but overall I agree with the operating companies enforcing fare collection. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2975 Written by Lee on Saturday, 13th January 2007 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=1058.msg2969#msg2969 date=1168681923]They're the incumbent company, though. And I believe that our best way forward as passengers / users of the train service is to work with them, learn what makes them tick and see if we can establish mutual goals which we can then achieve. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2980 Written by penman on Saturday, 13th January 2007 I commute everyday from Reading to Paddington and the standard of service one receives at Reading Station in the morning is shockingly abyssmal . I have travelled in third world countries and have received much better treatment. The indicator boards always claim that the trains are on time even when that time has long past . The announcers never mention let alone say sorry about the delays. The staff hide away from the commuters and are extremely rude and ignorant . The lifts to station concourse generally smelll of human urine and waste. When the train does arrive the staff are only concerned with pandering to the first class passengers. First Great Western have a slogan "Transforming Travel", which they do in a particularly disgusting and revolting manner Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2986 Written by WyvusArconius on Saturday, 13th January 2007 [quote] From Lee: I think a balance has to be struck. While I agree that we have to positively engage with FGW / DfT , NOT pointing out that there is a problem risks our views being ignored completely. [/quote] I agree. Whilst positive dialogue is needed, FGW MUST be held accountable for their shortcomings. No operator/Govt Dept has the right to ride rough shod over everyone and get away with it. Surely it is in their interests to take our views on board, and make improvments where needed. Otherwise, it would be the metaphorical equivilent of opening a shop and then swearing loudly at everyone who comes in... Bad for your reputation and not good business sense. Lets keep making noise! Daniel Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/2987 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Saturday, 13th January 2007 I agree with so many of the comments - yes - keep making noise, but keep maiking it fairly. We cannot blame First for "everything", and we shouldn't look to being agressive and forcing a fight unless necessary. But, yes, I look wryly at "transforming travel" too, Penman, and understand that in Melksham it means getting on the bus and walking across Chippenham where there used to be an afternnon trains - that's 10 minutes from leaving Melksham to leaving Chippenham expanded to about an hour (20 mins bus, 20 mins walk, 20 mins wait for train). You would think it was in their interest to look after their customers, wouldn't you? But perhaps we're not the customers they want. Commuters are expensive because they all want to use the trains at the same time of day, and the trains then are underused for the following 8 hours. And ex-Wessex passengers pay around 20p per mile, whereas main line passengers travelling long distances pay over 50p per mile. And more of them are carried per train, too. Looking for a profit? Which customer groups would YOU want to keep happy, especially if the other groups end up using your company's buses anyway! Two things I recall. I recall being told that the Twingo car (was it Renualt?) got the thumbs down from more than half the people who looked at the design before it was released. But the company carried on anyway and it was a roaring success because the othe people LOVED it. And it train terms, First want the long distance lucrative traffic. And I recall Alison Forster addressing TravelWatch in Taunto last April; proud of the new frachise, she was telling us how they had identified that there are an extra 1.5 people who would be willing to travel by train on their expresses for every 1 who travels at the moment, with appropriate marketing. In other words, they're looking to more than double their main like takings. I think she had the term "Non user, none objector"s or Nunos, but that was a while back and I may be wrong. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3006 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 14th January 2007 I knew I had seen this somewhere. A report of a conversation with the Regional Manager for FGW in our region, confirming that they have no intention of leasing more trains for peak services: [quote]He predicatbly said that FGW could lease more coaches but as they are a commercial company, they will not do this because they would not genereate revenue for most of the day.[/quote]. So "Tough, you're going to be overcrowded if you travel in the peak", I think?? Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3008 Written by Graz on Sunday, 14th January 2007 So those trains just sitting at Eastleigh are going to be rusting away (or sold to someone else) because FGW don't care about its passengers, the state of its local services, nor the timetable improvements that could be brought about with these, and other trains if a little money was spent to lease them. It's just sad. Although have they considered that by leasing more trains, more people would travel = more revenue? I bet the DFT just see this, sit back and smile with the smug satisfaction of knowing they don't have to get involved with anything. Of course, they could provide some financial grants to FGW for extra trains on the network- but they won't. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3009 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 14th January 2007 But .. you know ... I can understand the need to make best use of resources and not having them sit idle through the day. It's always been a problem, and with the current systems and rules making everything so expensive when running a train service, it becomes critical and it does beome commercially important for the company to try to spread the load as best as it can. IMHO (and the HO of others), they may have gone rather too far. Yet .... every cloud has a silver lining. My interest is in Swindon - Westbury, with no peak hour or day time service what so ever since December. And our "please run a train from 05:45 to mid evening, every two hours" DOES push the right buttons with the First statement. A rare, rare piece of good news that we should capitalise on. And, yes, First ARE lloking seriously at the timetabling and financing aspects of this. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3014 Written by Fat Cat on Sunday, 14th January 2007 Sir, An excellent site, and your users are practical people, who know this whole debacle is about money. Did they know, that a Director of Great Western Trains Company Ltd (one of the companies through which the FGW franchise has been run) in the year ended 31 March 2006 had total emoluments (pay plus bonuses plus benefits) of Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3020 Written by Lee on Sunday, 14th January 2007 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=1058.msg3006#msg3006 date=1168766123]I knew I had seen this somewhere. A report of a conversation with the Regional Manager for FGW in our region, confirming that they have no intention of leasing more trains for peak services: [quote]He predicatbly said that FGW could lease more coaches but as they are a commercial company, they will not do this because they would not genereate revenue for most of the day.[/quote]. So "Tough, you're going to be overcrowded if you travel in the peak", I think?? Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3029 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 15th January 2007 [quote author=Lee link=topic=1058.msg3020#msg3020 date=1168788694] However , you need to bear in mind that , whatever the cost of hiring a unit , neither the DfT or First are likely to allow it to lie idle for large parts of the day while it waits to form a skeleton "essential" service. They are very likely to withdraw such services instead.[/quote] Agreed. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3088 Written by PennyFrench on Tuesday, 16th January 2007 I have been using the Reading to Paddington line for the last 18 months and have noticed a sharp deterioration in service since late last year - presumably related to the cuts in service further out West. The trains seem to be more packed than ever before. This morning I finally cracked. I am used to standing for the duration (I long ago gave up even trying to get a seat) but this morning the aisles in the first class carriages and the vestibules in between on the 7.35 were more packed than I have ever seen before. Being pregnant I tend to keel over if standing for more than around 15 minutes and sure enough I started to feel faint. Normally I would just sit on the floor. This morning it was so packed that I didn't even have the room to turn to sit down. I managed to crouch down for a few minutes to prevent completely passing out. When I finally made it to Paddington and my ticket wouldn't go through the barrier causing me more delay in attracting the attention of the one guard manning said barrier. "Why so angry?" he said. I couldn't quite bring myself to reply. This is the latest in a long line of defective trains, go slows, breathtaking overcrowding, surly staff and of course, constant increases in the price of my season ticket. Anyone else up for a fares strike on the Reading to Paddington stretch? Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3128 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 Penny, I know how you feel ... I travelled up to London with FGW yesterday evening. Ticket trouble (wrong ticket issues - single at 41 pound rather than return at 42). Conductor says "go to ticket office to get it sorted at Paddington". Excess fares clerk says "Can't do that here" and lets me out through the barrier, directing me to the ticket office. Seated behind bullet proof glass (I wonder why!), ticket clerk says "Too late - you've used it") and I've no option but to spend more money to get home. Frankly, I feel cheated by FGW. And my story is, perhaps, different to many others - but it's of the same style and genre as so many other tales. It turned into a very expensive evening - it would have been far cheaper (and far less harmful to the blood pressure) for me to have driven. [rant] Did you know ... 1 pound of every 14 paid to FGW goes back up the chain and on to their shareholders? And that their franchise payment of 1.1 billion pounds is the equivalent to a fee (tax?) of 2 pounds on every passenger arriving into and leaving from Paddington for the 10 years? Did you know that they cancelled all 4 out of 4 services on the Swindon to Westbury line yesterday, leaving Melksham without a single stopping service. Line problems? Not really - they showed that the line WAS functional by diverting a couple of expresses over it! [/rant] Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3146 Written by Graz on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 ^ If that happened to me, I would have demanded a refund, or failing that ask to speak to the station manager. I'm not normally so outspoken - but that is nothing less than daylight robbery! Penny, I can sympathise with you. It proves that the West isn't the only area FGW have got wrong- Reading passengers are also suffering at the hands of an awful timetable. Drastic changes are needed throughout the entire network as clearly the current levels of service just can't cope with peak time demand. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3149 Written by PennyFrench on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 I have just read Grahams reply and am absolutely appalled! Cheated is an understatement. There has to be some recourse for you surely? I will spare you details of my journey home last night and in today as, to be fair, even I can't blame FGW for the fact that I am in the family way. However, there was one gem that I wanted to share. As the packed 18.22 to Hereford pulled out of Paddington the PA cracked in to life with the usual "Hello this is your train manager speaking" speech. His main request was that those passengers standing in the vestibules between the first class carriages stay out of the way to ensure that the refreshment trolley could make its way through to the first class passengers. If there is another statement more demonstrative of the naked contempt in which FGW clearly hold the passengers that contribute the vast majority of its revenue I have yet to hear it. Priceless. By the way, I was serious about the fares strike. If we carry on doing the same thing we are going to continue to get the same result. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3178 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 Penny, thanks for your comment - I'm glad it's not just me who feels it was a bit unfair. I've emailed FGW's customer services asking them to redress the issue ... so far just a standard email back that says they're busy and will answer within 5 days. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3193 Written by PoTu on Wednesday, 17th January 2007 What really needs to be pointed out to FGW is that because the trains are over crowed no ticket inspections can take place. So what would be an interesting exercise for a month is to only purchase a ticket when requested to show one. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3234 Written by C Shearn on Friday, 19th January 2007 Graham (in response to my post re the above) I completely agree with your point about nailing fare evasion however, when I contacted FGW Customer Service about not being able to buy an upgrade on the train previously, FGW sent me a letter of apology, vouchers for compensation and told me the that the ticket inspector (Mr Gee) would be reprimanded. I therefore believed I COULD buy an upgrade on the train. When I was stopped a second time (again by Mr Gee) he ripped up the Customer Services letter in front of me. I am a consultant for the Department of Health. three FGW staff then made written statements that I'd been abusive and "threatened them if they were ever on my operating table". This is unilkely as I'm a management consultant and don't work in a hospital....! Finally, within minutes of completing a written statement to the ticket inspectors, I was physically thrown out of the station by a British Transport Policeman. In follow-up with the police, the inspectors had told the policeman that I was being abusive and had refused to leave the station despite repeaded requests. The police apologised. As a middle aged, middle England person, I just don't expect to be treated like this. I've lived in Ukraine, Poland and Belgium - officials there have a reputation of being agressive but I was never treated like this. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3259 Written by Ruthg on Saturday, 20th January 2007 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=1058.msg3128#msg3128 date=1169014372] Did you know ... 1 pound of every 14 paid to FGW goes back up the chain and on to their shareholders? [/quote] Graham, somebody at the More Train, Less Strain meeting on Tuesday suggested disgruntled passengers should all become shareholders of FGW, as they would have to invite us to their annual meetings, apparently you only need 1 share and it might be another way of having our say. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3281 Written by Trowres on Saturday, 20th January 2007 First Group shares are frequently held by unit trusts, ISAs etc with an ethical theme. The investment bodies running these schemes have people to engage with the companies whose shares they hold, in order to ensure that they are meeting ethical criteria, such as environmental care, supporting communities and so on. If anyone feels that First's top-level directors are really uncaring, perhaps this route would be a more effective way to make them listen. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3557 Written by JD on Monday, 29th January 2007 Hi Penny I'm new to this forum but couldn't agree with you more - I can only imagine how awful your daily journey must be, I fainted last on the train last week because it was so overcrowded and I'm not even pregnant. Does anyone know if there is a passenger group active in the Maidenhead area - I commute into London every day and January has been the most miserable, stressful month that I can remember. I am bored of boring friends and family with my tales of FGW's total incompetance and actually want to do something. Any pointers gratefully received... Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3580 Written by IhateFGW on Monday, 29th January 2007 I'm new to this site, so hello! I'm a fellow commuter from Pangbourne, and am at the end of my tether. I have started a blog to see if I can gather all the Oxford - Paddington travellers together to organise a similar protest to the Wiltshire folk. Please visit www.ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com, and add links to my site so that I can be seen in google searches. Also, I'd be very grateful for any comments or ideas. Anyone out there own a big badge-printing machine? Re: Stripping first great westerrn of its franchise - 1058/3590 Written by penman on Tuesday, 30th January 2007 We should campaign for First Great Western to be stripped of its franchise. Their services have reached a "tipping point" of such awfulness that this is the only solution. Re: Stripping first great westerrn of its franchise - 1058/3591 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 30th January 2007 [quote author=penman link=topic=1058.msg3590#msg3590 date=1170152392] We should campaign for First Great Western to be stripped of its franchise. Their services have reached a "tipping point" of such awfulness that this is the only solution. [/quote] That's one option. Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3838 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Friday, 9th February 2007 [quote author=PennyF link=topic=1058.msg3149#msg3149 date=1169040621] I have just read Grahams reply and am absolutely appalled! Cheated is an understatement. There has to be some recourse for you surely [/quote] Penny, and everyone who expresssed sympathy at what I felt was an unfair fare ripoff - I have just received a reply. Written by myself on 17th January, web site to FGW Customer service: My wife and I travelled up to London with FGW yesterday evening from Chippenham. Ticket trouble (wrong ticket issues - 2 saver singles at 41 pound each rather than returns at 42). Conductor on train says "go to ticket office to get it sorted at Paddington". Excess fares clerk says "Can't do that here" and lets me out through the barrier, directing me to the ticket office. Seated behind bullet proof glass (I wonder why?), ticket clerk says "Too late - you've used it" and I've no option but to spend more money to get home. Frankly, I feel cheated by FGW. Can we put this right / get a refund of the excess money paid? Response email, timed at 05:43 this morning (9th February) Dear Mr Graham Thank you for contacting us. I was concerned to hear that your journey was not as pleasant as it should have been as a result of a different ticket being issued than the one you asked for. However I am unable to offer any compensation as the National Conditions of Carriage does specify that it is the customer Re: It's just the same between Reading and Paddington..... - 1058/3863 Written by Trowres on Saturday, 10th February 2007 I wonder how this ruling would apply to tickets issued from machines (see penalty fares scheme...) - not so easy to hand back your tickets to a machine :-[ link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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