| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Getting Worse - 4591/8397 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 31st October 2007 Week before last - 10% of Monday to Friday trains cancelled So far this week - 10% of trains scheduled so far cancelled I know the numbers are small ... which is why each and every cancellation counts! Looks like the 2 trains this a.m. did run, but there's chaos on the line instead! Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8405 Written by courgettelawn on Wednesday, 31st October 2007 Almost every train I've taken between Salisbury and Soton has been delayed this week. Yesterday the 10.30 from SAL to Southampton Central was delayed due to a fault on the train which was fixed at Bristol TM. However this information was not forthcoming until someone asked the guard on the train. It have even 'disappeared' from the departure board before it arrived! Have FGW stopped bothering to excuse their delays and cancellations now? Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8504 Written by sumila on Wednesday, 7th November 2007 FGW have recently been extremely short of staff. At one point last week there were some 23 shifts uncovered Guards/train managers drivers etc. They seem to have a problem with staff retention - which, I think, roughly translated means their staff are as fed up with FGW as the travelling passenger is. Give it all back to Network Rail. As one company working together, we would vastly improve on what FGW laughingly describe as a train service. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8506 Written by Industry Insider on Thursday, 8th November 2007 [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8504#msg8504 date=1194476608] FGW have recently been extremely short of staff. At one point last week there were some 23 shifts uncovered Guards/train managers drivers etc. They seem to have a problem with staff retention - which, I think, roughly translated means their staff are as fed up with FGW as the travelling passenger is. Give it all back to Network Rail. As one company working together, we would vastly improve on what FGW laughingly describe as a train service. [/quote] Bit of a cock-up last week with Network Rail's overnight engineers possesion between Pangbourne and Tilehurst wasn't there? A planned 05:30 finish turned into roughly 15:00 with only the Up and Down Main lines open up between Didcot and Reading until then and hundreds of delay minutes and enforced cancellations placed upon the TOC's as a result. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8520 Written by sumila on Thursday, 8th November 2007 [quote author=Industry Insider link=topic=4591.msg8506#msg8506 date=1194501810] [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8504#msg8504 date=1194476608] FGW have recently been extremely short of staff. At one point last week there were some 23 shifts uncovered Guards/train managers drivers etc. They seem to have a problem with staff retention - which, I think, roughly translated means their staff are as fed up with FGW as the travelling passenger is. Give it all back to Network Rail. As one company working together, we would vastly improve on what FGW laughingly describe as a train service. [/quote] Bit of a cock-up last week with Network Rail's overnight engineers possesion between Pangbourne and Tilehurst wasn't there? A planned 05:30 finish turned into roughly 15:00 with only the Up and Down Main lines open up between Didcot and Reading until then and hundreds of delay minutes and enforced cancellations placed upon the TOC's as a result. [/quote] I suspect you must be FGW staff, industry insider. Like them, you seem to be able to turn everything around and blame Network Rail. The point has been missed that FGW were seriously short of staff, and that was the reason for the cancellations. It seems to be the culture of FGW to leap upon the bandwagon during any incident or fault and attempt to dump as many delay minutes and cancellations as it can on Network Rail. There may well, as there usually is, be a very good and valid reason for the possession overrun. The original work may have uncovered some other really important work that required carrying out immediately. It may be that the original work needed longer to complete than planned. This sometimes happens, and as unfortunate as it is, the work when completed safely (and that's the key word 'Safely') and correctly, benifits the travelling public. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8524 Written by sumila on Thursday, 8th November 2007 [quote author=Industry Insider link=topic=4591.msg8506#msg8506 date=1194501810] [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8504#msg8504 date=1194476608] [/quote] Bit of a cock-up last week with Network Rail's overnight engineers possesion between Pangbourne and Tilehurst wasn't there? A planned 05:30 finish turned into roughly 15:00 with only the Up and Down Main lines open up between Didcot and Reading until then and hundreds of delay minutes and enforced cancellations placed upon the TOC's as a result. [/quote] Thinking about the above quote. During that week, the Weekly Operating Notice which lists engineering possessions for the Great western Region, had approximately 200 engineering possessions of various types and varying length of times, each varying in complexity. This enforces my earlier point that as many delay minutes are dumped on us for any reason that FGW can come up with. One possession out of nearly 200 overran and it was lept upon - you saw the comments made, above. Looking at this in the positive - that was nearly 200 engineering possessions within time. How many FGW trains in that same week were cancelled/delayed as a result of their own failings - bet it was more than one!!! Here's an interesting exercise. Let's add up all the delay minutes caused by the possesion overrun. Then add up all the delay minutes on the same day caused by the serious staff shortages that caused FGW services to be cancelled/delayed in addition to cancellations/delays caused by their poorly maintained fleet and other FGW failings. Now compare the two figures. Wonder who'd win, or indeed lose, that one? Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8551 Written by Lee on Saturday, 10th November 2007 [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8504#msg8504 date=1194476608]Give it all back to Network Rail. As one company working together, we would vastly improve on what FGW laughingly describe as a train service.[/quote] I wouldnt be too sure about that. Have a look at the article links below. "Network Rail Proposes Closure Of Ardwick , Denton and Reddish South." http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=641.msg1929#msg1929 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1009.msg2809#msg2809 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=975.msg2722#msg2722 "Network Rail Boss Calls For Rural Train Services To Be Replaced By Buses." http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/12/take_a_taxi_in_the_country_say.html#more "Network Rail Bosses Want To Close Down Least-Used Stations Across Scotland." http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/rail_bosses_want_to_close_down.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/points_are_set_for_rail_shakeu.html http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/future_of_our_railways.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/14bn_rail_network_plan_to_boos.html#more I co - organise Campaign Against New Beeching Report , which is a confederation of campaigning groups and individuals , united in the aim of preventing the closure of lines and stations , and securing / developing their future role as part of the rail network of the United Kingdom (link below.) http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517 With a track record like yours , why on earth should I trust Network Rail with the train services that I seek to defend? Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8557 Written by Industry Insider on Saturday, 10th November 2007 [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8520#msg8520 date=1194558501] I suspect you must be FGW staff, industry insider. Like them, you seem to be able to turn everything around and blame Network Rail. The point has been missed that FGW were seriously short of staff, and that was the reason for the cancellations. It seems to be the culture of FGW to leap upon the bandwagon during any incident or fault and attempt to dump as many delay minutes and cancellations as it can on Network Rail. [/quote] Of course I work for FGW, Sumila - that should be evident from my posts. The difference between me and you is that I am able to give a balanced opinion on issues on this forum. My posts on FGW are both positive and negative wheraes you seem to blow the Network Rail trumpet at any given moment at the expense and very easily critisised FGW. The truth of course is that BOTH companies are in deep trouble with customers, stakeholders and regulatory bodies as many of Lee's posts over the last few months have proved. Many of FGW's front line staff are of course fed up with the recent record of the company, but the majority of them (such as myself) continue to take a pride in our job and do our best just like your signallers. I wasn't turning the blame on anyone. I was merely responding to your post on a FGW staffing cock-up (of which there are many) with a similar Network Rail one. The possesion in question was lowering a tiny section of track to give more clearance for freight vehicles under a farm track bridge. The over-run DOUBLED the amount of time that was allowed to complete the work. Badly planned or unfortunate? I'll let everyone draw their own conclutions. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8558 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Saturday, 10th November 2007 In a complex industry with a lot of older equipment (fixed and moving) that hasn't been maintained as full as it shoud have been, with specifications and companies and people changing too, everyone is bound to provide a less than perfect service at some time of other (and if there were so many spare resources lying around that there was always a spare at hand, we would grumble at the cost) It's refreshing to see somewhat more honest admission of "oops - got that one wrong" when things do go wrong - but of course it's not always easy / obvious for the delayed traveller to know whether a "buck-pass" is genuine or not. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8582 Written by Lee on Monday, 12th November 2007 [quote author=Lee link=topic=4591.msg8551#msg8551 date=1194693095] [quote author=sumila link=topic=4591.msg8504#msg8504 date=1194476608]Give it all back to Network Rail. As one company working together, we would vastly improve on what FGW laughingly describe as a train service.[/quote] I wouldnt be too sure about that. Have a look at the article links below. "Network Rail Proposes Closure Of Ardwick , Denton and Reddish South." http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=641.msg1929#msg1929 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1009.msg2809#msg2809 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=975.msg2722#msg2722 "Network Rail Boss Calls For Rural Train Services To Be Replaced By Buses." http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/12/take_a_taxi_in_the_country_say.html#more "Network Rail Bosses Want To Close Down Least-Used Stations Across Scotland." http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/rail_bosses_want_to_close_down.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/points_are_set_for_rail_shakeu.html http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/future_of_our_railways.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/14bn_rail_network_plan_to_boos.html#more I co - organise Campaign Against New Beeching Report , which is a confederation of campaigning groups and individuals , united in the aim of preventing the closure of lines and stations , and securing / developing their future role as part of the rail network of the United Kingdom (link below.) http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517 With a track record like yours , why on earth should I trust Network Rail with the train services that I seek to defend? [/quote] Mind you , the RMT agree with sumila (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/11/let_network_rail_run_passenger.html#more Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8590 Written by courgettelawn on Tuesday, 13th November 2007 Does anyone know how often train operators are audited for keeping to their SLC? I just cannot imagine FGW can carry on like they have been. I feel hopeless on their behalf, it seems an impossibility for them to improve according to their current plans. I also fear another new year price hike. Last year on a daily fare it was something like 27%. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8592 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 13th November 2007 [quote author=courgettelawn link=topic=4591.msg8590#msg8590 date=1194957187] Does anyone know how often train operators are audited for keeping to their SLC? Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8593 Written by courgettelawn on Tuesday, 13th November 2007 In other words there is no political will at all to pull FGW up on their inadequacies. Oh well, we'll just have to keep 'working with them' to report problems. I have just contacted them regarding the high level of cancellations on the Pompey-Cardiff line in recent weeks. Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8912 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 5th December 2007 And so it carries on ... Last Sunday - the second of the two trains from Westbury was cancelled. This (Wednesay) morning: 05:29 Gloucester to Westbury has been cancelled. This is due to a train fault. If the week starts at Sunday, that's at least 2 trains out of 11 gone as I write ... and it could be 3 as yesterday's 07:17 shows up as "no report". Re: Getting Worse - 4591/8915 Written by Industry Insider on Wednesday, 5th December 2007 I think the new boss might be in for a less than merry Christmas, as with the new timetable starting next week there are still several HST's to be 'refreshed', several staff to be trained to drive/train manage HST's, and general staff shortages affecting the whole region. Add to that the seasonal disruption caused by hoards of people going away for Xmas and many of the regular commuters still wanting to travel, and I can see it being a bloody time for all until around February when things should start to improve. I hope I'm wrong! Re: Getting Worse - 4591/9113 Written by Industry Insider on Tuesday, 18th December 2007 [quote author=Industry Insider link=topic=4591.msg8915#msg8915 date=1196850711] I think the new boss might be in for a less than merry Christmas, as with the new timetable starting next week there are still several HST's to be 'refreshed', several staff to be trained to drive/train manage HST's, and general staff shortages affecting the whole region. Add to that the seasonal disruption caused by hoards of people going away for Xmas and many of the regular commuters still wanting to travel, and I can see it being a bloody time for all until around February when things should start to improve. I hope I'm wrong! [/quote] I wasn't wrong. ANOTHER humbling apology letter promising a brighter future has been released on the FGW website (copied below). It's all very well apologising, but we've heard it all before and are losing patience quickly... [i]18 December 2007 Dear Customer, First Great Western Train Service Over the last few weeks we've not been giving you the service you deserve, and the level of disruption many of you have experienced is simply not good enough. I know from my own experience just how frustrating it can be when your train is late and I want to say sorry for our recent poor performance and the inconvenience it has caused. Signalling and track problems, overrunning engineering work by Network Rail, freight and passenger train failures, trains without enough carriages and crew shortages have all caused problems. I want you to know that I am committed to getting these problems sorted. So what are we doing? Network Rail is spending around Re: Getting Worse - 4591/9119 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 18th December 2007 [quote author=Industry Insider link=topic=4591.msg9113#msg9113 date=1197987178] I wasn't wrong. ANOTHER humbling apology letter promising a brighter future has been released on the FGW website (copied below). It's all very well apologising, but we've heard it all before and are losing patience quickly... [/quote] I understand that it takes "a long time" to train up new operations staff, and I can appreciate this. When I asked for a definition of this, I was quoted a figure of just over a year - that was in September 2006, when it was suggested that staff would need recruiting at that time for the return of an appropriate TransWilts service in December 2007. First took over the franchise on 1.4.2006, so allowing them 6 months to learn and get their pland into order and a year to train staff, they should have their act sorted out by now, I would have thought. "Lack of staff" issues in 2008 really won't be able to be blamed back on "we didn't know what we were taking over" any longer. 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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