This is web site run by a First Great Western customer and for First Great Western Customers. We welcome YOUR contributions too via the coffeeshop forum ... How are their trains running? - a page that reports on cancellations, short working and skip-stops in the last 48 hours
Here's anIntroduction to some of the issues
The Department for Transport (and through them, the treasury) and First Great Western (and through them First shareholders) appears to be the top two concerns of the operator, with their voices first and second. But I feel that the CUSTOMER should be King - or should at least feature in the pecking order ....
The First group subsidiary First Great Western runs most train services in a wedge westward from London under a Franchise agreement with the Department for Transport which commenced on 1st April 2006 and runs for 7 years with an optional 3 year extension. The official FGW web site is here. The web site you are currently on is run by one of their customers. SeeAbout
There have been major changes to the service provided, and to its cost, many of which are to the detriment of the service provided to the railway's customers - its passengers. The service to my home town of Melksham, Wiltshire for example - with a population of around 24,000 - has had its train service cut from 5 a day (each way) to just 2 a day, and they run at times that aren't convenient for most passengers. Travelling from Melksham to London for the day, I could buy a return ticket on the train for under 50 pounds last November. Now the fare on the only available train is over 100 pounds, with off peak fares withdrawn in December and a further price rise on the standard fares in January.
What are the bloggers saying?
2008-05-11 One long journey ends and another begins Save the Train [Link]
We travelled from Westbury to Minehead yesterday on the "Minehead Marauder" - a special train donated for the day by First Great Western, staff working unpaid, on behalf of The Railway Children charity. At Minehead, you'll find the end...
2008-05-08 Suddenly it's summer I Hate First Great Western [Link]
The sun is out, the sky is blue, I wish I didn't have to be in work today, as it seems such a waste of one of the really glorious days of the year, and we have too few of them as it is.It seems a shame to moan about First Great Western on such a day as this, so I won't, since I've only taken one of their trains this week, and my only complaint was that ...
2008-05-07 When trains get lost Train Fellows [Link]
I imagine that after a while, one station looks like another to your average train driver. Same features -platform, ticket office (most of the time) etc. etc. But when you get the feeling that neither the driver or the "train manager" (by the way, which one is the other's boss?) has any idea where they are.. Today the manager announced we were approaching ...
2008-05-06 If you do that again, I'll..... Train Fellows [Link]
Why oh why would you sit on the train and then, when your mobile rings, get up from your seat and walk up and down the carriage talking to your colleague "Martyn" about goodness knows what...Maybe it's because everyone needs to have the benefit of your conversation. Oh no. We don't.This man angered me.. I honestly thought he was going to sit in the ...
2008-05-05 Train Deaths Train Fellows [Link]
Some of you will recall my ridiculous post about the cost of a suicide on the line out of Paddington which excluded the loss of the person who died.So I was suprised to see an article in the Telegraph today on a similar subject:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/05/05/do0502.xmlTTF
2008-04-29 Road - busy ... railway - no trains, so no users Save the Train [Link]
The A36 is closed for 12 weeks at Limpley Stoke, and the signposted diversion is along the A350 throught the outskirts of Melksham, parallel with the TransWilts Railway line I had an appointment in Corsham at 9 O'Clock this morning...
2008-04-28 Buffet, or no buffet? That is the question I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Did everyone catch Dom Joly's Complainers tonight? I'm quite glad I wasn't in it to be honest, as he did rather take the mickey out of everyone, to say the least, but well done everyone who took part, it's always nice to see FGW getting a bit of a roasting. It was particularly good in the way it highlighted the ridiculous situation where FGW doesn't ...
2008-04-27 Something bad is happening to me Train Fellows [Link]
I went to Devon for a few days to enjoy the delights of the English Riviera. Let us be clear, Torbay is not at all reminiscent of St Tropez. I've been there. It's awful and I do actually prefer Torbay with it's slightly down at heel feel to it. While we were pottering around the South Hams (south Devon for the uninitiated), I came across the stations ...
2008-04-22 Things you see on other people's laptops Train Fellows [Link]
I am reasonably careful to make sure my screen is not overlooked when I am working on the train. This is because I work for a paranoid organisation that would rather nail my privates to the outside of our building than let any information out in to the public domain....So you can imagine my suprise when I was walking through the train the other day ...
2008-04-22 Hey, Welsh people, want to be on the beeb? I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Hello allI have been contacted by BBC Wales, who are making a 30 minute programme on the transport problems between Wales to London. As I have mentioned before, I've had more than a few requests for I Hate First Great Western badges from Welsh people, so if you're Welsh, fed up with FGW, and have a yearning to see your face on the big screen (or at ...
2008-04-22 Gotta getta double seat! First Late Western [Link]
We were adelanted again on Monday night. Standing room-only on the 6pm Paddington-Bristol and not a word of apology from the train manager about the overcrowding. They also canned this morning's 6.55am Chippenham-Paddington due to staff sickness. Ho hum.But at least Monday night?s commute gave me an idea for this latest post. It got me thinking about ...
2008-04-20 The community shrinks Train Fellows [Link]
I am saddened to report that over the last couple of weeks my little gang that used to gather together for general support and comiseration has dwindled.Visaman - changed jobs for something closer to home - less money, more life.Train-totty - changed jobs for something much much closer to home - less money more life.There is a theme here.I am now a ...
2008-04-18 Population growth, but congested roads Save the Train [Link]
Major development is taking place near our local station - here's a view from the platform on Monday evening showing Spencer's Gate Development, which wasn't there 2 years ago, and which was advertised as being "close to the station" There's...
2008-04-17 I'm SOoooo London Train Fellows [Link]
Beware all those who alight at Reading station on platform 5. This is the platform with the highest frequency of trains for London Paddington.Also in close proximity is Platform 8 which has probably about 1/2 the number of trains to Paddington.So when you are on a train coming in to platform 5, it is normal practice to put your hand out of the window ...
2008-04-15 I'm almost scared Train Fellows [Link]
I am not a believer in the "the law of sod" or fate etc.However, I do write this item with a certain amount of trepidation.I am writing to congratulate FGW and their staff on providing a largely faultless service over the last few weeks. I have been getting home in time to see Baby Trainfellow before she goes to bed and all because the trains have been ...
2008-04-14 The trouble with queuing First Late Western [Link]
It's always the same. Whenever I decide to pop down to Chippenham Station to buy a new monthly season ticket, there they are. They may be directly in front of me in the queue, or they maybe be three or four places ahead, but whenever I go to the ticket office, they're always lurking...and they always reach the counter before me: the pensioner couple ...
2008-04-10 Train pushers, and the new timetable I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Here's a suggestion for how First Great Western staff can help get round the overcrowding problem. Watch this video.I'm not sure how long this has been around, but I think it's excellent.Basically, we know the trains are going to be packed at busy times, and to a certain extent, we accept that. Let's just push as many people as we can onto each one. ...
2008-04-10 Not just trains that break down Train Fellows [Link]
I've noticed recently that there have been a lot of problems with the now infamous "Selective Door Opening System". After a few teething troubles, the train staff have sussed everything out and provide useful announcements for the uninitiated and I have turned up my multi-media player because frankly I could make the announcements myself.... Anyway, ...
2008-04-09 Taxi anyone? First Late Western [Link]
Bit of a grim day for First Great Western today. Things started to go awry fairly early on. My wife braved the service first to catch the 7.05am Chippenham-Paddington, but didn?t know whether to laugh or cry when the station?s PA bleated (pun intended) that sheep in the Box area were staging their very own protest against the Chinese Olympic torch by ...
2008-04-08 Trespassing on my time First Late Western [Link]
A very frustrating trip home tonight. No more than a couple of hundred yards outside Paddington on the 6pm to Bristol Temple Meads we grind to a halt. After three or four minutes waiting, the train manager comes on the PA to tell us that there are trespassers on the line ahead and we?re being held while the long arm of the law reaches out to nab them. ...
2008-04-08 The ignorant and the gay, and an appeal for help I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Now listen, I'm not averse to a bit of healthy criticism. I realise that not everyone in the Thames Valley and the west of England hates First Great Western.I also realise that to many, this blog has extremist tendencies, with my use of the word 'hate' appearing to have echoes of 'hate crimes', 'hate mail' and other not-very-nice things.I don't even ...
2008-04-08 Sign o' the times...er, car park First Late Western [Link]
Carrying out jobs in a measured and methodical manner is often the best way of getting things done, but back at sunny Chippenham Station, they?re taking it to extremes.It?s APCOA I?m talking about ? the good people who run the car parks. Just before Christmas last year, they started to take some of the car parking ticket machines out of service. By ...
2008-04-08 Gadget news Train Fellows [Link]
I mentioned in my previous post about my new gadget - my portable video player. It seems to get a bit sniffy about playing certain formats sometimes but it was cheap.... But how cool does it look? I have really started to enjoy watching the odd program on it or looking at photos...The best thing is that it's not a phone and therefore you won't get ...
2008-04-05 Snippets of conversation Train Fellows [Link]
One of the best and worst things about commuting is the bits of conversation you over hear.Sometimes it is a very loud conversation that forces you to turn up your MP3 / video Player (birthday present - very nice) and sometimes it's hilarious.So here it is:".... and I found out it was my neighbour I was kissing".That's all I heard before my tea started ...
2008-04-03 First Class? Hardly I Hate First Great Western [Link]
My business (okay, it was a friend's birthday) took me to Paddington last night for a bite to eat and a few drinks.It seemed ridiculous for me to take South West Trains to Waterloo instead of First Great Western to Paddington, so I bit the bullet and got onto the dreaded Slough train. The journey there was fine, apart from being crowded and dirty, but ...
2008-04-02 The Moral Maze...First Late Western style First Late Western [Link]
Ok, here are a couple of First Great Western-related moral dilemmas that I'm intrigued to know the answer to. Your views are very much welcome.Moral Dilemma Number One: It's just before 6pm at Paddington and, as is occasionally the case, the 6pm Paddington-Bristol Temple Mead has been replaced by a considerably smaller Adelante train. (Indeed, this ...
2008-04-02 Loss of train - loss of job Save the Train [Link]
"Hi Graham I used to use this service. Then it was cut so I had to leave my job in Swindon as I couldn't get there by train. I am certainly willing to help on that one it used to...
2008-03-28 Seeing Red I Hate First Great Western [Link]
I cannot tell you how eye-poppingly angry I was last night at First Great Western. Of course this is not true. I can, and am about to tell you in great detail, so please brace yourself. Here goes: I was at the pub after work, as someone was leaving, so I stayed for a few drinks. I left the pub at half past nine, aiming to catch the 2221 from Paddington, ...
2008-03-27 The Sarkozy Effect I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Well, my goodness Windsor is clean at the moment. It's normally pretty tidy, one of the advantages of having the Queen as a neighbour, but at the moment it's absolutely spotless. I have also seen more policepeople on the town's streets in the past two days than in the entire six months I've lived there. A state visit is all rather exciting. Unfortunately, ...
2008-03-27 Terminal 5 - a portent for the Olympics? Save the Train [Link]
I'm hearing on the news that Heathrow's newly opened Terminal 5 was in a state of some chaos on its first day today, with "Hand baggage only" being order of the daym, and what started as a smooth operation in...
2008-03-27 Senseless service - could become sensible Save the Train [Link]
"It didn't make any sense." So said a delegate on this week's course that I'm running in Melksham. Looking to travel down from Oxford, where he lives, by train ... that's about 60 miles. What did the train website tell...
2008-03-27 First class here I come! First Late Western [Link]
After yesterday's rather depressing and shameful episode in my commuting life, a bit of a pleasant surprise today. Mr Postie delivered an envelope from First Great Western bearing the line 'Great offer from First Great Western inside'. You have my attention, as they say.Upon opening said envelope, I discovered not only some vouchers for free drinks ...
2008-03-26 Nothing to be proud of First Late Western [Link]
Was intially feeling very pleased with myself tonight for catching the 5.30pm to Chippenham, a full 30 minutes ahead of my usual schedule. Settled into my seat and watched the train fill up around me, safe in the knowledge that I'd be home half an hour earlier than usual to spend some extra time with my kids.As the train pulled out it was now very crowded. ...
2008-03-22 Give them a chance Train Fellows [Link]
A very recent commenter on this blog has suggested that I "give the new chap at the top" a chance before I lay into FGW anymore.So I am going to try and be nice... In the last 3 weeks, I have had only one problem with FGW - a cancelled train.. Other than that, the trains have been on time - even early on occasion. I have been genuinely impressed.Well ...
2008-03-22 Chatted up on the train Train Fellows [Link]
I was on a very full train the other day and a couple of older ladies started having a chat with me.They even hinted at sitting on my lap for the journey.... actually they didn't hint. They just asked.I suggested that Mrs TF might not be so enamoured with the suggestion.. As they got off the train a few stops later, one of them tapped me on the shoulder ...
2008-03-21 Not a Swiss clock railway this morning Save the Train [Link]
A Typical Morning in my Hotelier's diary here in Melksham, Wiltshire. The end-of-the-week business guests are leaving and making for their next destinations - the intenational set today (for the UK based folks left yesterday, today being Good Friday) "When's...
2008-03-14 £1bn lost on train 800,000 delays Train Fellows [Link]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7295682.stmThis story was interesting - going in a similar direction to that which I did when writing about the number of suicides on the line between Paddington and Reading.There is one startling quotation one MP (I'm saddened to say it was a Tory). She said the disruption was "Too much misery for passengers".I'm inclined ...
2008-03-14 I spy with my commuters eye... First Late Western [Link]
Here's a rather more whimsical one for you on a Friday afternoon as I'm feeling in a rather whimsical mood.Staring listlessly out of the carriage window this morning as we sped through the damp countryside, I began to ponder the nature of this view I stare at every morning. Now that we?re in mid-March I do at least have a view, in contrast to the deep ...
2008-03-13 What about Wales? I Hate First Great Western [Link]
Last night I returned home to find that the postman had been unable to deliver a package because it needed to be signed for. I'm hoping it's the badges, how exciting. This means they will soon be winging their way to those that have asked for them.I noticed whilst making a list of everyone's addresses, that there seem to be an awful lot of requests ...
2008-03-13 Onwards and upwards In Defence of First Great Western [Link]
I haven't posted in a while but there is a good reason for that. The reason is, wait for it, I no longer work for FGW. I know, it's a shocker and I have been really busy shifting things around and settling into my new job.Sadly, this does mean that I am not appraised of the latest developments from within the company, which rather defeats the object ...
Prime Minister's Petition -Report
NEW PAGES -Savethetrain andCommunitynew - 1.3.07
A station and service for CorSham? 10.4.07
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