Great Western Coffee Shop

0747 Maidenhead to Slough

I commute (if you can call it that) daily from Maidenhead to Windsor (changing at Slough) the journey normally takes about 20-25 mins...normally...well rarely!

This is my week so far - of course i've contacted FGW but they never bother to respond anyway...

14 November 07 - 0747 Maidenhead to Paddington (calls at Slough) - 0747 leaves at 07h:45m:30s - thats a minute and a half early! I know you must all be shocked! One of the railway employees makes it quite clear talking to a colleague that the train went early because the Bourne End train is running late...we would not want to hold up the fast services now would we!

The next train is the 0755...zoooooom...it goes straight through. This was because it only had two carriages and they decided to only stop at small stations...i hasten to say i was over an hour late into work!

15 November 07 - 0747 Maidenhead to Paddington (calls at Slough) - 0747 leaves at 07h:46m:00s - thats a minute early - this time I am not happy! So I go to the FGW representative stood on the platform...turns out she is only wearing the uniform as a fashion statement as she does not even know who can help...so i collared some bloke who also does not know...Seems to be something regular with FGW staff! He calls to check and, so say, the reason the train is leaving late is becuase the clock in the carriage and that on the platform are not syncronised. Is that my problem - it is when it makes me an hour late into work again!

It a 7 mile journey! COME ON FGW SORT YOUR ACT OUT EVEN VIRGIN ARE NOT THIS BAD!

Leaving more than a minute to get a train helps too.

General procedure would be doors close around 30secs prior to scheduled departure, so on the 2nd occasion you gave yourself 30seconds.

Yes train shouldn't leave early. But if you cut it so fine in terms of time at the station that is something you should look at too.

Agreed... I will change my timetable to suit the fact that they cannot keep to theirs (late or early).

I understand the doors close 30 mins before and to be honest thought it was me the first morning (but the member of staff did not help by broadcasting to everyone on the platform that the train had left early). This morning I purposely looked at the clock...

If either member of staff had said "sorry" it would have passified me... or the FGW got back to me when I sent in refund forms and complaints forms (i've set in 3 refunds - 1 response/2 complaints - 0 responses). I always say sorry as I battle through the masses to get up the stairs to the platform... I'd be classed as arrogant and rude if I did not...does that make FGW an arrogant and rude company?

The interesting fact is that the new timetable time for this train is 0746... coincidence? or perhaps trialing the new timetable early!

Anyway - I doubt i'll be re-newing my travel with them in December - easier to polute the atmosphere...and warmer...and quicker...and door to door...

If that is the case then you can take it to an Independent Complaints Commission, FGW Customer Services have a set time to reply to correspondence. So you could follow that up.

And it's not anything about changing your timetable. If you arrive at the same time a train is scheduled to arrive it is careless. Not to cause offense, but you should allow more time for the train.

No offence taken - and yes I will change my timetable - more than likely by car... means i'll get an extra half hour in bed anyway...against my principles though - but it's the fact that they really don't care that sends my blood boiling. See if I had been abusive (and they were not at all abusive to me) to the staff today...I would have been in the wrong! But they just don't seem to care...anyway I sound like I am ranting...