Great Western Coffee Shop

Is this a typical Thursday moaning's commute?  Journeycheck indicates 3 amended services - 2 in the Bristol area and one in the Thames Valley, but the tweeters are busy reporting the trials and tribulations of travel ... all these within the last hour searching for #fgw tag.


Are we turning more and more into a complaining nation, are things really much worse than they used to be, do we see the past through rosy tinted spectacles, or has the information technology age made the spreading of individual bad news so much easier ... or all of these?

Posted in "Intro and Chat".  discuss  ;)


Modified to obscure language used in what I was quoting - sorry about that ...

The last of those options, mostly.

In the days when I used to travel by train infrequently it always seemed to be the case that on those days I did travel delays etc would mess my plans up. Although I may travel by train maybe twice a year in those days those delays really hacked me off.

Now I travel by train every working day il guess although delays are annoying they have become part of my way of life. Having said that (IMO) the two months before Xmas were really bad in FGW land but so far this year major delays have been few and far between.

I don't think it's any different now to the way colleagues and regular commuters always have whinged to each other about real and perceived transport woes, except that today not just the rest of the carriage but the whole of the interweb can hear them if they choose to.

True ...  but then I don't think I remember quite such a high proportion of missing services in my youth.

I was booked onto the 15:55 from Chippenham to Paddington this afternoon.  Cancelled (I'm on another train now).  What's hilarious is that the TVM issued me a "15:55 Only" advanced ticket even when the departure screen showed it as cancelled.  Perhaps the technology isn't quite as joined up as it should be - but that's another story!

Just out of interest... Could someone with legal knowledge confirm my interpretation of part of the public order act relating to displaying written abusive language (swearing) is correct?

From section's 4 and 4 a of the 1986 public order act


Am I correct in thinking that this also applies to social networking sites

Some of the language being used within the complaints is unacceptable

After around 35 years commuting 1968 to 2005 with a couple of gaps. Generally things weren't too bad there were one of two snowy days when things went up he shoot but otherrwise the old 117s pottered up and down fairly reliably although they did suffer from milage related problems all together but we got 31s and 3 coaches instead!

Then Chris Green's brand new Turbos arrived and once settled in  and propery timetable started much faster services. 33 minutes Taplow - Padd with 4 stops. Now it's nearer 45 mins.

Things got really bad at the end of Thames Trians and start of First Link franchises. Where I had 5 years of decreasing season ticket prices with the 5% discount and capped rises. When punctuality was around 80% rolling average and that's how it worked out. You could reckon to be over 5 minutes late at destination twice out of 10 journeys a week. Of course it was always the night you wanted to be home to be off out!

I blame the advent of defensive driving which has led to excessive padding and a certain degree of slackness. If you've got 15 minutes to get from Ealing to Padd and you can do it in 8 why bother being on time at any intermediate station up to Ealing.

Railways should be run briskly.

Also of course with the ridiculous lack rolling stock you can't turn out a 31 and 3 even if you could find a loco and coaches you wouldn't have a driver who even knows what a 31 is.

I know we have to sweat assests but at least 1 completely spare set wouldn't come amiss. The problem is that it is needed now for strengthening existing services so we probably need at least 5 extra units in the Thames Valley to give at least one totally spare not turning a wheel or being maintained. It would probaly be found that if there was 1 completely spare unit that the reliability of the whole fleet would rise as more time could be spent on routine mantenance and less on fixing faults. There are some very interesting mathematical trade offs between reliabilty, availabilty and utilisation.

Bearing in mind there are some very important government constituences in the TV I for one am delighted that the railways' shortcomings are being broadcast to widest possible audience.

I don't envy Mark Hopwood his job,  although he is suppose to be free enterprise entrepreneur, in practice, he is probably more hamstrung than Chris Green ever was.

I have modified one of the quotes to leave you guessing (not!) as to what the original word was.   Difficult one that - I hate changing what people say, and I did quote in the interest of critical comment  ;D

Ahh actually I wasn't referring to the fact that it had been quoted on here, however I guess I can't cherry pick... I just get quite angry when I see the abuse being thrown at the staff who respond to questions on both social networking sites, if this happened at the station the btp would be alerted I appreciate that some passengers have a reasonable cause to be angry however some go over the top!

The Maidenhead to Paddingon commute is definitely a lot worse and I've been doing it for years.. Not that I'd expect a seat these days (just room to breath suits me) but back in the 90s (ooh that makes me feel old) I always got a seat.. I'd say there were more fast trains then too but I imagine that is rose tinted spectacles on my behalf..

And that is the very reason I treated myself to a first class monthly season ticket (see my other post about how that has gone  ::)) as it had got to the point where I was dreading being squashed onto overheated, overcrowded trains...

And as other people have said.. Obviously people now have extra ways to complain.. But to be honest.. It can do FGW no harm to hear about the conditions their passengers are subjected to..

From the Maidenhead Advertiser (http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/News/Areas/Maidenhead/Rail-passengers-call-for-action-after-days-of-problems-01022012.htm):


(My highlighting) CfN ::)

No, what is unacceptable is leaving passengers standing on an unheated semi-rural platform for 40 minutes at -4.5C and not apologising when the train finally did arrive.  The language used was an accurate description of my feelings at the time -- I foolishly thought that I would try the train instead of driving to work.  It left me freezing cold and 50 minutes late.

Fair point, well made - and welcome aboard, good sir.

OK, my journey today, from Torquay to Paddington.

Arrive TQY for the 0615 connection into 0630 from NTA to PAD. Ticket Machine at TQY politely stated that it could not issue pre-purchased (APEX) tickets. Cue photograph of screen in readiness for explanation.

0615 came and went. Without a departure. Lady on platform informed that it had 'gone down' (i.e. to PGN) as she had been there since.

0620 came and I'm now thinking 'OK, just going to make, JUST, it but still no ticket and maybe have to leg it over and on without it, how's this going to work?' (Did have photo of screen and emailed confirmation of ticket on phone)

After contacting the 'Help' point (note the inverted comma), was advised that the train was showing as not having departed PGN, then advised it just had at 0628.

Unit rocks up at around 0630 and I'm on (ticketless). Speaking to the conductor, he advised that he had just checked and the PAD train had not been held at NTA (not exactly shocked at this).

So, into NTA around 0640 with a lovely 50 minute wait for the Hind (0732) which was already showing 5 late. Still, 50 minutes to pick my tickets up so there's a bonus.

Coffee and warmth ensued until the notification that the Hind was being re-platformed into Plat 1. Strange.

Hind turns up (around 9 late) into Plat 1, no lights in buffet car, Coach E no ETH and being 'advised' it is not for use. Fitters (presumably having travelled up from PLY) tinker around for a while and we leave NTA around 10-15 (ish) late.

Buffet then re-opens with limited service. Still 'no' Coach E.

Uneventful journey as far as around Theale then stuck behind a stopper turbo into RDG.

Arrive PAD 30 late (or for me, 90 late!)

To be fair, a catalogue of unusual errors, but as we were talking about shambles today, thought I'd get it out of my system!

Footnote - the conductor on the unit was great, gave an accurate description of the fault (power handle not working) and tried to help with information - top marks.

.

It would be more accurate to say that what you experienced was 'also unacceptable' .... One does NOT justify the other, it's one thing being angry and getting your point across.... Swearing and using threatening behaviour Is totally unjustified

I wonder how the 8am (Hst usually) would benefit???  A turbo towed along behind maybe?  ::)

Oh - I got several inputs  - even about a certain word used within a quote. :-\

Getting back on thread, though, it does always seem an adventure travelling on FGW.  I'm at Paddington now (Advanced ticket for 22:15) and wondering what this journey will bring.   Up journey ... I had the joy of being issued with a "this train ONLY" ticket after the train it was for had been cancelled.  Such a good story you really couldn't make it up - see (here) (http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3601_Rail-Travel-has-it-become-more-unreliable-.html).

It is ALWAYS an adventure Graham as I'm sure you know..Yyesterday evening I got the 8.20 out of Paddington to Slough (to connect to Maidenhead).. it's usually a 15 minute journey.. I finally got to Slough about 9.. to find the indicator boards in disarray so no one knew when the next train might possibly be.. if ever...

I asked a member of staff who asked someone on his radio..only to find I'd have at least 25 minute wait to get a train home (maybe the train I was on could have made some additional stops had it been realised earlier.. who knows... I guess better to abandon people at Slough.. ::) ::))

 After suggesting they tell all the other people waiting on the platform for a westbound stopper that it would be a long wait (they apparently did) I headed off for a taxi the rest of the way home that I couldn't really afford..

This is what we are working with.. Generally on quite a regular basis.. Therefore I think we can moan sometimes  ;D

I used the F word, so shoot me. It was justified at the time. There was no threatening or indeed abusive behaviour, indeed if you read the tweet you'll note the comment was more directed at the system than even FGW and was in no way threatening.

If you choose to be offended that I got a bit upset at a poor service then fair enough, but don't expect an apology.

Look here's the deal I'm not offended, I wasn't even isolating your tweet, Infact until you told me I would have been none the wiser... I simply asked for someone to clarify the law. I am in no way trying to make up for the problems you experienced and as I do not work for fgw it would be inappropriate for me to do so, but I would like to point out that you were angry as you felt they were insensitive to your needs in this case.... What about the millions of users you potentially subjected to that word... Kids use twitter.... They don't work for fgw did they deserve to read it?.... I'm not having a go, just think about others

Well, fair enough mate.  In which case, I refer you to Twitter's terms of service:


As far as kids using Twitter goes, well yes, they do.  And they write proper offensive bile too.

I'm hoping Twitter would have some sort of screening of "tweets"..??

Meanwhile... The train service is sooo bad.. So we are allowed to be a bit rude about it.. But this isn't twitter here.. So can we maybe calm down about it please?  ;D ::)

I know mate , but two wrongs don't make a rite, im not a saint I'm sure I have done it....I just wanted someone to clarify the law, if you search threw some of the tweets they are genuinely horrible and no one deserves to be subjected to them, anyway I'm up at 3 best be off to bed :-)

And to think there were no HST services back then - just shows you how popular that (and other commutes) have become...

Yeah but I reckon that the number of seats hasn't improved since then at all.. No one seems to have noticed apart from the regular commuters.. And however many times we tell FGW.. nothing has happened..

However this isn't twitter... So not a concern to this forum directly.. ;D

Unless its a thread about rants directed at fgw via twitter :-p

It was merely reporting what had been said though.. And in no way condoning or otherwise the peoples comments... Just asking us to discuss why people were so unhappy..  :)

Never mind a train making extra stops, I'd just like them to make the ones they are bloody supposed to! If the Oxford/Banbury services from Maidenhead in the evening are delayed by 15+ minutes, you can be almost certain of being dumped at Reading so it can hot-foot it (practically empty) to Oxford >:(

Thing I want to know, is why the 1704 from Maidenhead has been arriving at 1707 almost every day, for about 3 months! It was so consistently late, I honestly expected it to change in the December timetable (back to what it was, 1707 if I recall)!

It's a discrepency between Public and Working timetables.

WTT (Working Time Table) is scheduled to depart at 1706, and this will be the time that the driver works to.

Unless the driver happens to spot that the public time is different (by noticing on the information screens) and driving to that instead.  He/she has no indication of any difference on their schedule card.

The whole Public/WTT differential really winds me up.  There are trains that have differences of 4 minutes between the public and working times.  Assuming the driver sticks to the working times, then you have the public perceiving their train is always 4 minutes late.  What bloody awful, and totally unnecessary PR that is.  Apart from exceptions circumstances, the two should be combined into one time so that everyone knows the score.  Rant over.

LOL - so you are telling me, not only do FGW have their own concept of "on time" (ie. can be upto 3 minutes late), but they also have two versions of the same time table, one for joe public, and one for the workers ?! Ye Gods.

/me finds somewhere warm to curl up until the world regains some sense ..... yes I maybe gone some time  :P

The whole railway has a WTT and PTT.

It is my belief that railways in general, not just FGW, have got worse in the last 10 years.
Overcrowding is definatly worse, and is a direct result of new shorter trains in many cases.

I frequently used the suburban services into London Blackfriars, these used to be 8 car slam door EMUs, latter replaced by all new networkers, 6 coaches in the peak instead of 8, some improvement.

I used to travel between Waterloo and Gillingham dorset, in the good old days we had 8 coach locomotive hauled trains, sometimes longer at busy times.
I dont remember EVER standing on the old trains. Then came 3 car DMUs with standing being the norm.

And as for virgin cross country, they received a massive subsidy to halve the length of the trains, with standing the norm.

In recent years new trains have been largely replacements for old, and not supplements to improve capacity.

FGW have led the field in cramming more seats into the same vehicle and calling this an improvement. Refering to " thousands of extra seats" sounds to to the man in the street like some extra trains, when in fact they mean a few extra seats per train.

I don't really think twitter helps in some cases, comparing it to an email, you often get the exact same response (just much shorter without the investment spiel), which is an apology or an explanation. You also get the response same day - FGW customer service are a little bit longer...

Would some of these "complaints" have ever been written if FGW weren't on Twitter?

Are people somewhat "lacking" with manners on social networking sites?

There are however, some very polite users of twitter, BerkshireBugsy being one of them. I don't think being polite and putting across a point is difficult:

What a nice positive start to a Monday morning! All though this thread was specifically about twitter, my approach about contacting companies (such as FGW) is the try and mix the good and the bad.

Sometimes when the service goes through a bad patch it can be difficult to be complimentary but I do find that even in the not so good times it is fairly easy to find staff who stand out for the right reasons. On those occasions an email will wing itself to FGW in the hope that it finds the right destination.

Happy monday everyone (ok I admit that might be taking things a bit far)

I must admit that I had a little bit of a rant on FGW's Facebook Page... ::) My train to Salisbury was 15 minutes late. Now I wouldn't mind that normally, but I had a connection to make at Salisbury to Waterloo. There were also problems on the c2c line that day too, so all in all, being 15 minutes late made me 1hr 38mins late! >:(

I did say in my e-mail to Jo that I wasn't fussed if I wasn't entitled to Compensation as I was happy with the price I paid for the tickets, so it wasn't a problem. However sitting in my Inbox on my Exchange Account this morning, I was delighted to find a compo voucher for ^29.00!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

But I'd like to think my e-mail was taken in politeness as I made it clear that the delay was of no inconvenience to me. But still, that'll save me a fair bit going to Southend on Thursday! :D

My sentiments entirely. IMO if "one" is going to complain then do it in a civil fashion first. If the first communication is a full blown rant it leavers nowhere to "step up a gear" to.

Mind you, if you have ever been left waiting for an hour on a cold wet platform because the xx:xx (insert relevant time here) has been delayed then sometimes that is easier tweeted said than done.

Oh well off to see what delights commuter world holds in store for me today :)