Great Western Coffee Shop

First Great Western is set to cut even more trains later this year , it was claimed today (link below.)
http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=163038&command=displayContent&sourceNode=201866&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163041&contentPK=16635050

A specialist magazine says it has evidence that the much criticised rail company is planning to reduce the number of services it runs across its massive franchise area.

The latest edition of Rail magazine , which is published today , claims that the situation is set to get much worse with FGW preparing to cut costs by further cutting train numbers.

A draft franchise document obtained by Rail shows the total number of vehicles operated by FGW is set to be cut from 702 , with a total of 236,610 seats , to 643, with a total of 251,841 by next January.

FGW refused to comment before the Rail article was published.

The movement from a long distance railway company, operating services which a huge number of people use very occasionally, into a company that gets a steadily higher proportion of its income from medium distance passengers - commuters from Newbury, Swindon, even Bristol into London has lead to the use of carriages which have more seats each (and also more room for standing) and also the withdrawal of buffet car facilities.   So we see an increase in seats but a decrease in carriages, and a decrease in the space and comfort and facilities offered to each passenger.

Further article on this (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=200267&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144916&contentPK=16656944

Yep, and they are not even going to consult us about changes this time. I think a draft timetable for December is already around. If anyone has seen it I'd be glad to know what their plans are!

Susan
Ox Rail Action

Susan, Under Freedom of Information from the DfT, we received a draft copy of proposals for our area - the regional train service lines operated from St Phillip's Marsh, Bristol. I'm unsure whether these are just an idea or a probable or nearly cast in stone .... but it's probably worth your while to ask.  Email me (via graham@wellho.net) if you would like to know who we asked what (and that message applies to  all areas!)

I suspect that First did the full consultation last year because they knew what a disaster the DfT suggestions would be in some quarters and they wanted to be see distancing themselves from the original propoals that I heard some experts desribe as "unworkable" and "not fit for purpose".  Also because the changes were so fundamental.    This year, I have evidence that they HAVE been listening and have based much of the December 2007 plans on prior feedback; the changes shouldn't be anything like as dramatic, so perhaps the consultation doesn't need to be so dramatic either?  And - at least in the area that I use / know about, the suggestions are positive (we had a huge negative hit last December and have lost over 60% of services and about 90% of passengers).