Great Western Coffee Shop

Has it finally ground to a halt?

The last news release on the website was before Christmas. There is nothing highlighting the plus points in the new timetable (and there are a few). Tonight they ran trains every 15 minutes back to Reading until after 23:00 following racing and a concert at Newbury Racecourse. However they didn't tell anyone they were doing it.

It just seems they are missing opportunity after opportunity to promote the positive things they do.

[sigh]Sadly, the website has not been FGW's strong point over the course of this franchise and I doubt that this will change much now they are not taking the option to extend the franchise. Still has the old timetables listed five days after they have expired which doesn't show much committment to maintaining the site.  :(

On a more positive note they are still producing an excellent Network timetable which is full of useful information but even that keeps pointing to the website to try and get you away from using paper timetables.

If we are being encouraged to use the website more then maybe some more effort needs to be taken to maintain it.

Away from the website for a mo....

.... I've made four attempts at purchasing the FGW Network Timetable, two at Temple Meads, one at Bristol Parkway and one at Cheltenham.

Both times at Temple Meads they were locked away in a safe to which ticket office clerks had no access and the supervisor who did, was, firstly not on shift, and secondly, on a break. Bristol Parkway had had them delivered but front office hadn't been given the go ahead to sell them and thus had no 'record sheet' (their words) to record sales. Thus I was refused, point blank, the opportunity to purchase one. Cheltenham was a shot in the dark. Didn't expect them to have stock - and I was right.

Will try again next week.....

...back to the website.

The amount of out of date and incorrect information on FGW's website is very disappointing. One gets the impression they've given up on this side of the business. You really do get the impression that things are slowly winding down.....

I'm also getting the impression that "the people on the ground" are starting to wind down.  The number of incidences of "slap-dash behaviour" that I've seen recently is unacceptable.

Today I was on a service where the conductor didn't even know where the train was going to.  "Welcome aboard this First Great Western service to Great ... err, err, err, no, Cardiff Central.  Calling at Romsey, Salisbury, Warminster [interference followed by long pause] Westbury...".  Presumably answering the phone whilst making this announcement.  After the next stop, we got "Welcome aboard the service to err err err Cardiff".

I've had my railcard replacement refused twice at Temple Meads.  One claimed that I couldn't have it replaced a second time within a year.  The other said 25 minutes before my train wasn't enough time (even though it only took five minutes last time).  I've given up getting this replaced - if it becomes illegible and anyone comments, I'll be referring them to said members of staff at Temple Meads.

Then the barrier staff.  I was let through with a ticket that was six weeks old.  My rover was in the railcard wallet, but turned out that I put the wrong ticket at the front after an on-train check.

Re the timetable book.  I had exactly the same experience at Reading when the last one was published. Why they were locked away I have no idea. The fact they weren't on the computer apparently meant they couldn't have sold me one anyway!! After three attempts I wrote to Customer Services to point out how silly it was and they sent me one free of charge. I haven't been to get one this time round but it sounds like nothing has changed.

Re the website. I agree it does have an air of running down about it. However I would suggest this has been the case for the last 18 months or two years.

I wonder if it ever gets raised at any of the MtM sessions or by the Panels.

Regards the purchasing of the FGW Network Timetable. It wasn't an exactly straightforward purchase when I bought a copy last Saturday at Bath Spa (that looked like the dog had had a go at it and was told they all look like that in the box) because the staff on duty at the time didn't know how to input it into their computer system until eventually they found that it goes under the heading 'timetable'.  :D I had similar problems the last time I tried to purchase a copy at Bath Spa. One gets the impression that they don't sell very many copies there  ::).

It is also worth noting that there are many Autumn Sunday timetables missing from the book this time around and you are asked to go a timetable supplement page on the website. I really do hope FGW follow through with this now they have said this in the book and place this page on the website in the not too distant future otherwise the book is quite incomplete. Sundays from 30th October are also incomplete in the National Rail Timetable Table 125. Is it really too much to ask that TOCs/Network Rail get their timetables completed in time for the publishing of the new timetable?

Thanks for that Timmer.  ::) Looks like Bath Spa is the place to go for a FGW Network Timetable. Not aware that the retailing of said timetable required use of the 'computer system'. In the past it's just been a case of a 'record sheet' that the clerks needed to fill out when deigning to hand one over!

Quite why these books need to be secured in a safe or only sold once management give the go ahead, is beyond me!

Or try Oxford. Haven't bought the new book but when I bought the December issue there was a poster promoting it up next to the queue barriers and the clerk seemed to have no trouble entering it on her screen at the same time as selling me a ticket, though the book itself had to be fetched from a back office.

The FGW Network Timetable is an auditable item which is why they are numbered, and have to go through the system.

On the week that the previous network timetable was released, I asked for one at the concourse information desk at Paddington for one.  I was handed a "colleagues Guide"  containing all the TTs for free by a very friendly chap who said he had hundreds of them and was try to get rid of them

No problem getting one at Truro. Asked "have you got a ^3 all line FGW tt?" Clerk picked one out of a box, I handed over ^3, he handed over the tt. In and out in 10 seconds flat!!

Does anyone know if you get an auto-acknowledgement when you email FGW via the contact page on the website?  I sent an email this morning about its pitiful state and not had anything back.  I know in the distant past you did get a reference number but that may have changed.

I'm now in possession of a copy of the FGW network timetable, after a recent trip through Bristol Temple Meads where I was able to coincide my visit to the Travel Centre with a supervisor who was on duty and had access to the safe where these valuable documents were stored.   ::) :P ;D.

Sadly I can't agree that the latest book is 'excellent'. Many timetables are missing details of weekend services after September/October, despite the front cover saying, "Contains all First Great Western Timetables. 22 May to 10 December 2011."

They've also changed the line-up of timetables so they now are now in numerical order similar to the list of .pdfs on the website, rather than the loose geographical sections of previous network timetables. That's not really a criticism, more a personal preference based on what's gone before. The new layout does make sense I suppose. However I've got kinda used to the previous layout. Now I flip through the new book as I did the old one and timetables aren't where I've grown used to them being. Have to refer to the index now.  ::)

All that said, I complained to FGW Customer Services about the missing weekend timetables in the book. They're sending me a ^3 RTV by way of apology. Yay!

Has it got the Severn Beach timetable (Table 133) that was left out of the Network Rail one (published by TSO) apparently?

Yep. SVB line is in the new book. FGW Timetable no. 29. Just not where it was before. With a totally confusing entry for the Bristol bound Sunday service. It is mistakenly headed Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach rather than the other way round, as the inbound service should be, along with confusing dates for the three periods of operation:

1) Until 11th September.
2) From 18th September to 23rd October. 
3) From 30th September

So, do I refer to table 2 or 3 on say, Sunday 9th October. 30th September isn't even a Sunday!

Just one example of many errors and omissions. Yes, I know that third table should be: From 30th October.

If FGW want a proof reader in future I'd happily offer my services! They don't even bother to put an 'E&OE' disclaimer anywhere in the book. Not good enough when it's something you have to pay for.

Have you read Barry Doe's article in Rail. He proof read for the national book and according to him they took no notice of the things he spotted.  Bet Bradshaw never had this trouble!

I almost despair of the National Rail Timetable now. Sure when BR were responsible for the big book there were errors but at least it contained a supplement book that came with the timetable to correct most of those errors. Now whether you buy the TSO version or the Middleton Press version you get the first version that is printed full of errors and told to go to the Network Rail National Rail Timetable page to get the corrected pages which is dependent on the TOCs highlighting the errors before the pages are updated.

Barry Doe is right to be concerned about the way it is currently being handled.

As I said earlier in this thread, so long as FGW follow through with their plan to provide a timetable supplement online or for collection for weekend services from the Autumn I will be reasonably happy. If not an email will be going to customer services asking why this hasn't happened?

I agree it is annoying that they weren't in the timetable book in the first place though.

I have noticed there are 2 threads on this topic, the other one being  in the Help & Assistance Board.   I will use this one and would like to say that although the train disruption information has improved on the FGW Website,  I have only seen short formed gen a couple of times and  no catering shortcomings listed at all.     I find it hard to believe that they are perfect , especially on the afternoon Brighton !!!

I am surprised that no mention is made on the FGW Home Page of their Website of the TAKE THAT Concerts in Cardiff on the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday this week with approx 60,000 expected to be present each night.   Wondering if they have any plans for strengthening the late trains back to Bristol.

Call me cynical but I wouldnt hold your breath.

It really frustrates me. For all the FGW get wrong they do get a lot right but just don't seem to like to blow their own trumpet. They could make so much better use of their website.

Why not put a piece on about the first stage of work on the Coltswold Line?
Why not boast about their Pullman services in the light of East Coast cutting back?
Why not highlight the services for Henley Regatta?

It goes on.

I've emailed them a while back but not had a reply.

FGW provided a 150/1 and crew free to West Somerset Railway to shuttle punters from Taunton to Bishops Lyderard on Sat/Sun for their "mixed traction" weekend and to provide a direct service at the start/end of day to Bristol TM - that wasn't mentioned anywhere either.  :(

They are doing additionals for take that at Cardiff.


FGW are due to be getting a new website soon, lets hope it's used better.

Mind you, they seem pretty keen to tell everyone all about Volo TV!

Thank you Ollie for info re special for Take That.   I wonder if anybody with clout reads this Forum

No worries, sorry for not having more useful info such as actual timings..

Catering alterations are no longer advertised on the website or journey check. It has been decided that this information is not worthy of being on the website but will be displayed on CIS at stations. The theory behind this is that the live updates are really for service disruption, and not to advertise trolley services etc..

With regards to short formations I have been informed that the spec for this info to be displayed has also been changed.

Short formations will now only be listed as follows:
Monday ^ Fridays Paddington & Bristol TM peak services arrivals until 10:00 and departures 1600-1900

And then they will only be listed if 50% or less seating capacity than advertised will be provided.

There are however some exceptions, such as a short form that may be require additional road transport such as the Newquay branch for example.

This overall review is part of the national PIDD (Passenger Information During Disruption) project and ensuring the website and control staff are concentrating on delays, cancellations and alterations and not 2 coaches vice 3 on multiple diagrams.

That's much better, previously that kind of alterations can make things appear worse than they actually are.