And a mention in the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Customer Panel update

"You may have seen the online 'Meet the Managing Director' session we ran with the Great Western Coffee Shop Forum in August. Here is the link if you'd like to read it:* http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?board=48.0

We will be working with the Coffee Shop to run a similar session again on 5 November, inviting their members to submit questions in advance and Mark Hopwood will be online between 1700-1800 to answer them.  The focus of this session will be on the timetable change.  If you’d like to participate, please sign up to the Coffee Shop by following this link: * http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?action=register

We are working on providing an online platform for all members to engage with us and with each other and I’ll be in touch with more details about this very soon."

 

Some meet the team events with the timetable changes in mind.

"This will be an opportunity to meet GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) colleagues and raise any questions – they don’t have to be specifically related to the timetable."

October:

Friday 4 October - Filton Abbey Wood 0700-0930

Tuesday 8th October - Exeter St Davids 0730-1030

Wednesday 9th October - Reading 0700-1000

Thursday 10th October - Bristol Temple Meads 1600-1900

Wednesday 16th October - Slough 0630-1000

Wednesday 16th October - Bristol Parkway 0645-0845

Wednesday 16th October - Bristol Parkway 1630-1830

Thursday 17th October - Exeter Central 1530-1815

Friday 18th October - Westbury 0700-1000

Monday 21st October - Didcot Parkway 0700-1000

Wednesday 23rd October - Chippenham 0700-0930

Thursday 24th October - Oxford 0700-1000

Friday 25th October - Tiverton Parkway 0730-0900

Thursday 31st October - Plymouth 0700-1000


November:

Tuesday 5th November - Gloucester 0615-0915

Wednesday 6th November - Cheltenham Spa 0615-0915

Wednesday 6th November - Maidenhead 0700-1000

Wednesday 6th November - Newton Abbot 0730-1000

Thursday 7th November - Bath Spa 0600-0900

Wednesday 13th November - Twyford 1600-1900

Wednesday 13th November - Truro 0830-1130

Tuesday 19th November - Newbury 0630-1000

Tuesday 19th November - Penzance 1000-1300

Wednesday 20th November - Weston-super-Mare 1500-1800
 
December:

Thursday 5th December - London Paddington 1600-1900

Good to hear and if the original correspondent is satisfied (and now well informed) even better.

I'm probably letting my work experience influence me here in that quite often I answer a query because I know the answer and the assumption is that i'm responsible and will fix things. I shouldn't let myself get so jaded!

No. Only first class I've travelled is on the East Coast in its various guises. I only booked first class to Carmarthen as it can be very crowded and earlier trips saw it reduced to 5 coaches quite often. It doesn't compare to 1st on the HST to Stirling and I am wondering about the new trains on a longer journey.

Maybe I'm in the category of 'doesn't know better' but I was happy with my journey apart from the seat reservations.

I did wonder if there had been some changes at Maidenhead as the number of people waiting and then standing has seemed slightly less than usual. I assumed they'd just declassified first class and everyone was stood there.

I think its was Wednesday when the 06.43 at Twyford was cancelled/delayed/evaporated which meant the 06.53/07.01 was completely packed even before it arrived at Maidenhead.

Just had my first long(ish) journey in 1st Class. Twyford to Carmarthen.

Just to be contrary I found the seats fine. Not as nice as the LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) 1st class but ok for the 3 1/2 trip to Carmarthen. My only complaint would be there was no way to adjust or remove the padded headrests saying 1st class which I found pushed my head forward slightly and gave me a headache.

Downside was that there were no seat reservations and it was quite crowded for the start of the journey.

Food was from a complimentary mini trolley. Cups of tea, cake and sandwiches which was all I needed for my journey. A slightly longer journey and I would probably have hoped for something more but i felt well looked after till Swansea. After Swansea it felt everyone was winding down for the few passengers still on the train.

No ticket checks which surprised me as I helped myself to all my free snacks.

I'd agree with Taplow Green that it feels a bit long and informal although it may be appropriate for the original letter.

As someone who comes here as customer rather than train enthusiast or with knowledge of the railways it felt like a lot of excuses. While I've come to understand a lot more about why things happen (or don't) having an explanation for every complaint probably wouldn't win me over in this instance. Or has this moved beyond the complaint phase and it really is a request to know everything?

I assume you;re speaking in a semi-official capacity so its difficult to be too critical but perhaps just a bit of background and an offer to explain more on individual queries if they want to know more?

First offered a very poor service for whatever reason and I'm not entirely sure why First aren't answering the detailed questions and what they're doing to prevent a occurrence (even if I now know the answer to that).

Well you yourself said even a couple of minutes delay impacts at least two trains. It also doesn't seem to take much to knock the whole timetable off kilter but I was mainly looking at the 06.53 which is regularly slightly late in Paddington. Even a couple of minutes each day starts to get tedious on a regular commute especially on a train that is so crowded.

Still it was a one off so crisis averted.

ah - that makes sense. Glad its not going to be a regular occurrence as as you say it has quite a big knock on effect to other services.

Late this morning as there appeared to be a new train scheduled before it. There was a 06.51 to Twyford - Henley waiting on the London platform this morning for several minutes which caused the London trains to be delayed. Bit of a surprise if anyone can shed any light on it?

I did think this is one way of dealing with over crowding as I stood waiting on the platform.

In theory its a full size IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) although it has had a tendency to shrink to 5 on some occasions hence splashing out on First class.

Sounds like I should get some sandwiches before I travel then and a cup of tea will be a bonus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49331238

Looks like it will be 2.8%. More than my pay rise yet again

Quick food related question...I've got my first ever First Class journey on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) coming up.

Is it free food or just an at seat service (assuming there's anything at all)?

I'm not sure if it was a London Transport initiative but my partner has a blue 'Please offer me a seat' badge for her 'invisible' illness. She's had mixed results. No one has ever offered her a seat on the underground but a reasonable success rate on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) commute when people could actually move around.