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13036  Sideshoots - associated subjects / News, Help and Assistance / Re: A year on - how is this site doing? on: January 25, 2008, 23:48:28
Grahame, thanks for this update!

I note we now have 209 members: they're joining at the rate of about two a day, which is great!  However, some of them are not posting, but logging out fairly soon after registering.  Is there any way we can perhaps welcome them immediately (maybe with an automatic message?) to encourage them to stay logged in, and perhaps make their first post?

I know you and the other moderators welcome new members when they do post - and indeed I have done so myself in some cases, where I have spotted a new member's first post, for example!  However, as we expand our membership, we may risk discouraging some of our newest members from actually posting after they've registered, when they see some of the 'in jokes', strange technical jargon and the occasional 'personality differences' which are evident in some of our threads?

Just a suggestion, perhaps to be discussed with the moderators and the existing members?  I don't want us to discourage new members from posting, that's all - for example, we're getting more FGW (First Great Western) staff, and females, registering.  I really don't want to start any debate about females joining such a website, for whatever discrimination reason - but as, for example, on my commuter train they make up about 50% of the passengers, I really would value their input from a female point of view!  Same with FGW staff - I've gained some very useful information and a much greater understanding of the wider issues from some of them, for example.

Anyway, enough from me: what do others think?
13037  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Ticket To Ride - How Bristol Pays The Price on: January 25, 2008, 21:37:07
I don't think a few busybodies from Bath have influenced a ^5m decision somehow, it's simply FGWs (First Great Western) poor performance that brought it about! It was after a meeting with the DFT (Department for Transport) of all people!
I expect that DFT were very much behind FGW offering more money in compensation as an indirect way of fining them for poor performance on top of what they would have had to pay out anyway under the passengers charter. I can't honestly see that FGW came up with this idea all by themselves, after all what privately owned company gives away money unless they either have to or its in the own interest to do so?

Where I would say that MTLS (More Train Less Strain) have played a small part would be that they have kept the peformance of FGW in the media spotlight which has got it noticed by a great deal of people, not just in the West Country but all over the country. Not a day seems to go by now without an article about FGW in some form or other appearing in one of the papers or on TV.

Exactly. Would DFT have cared two hoots if there hadn't been any bad publicity? And who has driven that publicity?
I hadn't heard of MTLS until I came to this forum! In the far West country we never hear of them?Huh? So it can't be that stronger brand!
I admit I had never heard of them either, we don't have any participants down here.

I agree with Timmer and John R on this one.

While I do accept that many of you in Devon and Cornwall had probably not even heard of MTLS until very recently (that's no way a criticism of you - please hear me out!), they are nevertheless a very potent voice in the Bristol / Bath area, where they originated.  They have tapped into a lot of dissatisfaction on that particular commuter route, and because Bristol and Bath have big populations with their own issues with First Bus as well, MTLS have easily gained a lot of local support.  There are also a lot of MPs (Member of Parliament) in this area, and they have generally publicly supported the sentiments of their constituents (strange, that?).

As John R and Timmer wrote earlier, scarcely a day goes by up here in Bristol / Bath / Somerset without some comment in the local paper / radio / television about FGW, usually quoting someone from MTLS.  However, MTLS are really still just a local group - as we've seen from the dwindling support they have received for their fare strike from other areas (for example, Oxford) after FGW's offer of increased compensation.  You could argue that MTLS's influence is out of all proportion to the area of their mainstream support - indeed, John R did, and I think he's quite right.  Nevertheless, they have raised these issues, which will probably not go away until the situation improves - to the benefit of both passengers and staff of FGW, I think!

By the way, I am NOT a member of MTLS, I do NOT support any lawbreaking by fare-dodging.  I hope everything goes good-naturedly on Monday; the protesters get to make their point and perhaps FGW get a chance to put their case as well!
13038  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: profit first, safety second? on: January 25, 2008, 20:05:45
I've had a brillant day, it's not been a bad week at all.

What?  Smokey, in a good mood?  Surely not!   Shocked  Wink
13039  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Coffeeshop adds weight on: January 25, 2008, 19:59:39
Shocked  The 600 calories job is one of the starbucks 'venti' chocolaty coffees with loads of whipped cream on top and sprinkles of chocolate / marshmallows etc on it!

Not sure I'd want to drink one of those at any time - least of all just before boarding a Voyager!  Grin
13040  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Quiet Carriage / Coach: restrictions and issues - ongoing discussion, merged topic on: January 25, 2008, 12:14:23
From the First Great Western Website, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=62 :

"We ask that people who sit in the Quiet Carriage respect other passengers and:
 
- Use their mobile phones in the vestibule and not in the carriage and keep them on silent throughout the journey.
- Do not listen to personal stereos or other electronic equipment such as portable DVD players.
- Keep all other electronic equipment such as laptops and portable games consoles on silent.
- Talk quietly when talking to other passengers.
   
This way those that wish to have a peaceful, relaxing journey may do so. First Great Western would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation."
13041  All across the Great Western territory / Who's who on Western railways / Re: MTLS Call On Kelly To Remove Franchise From FGW on: January 24, 2008, 23:19:04
Is the answer http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=619.msg2935#msg2935, perhaps?  Lips sealed
13042  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Adios Adalantie on: January 24, 2008, 01:26:09
Although it was rumoured to be the case, ATW (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC (Train Operating Company))) have denied that the Adelantes are heading their way.

So now nobody actually wants them, then???  Grin
13043  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Adios Adalantie on: January 24, 2008, 01:16:40
Quote from a fading notice on the 2006 service from Tiverton Parkway - Castle Cary (26/11/2007) :
Adelante was chosen as the name for the new fleet as it is a word implying modernity with speed and reliability , through its Spanish meaning of progress and moving forward.

... but they forgot to add another Spanish word, 'ma^ana' - 'tomorrow'!  Wink

13044  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: First Class Upgrade for Expectant Mothers on: January 23, 2008, 23:06:00
- unless you are stupid enough to document it.

Erm ...

... but I certainly would never employ a woman of child bearing age

 Roll Eyes
13045  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Adios Adalantie on: January 23, 2008, 22:24:35
Now, it's probably my dodgy memory again, but weren't we being told, not that long ago, that these 'new' Adelante trains would be the solution to all the problems of reliability, punctuality, overcrowding, etc.?  Roll Eyes
13046  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Devon / Re: In a past life on: January 23, 2008, 22:00:40
When we had all the flooding a couple of Fridays ago, I saw a lovely sky blue 'St Ives Bay Belle' on platform 3 at Bristol Temple Meads.  Not a problem, I just wondered what sort of tidal wave had brought it all the way up to Bristol!
13047  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: SDO............why the discrepancies on: January 23, 2008, 21:45:58
Thanks to you, too, dog box: my memory is obviously more dodgy than I thought!  Wink

However, in view of the fairly comprehensive security of such a lock, it is indeed a mystery how anyone could bypass it, while travelling at high speed?

Or is this a case of, "nothing can be made foolproof, because fools are so ingenious!"  Undecided
13048  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: First Class Upgrade for Expectant Mothers on: January 23, 2008, 21:36:03
Not everybody who travels on trains are benefit cheats  Cheesy

Personally I think its a good idea. Crowded trains aren't suitable for pregnant people!
Crowded trains aren't really suitable for anyone but they are a fact of life!

... and it's because of the facts of life that some people are pregnant?  Grin
13049  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: SDO............why the discrepancies on: January 23, 2008, 21:11:20
Thanks, John: in that case, a mystery indeed!  But I don't have a problem with central locking per se - just with the way it's being applied perversely with SDO (Selective Door Opening), for example at Nailsea!
13050  All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: SDO............why the discrepancies on: January 23, 2008, 21:02:12
Agreed, John - and IIRC (if I recall/remember/read correctly) part of the problem was that the door could be opened by a handle on the inside - where that shiny steel blanking plate was fitted, when central locking was introduced?
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