Report from meeting between CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) and Andrew Haines here:

http://www.clpg.co.uk/newsFGWmeetingreport.htm

More here....CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about) meeting Andrew Haines today

http://www.witneygazette.net/display.var.2036653.0.campaigners_meet_rail_executive.php

Regarding the 3 180s for the Cotswold line, are these for a scheduled services or as a backup for broken or just in the wrong place  HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train), if so does anyone know which diagram?

I ask because the 0837 Worcester FS to Paddington is still an Adelante when we were promised all HSTs, this train is nearly always chronically overcrowded (standing only before Oxford) and it is the first train where CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) tickets are valid.

Any confirmed news on the 180s?

Well, perhaps ignore announcements is a little strong, lets say that I filter out the incorrect and un-necessary announcements......when they are audible.

Well, it is all very confusing to infrequent FGW^▸ (First Great Western) passengers of which there are many on a typical friday, joined train tonight at Oxford, coach C (both carriage doors) but seats labeled E inside.

Just before Hanborough, the first short platform guard makes usual announcement reminding disembarking passengers to exit form coaches A,B or C. Several passengers look up, check the seat labels and panic, gathering bags, coats to rush another two carriages up the train. Had to reassure a less mobile lady that she didnt need to move and that this coach would in fact be on the platform.

After 7 years of this journey I am happy to ignore announcements, labeling etc but to unsure passengers, incorrect information is worse than no information at all.

I think thats a little hard.....what about the coach with a different letter at each entry door and different latters above the seat.....yes it does happen!

P1 "this is my seat I am in coach D and this is seat 50"
P2 "no, it is coach B"
P3 (seated) well hardluck cos I'm sitting in C50 (checks seat label)"

I know it is only a detail compared to the usual level of incompetence but details do matter.

No, the C1^▸ ((on coaches) National route restriction)......I was talking about are on the luggage shelf above the seats, the coach was labelled D outside by the doors, but the seats were numbered C1,C2....C40,C41 etc, the dots meaning continuingas I cant be bothered to type them all.

Sometimes the seat numbers match the carriage letter, but mostly they do not.

HST^▸ (High Speed Train) carriages on the Cotswold line seem to have a mismatch of labeling, the train manager will state 'please note that only carriages A,B,C and D will be platformed. I noted that I was getting on in coach D which was the third coach but has C1^▸ ((on coaches) National route restriction)..... for the seat numbers, on checking when I get off the train it has two carriage D's.

Are the seat numbers meant to indicate the carriage letter as well, this can cause panic to travellers unused to short platforms as they think they are safely in a coach that will allow them to exit onto a platform (from the seat numbers) then find that they cannot.

Even seen different carriage letters at the two ends of the same carriage (one having been stuck over another letter).

is this just a consequence of the incomplete state of refurbishment, will the carriage sets settle down eventually or are they continually moved between trains?

Its not just old relics, some of the newly refurbished carriages are just as bad, last night coach D (sorry mookiemoo I only travel in standard class) had ventilation fans that when the train was stationary drowned all voices and announcements with a low pitch throb-throb-throb and also had a severe flat spot on at least one wheel as we pulled away from Oxford I was shaken up and down by the thud-thud-thud. That will teach me to sit in a seat at the end of a carriage above the bogie.

The passengers charter data mentioned above only includes trains into Paddington before 10am and leaving after 4pm. This is not ideal but it is easily available and comparable from month to month.

In fact this measure has been deteriorating since the summer during the flood times it stood at around 79%, and has steadily dropped to 64%.

This data does not include two particularly bad trains which are frequently cancelled, the 0837 Worcester FS to Paddington because it arrives at its destination after 10am and the 1551 from paddington which is an important peak train from Oxford onwards, this latter train is frequently cancelled but then runs as a replacement for the 1731 stopping service...the cynical would suggest that they cancel the train that doesnt appear on the stats but run it as the 1731 which does appear in the stats.