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3781
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: New timetables
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on: April 28, 2009, 07:21:11
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I've been informed that a "bumper" timetable is not to be produced.
Thanks for the update D_M. I won't look silly by asking for something that doesn't exist now! I went to my local FGW▸ station the other day to buy an advance ticket (I usually buy online) and asked if they had any of the new summer timetables in yet. "Yes we do, they are out the back. Should be out in a week's time". Basically, couldn't be bothered to get them for me and before anyone says couldn't leave his desk because of a queue...there wasn't one. |
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3782
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Expensive fares
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on: April 27, 2009, 22:02:47
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The point is that it's a bit stupid to offer such an expensive fair when others are available with the same if not more flexibility at a cheaper price.
Guess its a case of you have to start somewhere when pricing something so you can offer cheaper alternatives or do special offers. |
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3783
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Expensive fares
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on: April 27, 2009, 22:01:03
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Some years ago, whilst working for a Govt Dept, I had to justify the cost of flying to Glasgow rather than getting the train. I rang rail enquiries to get the cost of a First Class return from Bath to Glasgow - the response from BR▸ ? " Good God, no one buys one of those !"
 I can believe that. Wouldn't happen now of course because all calls are recorded for training purposes! I suppose that would be used to train someone not how to answer a request for the cost of a ticket. |
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3784
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: First Class "Gatecrashed"
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on: April 27, 2009, 21:57:25
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The reason a TM‡ will ask to see the seat reservation slip is to check that you are on the correct train. The seat reservation is a benefit to you, as you can claim a seat if the train is busy. If you are sitting in a different seat, trust me, nobody will give a damn (I certainly don't, and I get accused of being strict! - I take it as a complement  ). If you want to have a conscience about it, take the seat reservation slip out of your reserved seat before sitting down. At last some common sense appears on this discussion regards Advance ticket seat reservations. I use Advance tickets all the time, sometimes I sit in the seat reserved for me, sometimes I don't and not once have I been asked to move but would gladly do so if asked by a train manager because I chose to purchase an advance ticket. I have in front of me the official ATOC» published T&C's card for Advance tickets and I quote: Where applicable, you must travel in the class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s).It's the word applicable thats important here meaning relevant, or lets look at the word application meaning formal request. So I take that as being at the train manager's discrection which could be applied at anytime for whatever reason so if you don't sit in your reserved seat; you may be asked to move. As Flamingo says, the main thing the TM is interested in when checking your reservation is to see that you are not trying to pull as fast one by travelling on the wrong train and I've seen people trying it on and ending up being excessed for their trouble. Also remember on weekends you can upgrade to weekend first with some IC▸ TOCs▸ with a standard class advance ticket so you wouldn't be sitting in your reserved standard class seat if you've upgraded to First. |
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3785
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Annual timetable changes
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on: April 26, 2009, 21:08:03
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It's a load of crap, basicly the timetable should be like it used to be, summer being late May bank holiday to the end of September and winter the rest of the time as changes to the services are required in most parts of the country to cater for summer flows, if we had a 365 day timetable then there would be loads of dated trains which do actually confuse lots of people!
Here here! The current set up makes the 'summer' timetable very long which means in a number of cases two timetables have to be produced for some routes because of seasonal services. |
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3786
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Annual timetable changes
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on: April 26, 2009, 21:02:32
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So the EU» interferes in domestic train timetables, does it? I know a way for Alistair Darling to save ^40million per day.....
Get some serious track upgrades for a fraction of that.
You know I was only thinking that this morning but that is taking this way off topic but as you say you would get quite a few new miles of track as well as other things...  |
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3789
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Journey by Journey / Cross Country services / Re: Cross Country in Trouble?
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on: April 23, 2009, 21:12:36
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To be honest, a "perfect" budget is not possible! I doubt the Tories would have done anything better/different if they were in power. I trust Brown and Darling to get us out of this problem. At least we get clear messages from them, and not "spin"!
Of course, we shall soon hear the budget response, from Osboune. But "responses" are always flawed; an opposition party can say anything, as they will not have to implement what they say!
D/M, the reason the are making raises like in Fuel Duty is to raise money for the recovery. Brown has stated he does not like tax rises, but he feels they are necessary.
Ummm lets try and stick to the topic on hand here and leave politics to the many blogs and forums that are available otherwise I might be tempted to air my political views and we wouldn't want that now   |
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3790
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Journey by Journey / Cross Country services / Cross Country in Trouble?
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on: April 23, 2009, 18:20:09
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This from The Times: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6150680.eceShares of transport operators slammed into reverse on Wednesday after Arriva, the bus and train operator, said it was possible that its CrossCountry rail franchise would need support from the Government.
The Sunderland-based company, which took on the CrossCountry franchise less than two years ago, said that the economic downturn had applied a brake to increases in passenger revenue.
It said that in the first 13 weeks of the year, passenger revenue at CrossCountry was up only 4.5 per cent on the same period last year ^ this compared with revenue growth of 9.7 per cent in the company's Arriva Trains Wales unit. |
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3794
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Another round of Fare Increases
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on: April 23, 2009, 17:56:42
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This from The Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/5200726/Train-companies-condemned-as-passengers-face-scandalous-price-rises.htmlSeveral companies are planning to push up the cost of tickets, where increases are not capped by the Government, to make up an expected shortfall in fares.
The biggest rises are being drawn up by National Express East Coast, which is ready to push up the cost of some tickets by 11 per cent next month ^ although as a concession, anyone booking these fares via the internet will get a 10 per cent discount. It will push up the cost of a trip from Skipton in Yorkshire to London from ^13.50 to ^15 for a ticket bought in advance.
Another company, East Midlands is looking to push up some fares by five per cent on journeys just outside the morning and evening peak.
Other companies also understood to be planning a round of rises are First Great Western, First Capital Connect and Arriva CrossCountry. However the amount of the proposed rises has yet to be disclosed. Does anyone know what if any fare increases are planned by FGW▸ other than Weekend First? |
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