MPs Call For FGW To Be Renationalised

[whole diary]

[Lee]

MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) are calling on the Government to consider renationalising First Great Western because of its poor performance , poor punctuality and use of old rolling stock (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=181429&command=displayContent&sourceNode=229968&home=yes&more_nodeId1=133174&contentPK=19263744

An Early Day Motion , which criticises First Great Western , has been tabled by Stroud Labour MP David Drew and has been signed by 19 other MPs.

The motion expresses alarm that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has replaced existing trains with "inferior rolling stock which could result in slower, less-comfortable and more-crowded conditions for passengers".

The motion also calls on the Government to consider bringing the Great Western franchise back into public ownership.

An FGW spokesman said: "We are investing ^200 million in trains, stations and customer services. Our high-speed train fleet which serves Mr Drew's Gloucestershire area - as well as South Wales - has been fitted with new engines and new interiors to enhance safety, comfort, capacity and reliability in a major refresh programme."

"Our west fleet of local trains which also serve Gloucestershire, are also being upgraded in a multi-million pound project and have begun to enter service."

The spokesman added that Mr Drew had agreed to speak to FGW "to clarify the basis of his position, particularly in terms of his claims about 'inferior rolling stock' being deployed in our new timetable."

[devon_metro]

What would nationalisation bring. We are likely to be soon a conservative governement if this Gordon Brown carry on continues.

Besides, what is it saying about bad stock, don't get me wrong, the pacers are awful, but what other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) is refurbishing all of their other stock?

[Shazz]

Yes the government are really going to spend ^10bn buying out share holders to get it nationalized...

[Timmer]

Yes the government are really going to spend ^10bn buying out share holders to get it nationalized...

Surely they can pull the plug on it citing FGW^▸ (First Great Western) being in breach of contract. The punctuality record is one of the worst in the country (no thanks to Network Rail as well of course) but that probably doesnt count.

[Shazz]

If they really wanted to end up in a nice high court case they'd more than likely lose.

As long as First are providing the service they were contracted to do with the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport), theres nothing they can do until the Performance review/ refranchising that are stated in the contract.  iirc performance figures isnt part of it.

The only other option is a complete share buyout of First Group (which isnt going to happen)

[dog box]

yes shazz it all pie in the sky its not gonna happen ...what intrigues me is this inferior/lack of rolling stock slant.....FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are spending shed loads to smarten it up,so whats the problem..it might be a few years old but come on folks what do you want, have you ever ridden on a turbo, turbostar or voyager? oh yes very modern, but  they are uncomfortable noisy smelly tinny trains, i know these 142 arent much of it,but i have had some quite pleasant trips on FGWs 143 fleet.
and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW to actually have

[Conner]

and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to actually have

But they did lose 12 of our best units.

[gaf71]

yes shazz it all pie in the sky its not gonna happen ...what intrigues me is this inferior/lack of rolling stock slant.....FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are spending shed loads to smarten it up,so whats the problem..it might be a few years old but come on folks what do you want, have you ever ridden on a turbo, turbostar or voyager? oh yes very modern, but  they are uncomfortable noisy smelly tinny trains, i know these 142 arent much of it,but i have had some quite pleasant trips on FGWs 143 fleet.
and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW to actually have

they are not doing anything major to the 142's, apart from a 'refresh'. which means a deep clean, paint the toilets and a FGW logo on the side.

[Lee]

More on this in the links below.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/12/mps_urge_government_to_strip_f.html#more

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/12/rmt_welcomes_mps_call_to_consi.html#more

http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=19269262&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

[devon_metro]

and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to actually have

But they did lose 12 of our best units.

Hardly!

We gave away many of the 'Canton rejects'

[vacman]

and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to actually have

But they did lose 12 of our best units.

Hardly!

We gave away many of the 'Canton rejects'

Very true, the 158/8's were the most unreliable in the fleet of 158's, as to FG losing the franchise, belive it or not they haven't actually breached any of their franchise agreement, most delays are down to NR^» (Network Rail - home page), the unit shortage is only because of the franchise spec for less unit's (we've actually got 17 more units than whats in the franchise spec).

[Conner]

and finally there are not any spare units floating about for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to actually have

But they did lose 12 of our best units.

Hardly!

We gave away many of the 'Canton rejects'

They're better than 142's.

[devon_metro]

Depends.

In summer the air-con was virtually non-existant whilst the 142s have windows!

[Conner]

Depends.

In summer the air-con was virtually non-existant whilst the 142s have windows!

That could have(and is) been fixed.

[Lee]

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) have launched a petition backing the MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s call (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19412227&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

FOSBR spokeswoman Julie Boston said the strength of feeling among rail passengers was so strong she had gathered 30 signatures on a commuter train in just 20 minutes.