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broadgage
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« Reply #855 on: August 08, 2015, 09:26:33 » |
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Re post 838, "persons passed out on train due to heat/overcrowding"
It should be noted that yesterday evening was not in fact that hot. Sooner or later one of these increasingly frequent major failures is going to coincide with really hot weather.
Combine that with trains on which the air conditioning does not work, and with limited opening windows, and I fear that lives will be put at risk and perhaps lost.
The risks would be compounded on electric trains if the traction current failed or was turned off.
As I have stated elsewhere on these forums, I have misgivings regarding the new SETs▸ , however they do have one point in their favour which is the inclusion of limited diesel power on the "electric" sets.
When the wires come down, or the traction current is isolated for an emergency the ability to run the air conditioning could be vital.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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NickB
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« Reply #856 on: August 08, 2015, 09:37:08 » |
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Can't wait for Meet the Manager at Paddington this Thursday.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #857 on: August 08, 2015, 09:43:27 » |
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Re post 838, "persons passed out on train due to heat/overcrowding"
It should be noted that yesterday evening was not in fact that hot. Sooner or later one of these increasingly frequent major failures is going to coincide with really hot weather.
Combine that with trains on which the air conditioning does not work, and with limited opening windows, and I fear that lives will be put at risk and perhaps lost.
The risks would be compounded on electric trains if the traction current failed or was turned off.
As I have stated elsewhere on these forums, I have misgivings regarding the new SETs▸ , however they do have one point in their favour which is the inclusion of limited diesel power on the "electric" sets.
When the wires come down, or the traction current is isolated for an emergency the ability to run the air conditioning could be vital.
............but as FGW▸ will repeatedly tell you, there are no risks to health and safety associated with "crowding" on their trains and there are no limits...........they normally add the rider along the lines of it being your fault if you choose to get on an already overcrowded train, rather than waiting for the next overcrowded train.....  |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #858 on: August 08, 2015, 09:45:43 » |
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The next Meet the Manager session is indeed at London Paddington - between 0700 and 1000 - on Thursday 13 August 2015. For completeness - from the First Great Western website: Next Meet the Manager at the station
- London Paddington - between 0700 and 1000 - Thursday 13 August 2015
- Reading - between 1600 and 1900 - Tuesday 06 October 2015
- London Paddington - between 1600 and 1900 - Thursday 10 December 2015
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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broadgage
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« Reply #859 on: August 08, 2015, 09:52:15 » |
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What we really want is a meet the NETWORK RAIL manager since it is often their defective infrastructure that is to blame.
FGW▸ could do better, especially by ensuring that they have enough staff, but most of the recent problems are network rail, not FGW.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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BerkshireBugsy
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« Reply #860 on: August 08, 2015, 09:57:14 » |
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What we really want is a meet the NETWORK RAIL manager since it is often their defective infrastructure that is to blame.
FGW▸ could do better, especially by ensuring that they have enough staff, but most of the recent problems are network rail, not FGW.
I totally agree BG▸ - the main aspect I think FGW could improve is how they communicate with the public when things go wrong. I am thinking of getting in touch with them to see if there is any benefit in having an objective round table session with some of the regular customers to get their input. I stress objective because there would be no point in doing this if it just turned into a moaning session I've added a picture of an unusual sight at Paddington station last night...every picture tells a story etc |
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Timmer
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« Reply #861 on: August 08, 2015, 10:06:46 » |
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West Wales services have borne the brunt of the cancellations following yesterday's disruption with no GW▸ services running on the Pembroke line.
Doesn't bode well for the future for direct trains from London if it was decided to can all GW Pembroke trains in the height of the summer season.
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NickB
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« Reply #862 on: August 08, 2015, 10:36:31 » |
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Saw this headline on the bbc and thought my dreams had come true... Delayed passengers 'missing out on millions in compensation' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33833059 |
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phile
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« Reply #863 on: August 08, 2015, 11:18:35 » |
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What we really want is a meet the NETWORK RAIL manager since it is often their defective infrastructure that is to blame.
FGW▸ could do better, especially by ensuring that they have enough staff, but most of the recent problems are network rail, not FGW.
Many complaints are due to overcrowding which is the DFT▸ responsibility and who hide further into the background than Network Rail. The TOCs▸ are to blame for everything so far as Jo Public is concerned. |
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BBM
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« Reply #864 on: August 08, 2015, 11:20:55 » |
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On a general point - for those who were involved/got caught up in the chaos last night (thankfully I didn't) - pretty much the worst ever? Looking at the pictures, listening to the interviews and reading social media it would certainly seem pretty much that way.
On a technical point - FGW▸ /NR» are FUBAR▸ , last night was a SNAFU▸ !
Let's hope for a quiet few days, although I note there are quite a few problems already today.
I also wasn't caught up in last night's problems but I'd guess that the disruption on July 25th last year was that bit worse because there was absolutely NOTHING running between PAD» and RDG‡ for several hours due to a lightning strike at Ruscombe and SWT▸ wasn't an option because they were SNAFU too. I had to share a taxi to TWY▸ with 3 others with a fare on the meter of ^145. And it's thanks to that evening that I wasn't caught up in last night's problems because on the following Monday I put in a job transfer request to the Reading branch of the organisation I work for, and I started working there last January.  |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #865 on: August 08, 2015, 16:23:38 » |
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What we really want is a meet the NETWORK RAIL manager since it is often their defective infrastructure that is to blame.
FGW▸ could do better, especially by ensuring that they have enough staff, but most of the recent problems are network rail, not FGW.
Many complaints are due to overcrowding which is the DFT▸ responsibility and who hide further into the background than Network Rail. The TOCs▸ are to blame for everything so far as Jo Public is concerned. That's because it's the TOC to whom "Jo" (or Joe!) Public hands thousands of ^ a year to, so they every right to expect them to provide a decent service and an explanation/communication when things go wrong, as well as managing the relationship effectively with NR» / DfT» .....whatever the relationships are, it's not something the customer should have to worry about. |
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« Last Edit: August 08, 2015, 16:30:03 by TaplowGreen »
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #866 on: August 08, 2015, 16:28:47 » |
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On a general point - for those who were involved/got caught up in the chaos last night (thankfully I didn't) - pretty much the worst ever? Looking at the pictures, listening to the interviews and reading social media it would certainly seem pretty much that way.
On a technical point - FGW▸ /NR» are FUBAR▸ , last night was a SNAFU▸ !
Let's hope for a quiet few days, although I note there are quite a few problems already today.
I also wasn't caught up in last night's problems but I'd guess that the disruption on July 25th last year was that bit worse because there was absolutely NOTHING running between PAD» and RDG‡ for several hours due to a lightning strike at Ruscombe and SWT▸ wasn't an option because they were SNAFU too. I had to share a taxi to TWY▸ with 3 others with a fare on the meter of ^145. And it's thanks to that evening that I wasn't caught up in last night's problems because on the following Monday I put in a job transfer request to the Reading branch of the organisation I work for, and I started working there last January. I recall that incident too, and I too jumped in a cab (from Reading) and was refunded in full (^45) by FGW without question...........this is why I always recommend people to stick in a claim whether or it may appear to be "consequential losses", if you ask, you often get, regardless of this absurd blanket exclusion which is generally cited. |
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eightf48544
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« Reply #867 on: August 08, 2015, 17:20:06 » |
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Last night coincided with Slough and Windsor Railway Society annual barbeque. Very quite evening, with just the Windsor branch and a Reading Slough shuttle reversing in Platform 5. That was until around 20:45 when the first High Speed Train's (HST▸ )s came through. The first ones from Padd were definitely full and standing!
You might have seen us siting outside the Manor with a very smokey barbeque.
Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
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« Last Edit: May 05, 2021, 19:43:37 by VickiS »
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SirBroccoli
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« Reply #868 on: August 10, 2015, 23:24:19 » |
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At the same time the generic apology went out at lunchtime today, they also announced that a void day would not be declared. Dodgy decision in my opinion, especially given that there was less disruption on 8/12/14, when the last void day was declared after two broken High Speed Train's (HST▸ )s outside Paddington.
Time for the declaration of void days to be taken out of TOC▸ hands methinks..
Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
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« Last Edit: May 05, 2021, 19:44:08 by VickiS »
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NickB
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« Reply #869 on: August 11, 2015, 07:15:39 » |
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Totally agree. Full compensation should be payable to all travellers, including season ticket holders who get a very rough deal at the moment.
I already plan to raise this at the meet the manager session on Thursday, where I was going to enquire why 28th December wasn't void when fgw ran nothing at all at any time.
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