First Great Western - industrial action in 2015 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

And so it begins...
I can report that Paddington at 16.30 resembled something akin to Dunkirk as everyone and their brothers attempted to board the 16.42 to Bourne end.

It's rather hot and sticky, and overcrowded due to being 2 carriages.

I am guessing that is more to do with folk getting to Padd before the Tube strike takes effect than the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) industrial action

It didn't help at all

.
I am guessing it is quite a lot to do with it only being 2 carriages?

It is normally only 2 coaches, whilst it is a busy train I've not known it to be packed and standing

[NickB]

... With the toilet door open to house an extra person and one in the doorway.

[TeaStew]

I am now on my usual Thursday train out of Bradford-on-Avon. Running as the first service of the day instead of second. Platform was much busier than usual and would you believe it - the train is twice the normal size!

[TaplowGreen]

Got the 0654 from Taplow Central to Reading this morning, 3 cars as usual so expected it to be packed but if anything it was quieter than usual..........I guess people have decided to watch the cricket/tennis/sit in the sun (....sorry I mean work from home!) 

Reading station eerily quiet, barriers all open, half hearted group of rather scruffy looking pickets 10 metres from the station entrance with what seemed to be a local radio reporter nearby.

I note that there are a few last minute cancellations due to "members of staff being unavailable"..........last minute conversions to the comrades cause or a sudden & coincidental virus triggered by fine weather/live sporting events?

Couple of pals who got earlier trains to Paddington report that getting cabs was pretty easy despite Tube strike.

[lordgoata]

Got the 0654 from Taplow Central to Reading this morning, 3 cars as usual so expected it to be packed but if anything it was quieter than usual..........I guess people have decided to watch the cricket/tennis/sit in the sun (....sorry I mean work from home!) 

Reading station eerily quiet, barriers all open, half hearted group of rather scruffy looking pickets 10 metres from the station entrance with what seemed to be a local radio reporter nearby.

I note that there are a few last minute cancellations due to "members of staff being unavailable"..........last minute conversions to the comrades cause or a sudden & coincidental virus triggered by fine weather/live sporting events?

Couple of pals who got earlier trains to Paddington report that getting cabs was pretty easy despite Tube strike.

After all the delays last week with the weather I couldn't be arsed risking yet more delays from this strike, despite FGW^▸ (First Great Western) saying most services would be running normally (I don't get all this union stuff so didn't realise most drivers are unaffected on the turbos), and so decided to work from home today and tomorrow.

I hope all of you that are, or have to travel are successful in your journeys, and if the LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) services do run OK then at least I will be prepared to go to the office during the next strike.

[Jason]

I had no problems whatsoever. My local station was very quiet compared to usual. Local train was a little late but still not as busy as normal despite being a 2 car rather than a 3 and running hourly rather than half-hourly.

Reading was quiet, I boarded a slightly delayed HST^▸ (High Speed Train) which was almost empty in 1st class. Paddington station wasn't overly busy, the gates were open.

The usual utter tube-strike chaos outside at the bus stops but I walk from Paddington anyway.

[grahame]

The usual utter tube-strike chaos outside at the bus stops but I walk from Paddington anyway.

I find it ironic that our TVs have been filled with coverage of the 2005 tube bombings and their aftermath - including the shutting down of the network - 10 years ago this week, and here we are with a tube closure for very different reasons.

[NickB]

So my question is this...

Today, those that have travelled have reported reasonable to good travel experiences on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but how much of that is due to the reduction in passenger numbers caused not by FGW's strike but the Tube strike?
In other words, will pax numbers increase markedly on Friday morning when the Tube reopens and will FGW's arrangements creak under those numbers?

[Western Pathfinder]

Wish me luck I have to be in London this afternoon and am hoping to return to Bristol this evening !

[IndustryInsider]

So my question is this...

Today, those that have travelled have reported reasonable to good travel experiences on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but how much of that is due to the reduction in passenger numbers caused not by FGW's strike but the Tube strike?
In other words, will pax numbers increase markedly on Friday morning when the Tube reopens and will FGW's arrangements creak under those numbers?

I'll be in a position to answer that this time tomorrow.  

Though I'm slightly surprised that FGW/Tube strike dates were chosen that overlapped so much.  I would have thought that maximum disruption would have been caused if one finished when the other started.

[TaplowGreen]

The usual utter tube-strike chaos outside at the bus stops but I walk from Paddington anyway.

I find it ironic that our TVs have been filled with coverage of the 2005 tube bombings and their aftermath - including the shutting down of the network - 10 years ago this week, and here we are with a tube closure for very different reasons.

It wouldn't be the first time that the Trade Unions have succeeded where the Luftwaffe, IRA, Al-Qaeda etc have failed in closing down the Network......

[ChrisB]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33456837

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) general secretary, Mick Cash said: "The company still feel that the configuration of the new super express trains is out of their control and that it would be in their best interests to have 'driver-only' operations and to remove the buffet cars.

"That position is totally unacceptable and the union is clear that the design of the new fleet of trains is a matter for First Group and that there is still time to modify the rolling stock."

Dream on, Mr Cash.....

[Electric train]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33456837

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) general secretary, Mick Cash said: "The company still feel that the configuration of the new super express trains is out of their control and that it would be in their best interests to have 'driver-only' operations and to remove the buffet cars.

"That position is totally unacceptable and the union is clear that the design of the new fleet of trains is a matter for First Group and that there is still time to modify the rolling stock."

Dream on, Mr Cash.....

With FGW^▸ (First Great Western) not in a franchise but in management contract may be me being a bit sceptical and adding 2 and 2 and getting 5 that there is the hand of a Mandarin steering FGW to get DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) in place on SET^▸ (Super Express Train (now IET)) also to get more seats in less carriages after all a buffet even a mini one takes seating space

[JayMac]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will be back in a franchise contract from September. A direct award admittedly, but not a management contract.

[thetrout]

I'm a little confused... On the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website there is the following:

Customers for stations in between Maiden Newton and Westbury are advised to make alternative arrangements.

But according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) the 08:02 service this morning did infact run as scheduled. With the times listed under Real Time I am reasonably comfortable in saying this train did infact run as planned.



It seems the 17:03 London Paddington - Plymouth also stopped at Frome this evening...



As well as an 09:49 Bristol Temple Meads - Weymouth service...



So if the FGW website is to be believed, trains ran on routes they claimed there would be no service...

I've mixed opinions on this personally. Was it sensible to say, no trains just in case we really can't run any trains. Or did they know these trains would run, just didn't want people to find out?

I am rather disappointed however that FGW are upholding peak time validity on tickets however. The only way back to Frome from London today was on a peak time train, when ordinarily there would be many options available with a change of trains.

So not only do you get one train, you pay full price for the privilege and that's just tough... Just wow...