First Great Western - industrial action in 2015 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[TheLastMinute]

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

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.

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?

My guess is that FGW planned for not having any conductors reporting for work at Weymouth this morning. In the event, someone did report for work so the train ran. I would think it's best to probably err on the side of caution and not create false hope that a service would be running when FGW didn't know if it would, especially in such a rural area where trying to find alternatives at short notice may be quite difficult.
 

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...

FGW tweeted at 13:02 that ticket restrictions were lifted for the rest of the day.

First Great Western ‏@FGW  6h hours ago
Time restrictions on tickets have been lifted from now until the end of service today. Passengers can use tickets for any time train.

TLM

[thetrout]

I agree with everything you said there TLM

As I said, I have mixed views.

I did post this on FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) Facebook page so I'll copy paste their response

I was unaware of the U Turn regarding Ticket Validity, very sensible. Personally I would have seriously objected to paying any excess if there was only 1 train that could get me home in the peak when ordinarily there would be many options.

especially in such a rural area where trying to find alternatives at short notice may be quite difficult.

For some of those stations it would still be awkward even with reasonable notice. I found the message on FGWs website rather insidious actually. "Customers should make alternative arrangements" Could be because from say the likes of Bruton, FGW are one of the only realistic public transport providers.

Without the train, try getting to Bristol by Bus... It would take most of the day to do less than 50 miles... My friend could drive it in probably 45 minutes

[Timmer]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) did manage to run a few extra trains that I am aware of keeping an eye on the situation today: 0640 Weymouth-Bristol, 0949 Bristrol-Weymouth and 1600 Bristol-Paddington.

It's often the case that when a strike takes place that a few more trains are able to operate than originally planned, particularly if a strike goes on and staff eventually begin return to work.

The question is are the workforce who went on strike today prepared to walk again in a week or so time?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Purely for the record, here is the text of a press release issued by First Great Western at midday today (Thursday):

Despite strike over 60% of First Great Western services operate

First Great Western is re-iterating today that it has no intention to remove train managers from intercity trains, as customers have acted on warnings that normal rail services will be affected during strike action.

With more than 60% of services operating as normal, those who need to travel are able to do so over Thursday 9 and Friday 10 July across the majority of the First Great Western network, but passengers are reminded to check their journey before they travel.

With around 10 per cent more staff than expected reporting for duty, the company expects to add additional train services to its emergency timetable throughout the day.

The dispute between First Great Western and the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) centres on the introduction of new Super Express Trains, which will replace the current 40-year-old intercity fleet from 2017.

To give the best possible deal for passengers, and to deliver on journey time, frequency and capacity improvements that passengers would like to see, First Great Western would like the train doors to be closed by the driver ^ who is the only person on-board with a full and clear view of all of the doors through in-cab CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) monitors. However, the company has promised that a safety competent train manager will be rostered to work on each train. 

Following in-service trials last year, First Great Western would also like to provide an at seat food and drink service, with a full operational kitchen, rather than customers needing to leave their seats and belongings to walk through the train to buy  items from a buffet.

Earlier this week further talks took place between First Great Western and the RMT and progress was made; but unfortunately not enough progress for the RMT to feel able to call off their strike action.

First Great Western Managing Director, Mark Hopwood said: "We just want to make sure our services give the best possible deal for our passengers. These brand new trains have been designed to deliver more seats, and faster, more frequent journeys - but we can't deliver those if they are operated in the same way as the trains we run today, which were built in the 1970s.

"We have already made assurances about job security and commitments to increase the number of staff on board Super Express Trains, and I am happy to repeat those today. No-one working on board these trains will lose their jobs because of our proposals, in fact we need at least 100 more, not fewer staff on board to deliver our plans. We^ve also protected pay and conditions for those currently working in these roles.

^Yesterday we made a number of additional commitments that we believe meet the concerns of the RMT, while still allowing us to deliver the improvements our customers want to see. While it is a shame that the RMT were not able accept these proposals, we continue to believe a negotiated solution to these proposals is possible, and are keen to continue discussions as soon as we can."

[Western Pathfinder]

Just popping in for a quick Coffee before bed
As I said in my earlier post today I've been to London and back by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and lived to tell the tale
Without exception today has been the most pleasurable journey I've had in many a long while
Normaly I'm fit and quite able to walk quite well Thankyou but the last couple of weeks or so I've been using a walking stick due to problems with my back
The amount of help and assistance that I have been offered today has been exceptional every single member of FGW staff that I've had dealings with today have been under a great deal of pressure but regardless of the strike have done their upmost to ensure that I was able to complete my journey without any inconvience
So credit where it's due   To all those that worked so hard today to make my journey and everyone else's  as easy as it could be under the circumstances
A Very Big Thankyou   WP.

[onthecushions]

Nice necessary return trip to Oxford on the strike day.

The stations were easier to pass through with the barriers open - remember NSE^▸ (Network South East)'s "open station" concept?

Also lots of smart suited helpful gents and perfumed boufant ladies in hi-vis vests were crowding round me to help. Apparently they were the managers, told to evacuate their desks for the duration.

It crossed my mind that this exchange could be made permanent as they're so good at customer service. I'd like to see what the uniformed staff could do in the alternative role. 

OTC

[grahame]

Also lots of smart suited helpful gents and perfumed boufant ladies in hi-vis vests were crowding round me to help. Apparently they were the managers, told to evacuate their desks for the duration.

It crossed my mind that this exchange could be made permanent as they're so good at customer service. I'd like to see what the uniformed staff could do in the alternative role. 

OTC

There is a lot to be said in any business for staff to try out many roles - a "win / win" even if it occasionally puts them out of their comfort zone. Clearly, there are exceptions due to health / medical / safety / training / knowledge / physical ability

[Timmer]

Looks like the 0640 Weymouth-Bristol and 0949 Bristol-Weymouth services are running again today. Source FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Journeycheck.
http://www.journeycheck.com/firstgreatwestern
A good place to see if additional trains are running today.

[TaplowGreen]

Nice necessary return trip to Oxford on the strike day.

The stations were easier to pass through with the barriers open - remember NSE^▸ (Network South East)'s "open station" concept?

Also lots of smart suited helpful gents and perfumed boufant ladies in hi-vis vests were crowding round me to help. Apparently they were the managers, told to evacuate their desks for the duration.

It crossed my mind that this exchange could be made permanent as they're so good at customer service. I'd like to see what the uniformed staff could do in the alternative role. 

OTC

Oooooh be careful! You'll have another strike on your hands! Demarcation and all that!

Agreed thought the levels of politeness and customer service have been noticeably higher over the last couple of days.

Another very quiet morning it seems, I counted 5 in the carriage of my train this morning, normally at least 30, breezed through Reading and its open ticket barriers, same ramshackle collection of pickets outside drinking Starbucks coffee (the irony!), looking forward to a day topping up the tans no doubt.

[Timmer]

Further Additional Trains:

0900 Bristol-Paddington
1200 Paddington-Bristol
1526 Bristol Temple Meads-Weston-super-Mare (stopping service)
1610 Weston-super-Mare-Bristol Temple Meads (stopping service)
1948 St Erth-St Ives

[brizzlechris]

I've also been impressed by the staff working the services yesterday and today.

Impeccably polite and good service all round - some others could certainly learn from these people.

[Timmer]

I've also been impressed by the staff working the services yesterday and today.

Impeccably polite and good service all round - some others could certainly learn from these people.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Twitter team are doing a great job too.

[JayMac]

I'm delighted that there were no reports of chaos on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) yesterday, no reports of dangerous overcrowding, no reports of people left behind.

It's also heartening to read that more staff than expected turned up for work, showing that support for the action is far from rock solid. I wonder how the belligerents at the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) will spin that.

[broadgage]

I don't think that the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are going to win this one.
Not only is support for the strike a bit thin, but experience of previous disputes suggests that each successive strike tends to be less effective than the earlier ones.

More and more management grades learn to replace the strikers as time goes on, and a few more strikers drift back to work, and more customers find ways around the strike.

I predict that in a few years time that the new trains will be in use, without buffets, with the drivers controlling the doors, and the trains maintained by the builders of them.

As I have previously stated I have strong misgivings about the new trains, but I don't believe that buffets will be retrofitted despite the wishes of the RMT and me!
And I don't believe that the contract for supply AND MAINTENANCE of the new trains will be torn up to appease the RMT either.

[chrisr_75]

...and the trains maintained by the builders of them.

I find this a bit of an odd one, as when the Wales & Borders franchise received the class 175's they were (and are) maintained at the purpose built facility in Chester by the manufacturer and the same with the Pendolino's & Voyagers for Virgin (both Alstom) - I don't recall such a fuss being kicked up then - I wonder what has changed?!