Notes from the First Great Western Stakeholder Conference 2008
Bristol 26/02/08
1. 08:55 Cardiff to Portsmouth - Bristol Turnaround.
1.1. Took opportunity to use the 08:55. It was the refurbished three car 158 set. It was about a minute late from Severn Tunnel Junction.
1.2. Forty two Passengers joined, which shows that the long period of overcrowding and disruption has limited the growth in demand. Based on the general growth trends and the surveys last June should be around fifty by now.
1.3. Eleven standing in centre coach on departure from Severn Tunnel Junction, indicating similar number standing (Approx. 30) from Survey last June.
1.4. About thirty seconds late leaving Filton Abbey Wood. Delayed at Bristol East waiting Platform.
1.5. Arrived Temple Meads a minute and a half late. Despite Guard chatting to colleague on the Platform, the train left on time exactly at 09:22.
1.6. Advised by First Great Western there is a minimum requirement of five minutes for turnaround at Bristol. The Public Timetable shows four minutes for the Portsmouth services.
1.7. The service actually turned round in two and a half minutes, despite being the busiest and most heavily loaded morning service. This is useful practical information for our meeting with First Great Western timetable team on 14th March.
2. Conference
2.1. As Name Badges only had name and not organisation, also wore the STAG Name Badge, which worked well in gaining introductions and raising profile.
2.2. Took opportunity to talk to as many First Great Western Managers / Directors as possible.
3. Andrew Haines - First Great Western Chief Operating Officer -
3.1. Confirmed details in recent press notice. It appears that First Great Western proposed that instead of a fine for the failure to meet the Contractual arrangements, they proposed to invest more than the level the fine would have been directly in improvements which was agreed by DfT, hence the £29m. The contravention was level of cancellations too high and also failure to report correct levels. Pointed out First Great Western realised that they had failed to correctly report and advised DfT of their failing.
3.2. Other comments - Genuine passion for improvement, Putting Customer first (Same as comments by Charles Howeson at Exeter) not just delivering to contract minimum but going above it where customers concerned, Real Engagement, re-investing in the business.
4. Ian Hudspeth - Councillor Oxfordshire County Council
4.1. They have a Rentabike scheme - uses swipe cards to release and take the bike as per the schemes in France. In view of the proximity of our cycling paths, once we have the station developed under way suggest Ian would be a good contact to vist / follow up on bike schemes.
4.2. Have found Community Rail a real success, in Oxfordshire the County Council has supported groups in setting up. (Mark Youngman said he would investigate interest).
5. David Ward - Route Director Western Region , Network Rail
5.1. Developing joint improvement plan with First Great Western.
5.2. First modular station has been built in Kent, took six weeks to build, intention is to reduce this timescale.
6. Stuart Baker - Divisional Manager Network Rail Projects Department for Transport
6.1. High demand for long distance high speed services to London.
6.2. Reading has become a significant destination onit's own. (Interestingly based on last 12 months statistics it is the eighth most popular destination from Severn Tunnel Junction following Bristol, Cardiff Newport Bath, FAW, Chepstow and London).
6.3. Reading proposal is now for fly under rather than fly overs, taking the main lines on a new route through part of the site of the Diesel Depot giving a grade separation form the Berks & Hants and Arriva Cross Country services. Intention is to have additional platforms to allow parrallel moves on the down to avoid blocking back awaiting free paltforms that happens regularly now. (I have a note in my diary that the PWI [Permanent Way Institute] have a talk on the Reading Remodelling at 12:00 in theGW Hotel Exeter on Tuesday 2nd April) The present plan for Reading has a benefit cost ratio of 71 !!!!!! I have never heard of a scheme that has got into double figures, reaching 3 is good!
6.4. DfT will be publishing for consultation in May a plan for the next ten years for First Great Western.
6.5. Replacement for HST consider it as an EMU with integral Power source for when not under the wires. Will be in longer 260m and shorter 130 m configuration. Anyone interested I believe the invitaion to tender is in the public domain on the DfT site.
6.6. Question on allocation of the published additional rolling stock not coming our way. Response going to highest need locations throughout the country. If want more need to convince the Treasury.
7. Malcolm Drury has taken over as Route Director West; He will be based at Bristol.
7.1. Suggest I wait for response from Catherine Glanville regarding meeting with John Curley.
8. James Burt - First Great Western Customer Services Director -
8.1. In discussion, the subject that Charles Howeson mentioned at the Exeter Conference of having a member of First Great Western staff at stations such as Cardiff was raised. Recounted the problems I had seen there and the way Central (Arriva Cross Country) managed quicker turn round by cleaning and ticketing before arrival at the departure platform. He will pass on suggestions. Subsequent discussion with Rowland Pittard of Railfuture the only limiting factor may be the water Bowsers. Does anyone know where Arriva Cross Country top up their water tanks, I do not recall seeing this at Cardiff? Jim do you know as it is obviously a factor in turn-round time.
9. Dave Beynon - Bridgend Council
9.1. In discussion he said he was not going to the next First Great Western Cardiff - Portsmouth Meeting and that Mark Youngman was going instead.
9.2. As part of response on other matters to Mark have re-iterated STAG's position and that SEWTA formally fully backed us in the official response to First Great Western timetable consultation.
10. Philip ?Dredge? - Ivybridge Users Group
10.1. Andrew Griffiths introduced me to Philip, I need to go back to Andrew as we never had time to exchange full contact details.
10.2. In Ivybridge a Private Taxi Company runs a circular 'Hail and Stop' service that runs on a regular timetable basis and goes round the Housing Estates, Shops and the station. The Council does not need to financially support this.
10.3. The User Group has involved local school in Art Decoration at the station to get involvement / ownership. (This reminded me of discussion with Colin James about Newport that had School art displayed in the Buffet)
11. Peter Morris - First Great Western & Arriva Customer Panels
11.1. Discussed and he re-affirmed what Katharine Fenn (First Great Western Customer Panel) had said that he would raise items with Arriva Trains Wales for us as he is on their Customer Panel as well as the First Great Western Panel. Thanked him for offer and said we would be in touch if required but at present are liaising direct with Mike Vaughan and Rachel Woodsford.
12. Tim James - Welsh Assembly Government Head of Rail
12.1. Expected to meet up with Tim to agree revised date for our meeting. He should have been there I had seen his badge when I arrived, but he did not show. Will follow up with him in a week or two if I have not heard back by then.
13. Ian Murray - President Railfuture
13.1. Diuscussed and commented that he considered STAG's approach of engaging the politicians was exactly the correct approach to get further with the Cardiff - Portsmouth services. He again offered to help us in any way if we need it.
14. Mark Hopwood - First Great Western Performance Director -
14.1. Discussed with him the KPIs (Key Performance Indicator) on the number and quality of connections at timetable change that I had suggested to Charles Howeson. Charles had passed to Mark for consideration.
14.2. He is not going to introduce the proposed KPIs. He felt it was too complex and there are too many connections to put in place a practical system to produce KPIs. First Great Western are concentrating on their PPM at present.
14.3. He said that owing to another commitment with Andrew Haines he would not now be able to join Alan and me at the timetable meeting next week as he had told Alan at the Taunton conference.
14.4. He said he would be happy to come and discuss any particular issues. - David I think it would be worthwhile inviting him to meet STAG and cover the items we have on connections in our Presentation.
15. Andrew Pennington - First Great Western Head of Train Planning
15.1. Introduced myself and explained what we wanted to achieve at the timetable meeting next week, namely to understand the process and the relationships between TOCs and Network Rail in the process.
15.2. I said we had copies of the National Rules of the Plan and also copies of the Midlands (G. Western) Rules of the Plan - 2009 Timetable, and also access to Rules of the Route documentation.
15.3. He is aware we want to talk about the 08:30 from Cardiff.
15.4. In discussion he was talking about the differences between times in the Published Passenger Timetable and the Working Timetable. I said we had the PB volume but had hoped to have had sight of the PC volume prior to the meeting to understand the Bristol Temple Meads issues better.
16. Andrew Griffiths - First Great Western Regional Manager, Central Severn & Solent
16.1. Discussed and said David would be contacting him regarding Colin James role within the group.
16.2. Explained we were looking at growing both the local outwards and and also incoming tourist trade.
16.3. Asked who would be the best contact for Colin and he said that initially him, would later be other First Great Western staff that deal with Community Rail Groups.
17. Julie Boston - FoSBR
17.1. Approached as the Severn Beach line have a pathing clash with Arriva Cross Country and were looking for a contact in Arriva Cross Country.
17.2. Have send contact details and suggested approach.
