OMG^▸ (Oh My doG - Teenage expression of mock surprise, normally used in social media posts) you cannot be serious!!! 

Maintenace or not, 142s have rubbish suspension, only having a wheel on each corner as opposed to traditional  bogies for passenger stock, so people with back problems are snookered, as the previously only form of transport that wasn't agony, will soon be excrutiating. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have sold us devon folk down the river, especially those like me who have a back problem. They were a costcutting device in an age where any old rubbish will do (we're still in that age if anyone hadn't noticed). Maybe they should be confined to lines without jointed track (The Barnstaple, Exmouth and Paignton branches all have this, despite numerous track renewals in recent years). Maybe Exeter to Plymouth services might not be a bad idea (if such a sevice existed).

no they really are that stupid, they bid far too much for the franchise and are now panicking. that wasn't from customer services, it was from management.

Apparently FGW^▸ (First Great Western) control have said that there will be a unit swap at St Davids so the "through" train to Penzance will not really be a through train at all. (not that the first bit would be a train at all but some sort of medieval torture device)

Hi all, new to this forum but I'm gonna jump in with this as I am very concerned.
On good authority from FGW^▸ (First Great Western):

The 142s are not arriving in time (will they ever?) and an "emergency" timetable will be put in place come the 9th December consisting of the following:

Paignton branch - hourly (nothing new there then)
Exmouth branch - hourly!
Barnstaple Branch - road buses replace trains until further notice!!

So not only will we all be subjected to whiplash injuries (when we can find a "train", or should that be bus-on-rails or bus) but we shall have to stand at all times of the day (if we can get on in the first place that is).

To rub salt into the wound I first heard this rumour in summer '06 but didn't really (want to) believe it until I heard it again recently from someone high up in the chain shall we say (needless to say I cannot divulge for their protection), so it's not really an emergency plan but something they've known will happen for some time.

The only reason they can get away with it in Devon is because they know they can. Are you prepared to really fight for your train service? Because I think you are going to have to.