Who's this forum for? What are the intents?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

This forum is provided by a First Great Western Customer, for First Great Western customers.

Although many of us feel that the present product being supplied to us (Feb '07) falls well below acceptable standards, please don't just make this a knocking shop!.

Please use the forum - yes - to report and discuss failings, but also to liaise with others to help make improvements.  That may mean co-ordinating information, publicity ranging from "serious" to "stunt",  and alternatives.  But it also means posting the positive - a good fare offer or  service beyond the call of duty from the staff at a particular station for example.

Knowledge shared is powerful and this can become a real resource.  Please do post up as much other geeral information about the services, places served, good time had in the wedge of the country served westward from Paddington.  And advise on fare options, routes to go, and how to get a seat in the rush hour are all encouraged.

My personal objective is to work with the train operating company (FGW^▸ (First Great Western)), with the franchise setters (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)), with the rest of the rail industry (from Network Rail through to the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)), with local authorities at all levels, and with other passenger groups .... for the provision, together, of an appropriate service - running when and where it's needed, safely and reliably, and at a sensible cost.  And that service should be marketed / publicised so that it's easy to find out about, easy to use, easy for other transport providers to connect to ... and a great moving experience for the customers.