Bad start to the week for FGW...

[Turbostar]

How about this then, courtesy of TheRailwayCentre.com:

First Great Western had a bad start to the day.
Over running engineering work on the Royal Albert Bridge saw no traffic cross the bridge until at least 09.00. The down Paddington-Penzance sleepers were terminated at Plymouth and run empty to Penzance late morning.
These problems were compounded by the 0548 Plymouth to Paddington starting from Exeter, as no Guard was provided at Plymouth. Passengers from Plymouth, Totnes and Newton Abbot were told to catch 05.32 PLY-PAD and make connections at Exeter, HOWEVER the 05.32 Plymouth-Paddington was 15 late from Plymouth and connection was not held. The 05.31 Bristol to Penzance was calcelled at Taunton due to no guard, it restarted at Exeter and was then delayed around 100 minutes at Plymouth by the late running engineering work.

Over Run Engineering Work on the Royal Albert Bridge caused the 07.18 Plymouth to Penzance commuter HST to be cancelled. The 05.05 Penzance to Paddington (with powercar problems was terminated at Bodmin Parkway). The train was restarted at Plymouth using the 07.18 Plymouth-Penzance stock which was spare. The 06.04 Penzance to Newton Abbot was over an hour late and cancelled somewhere in Cornwall. Its return 09.02 Newton Abbot to Plymouth was also cancelled. The 05.43 Penzance to Paddington was started from Plymouth. The 06.43 Penzance to Paddington and 07.45 Penzance to Paddington both ran, but were delayed by around 70 minutes. Virgin Trains 07.30 Penzance to Glasgow was started at Plymouth.

It has also emerged that the majority of FGWs traincrew lost use of their mobile telephones in the early hours of the day as supplier O2 suspended the service due to a billing issue.

Mart

 

[Coxster]

They also had the Reading-Basingstoke line closed for a while due to signalling problems. It was therefore a fairly bad day for SWT to as lineside equipment problems around Witley caused delays (some of over two hours), only for the signalling to go wrong at Basingstoke.

 

[devon_metro]

The engineering isn't their fault. But at O2

 

[Dennis]

....only for the signalling to go wrong at Basingstoke.

Thought that was quite new.

re luggage on seats - I strongly dissaprove of this practice but the argument that passengers pay for and are entitled to a seat is totally invalidated by overcrowding anyway.

I don' mind standing (unless I wish to partake of food or drink), but I'm more than happy to intimidate those that needlessly take up seats with luggage and are reluctant to move it by standing near them and positioning my arse as close to their faces as possible.

 

[Turbostar]

Here's today's, can it get any worse? :roll: ... (courtesy of TheRailwayCentre.com)

Taken from the FGW website this morning! Perhaps its time that someone at DfT actually looked into what FGW are doing or not doing as the case may be.
Due to train crew unavailability the 0522 Plymouth to London Paddington will be terminated at Exeter St Davids and restarted at Taunton with 2 Coaches. The train will then be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads. Customers travelling from Exeter St Davids to Taunton are advised to travel on the 0635 service from Exeter St Davids. Customers from Bristol Temple Meads are advised to travel on the 0830 service from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Mart

 

[Woody]

Here's today's, can it get any worse? :roll: ... (courtesy of TheRailwayCentre.com)

Taken from the FGW website this morning! Perhaps its time that someone at DfT actually looked into what FGW are doing or not doing as the case may be.
Due to train crew unavailability the 0522 Plymouth to London Paddington will be terminated at Exeter St Davids and restarted at Taunton with 2 Coaches. The train will then be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads. Customers travelling from Exeter St Davids to Taunton are advised to travel on the 0635 service from Exeter St Davids. Customers from Bristol Temple Meads are advised to travel on the 0830 service from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Mart

I genuinely fear for the long term future of Plymouths and Cornwalls rail link with Exeter and beyond.Personally I dont think Virgin wants to run west of Bristol/Exeter(only 1 in 6 Virgin journeys are now over 200 miles) and FGW similarly.Network Rails 2007 business plan states and I quote "Between 2000 and 2006 rail passenger demand has grown by up to 20 percent for journeys from Exeter and Taunton to London, and up to 40 percent to the Midlands. However, this is in contrast percent to the minimal growth for journeys to similar locations from Plymouth, and west thereof. Growth in local journeys to Exeter and Plymouth is fairly static."
Clearly the Dft is going to concentrate its efforts elsewhere with outlying regions such as the far south-west being lucky just to maintain a rail connection of sorts.
Also regards the FGW refurb set interiors,dont like them, as one FGW train manager said to me Sunday "Nobody does".

 

[Kris]

Well that'sthe problem with privatisation. Under BR we had Cover Drivers and Cover Guards as well as spare stock.

At least 5 cover drivers and 5 cover guards throughout the day.

Busy trains - we'd run a ' Relief ' right behind (of course we didn't have to pay Floppy Rail for the privilge'.

Any service problems the TCS would say - unit in the bay or loco & coaches round the depot - jump on that and take it ...... (wherever)

Worked like clockwork. Unfortunately private operators only believe in digital working.

 

[yorkie]

An investigation is under way after musicians were told to buy £107 train tickets for cellos they had placed in seats on a First Great Western service.

I don't know who they think they are expecting a seat for their luggage, and the guard was quite right to charge them the full cost of a ticket.

As the Cellos are so valuable, they've obviously got the cash available to pay £107 for a ticket so I can't really see that they have a leg to stand on.

It's blatantly obvious that they are attempting to use the railway as a cheap method of delivering the instruments.

I believe Jim was involved in an incident where a passenger refused to remove luggage to let him sit, and when the guard told the passenger to remove it or pay for a ticket for the seat, the person did remove the offending item! IIRC that was FGW as well, Jim?

 

[Tom]

yorkie, would you risk putting £500 of instrument in the guards van? I know I wouldn't...

And what makes you say they definately have the money? What if the Cellos were saved up for, for quite some time and then they have virtually nil money?

 

[yorkie]

yorkie, would you risk putting £500 of instrument in the guards van? I know I wouldn't...

Then they should not have decided to take them by train!

And what makes you say they definately have the money? What if the Cellos were saved up for, for quite some time and then they have virtually nil money?

If they do not have the money to transport them properly, then they perhaps need to consider whether it may be best to reduce the number of trips they take the instruments on.

The fact is, if you go by train you are not guaranteed a seat for yourself but you can hope (and, off-peak, perhaps expect) to get a seat. But to expect to get an additional seat for your luggage and force others to stand is absolutely ludicrous and I am disappointed that anyone is defending them.

 

[Coxster]

But to expect to get an additional seat for your luggage and force others to stand is absolutely ludicrous and I am disappointed that anyone is defending them.

It doesn't actually state they were making people stand though...

 

[Tom]

I bring up the point, you pay for travel - not the seat.

 

[Jim]

It can get worse, train fire reported on SWRG by SPT: 180105 working 1C01 05:27 PAD - Swansea is on fire at Bourton near Swindon. Train evacuated,all on stop.

 

[Tom]

Note the class which has blown up....

 

[yorkie]

It doesn't actually state they were making people stand though...

I think you can safely assume the train would have been busy; I've never heard of a guard going round getting people to take luggage off seats on an empty train before, and it really wouldn't make sense at all if there were plenty of seats available throughout the journey.

I bring up the point, you pay for travel - not the seat.

So? They did not pay for the cellos to travel, and luggage does not take up seats. Case rested.

 

[Tom]

I think you can safely assume the train would have been busy; I've never heard of a guard going round getting people to take luggage off seats on an empty train before, and it really wouldn't make sense at all if there were plenty of seats available throughout the journey.

We're talking about Worst Great Western here remember....desperate for that revenue... even more so than SWT I would say.

So? They did not pay for the cellos to travel, and luggage does not take up seats. Case rested.

I think you'll find that cellos can't go in luggage racks, or even in those "big bags" things on Vomits. I can think of a location on 442s between table seats where they possibly would have been able to fit.

Out of interest yorkie, have you ever been in the situation where you have had to transport large musical instruments at low cost as well as transporting a small quartet or orchestra? Coach is VERY expensive FWIW.

If the train was full, where else would they have put the cellos? The full luggage rack? Of course, it depends how large the cellos were as there are various different sizes.

 

[yorkie]

We're talking about Worst Great Western here remember....desperate for that revenue... even more so than SWT I would say.

I am totally against Farce getting up to underhand tactics, or chinging innocent passengers, but passengers who think they have the right to take up seats with luggage deserve what they got.

I think you'll find that cellos can't go in luggage racks, or even in those "big bags" things on Vomits. I can think of a location on 442s between table seats where they possibly would have been able to fit.

Indeed.

NCoC says:

Condition 46 allows you to take small items of Luggage and Articles into the
passenger accommodation of a train. Small items are considered to be those
with dimensions not exceeding 90 x 70 x 30 cm with a weight not exceeding
50kg. Each passenger (aged 5 years or more) may take three small items into a train free of charge, however, the dimensions of only two of these items mayexceed 55 x 40 x 20 cm.​

A fee not exceeding half the adult fare for your journey is charged for:​

● each additional item in excess of a passenger’s free allowance; and

● any item with dimensions exceeding 90 x 70 x 30 cm.​

4. A Train Company may refuse to accept Luggage or Articles in passenger​

accommodation if any of the following apply:​

● the restrictions listed in Condition 49 apply;
● the item would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors;
● the dimensions of the item exceed 100 x 100 x 100 cm; or
● in the opinion of the Train Company’s staff, the item is only suitable to be conveyed in a luggage van.​

Out of interest yorkie, have you ever been in the situation where you have had to transport large musical instruments at low cost as well as transporting a small quartet or orchestra? Coach is VERY expensive FWIW.

Nope, trains are not suitable for transporting orchestras.

If they had contacted the TOC in advance, maybe something could have been organised, I don't know. But to just take it on regardless blatantly ignoring the NCoC and then refusing to pay is not on.

If the train was full, where else would they have put the cellos? .

"A Train Company may refuse to accept Luggage or Articles in passenger
accommodation if ..... in the opinion of the Train Company’s staff, the item is only suitable to be conveyed in a luggage van."

The full luggage rack? Of course, it depends how large the cellos were as there are various different sizes.

Nope, because they are too big and should not be in passenger accomodation.

 

[Tom]

Put seats in the guards van then. :roll: Oh, wait, that's unrealistic too... :roll:

 

[Oracle]

1. At school I used to take my cello on the buses to and from Hounslow West and also on the Underground. Great fun but on the benches on the bus, no problem.

2. The Marylebone DMUs to High Wycombe etc. used to be so full that the Guards compartment was where the cattle, sorry passengers, had to go to get any space and my boss used to bag the guard's seat and table and do some work!

 

[Jim]

Just to arse it up more, Lizard on SWR reported 150244 on 0920 EXM-PGN has struck someone near Starcross! All on stop!

 

[Tom]

Trains were on the go about 2 hours after that Jim...relatively normal service now.

 

[devon_metro]

Back to the luggage on seats. It was correct the guard issueing a fare, or else I could claim that I was luggage if i took up the seat. It is totally unfair and they should have made appropriate arrangements!

 

[Mojo]

The article in the Daily Mail had a quote from one of the guys, saying the train was half-empty and there were spare seats for the whole journey.

 

[jonb]

Just to throw another 'spanner in the works' fatality between Patchway and Pilning, Cardiff/Swansea trains diverted via Gloucester.

 

[ChrisCooper]

It does make me smile slightly with the whole franchise system and the way First Great Western get the stick. It’s so obvious to anyone that knows anything about railways that the underlying problems on set franchises and government finance drive most of the problems. Which not only makes a mockery of the whole system, it shows the naivety of the architects of the privatisation process, franchising system and people that really think some of the franchises have much control over some of these matters.

It's funny that FGW are getting a lot of the same flack that 'one' did when they got the Greater Anglia franchise, and ironically, it ws often suggested that First should have had the franchise since they would have done so much better.
As for MML vs. GNER, MML do have much easier franchise, due to the fairly simple routes, and the fact that it's not overly conjested (even London to Bedford isn't as bad as some parts, and does have some extra capacity off peak), plus they have not only a hell of a lot of slack in the timetables (particularly with the Meridiens), but also the luxury of being able to sit for nearly an hour at all 3 main termini. Interestingly, their past unreliability mostly centred around changes to diagrams that cut the turn around times at the stations, which was mostly their own choice, although there was some issue with a loss of platforms at St Pancras due to CTRL work, but this was solved by shifting stock that stabled there between the peaks up to Cricklewood. The Meridiens have been a big thing in punctuality, since the semi-fasts are only a little bit tighter than when Turbostars were used, despite vastly better acceleration, and of cource the 8 cars are running to HST times on the fasts, so naturally they will gain back time very easily.

 

[Jim]

To sum up:

Train fire on first train from Padd - Swindon, 180105 - reported about 0615, apparently cleared at 1100
Fatality at Starcross - reprted 1015 - cleared 1210
Singalling Problems at Gloucester - reported 1615 (think) cleared 1804
Fatality between Patchway & Pilning - reported 1740 - cleared 1900
Broken down Freight Train between Bristol TM & Bath - reported 1130 - cleared 1300!

I bet the pagers have been busy

 

[Woody]

The article in the Daily Mail had a quote from one of the guys, saying the train was half-empty and there were spare seats for the whole journey.

As fate would have it I travelled on this train from Plymouth to Exeter and was sat in coach A next to the train managers "office" when two of the offenders turned up with their intruments and believe me they were big, completely blocking the main gangway and that was just two of them,what it must have been like in the coach where the whole "orchestra" was must shorely have raised heath and safety issues,apart from gumming the whole works up.Also the train was not half empty,the train manager said to me that most trains from Plymouth to Paddington that day(Sunday) were full and standing so as far as I am concerned he did the right thing.
If people want to bring an "orchestra" onto a train they should make suitable prior arrangements with the TOC concerned before travelling.

 

[Kris]

Problem is - some people use trains as removal vans or other transport. You wouldn't expect to be able to take your cello on board a plane or a coach so why should a train be any different?

How are they to know if the train may fill up further along the line. There is also the safety aspect - trying to evacuate a train past all these obstacles.

I never used to charge when I was a guard but if I saw them lugging these large instruments around I used to say "Bet you wish that you'd taken up the piccolo instead?"

 

[metrocammel]

Problem is - some people use trains as removal vans or other transport. You wouldn't expect to be able to take your cello on board a plane or a coach so why should a train be any different?

How are they to know if the train may fill up further along the line. There is also the safety aspect - trying to evacuate a train past all these obstacles.

I never used to charge when I was a guard but if I saw them lugging these large instruments around I used to say "Bet you wish that you'd taken up the piccolo instead?"

I don't think there is a problem with carrying large articles around, as that is like saying "bikes are big objects, so shouldn't be allowed on trains", however, I think perhaps the guard in this instance was a bit "over zealous" (or as some might put it, "desparate"), however I think the musicians were also in the wrong, and if they are so worried about their instruments getting damaged in the power cars/TGS, then perhaps they should sit on the floor in there with them (however, if the guard decided it was dangerous for passengers to be in the power car/ TGS, it is a bit of a catch 22 situation, which I'm not sure what the best resolution would be).

 

[paul1609]

Well that'sthe problem with privatisation. Under BR we had Cover Drivers and Cover Guards as well as spare stock.

At least 5 cover drivers and 5 cover guards throughout the day.

Busy trains - we'd run a ' Relief ' right behind (of course we didn't have to pay Floppy Rail for the privilge'.

Any service problems the TCS would say - unit in the bay or loco & coaches round the depot - jump on that and take it ...... (wherever)

Worked like clockwork. Unfortunately private operators only believe in digital working.

I think you are looking at the past through rosy tinted glasses Kris.
Most of these luxuries had been cut long before privatisation.
My memories of BR on journeys to the West were standing in class 155 dmus all the way from Bristol to Southampton when the trains had just been introduced because there werent enough coaches compared to the lhs they replaced.
Being stranded at Yeovil junction for hours on end repeatedly when the class 50 locos failed and there were no replacement locos.
Having to spend miserable weekends in Plymouth on my one weekend off a month because of the all too frequent industrial action, drivers one month, guards the next, signallers.

BR in its last decade was probably worst than what we have now!