Get Well Soon to FGW

[Mojo]

'Get well soon First!' says Councillor responsible for transport

Executive Member for Transport, Cllr Mark Bradshaw will join rail passengers in telling First Great Western to get their act together and provide a more frequent service on the Severn Beach line. Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways will be delivering flowers, chocolate and 'get well soon' cards to the rail operator at 9am on Friday 28th September, at Temple Meads station.

Passengers who persuaded Bristol City Council to pay for more frequent trains on the Severn Beach line are angry that First will not provide the improved 40 minute service until May 2008. First has cited lack of rolling stock as the reason behind the delay.

Julie Boston, Secretary of FOSBR said "It's just not good enough. First should be responding to passenger demand, not making excuses. We're giving them 'get well soon' cards because First is not in a fit state to run the railways in the South West." FOSBR is asking First to provide the improved service from December 2007, as agreed.

Transport officers from all parties have been invited to attend the event. All parties agreed to fund a more frequent service on the Severn Beach line after passengers' postcards calling for a more frequent service made up over 99% of responses to Bristol City Council's budget consultation.

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It was certaintly an interesting morning, radio interviews and lots of pics for the local paper. We insisted to the station manager the Chocolates were shared with station staff who have to put up with angry passengers every day

Some of the comments in the cards were from very enthusiastic and concerned people, some lovingly signed "Dear Andy!"

 

[Dennis]

I suppose Bristol City Council will be sent a fistful of rail travel vouchers given that it's trains aren't arriving for a couple of months.

 

[Mojo]

"We are sorry that your train has been delayed by five months. In accordance with our passengers' charter, as a gesture of goodwill, I have enclosed a rail travel voucher for the sum of £140,000."

 

[me123]

At least theyr'e coming...eventually. It is amazing, though, that the service is so infrequent. Quite pathetic, TBH.

 

[Mojo]

If only the Clifton loop was extended to Redland, then we could have had our half hourly service, the campaign is still on for that, but we're more concerned about the delivery of the 40 min service. At least we'll get Sunday trains...

 

[W14Fishbourne]

Anyone would think you were talking about an important service in an important city!

 

[Mojo]

Well Bristol contributes the most to UK plc out of all the English core cities, is the most productive city outside of London, is the most affluent[1], has offices of more FTSE 250 companies than anywhere else outside London, the most congested core city...

[1] http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/regional_trends_2001/rt36.pdf

 

[W14Fishbourne]

...is the most affluent...

Should be able to afford to buy your own trains then!

 

[devon_metro]

I blame the DafT

 

[JonG]

Anyone would think you were talking about an important service in an important city!

You could've fooled me.

 

[Mojo]

We were in Today's paper, no pic on the Online version though...

http://www.epost.co.uk/displayNode....uleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 

[Nick W]

Did you remember to put laxatives in the sweets?

The Seven Beach line isn't fit for a heavy rail service. Locals should be sending cards to the council for a light railway service. I believe 5 years of research was carried out for such a scheme before it sank to a cheap fix.