Channel 5 commissions FGW documentary

[ainsworth74]

Referring to the quote in the OP, I don't see how FGW is unique other than being the only "inter city" TOC still using diesel power.

It is unique due to the diversity of its operations. It has long distance daytime inter-city services, it has an overnight sleeper operation, it runs a massive London commuter service at the same time as it runs services on very rural branch lines in the South West and inter-regional services from the South Coast to Wales. There are very few TOCs (if any) who run that broad a spectrum of service types.

 

[michael769]

There are very few TOCs (if any) who run that broad a spectrum of service types.

Replace London with Glasgow and you would be describing Scotrail.

 

[Temple Meads]

Looking forward to this, although I can't say I'm expecting particularly high quality!

Reminds me that a couple of weeks ago I saw an FGW driver being interviewed at Plymouth station, although it was just two people with a camera and a long mic doing the interview I guess it could have been something to do with this?

Pic of the interview: http://www.flickr.com/photos/transporttim/8796506519/

 

[ainsworth74]

Replace London with Glasgow and you would be describing Scotrail.

Forgive me but I don't cosider ScotRail to run any daytime inter-city services that are comparable to FGWs.

 

[jon0844]

Replace London with Glasgow and you would be describing Scotrail.

Perhaps they were approached first and refused?

Quite often the company that ends up featured could have turned out to be further down the list.

 

[GodAtum]

I dont get the truck shows. I mean what next, a show about taxi drivers or farmers!

However I do like railway documentaries and police/ambulance shows.

 

[jon0844]

Sky has gone a whole series on Greggs the baker and I am sure many companies are lining up to be featured, as it's great advertising and brand marketing.

I was a little surprised that FGW agreed as First seemed to be rather disinterested in the last BBC series (albeit FCC) - but perhaps the events of the WCML franchise fiasco made someone realise that it needs some positive PR.

It might just educate some people about how the railway works and that First didn't just win the franchise to syphon off loads of profit while giving users old trains, as Virgin was buying state-of-the-art trains and going all in for customer service and PR.

 

[michael769]

I was a little surprised that FGW agreed as First seemed to be rather disinterested in the last BBC series (albeit FCC) - but perhaps the events of the WCML franchise fiasco made someone realise that it needs some positive PR.

FGW also featured in the BBC series (unlike FCC or Scotrail the latter of which we now know refused).

 

[Temple Meads]

I dont get the truck shows. I mean what next, a show about taxi drivers or farmers!

I have a feeling some people would have a similar feeling about railway documentaries though - to the outsider it's a very mundane world.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Referring to the quote in the OP, I don't see how FGW is unique other than being the only "inter city" TOC still using diesel power.
FGW is not and never has been an "iconic" company. It is merely a component of an international transport group. The Great Western Railway was an iconic and unique entity from 1838 until 1st January 1948 when it became the Western Region of British Railways, after which it retained a little of its uniqueness in addition to an impressive sense of pride among those who worked for it. The magic came to an end in February 1996 with privatisation and the once proud GWR/Western Region became simply another profit driven TOC

There was never anything iconic or unique about the G.W.R. It just had a better publicity department and an undeserved reputation for fast trains and good timekeeping. Nowadays F.G.W. is - apart form the branches - a terrible railway for timekeeping which is exacerbated by very slack station working.

 

[bnm]

There was never anything iconic or unique about the G.W.R.

Unique and iconic? Maybe. Maybe not.

Broad gauge, right hand drive, Brunswick green, always paid a dividend to shareholders, Maidenhead Bridge, first rail company to run road motor buses, most profitable of the 'Big Four', Brunel, first steam train to run at 100mph, Royal Albert Bridge, 'chocolate and cream', AWS, first to used electric telegraph....

 

[Requeststop]

Channel 5?????? Maybe they think FGW is about top rated onanists? I know some here think that about First Group anyhow.