FGW draft TT

[devon_metro]

Few of them on www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Bristol book is still offline.

 

[Mintona]

Sorry - where?

 

[Daniel]

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1786

 

[me123]

See Severn Beach service is still as awful as ever. Bristol-London Trains don't seem to be too bad though.

 

[devon_metro]

4 trains before 9am isn't 'awful'

 

[me123]

Well... Fair enough. But still, it's quite a sporadic service, and none of the trains really arrive in BTM at fantastic times for commuters in general.

 

[devon_metro]

Arrive into London before 0900 possible.

Unlike Plymouth!

 

[Mojo]

Severn Beach line is up from 15 trains per day to 18, but still not like the improvements promised. It is "awful" still when compared with the importance of the city. Mark Bradshaw says they're still working on improvements. A question I posed to him. The reason we're having to wait 'til May is apparently because of rolling stock problems, so why is the 2nd train in morning peaks only, when surely rolling stock is used more?

A new car park has also opened by the Temple Quay, but at £7.50 per day (the going rate in the area) - I still think I'll drive to the station and park there for free then catch the train.

 

[Mojo]

News from a fellow campaigner

I spoke with Andrew [Griffiths - regional manager] at the West Wilts Rail Users Group meeting in Westbury last night , and I have some positive news. He said :

- The extra train will be one of the 12 Class 142 units , only 11 of which are now going to Devon.

- The DfT have underwritten the lease.

- The extra services will be classed as a commercial venture , part - funded by Bristol City Council. This means that they fall outside of the franchise remit , and thus do not require permission from the DfT (except , as explained above , the lease of the extra train itself , which the DfT underwrote last week.)

First Great Western have now included the fact that the extra services will start from May 2008 in the presentation that they are giving to stakeholders across the region. This leads me to conclude that they are genuine.

We made sure that the meeting minutes recorded that it was only due to the pressure applied by FOSBR and the people of Bristol that this victory has been secured.

Best Regards
Lee