FGW network knowledge

[benqprready]

Hi can anyone help me on giving me tips how to learn routes with first great western would be a big help

 

[Captain Chaos]

In what sense? Learning just the stations or every nook and cranny such as junctions, crossings, signalling areas etc, etc? Are you a Guard or Driver?

 

[benqprready]

In what sense? Learning just the stations or every nook and cranny such as junctions, crossings, signalling areas etc, etc? Are you a Guard or Driver?

I work with giving information at stations and would like a guide on how would be best for me to learn stations and areas also branch lines etc.

 

[Goatboy]

I work with giving information at stations and would like a guide on how would be best for me to learn stations and areas also branch lines etc.

Look at a route map?

 

[Gathursty]

I would break it up into manageable clusters. For FGW, you have the Welsh stations which wouldn't be too hard to remember.
The Cornish branches are like a stem from Exeter with some 'leafs' which have single-figure stations along them.
The Cotswold line isn't too bad to remember.
I think you could group the Marlow, Henley, Reading-Banbury and Windsor branches and remember them in the same way as the Cornish branches.
That leaves IIRC the Reading-Taunton, Bristol surburban and stations surrounding the Severn and the bits going off to Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

That would be how I'd split them up to make it easy to remember. It's roughly similar to how I bag stations anyway. Don't challenge me on the Cambrian or HOWL lines, very hard to remember indeed!!

 

[richw]

For FGW, you have the Welsh stations which wouldn't be too hard to remember.

Would need these in English and Welsh though.

 

[Gathursty]

Would need these in English and Welsh though.

I just use my Welsh accent

Not using anything, here we go:

Pembroke Dock
Pembroke
Lamphey
Manorbier
Penally
Tenby
Saundersfoot
Narberth
Kilgetty
Whitland
Carmarthen
Ferryside
Kidwelly
Pembrey & Burry Port
Llanelli
Gowerton
Swansea
etc...

 

[bnm]

I work with giving information at stations and would like a guide on how would be best for me to learn stations and areas also branch lines etc.

A worthwhile job, but it really should be your employer providing the necessary training for you to do your job.

That said, when I did some agency work doing a similar Customer Service role for FGW, I had little in the way of training to get to know the network. Plenty of training to represent the corporate image and a conflict avoidance course, but precious little training for the actual job.

Get yourself a FGW Network timetable if your employer hasn't already provided you with a colleague handbook, and a FGW network map. I found it useful to colour code my handbook with highlighters, with a separate colour for each major pair of origin/destination stations for services that called at the station I was working at.

 

[FGW_DID]

If you have access to the FGW intranet at your station, there are several route maps on there.

 

[dk1]

That's where the fantastic BR route wall map that came with every GBTT taught me throughout my childhood.

 

[FGW_DID]

Also available here on FGW's internet site:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/Route-Maps

 

[ValleyLines142]

I just use my Welsh accent

Not using anything, here we go:

Pembroke Dock
Pembroke
Lamphey
Manorbier
Penally
Tenby
Saundersfoot
Narberth
Kilgetty
Whitland
Carmarthen
Ferryside
Kidwelly
Pembrey & Burry Port
Llanelli
Gowerton
Swansea
etc...

First Great Western do not call at some of these stations though. Examples being Lamphey, Penally, Kilgetty, Narberth, Ferryside, Kidwelly and Gowerton.

 

[quarella]

There is a huge knowledge base on here of people who have an interest in the railway, either employed within it or as spotters . and in my view the OP is just asking if anyone here knows of any shortcuts to gaining the route knowledge. Perhaps using the printed timetable booklets and following the routes on Google maps. I do still use my GBTT maps.

To the OP it does come eventually and stays!! A colleague and I were quoting GBTT timetable numbers to each other last week, something we haven't used for over 15 years.

My views on training is that since privatisation it that the emphasis was placed on the style over substance.

 

[Bevan Price]

If you have a staff free travel pass, you may find it helpful to travel on some of the lines a few times.

 

[QJ]

Don't forget Reading currently has three railway stations

Reading
Reading West

and

Reading Old Bus Station :roll:

 

[221129]

First Great Western do not call at some of these stations though. Examples being Lamphey, Penally, Kilgetty, Narberth, Ferryside, Kidwelly and Gowerton.

Incorrect. Only in the High Summer though. They don't call at Ferryside, Kidwelly or Gowerton though from what I can see.

 

[Gathursty]

Thanks for correcting me. I knew not to write more than Swansea as I certainly have no idea on the stopping patterns for the Swan line however I presumed beyond Swansea the FGW Summer services were all shacks going westwards.