Great Western Coffee Shop

A NEW MP said the service was not good enough after he missed his train to Westminster today.

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Swindon and Didcot Parkway trains had to run at reduced speed this morning (Tuesday, September 3).

Train services running through the stations were cancelled or delayed by up to 40 minutes.

GWR said disruption was expected until 11.15am.

Didcot and Wantage MP Olly Glover was not only caught up in the delays but had to stand in a long queue for the ticket office as the self-service machines were not working.

Sharing a picture, he posted on social media: "Not a good start to commuting from Didcot today.

"Only 1 of 3 ticket machines working led to long queue at ticket office (which I needed for season ticket), so missed intended train.

"Then signalling probs mean I'll arrive 90 mins late."

A fellow traveller replied: "Been a poor morning on the trains generally. Signal problems between Swindon and Reading. 09:19 Didcot - Paddington currently 30 mins late.

"Delay repay paltry compensation for repeatedly poor service," they  said.

And the rail industry wonders why people believe that they need to keep ticket offices.

It's usually good when VIPs and people of influence use the trains as it helps raise the profile of passenger service issues.

Some of the comments help bring some issues into focus - especially if they get read in places like Horseferry Road

As an aside Olly Glover's CV makes interesting reading:

"He has spent all his working life on the railways, having held a range of senior operational management positions in Network Rail and train operating companies. These have involved leading large teams of train drivers, responsibility for major control centres, working in partnership with trade unions, and hands-on roles managing disruption, on the tracks and on station concourses. Olly now works as a consultant, using his knowledge to help railway companies in the UK and abroad to improve their operations."

This is from https://www.libdems.org.uk/mps/didcot-and-wantage (https://www.libdems.org.uk/mps/didcot-and-wantage)

I understand he talked about the railways in his first speech in the House of Commons.

"Only 1 of 3 ticket machines working led to long queue at ticket office (which I needed for season ticket), so missed intended train.

Fills you full of confidence with the lack of forward planning. Any sensible traveller knows that you don't buy/renew a season ticket or railcard at the time of travel.

Fills you full of confidence with the lack of forward planning. Any sensible traveller knows that you don't buy/renew a season ticket or railcard at the time of travel.