Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm going to post a personal "week in review" after this intro and encourage others to do the same.  But I am hoping for your sakes that you can't cap my story.

A week in to the new timetable.  And in the last week, 27 trains have been scheduled to call at Melksham.  That's one more train per week than we had before (a Sunday southbound for which we are very grateful - thank you FGW) but we remain with all the other trains running in "marginal" time - i.e. at times that no-one else wants the trains on their line.  From Swindon at 06:18 (even earlier that before) or 18:45 (even later than before) ... and of this sparse and inappropriate service ...

** 4 were replace by buses ahead of time
** 4 more were cancelled at short notice
** 3 were short workings .... didn't make it all the way even between Swidnon and Westbury
** 2 were over half an hour late
and that's just what I know about - a number of other "no report"s.   The reporting system seems designed to work well when trains are running well, and screw up beautifully when it's most needed - at times when things are NOT running to schedule. 

During the week I have had just three customer journeys (we run a business in Melksham and pick up / drop off)  by train ...

One was half an hour late, and during my wait the information point was assuring me that there was no train expected. Top marks to the guy on the 08457 number who took down my details, made enquiries and called me back to let me know that the service would eventually turn up.

One was routed from Chippenham, change at Bath, change at Westbury into one of the two trains that had come direct from Chippenham anyway to Southampton. This seems a very odd (and awkward) ticket to sell.  I wonder WHY such a route was sold by FGW at that time of day, and why it didn't offer him a similarly good deal from Melksham.  I am assured that it is NOT because anyone is trying to drive traffic away from the line.

And the third was a few minutes late, to the extent that we wondered whether or not a quite tightconnection would make at Westbury. I was delighted to receive an email to confirm that my customer HAD made his ongoing train, so I'll leave it on that positive note.

I certainly cannot better (or is it worse!) that story.. However, for me,  my morning train only managed at best 20% punctuality this week. In fact it could be 0% but I didn't get it Tuesday so have no idea what it did. So the 9.03 Maidenhead to Paddington is the new 8.51 (which also never ran on time, and has since been replaced by the 9.03).

Refer to my early week rant regarding SDO.

Monday I had to drive as had to pick up fro heathrow and could not have made Pad until after the last train to WOS.

Tuesday - hell

Wed/thur - tuesday put me off so much (Getting no sleep on the up train meant I was cream crackered all day) I worked from home wed/thur.,

Friday - SDO reversed on cotswold line and much better. Although I fear the 0545 from WOS will not remain a HST if the passenger numbers do not increase.

Want WOS crew back on the 1822 - they are more generous with the free wine than Bristol.

I havn't travelled on the new timetable yet, but I have witnessed 6 carriages of FGW local stock departing from paignton in one hour (1000-1100), at the most it used to be two.

Even if they are pacers...

Between 1000 and 1100 from Paignton on Saturday (winter!) there is the:

1005 XC service to Newcastle
1012 SW service to Waterloo
1030 GW service to Exmouth
1044 GW service to Exeter St D!

Today was awful in Cornwall!

Two HST's from London over 30 mins late.

A 153 is now used on a 150 diagram, 10:00 Plymouth-Penzance. On 12:50 Penzance-Plymouth they were turning away at Redruth.

A 150+153 on an old 158 diagram from Bristol which was 20 late.

HST station stops take forever with SDO especially if they're unmanned.

Too many 150's on mainline causing luggage mayhem.

Only good point was 158762.

The first four trains timetabled services from Barnstaple weren't great today either:

• 0704 cancelled (no crew), 4 taxis from Barnstaple, two from Exeter
• 0840 had been arranged as 4 coaches (there was a large party booked from Crediton to Exeter); but we got a single 142 which left with 6 standing, with a coach for those who didn't want to stand and cover intermediate stops.
• 1041 (the 06-something from Penzance) was 2x150, but one unit failed at Exeter so just a 150 left full with six standing (10 people refused to travel). Back-up coach also sent for those who didn't want to stand and for intermediate stops.
• 1241 operated as 2x142 (with two guards!) but was 20 minutes late into Barnstaple as doors had failed at Copplestone.

Having said all that the backup buses and taxis ran much more smoothly than they have in the past - we think they're being organised from Exeter now instead of Swindon - so at least someone at FGW is trying...

Ooh, I like the idea of refusing to travel if you have to stand, and taking a coach instead.. Do you think that would work on the commuter services into London?

Didn't wprk in Cornwall and those people couldn't get on physically.

Wow.. what sort of trains do you have down there, that means six people standing is full up and no one else can get on?

There are now what used to be called 'resource managers' back at Exeter, I think( but am not totally sure) on a trial period basis. I don't know what their official title is, but they are sorting out local operational problems from there. LIKE THEY ALWAYS USED TO DO UNDER WESSEX!

Wessex were based in Exeter were they not?

They were indeed.

I'm really unhappy with the new timetable when it comes to travelling back from Bristol Parkway to Highbridge in the evening. I used to have a direct service at 16:51 or 17:51. Now I have to get out of work in time to catch the 16:25 or 17:25 crosscountry train to temple meads. FGW seem intent to make this journey as long as possible. One of my colleagues who I lift share with every Thursday is considering driving more than before the new timetable was implemented.

This could easily be solved if the Weston to Bristol Parkway service went all the way to Taunton in the evening the same as it does during the morning peak. 

It was a 153-1 car and standing throughout. Theguard had to make a couple of people get off so he could get on.

why not drive to WSM, The service is always more frequent, thats what i do {and i live at West Hunstpill} and if you go early enough you can park roadside for free outside Homeserve

If I could drive I wouldn't be messing about on FGW's "services". It's sad as I am a firm believer in the use of environmentally friendly transportation but during my experience of commuting I have vowed that unless services improve the minute I pass my test I will start using the car. The thought that I won't have to do it forever and that eventually I'll be able to drive is the affirmation I use to cope with the constant delays, cancellations and filthy, uncomfortable rolling stock.

Until you've had a few weeks of traffic jams extortionate petrol prices and parking fees! Then FGW's services will seem like a dream!

It's still cheaper to drive than pay the train fare. The traffic on the M5 isn't too bad unless someone crashes or on Fridays during the annual brummy invasion. Even so I'd rather be in control of my surroundings rather than being sat on an uncomfortable seat next to some hideous 30 stone chav female with her folds of fat pressing into my side listening to her playing R&B from the tinny speaker of her Nokia with a combination of body odour and the tuna sandwich she is stuffing into her gullet wafting through the air. All this after waiting 30 minutes unnecessarily in the freezing cold. We've all been there... Also I tend to carry a backpack + a laptop with me yet I feel uncomfortable placing either on the floor or luggage rack due to the combined threats of chewing gum and theft. Even with the traffic the majority of the time I will get from A to B quicker and cheaper than I would by train plus I won't have to worry about space for my luggage. The only negative is the environmental impact.

Don't forget your insurance and wear and tear, fact is a lot of people do stay on the railway because it does usually work out quicker and cheaper.

But for how long? With the rising fares caused by the extortionate franchise premium payments I can see it eclipsing the price of running a car fairly soon if it hasn't already. Plus I'm likely to convert my vehicle to LPG. Working for the company who owns your car insurance provider also helps on the cost front.  ;)

If a clean, regular, reliable, inexpensive service existed of course i'd use it over driving. The fact is though that it doesn't and probably never will.

interesting - I can drive - have been driving since 1993.

I between me and my partner we have three cars (A 2000 golf, a 2005 accord and a 2006 Nissan navara pick up) and three motor bikes.

Still, my first port of call for any journey is to see if I can do it by train.  ok, I have some exacting standards - I must have a table, first class is preferred but not essential (arriva wales standard on the camathen - Manchester route is perfectly fine).  I will not use london midland on local west midlands routes.

Why?

1. if I'm tired I can sleep and dont have to worry about hitting anything

2. I can do something with my time during the journey - work or pleasure - rather than focusing on my driving

3. I dont have to worry about parking

4. If i'm late, I phone my client and say will be late, nothing I can do about it - when driving - its always constant stress worrying which route or diversion to take.

5. Train fares may be rising - but fuel and insurance is rising more

Maybe we could have a new vote on here... "Who would drive if they could rather than struggling with FGW?".. I for one would vote yes (if parking in London wasn't so expensive..) I'd not worry about the wear and tear on my car..

"It probably never will".  Regrettably, I have to agree with you in the current political climate (and "inexpensive" is defined as being "half the current price" isn't it ... whatever the current price is!  ;) . Just look  elsewhere in the papers and even on this forum for a discussion!).

But it could be regular. It should be reliable. And it ought to be clean.  From an unscientifically small sample of journeys with South West Trains, and others with FIRST Capital Connect in this last year, I think these three of the four objectives can be achieved.  And it can be comparatively less expensive that a car journey too.

I AM looking forward - and I think we have a better chance now that at any point in the past 2.5 years - to an improvement in services on the "TransWilts" within the next 12 months.  I'm still going to say that this is far, far from certain BUT a train every 2 hours (various options out there - FGW from Swindon to Westbury, or Frome, or Salisbury, SWT from Salisbury) would really pull traffic back onto the rail.  Actually, it's incredible just how much the current service is making a comeback with its awful timing and (this week especially) reliabilty problems.  But that's another story.

What? You mean passenger numbers are rising with the service you have. I'm amazed.

I could have written that  ;) ... I will use public transport if I possibly can for those very reasons, but I'm often frustrated by having too much to carry, or poor schedules which leave car as the only practical way.

So am I, frankly, John!

But when you consider that you have six "Strategically Significant Towns and Cities" on a 40 mile route, and you've vandalised a service that carried 120000 passengers a year so that it now only carries around 6000 (No, I have NOT left a zero off that) .... then it will rise from that 6000 as there will be people who discover that the train happens to run when they want it.  The TransWilts market is huge, as - thank goodness - people who can actually make decisions are starting to notice!  Just look at the DfT's road conjestion diagrams, for example

Its not the wear and tear on my car - its the wear and tear on me

Without the train I could not do what I do from where I do it.

I live in the welsh borders

Driving into London (I can park for free) takes three hours each way......I do not work exclusively in London but 2/3 of the time.  I could not drive that more than once a week.  Going by train I can commute daily.

If i'm in any other major city centre I can get home 2/3 times a week

If I'm on the suburbs I can get home once a week as I have to drive.

If I cant get home it costs me a hotel for the night plus food etc

Even given the crappiness of trains in the UK at the moment - they are the only reason I can do what I do.

Shouldn't sit in First Class then... (http://www.takeforum.com/forum/images/smiles/cy.gif)

I rarely have anyone next to me ..........

usually only if I have not got on the train first or there is a failure of another service which is bunking on mine.

I occasionally sit in the declassified part on 158's if that helps ;)

You've just answered the question then, If parking in London wasn't so expensive, which is why you use the train!

Mind you, for ^2800 pound (I just paid something like that out for my season ticket), I could probably buy a parking space in London....