Great Western Coffee Shop

These are starting to appear on the FGW Website

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Train-times/New-timetables-from-May-2013 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Train-times/New-timetables-from-May-2013)

Thanks Bobm.. Then I'll have the usual trouble finding one timetable with all Maidenhead trains in one place.. I think it's the London Paddington, Reading and Maidenhead to Marlow one.. Which I always find a little strange...

There are some more exter terminating paddington services. Hmmmm

AFAIAA the only additional service terminating at Exeter is the normal Summer Fridays only 1436 London Paddington-Exeter and 1820 return. The HST to run this service is, as it was last year, being sourced by running the 1551 London Paddington-Worcester and 1849 return as 180 on Fridays in the high summer. Does anyone have any experience as to how busy it was last year when it was a 180? As a consequence of the additional 180 required for that service it appears that the 1221 London Paddington-Great Malvern will be a Turbo. This goes on to form the halts train so has to be a 2-car, so is the 1221 London-Great Malvern really going to be booked a 2-car throughout on Fridays in the Summer? Hopefully another set will be attached as far as Oxford or that could be a little cosy.

Daleks, possibly?  ;) :D ;D

The 15:51 was very busy last summer when it was a Class 180.  So much so, that I remember one of our posters saying he preferred it being a Turbo - which it was on a couple of occasions!  I predict there will be people standing from London as far as Moreton-In-Marsh at least.  Pretty poor form, but it just goes to show how the utilisation of stock is at breaking point.

The 12:21 PAD-GMV will also be packed between Paddington and Oxford if it does only get formed with a 2-car.  There is no excuse for not providing extra carriages at that time of day (another 2-car, or 3-car that detaches at Oxford would be fine) - so hopefully they will do exactly that.  It's a shame that 180 reliability isn't good enough that all 5 units could be rostered out on those affected Friday's!

I may have commented on the 1551, certainly one to avoid if I can.

The 0517 from Great Malvern to Paddington will now start from Hereford at 0450.

Makes sense given that it runs ECS from Hereford at 04:50 now with all the crew on board, there's not likely to be many takers but it could be useful. 

There are other ECS moves that could quite legitimately turn into passenger trains with little or no fuss.  For example the empty Turbo that runs from Oxford at 05:08 to Moreton-In-Marsh to form the 05:45 MIM-WOF could easily run as a passenger train from Oxford.  There's no need (and no demand) to stop it anywhere en-route until Moreton, but having a train that early from Oxford would open up all sorts of journey opportunities including an earlier arrival at Birmingham New Street (changing at Shrub Hill) of 07:06 rather than the current 07:48 - though I'm not sure if that's a permitted route.  True, not many people would use it, but if the train is running anyway...

Cracked record coming.

What is the use of publishing a timetable that goes up to December if you cannot book a ******* ticket now, even in August, let alone in December?

Grr. >:(

Because it's still subject to change in the case of engineering work.

So are airlines.  I am finished on this one.  I don't accept the reasoning.  I am trying to buy an advance ticket not schedule the precise times of departure  'and I am unanimous about that' (with thanks to Mrs Slocombe). 

Not the same - airlines are allowed to change their flight times (and likely to be only 1 or 2 services a day!) via their T&Cs. You are effectively buying a ticket to fly on a sety day, rather than a set time.

On the trains, there are likely to be at least hourly services, or more frequent, and you're buying a ticket to depart at a set time (and probably arrive at a different set time) on any given day.

And in any case, the company can set whatever T&Cs it wishes. You are the consumer who has to agree with these before purchasing.

What you have been waiting for (or perhaps not)
GB Summer timetable has been posted on Network Rail's website ... you need to look for the bottom two entries.

Link
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx)

Good luck finding the errors etc!

TSO (The Stationery Office) have the printed book (or door stop) listed as being published on Monday. 

Finally ... the Fares CD - NFM 15 is also available from TSO now (mine was ordered teatime Thursday and arrived Friday morning's post)

The other night I asked at the ticket office at Reading when the FGW book of all their timetables would be out and was told "by the end of the month".  When I pointed out it is due to start on the 19th I was then told "Should be next week sir".........

None available in Paddington, Reading or Taunton today.

Haven't asked at Bristol Temple Meads yet. Past experience tells me they'll probably have them, but for some reason BRI ticket office treat them like the crown jewels. Under lock and key any time a Manager or Senior Supervisor is not around. Which is most of the time.

Hopefully you should have quite a job finding errors as a group of volunteers have been assisting the Network Rail Timetable publications team over the past few months in proofing the timetables to produce a more accurate timetable book/pdfs.

Can never guarantee the publication would ever be error free but it's a start in improving the accuracy of a publication that is still valued by many today even in the digital age in which we live in. If there was no market for the complete printed timetable then you can be sure TSO and Middleton Press would stop printing it.

I checked the racks at Paddington this morning, no sign of new timetables (although I wasn't very thorough as I was too busy eyeing up the steam loco).  In terms of other TOCs, Waterloo, Victoria and Gatwick Airport do not have the new timetables yet either.

Edited to add: appears bignosemac was at Paddington today.  Probably crossed paths at some stage.

Rare beasts though they are apt to be - they have been spotted at Swindon.

Swindon apparently leading the way again with the FGW Network Timetable. Handy knowing someone who lives near the station. One for use and one for the library on their way to me.  ;D

Thanks, bobm.


Came in on the up Sleeper Brucey. Out again before 0700. Won't say to where as locations may crop up in a picture quiz.  ;)

Based on past experience both at Paddington and Bath Spa, FGW don't change the timetables in the racks until mid Saturday afternoon the day before the timetable is due to start on a Sunday. I suspect other TOCs are similar in not changing them over until the end of the validity of the current timetable.

Various problems with pax picking up post-dated Tts and not realising they weren't current & complaining when services shown didn't run!

So if you want them in advance, ask at the info points or ticket office or consult the website. Most TOCs are doing this now

Arriva Trains Wales have filled thr racks with the new timetables at a few of their stations during the last week or two

I seem to recall at Bristol Temple Meads travel centre that they used to display old and forthcoming timetables with it clearly displayed which section of racks contained the new timetables.

They still do - in evidence as I looked through the closed doors yesterday.

I picked up the all-route FGW TT book at BRI ticket office yesterday. THey're unbelievably under lock & key of the supervisor, so only accessible if that person is in the ticket office.

They don't trust the sellers not to give them away apparently.

... indeed, a rather bizarre situation, as described by bignosemac in post number 15 above ...  ::)

Appears to be the only item retailed that isn't linked through the ticket machines, so a manual audit trail is required....so this will be the case wherever they are sold, not just at BRI

I believe it is the case wherever they are sold. A manual process as a sundry item on the ticket office retail system. However, most ticket office staff are trusted to retail them correctly, with a simple crib sheet explaining the procedure.

It's only Bristol Temple Meads where they are kept locked away. A supervisor has to be on hand. They can only be obtained on the first Thursday of the month between 0900 and 1100. You need to give the correct password. Photographic and biometric identification must be provided. There will be a retina scan. You must swear that you are not, and never have been, a member of the Communist Party.

Do all that and then you can have one. Unless the supervisor is on a fag break.

Ironically if you do manage to get a copy of the new book it contains a page outlining FGW's attempts to be "green" and move away from printed timetables with more reliance on electronic forms of the timetable and is asking for comments via email.

I, for one, value the book and it is very useful when on a train with no mobile signal - or wifi.

And I value it because signal or no signal, internet or no internet, it is quicker to leaf through than dial up a web page, enter search criteria, get that wrong, curse your spelling, try again, click on the warning that you're happy to accept the .pdf despite it possibly harming your computer.....

My thumbs can find the relevant page in the FGW Network Timetable far quicker than my index fingers can click and/or type to bring up the required information online.

The book is so much easier than trying to collect all the individual timetables you need as well. I've had problems a couple of times trying to get it at Reading, but have got it eventually in the past. I've never had any issues collecting one at Truro though, well apart from the timetable being too big to fit through the window so the staff have to come round and give you it.

THe last one (i.e. the one now current) was locked away, requiring a Supervisor in attendance, at PAD, RDG & SWI. I had reason to purchase/collect at all 3 and the same palaver occured....

Went to Bristol Parkway today to collect mine.   Have bought every one there since they started and have never had any problem.

... which does cause one to wonder: What particular point are some First Great Western staff trying to make, in throwing up such barriers to the legitimate purchase of a copy of the new timetable by a customer at some stations??

Do those First Great Western staff actually want to win themselves a 'jobsworth' award??  :o ::)

Suspect its staffing levels.

Where many staff are in a ticket office, there will be a supervisor. Somewhere like B/Parkway may only have one or two staff & therefore would be supervisory level to run office on their own? Whereas BRI always has several on duty, and thus only one supervisor at any time?

There were 3 staff in sight at Bristol Parkway when I was there yesterday.

Picked up the new timetable book today at Reading. I suspect I got quite lucky as the counter I went to was being manned by a trainee and trainer, and there was a supervisor right next to them, so they had no problems issuing it between them.

I drew the attention of some of my contacts at First Great Western to this particular topic by e-mail, and this is their response:


Fair enough - but it doesn't address the issue that there apparently needs to be a supervisor present before any copy can actually be handed over ...  ::)

I requested the South West Trains version at Waterloo yesterday.  All the windows had copies at hand and they are available free of charge (unless ordered over the phone, where a very modest postage charge is levied).

A far cry from my experience with FGW.

Good evening, placing my official hat on now.

The issues experienced purchasing an FGW All Line Timetable at Bristol Temple Meads was due to where the timetables were being stored. As said earlier the place they were being stored required a supervisor to be present.

I am pleased to tell you that as of today the timetables are being stored in an alternative part of the office which means that a supervisor no longer needs to be present in order to sell this timetable.

Apologies for the inconvenience caused by the original process. I hope people now find it easier to purchase the timetable at Temple Meads.

Ollie

Thanks for that official update Ollie.

Hopefully that will help those still seeking their copy.

Thanks from me, too, Ollie: as ever, you are a shining example of providing 'excellent customer service' at First Great Western.  ;)

Today's 15:51 was the first time I have ever seen a service being described as "full & standing" on the information screens at Oxford station. I'd managed to avoid this service for the last two Fridays but it was more than just a little cosy today. I appreciate that FGW do want to provide an additional service to the west country on Fridays but surely there has to be a better option than taking the HST from the busy Friday PAD-WOS service?