Great Western Coffee Shop

Latest Economy Klaus post (link below.)
http://firstlatewestern.blogspot.com/2007/12/twas-last-post-before-christmas-serious.html

Well, I never thought I'd agree with anything that EK says........ but well said!!!! FGW should be more publicly critical of NR and the DFT!

Couldn't agree more. FGW weren't a bad rail company before this franchise started and aren't necessarily all bad now but you get the feeling they are taking all the blame for the decisions and actions of others though not all the decisions they have made have been for the better. Letting 150s/153s/158s go springs to mind even if they were'nt the best in the fleet.

Agreed! Reading the times today there was a piece about Chriss Gibbs outrage at NR and the word "Incompetent" was used!

Was pleased to see Chris Gibb using some blunt language towards Network Rail's decision to keep the West Coast mainline closed for an extra day over Christmas:

http://www.therailwaycentre.com/News%20December%202007/191207_VT.html

Engineering work has to be done, but to change arrangements so late in the day is unfair on both the passengers who have to travel thinking there was to be no work on the line that day and for the train company who has to sort it all out.

Engineering work does have to be done, but why so many line closeures whilst work is done.
BR relaid miles of track keeping a single line open with bi-directional working of trains whilst engineers relaid the other road.
 
And before the H & Smen start quoting H & S, there are MORE Accidents where both lines are closed,
Keeping one line open kept the engineers on their toes as they were expecting train movements.
Today with engineers working under a FALSE sense of securty,  Men are killed when Engineering movements take place through the work site.
A couple of guys died when they stepped of a Track Machine into the path of a engineers train up around Tamworth mainly due to the fact both roads were closed, had one still been open I doubt this accident would have happened.