Great Western Coffee Shop

For all long suffering passengers, here is the song that sums it up

http://www.morgle.com/firstgreatwestern.htm

magic right on the ball

Some people have nothing whats so ever better to do with their time it's frightening!

Anyone would think FGW are the only ones who have overcrowding problems by listening to that! never been a great fan of country and western.  ;)

you are Right vacman...some people dont or dont want to relise that overcrowding isnt only something that happens in our region

have you noticed that FGW managers never use the word "overcrowding".  they call it "crowding" instead

I stand to be corrected on the figures, but FGW have managed to generate 7 serious blogs about their performance and 3 regularly viewed forums, these begun primarly due to FGW^s running of the franchise. It was only a matter of time before the shambles was captured in verse, the only surprising thing is that it^s taken so long!!!

We^ve all got better things to do than post here if FGW/DaFT/Notwork Rail/ORR and the rest pulled their fingers out and started providing a decent rail service, or at least could be honest enough to tell their ^customers^ what the hell is going on and what they are going to do about it and when, and ^we^ the ^customers^ actually see it happen.

And until something does happen ^on the ground^ then quite rightly I for one am quite happy to wave fake tickets and write to my MP and DafT and post here and elsewhere until something is done about it.

Up until recently there has been little indication that our ^Gord^, who seems to be a bit distracted by NUFC sponsorship problems, was taking any of this seriously, well perhaps he does now.

Alistair Darling is the mug in the organ grinders monkeys hand.

It's a shame Billy Bragg isn't a Janner.

Would be interesting to hear his take on the issue.

I lived in Kent for many years and I'm always amazed that South Eastern have never generated the bad feelings that FGW seem to have done (ok - I know DfT etc etc etc).

I decided to have a look online and found sod all!

I did find this though http://www.jonathanshaw.org.uk/?PageId=8f2d2331-4490-a544-9583-e3683b694517

Have a look at some prices as well and the price rises. I used to live in Ashford and most trains left there full in a morning. Oh, and first class - really worth the extra money! You get the same sized, same design seat in the same carriage as standard, but it is coloured red instead of blue. Last time I went to Kent I went 1st Class (a rare treat) - fantastic on FGW but sat in standard class on SET - even the conductor joked that it wasn't really worth me moving into 1st as there was no difference.

Worth noting too that the seats are uncomfortable and have no leg room. Comparing the two standards of rolling stock (and SET are refreshing their stock too), FGW win hands down - Standard HST (refresh) on FGW is far better than 1st on SET. For the record, Charing X to Ashford, fastest train just over an hour, slowest normally 1 hour 30/40.

Not SET but SWT 450 desiro blue trains have the same seats in First Class as the awful Wessex Trains 158 refurb!!

There have been quite a few Parliamentary Questions asked about South Eastern issues (link below.)
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4456.msg8231#msg8231