Great Western Coffee Shop

Thought this would interest rail users in Wiltshire from tonight's Bath Chronicle:

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=227209&contentPK=17087318&folderPk=106757&pNodeId=227220

Under-fire train operator First Great Western has come in for yet more criticism.

Wiltshire County Council says the company's performance since it introduced a new timetable in December has been "poor" and councillors are vowing to keep up the pressure on the operator.

Rail users in Bath, Wiltshire and the wider west region have launched a series of protests and petitions since the introduction of the new timetable. They said the service provided by FGW had fallen to an unacceptable standard, with fewer trains offering an unreliable and overcrowded service.

Members of Wiltshire County Council's overview and scrutiny committee were prompted to look into the issue of rail travel after concerns were expressed by local people.

At a recent meeting, councillors debated issues such as fare increases, overcrowding and reduced services.

The council also discussed how the greatly reduced level of train service at Melksham in the new timetable was likely to cut the number of rail passengers, which could in turn put in peril proposed improvements at the station.

The county council has previously proposed to link the station with the A350, improve parking and integrate the station with bus services. However, it has now indicated that such changes "would cease to be viable" should the number of rail users in the town decrease.

Cllr Jeff Osborn, chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, said: "It is important that continued pressure is applied on First Great Western and the Government over poor performance as a result of the new franchise timetable.

"As such, the scrutiny role of the county council is vital in allowing elected members to gain a greater understanding of the issues and represent the concerns of the public."

A council spokesman added: "Unfortunately the county council has no direct power over the rail industry. However, it will continue to push for a solution that mitigates the impacts where possible, including working with others to make the case for Wiltshire."

At the end of March, FGW boss Alison Forster admitted the company had "made some mistakes" when it took over the rail franchise for Bath and the south west.

She added: "What you have to do when you get things wrong is you've got to learn and put them right.

"We believe we've done both of those things. We're well within all our franchise commitments with the Government, we're meeting with what they expect us to do, so we may be better than others that never make a mistake."

The company was awarded the train services franchise for the region by the Government in December.

Ends

Ouch - is Alison claiming that they now have the TransWilts right, and that what they're running (and the results it is getting) is what the government expected?

Patronage HAS now decreased to less than than a handful of passengers.

I believe that what is happening now , which in my view could well lead to closure , is COMPLETE MADNESS on the part of all responsible.