This is becoming a weekly occurence at the moment. is it the line, or is it the old stock that just can't keep up with requirements? My day starts at 0500 and who knows what time it will finish tonight! 

What a day we have had today. Tried to get the 0707 train this morning from Reading to Basingstoke. We got on, we then overheard the announcer on the station telling us that our train has now been cancelled. Then we were told to get off the train. Then nothing......
0730 still we have been told nothing, myself and three others went in search of the duty manager and requested replacement buses. Once she confirmed how long the obstruction was going to be on the line, she came back and confirmed that yes buses were on there way. When I asked how long, she stated about 15 - 30 mins. and we should listen out for announcements.
0745 No announcements and no signs that they even knew we were there! Chased the duty manager again, and she said buses any minute now and we should listen out.
0800 not announcement and no buses so went in search of her again. She is full of apologies and explained buses would not be there until 0900 at the earliest. Myself and three others (we had stuck together) did not feel this was acceptable, therefore she organized taxi. Arrived in Basingstoke 0915 !
Why is it not possable to keep us updated with the truth? Why do we have chase and extract inch by inch?

I used to always book the quiet carriage when travelling from Reading to Newquay & back again, however experience has shown me that, the other carriages are often quieter due to people chatting and messing around (normally teenagers from public schools). 

My pet hate though, it that the guard never actually does anything about it?

Last time, both I and another passenger took turns in trying to encourage the young people to appreciate the fact it was a quiet carriage, but all we got was abuse and no back up.

But we use the trains more, and we are helping reduce this countries carbon foot print. We are staple income and therefore help keep the railways going.

We went, we had a fab time (though very cold). No snow and we got back no problems. Except for the fact our reserved seats were not reserved, due to the late arrival of the batch? I turfed out the person that had sat in our seets anyway, and enjoyed the trip home. 

Thanks everyone, Im going and I have every confidence that I will get home on Monday.

I am looking to you, my "in the Know proffesionals". I am due to go to Exeter from Reading tomorow for the weekend, returning on Monday. However, as someone who was trapped in my house for 4 days last year, I am concerned with snow on the way, not being able to get back to Reading.

How bad would it need to be for the trains from Exeter to be affected?

Any thoughts?

I know its really hard, becuase depending on which weather forcast you look at, depends on how bad its supposed to be.

I have pre-booked tickits, leaving Reading about 10ish tomorow and leaving Exeter on Monday, about 1130ish.

Thanks

Thanks Insprector Blakey,
It worries me on two fronts about the fact that its the same guards that don't check the tickets. The first is fare dodgers are responsable partly for fare increases. Also I have been on a train at night, when trouble has kicked off (normally with a drunk) and could have done with it being resolved by the guard, but of course they do not come out of their little cubby hole then. Some times I have wondered why they bother having CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), it only seems to act as a warning for them to stay hidden.

I know they say report it to the police but when the trouble is in the same carraige, there is no way its possable to call the police and for the trouble maker not to know. Like I say this has happened twice to me now.

Does anyone know if there is anything like this on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?

I have a question, I imagine that most of the money comes from us comuters. We certainly use the trains more than most. We are doing our bit for the carbon foot print in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). So would it not be a good idea for us to be respected, cherished and perhaps even looked after and valued?

Now I know we get reductions in our fares if we buy month+ tickets, which is great (never enough but...) however we do have to put up with the cramped conditions on trains, delays and then often having to work our lunch hours to make up time becuase our trains have been delayd, therefore would it not be nice if, by holding a season photo card, it would enable us to have a discount on other train journeys that we perhaps make outside of our usual commute. It would just be a little thank you, a little perk to show that we are valued?

Also, what about a commuters lounge? Somewhere we could show our ticket, gain access in the warm and dry, and perhaps discounted coffee & Tea, especially if we are there becuase of delayed trains or worse still cancelled ones.

Is this really barmy? wishful dreaming, or something to campaigne for? Any thoughts? 

Getting back on track, what are the rules regarding what a guard should do on a train regarding checking tickets? I have not been checked once this week?

So reading this thread, am I right in believing that once these Blackberries have been dished out to the train staff, us passangers can look forward to being kept in the loop regarding delays? When will this be? Train delayed (Reading - Basingstoke 0707) again today by 15 mins, do not know why! Getting to the point where I expect it now. Have warned my boss, and do not anticipate getting a full lunch hour in the forseeable future  becuase need to make time up! Thanks FGW...................

Edited to fix quote. bnm

But sureley bignosemac, by highlighting whats going wrong, its a gental prod to those who can change things. I for one think that our tickets should be checked on every journey, that way, fare dodgers will be caught and thus, help keep the cost of our tickets down.

Also, I would imagine a hint on this forum is better than an employee being pulled up infront of their superior, for a let smacking? Perhaps people just get to lax in their duties?

As an aside, my ticket was not checked this morning, though guard did walk through for anyone who required a ticket, from Mortimer or Bramley.

Tickets not checked this morning on Reading to Basingstoke..........  What are the guidelines? Surely FGW^▸ (First Great Western) must be loosing money on the the people who get on and off at open stations (On at Reading West off at Bramley for instance) If this fare jumpers were caught and reduced, would this not help to keep my ticket price down?

Can somebody out there explain what the plans are for updating the what I call fondly the chuga chuga train that runs between Reading and Basingstoke (as it was one of the few that kept going through most of the snow days last year I'm not moaning).

I notice that more often now we get the shiny, smart new ones and there lovely. But this mornings was in a sorry state of repair, masking tape in patches on the floor where the lining had rubbed away ect. I assume that its marked for replacement at some stage, but no doubt trains are not cheap and thus this will be done over a period of time. Does anyone know what the time period is going to be?