The answer can be found in section B4 of this document: http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Rolling%20Stock/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GMRT2483%20Iss%201.pdf

Railway Group Standards do not apply to LU or other Metros/Tram Lines so they have their own rules.

This ^^

Apologies, perhaps 'I disagree' would've been a better phrase to use as you were expressing a perfectly valid opinion!

I don't think FGW are or can be accountable for Network Rail's spending plans as they are two separate entities. The bulk of the investment, certainly in infrastructure, is coming from NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/public purse, so I cannot see how FGW can imply that they are in some way linked to that other than by the fact they hold a franchise to run trains.

I see no reason why the advertisements shouldn't be reversed to be Network Rail branded, by all means including FGW & First Group logos on there as current franchise holder, but they shouldn't be the dominant branding on the marketing material as that implies the money is coming from them.

In this (very very rare!!) instance, I'm in full agreement with TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about) that the adverts seen around London are misleading.

I was at Paddington tonight.. I got the 20.48 to Slough to then change on to the train that had left Paddington slightly earlier (20.42) at Slough.. All was running to time so even though I was there really early I waited for the 20.48 as the slower one was going from platform 13..

All was going well.. People got on the train..  20.48 came and went.. At 20.49 we got an announcement to say that anyone in the back two coaches would have to get off and move into the front 3 as the back two would be locked out of use from Reading but they were going to do it now anyway.. That didn't make total sense to be honest as why not do that at Reading (people would have had some warning by then too)..

So the net result was a 10 minute delay leaving Paddington and the connection at Slough was missed (just)..

In hindsight when I first got to Paddington, before the train had a platform, it did say front three coaches only.. I ended up on the front part of the train anyway (but only really as the back 2 carriages were quite full)

I'm thinking human error meant the back 2 carriages were left unlocked?

I wasn't really sure if the question from gpn01 was just about the Christmas period, or more likely the whole Jan to April period.  As we've been discussing earlier in the thread, looked at in comparison to today I think the first post is possibly a bit too pessimistic.   There should be little to directly affect relief line services anyway.

Paul

Bit of a early warning for anyone travelling through Reading from January to April 2015. 

We've been told the first blockade over Christmas to open the new viaduct at Reading will see all through trains via Reading West only able to access platforms 7 & 8 between January to April.  Trains to London arriving via Reading West will not have access to platforms 9, 10 and 11 as they currently do. This will invariably cause a few delays.

The Easter blockade will see completion of all works and fully unlock the additional capacity at Reading.

Well yes.. but it was used as if it was one for many years

"Sorry I'm late to work ... they ran out of tickets for the train" ...

When you buy a season ticket, is it going to be for the same train each day?

For many commuters with season tickets I would say the answer is yes - Same train every day. Maybe a guaranteed seat service could be provided?

Problem I find with these sort of issues is that those in the industry always adopt the supply attitude and reflect that it would take too much effort to change how things are done. I really wish they'd start thinking from the customer perspective and instead think about how to improve the service to the customer. I accept that it's made complicated by having multiple operators and organisations, government imposed regulations, etc. It really is time someone had the tenacity to rip the whole of UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail operation up and do a proper restructure of it to turn it into a vibrant, competitive, transport capability that is profitable and provides good customer service.

Yes, they do take up more of the additional standard class seating, but as there's much more extra standard class seating being added than first class seating being removed that's where your extra capacity comes from.

As for too much first class seating, there clearly was on the majority of trains throughout the day with the old layout - whole carriages running around completely empty on some services.  Even on vast majority of the peak services there was ample spare accommodation in first class whilst standard class passengers were unable to get a seat.

TaplowGreen, please tell me what else could sensibly have been done to add extra seats before the line upgrade completes and the new trains arrive?

How can no one win when thousands more people will get a seat each day in Standard Class?  Perhaps some of those passengers interviewed by the Reading Chronicle will now be able to get a seat as a result?  It won't solve the capacity problem, but it will help to alleviate it until the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) programme and electric suburban/Crossrail trains arrive within the next two to five years.  After then, hopefully the capacity problems will be largely solved, but until then this is the sensible (and only) way of providing an increase and talk of smokescreens really is ridiculous when a wholesale upgrade of the line is ongoing and new trains are literally just around the corner.

I can appreciate your own personal frustration, NickB, as one of the tiny minority of passengers who travel in daily on a first class ticket on one of the few trains where the reduction will cause problems, but please let's not pretend that it's anything other than a handful of trains a day of the many hundreds that operate where there are any issues.  I've still yet to see any FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with no seats in first class seats available when I've been watching arrivals and departures from Paddington over the last few months - not saying they don't exist, but it's pretty darn rare!

Morning,

I was planning on writing to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) with a question that I had but as I imagine that they will have their hands full replying to all the complaints from last week for the next decade I thought I'd try my luck here first.

The back-door to Maidenhead station gets locked at 11pm each night, at about the same time as the front gates get left open and the staff diappear for the night.

This means that a) if I have my car parked on Shoppenhangers Road I have to walk all the way around the station to get to it; or b) if I'm going home by cab I have to pay extra to travel around the one-way system as opposed to getting a cab from the Shoppenhangers entrance.

I was wondering whether anyone could explain why the back door gets locked to prevent entry/exit, when the front gates are left wide open.

Thanks

Thanks Jo

What is the current annual cost of the First class eastbound only from Maidenhead ? I couldn't see it listed on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website.

Avoiding the 7:08, do you tend to get a seat every day in first class currently ?

Thanks again for the reply

Mark

I think the point is that TfL^» (Transport for London - about) publicised their disruption before it actually started and is usually posted online some months before the posters go up. All most people want is to be forewarned - unexpected changes or disruption just agitate people. Maybe a leaflet distributed with each first class ticket sold or an information email with online sales, it's really not difficult informing people. They happily manage the 'before you travel' emails following online ticket purchase...