Haines Plays Down Chances Of Improved TransWilts Services

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Andrew Haines has met with local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) Dr Andrew Murrison and representatives of West Wiltshire Rail Users in Trowbridge to talk over all the problems associated with the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) franchise (link below.)
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.2047190.0.talks_held_over_rail_service.php

Complaints include overcrowding, cancellations and fare hikes.

Mr Haines explained that in his short time in office he had drastically altered his management team to meet the considerable challenges of the future.

He called on local rail users, action groups and politicians to work with FGW to lobby for a better deal for rail in the South West.

But hopes for improved services on the Swindon-Salisbury line, which takes in a number of stations in west Wiltshire including Melksham and Westbury, were played down.

Mr Haines said there were higher priorities facing FGW.

[grahame]

You can imagine how shocked I was to read this having had some quite detailed meetings, etc, of late that were MUCH more positive.   

Graham

"It's not as black-and-white as the Wiltshire Times suggests ...."

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western).   I'm relieved to hear it ...

[Btline]

To be fair, Haines is right.

They need to get back on track (esp as "Darling" is on the warpath!).

Then reverse the Dft/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Beeching Report 3!

[grahame]

Indeed, they do need to get back on track - but certainly Andrew Haines (who has now written himself) is in strong agreement that it is not as black and white as the Wiltshire Times article suggested - "Anyone who knows me will know that I would not have made such a comment as the one ascrbed to me."   First Great Western is a big company; they will have more than one problem / issue at a time, and 4000 or so employees, so they can fix things in parallel and not serially (one at a time).

[Shazz]

At least he's not promising something that won't materialise!