Weekend Service Cuts Query To FGW Customer Services

[whole diary]

[Lee]

I recently asked the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Service Team the following question :

Why are some weekend services to Saltash & Severn Tunnel Junction being withdrawn from May 2007?

Here is the reply :

Thank you for your email of 9 May 2007. I can confirm that there have been service alterations to Saltash and Severn Tunnel Junction in May due to the advertised on-set of the summer timetable from 20 May until 8 December.

I hope that this information has been of help, however if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate in contacting me.

About as much help as a chocolate teapot , really.........

[grahame]

Standard tactic Number 1 - Say something that sounds positive without actually answering the question.

Standard tactic Number 2 - Send out a timetable in the post and invite the correspondent to read it (even though it says nothing we didn't know already

Standard tactic Number 3 - state the obvious and not the real answer.

Standard tactic Number 4 - Answer a different question.

Lee - I think you have a number 3 - they are being withdrawn because that's what the new timetable says ... obvious when you think about it 

[devon_metro]

What are they on about 

[Lee]

An answer of sorts from Saltash Rail Users Group :

A new timetable is in place from this Sunday. A summary of the main changes are shown below.

SUNDAY

NEW Eastbound/Plymouth service at 1023

MONDAY - FRIDAY

NEW Saltash to Plymouth/Exeter/Bristol/Paddington service at 0933 OFF PEAK
NEW Commuter train stopping Saltash at 1833 from Cornwall
NEW OFF PEAK service to Penzance calling Saltash at 1040

CHANGE to 0730 Penzance service which will now run earlier at 0718
CHANGE to 0806 Newquay service which will now run later at 0838

SATURDAY

Check tiemtable as a number of train times have changed.

NEW Saltash to Paddington service at 0916
NEW Paddington to Saltash service at 0905 from London arrives Saltash at 1235

LOST 1705 from Paddington now terminates Plymouth but has very good onward connection to Saltash arriving 0851

Other news - More details coming soon)

* PR^▸ (Public Relations) event being planned for Friday 25th to mark the return of these services. Please check to see if you could be available on Friday morning.

* New notice boards for SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) at Station

* Saltash Regatta - We need your help

* Price FREEZE on rail fares

[devon_metro]

LOST 1705 from Paddington now terminates Plymouth but has very good onward connection to Saltash arriving 0851

Only about 12 hours to wait at Plymouth station! I take it you mean 2051.

[richard bickford]

The current situation is still unknown. We are probably down a couple of Saturday trains but otherwise not too bad.

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) new timetable lists a train Eastbound on Saturdays at 1941 but his does NOT appear on the National Rail web site, but this does list an Eastbound train at 1827 which is not listed in their timetable. Calls to FGW have prooved as you can imagine inconclusive.

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum , Richard. Its good to have you on board.

We have been following the progress of Saltash Rail Users Group avidly (click on http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=216.msg486#msg486) Hope you didnt mind me keeping site users informed by posting your e-mail updates!

[richard bickford]

Lee

No, keep everyone informed. It has been hard work but we are getting somewhere.

Another outstanding issue is the removal of the 1557 ex Plymouth during the July and August. This service stops Devonport, Dockyard, Keyham, St Budeaux before Saltash, St Germans etc. This service is partially replaced by the extended 1305 Paddington service (which is great) but guess what, does not stop at Devonport, Dockyard ...... but goes straight to Saltash. This is a slight oversight by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as these are popular school and commuter stops and these passengers will have to wait an hour for the next service! We still await a reposnse from FGW as to what they propose.

Regards
Richard