Hello from the far west

[whole diary]

[FarWestJohn]

I have been reading the site for a while and it is very interesting and informative. So hello to everyone.

I use FGW^▸ (First Great Western) regularly in Devon and Cornwall and especially the branch lines. I am afraid I have become appalled at the standard of service over the time since First regained the enlarged franchise. The regular staff especially the ex Wessex ones do a great job under pretty horrible conditions with the way some travellers treat them. The problems stem from the top and that is where they have to be solved not by hounding the day to day staff on the front line.

I would like to add my occasional experiences if OK when I find my way around.

I noticed a thread about 153 318 and is it still here. I had the misfortune of using it today. A scruffy red thing and even the passengers were complaining of its condition. It was on the 1244 from PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains) arrived at PZ late and formed the 1450 back to PLY 11'
down.

It must have been a bad day but no one told me why.

1. I caught the 0705 ex PLY at Truro when it was 50' down and late forming the 1000 PZ to Padd return.

2. The 0531 BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to PZ was 15' late.

3. The 0830 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) PZ - Dundee was cancelled.

4. But the 0857 FAL to Truro was busy and on time, only one all day.

I sometime wonder which is the main line. Again today the Falmouth branch was a very busy 150 and on the main line a scruffy half empty single 153. Perhaps when/if Falmouth branch gets a Penryn passing loop some of the extra[?] trains should go through to Plymouth?

Good to see the new turnout and track waiting to go in at Penweathers junction just west of Higher Town tunnel, Truro where the Falmouth branch turns off. NR^» (Network Rail - home page) has looked after the branch brilliantly recently.

[Conner]

Any 158's in Cornwall today? Just i'm tying to find out if one is going to turn up at the moment.

[FarWestJohn]

All I saw in the far west today was 150 Fal branch. 153s on Main line and St.Ives branch. Rest were HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and a Voyager. Sorry.

[Timmer]

I have been reading the site for a while and it is very interesting and informative. So hello to everyone.

Hello to you to FarWest and welcome to the coffee shop and my my what a busy week its been here. The new timetable along with SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) that came with it certainly hasn't disappointed in terms of the amount of posts that we've seen this past week, not just here but in the news media both in print and on TV here in the West. It can only mean bad news for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as it seems no matter what they do everything just seems to go wrong and to top it off its rejeuvenated MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) to cap of what has been a bad week for the company.

Sorry to hear that things aren't any better down in Cornwall. It seems that you have even less decent stock down there then we have up here.

You do seriously begin to wonder how much longer this can go on for before either DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about) or FGW pull the plug on this wretched franchise and start again. It's obvious First bid far too much for it so cannot invest whats really needed on the Western region and thats more rolling stock without making a huge loss.

[Conner]

All I saw in the far west today was 150 Fal branch. 153s on Main line and St.Ives branch. Rest were HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and a Voyager. Sorry.

Doesn't matter. 153's shouldn't work mainline as single units.

[vacman]

All I saw in the far west today was 150 Fal branch. 153s on Main line and St.Ives branch. Rest were HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and a Voyager. Sorry.

Doesn't matter. 153's shouldn't work mainline as single units.

No, but slightly better than a 142 and far better than a replacement bus!

[Graz]

Welcome FarWest, looking forward to hearing news about one of my favourite places in Britain (Cornwall!)

[vacman]

Good to see someone else from down that way!