May 2013 Timetables

[whole diary]

[Southern Stag]

The book is so much easier than trying to collect all the individual timetables you need as well. I've had problems a couple of times trying to get it at Reading, but have got it eventually in the past. I've never had any issues collecting one at Truro though, well apart from the timetable being too big to fit through the window so the staff have to come round and give you it.

[ChrisB]

THe last one (i.e. the one now current) was locked away, requiring a Supervisor in attendance, at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), RDG^‡(resolve) & SWI^» (Swindon - next trains). I had reason to purchase/collect at all 3 and the same palaver occured....

[phile]

Went to Bristol Parkway today to collect mine.   Have bought every one there since they started and have never had any problem.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... which does cause one to wonder: What particular point are some First Great Western staff trying to make, in throwing up such barriers to the legitimate purchase of a copy of the new timetable by a customer at some stations??

Do those First Great Western staff actually want to win themselves a 'jobsworth' award?? 

[ChrisB]

Suspect its staffing levels.

Where many staff are in a ticket office, there will be a supervisor. Somewhere like B/Parkway may only have one or two staff & therefore would be supervisory level to run office on their own? Whereas BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) always has several on duty, and thus only one supervisor at any time?

[phile]

There were 3 staff in sight at Bristol Parkway when I was there yesterday.

[Southern Stag]

Picked up the new timetable book today at Reading. I suspect I got quite lucky as the counter I went to was being manned by a trainee and trainer, and there was a supervisor right next to them, so they had no problems issuing it between them.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I drew the attention of some of my contacts at First Great Western to this particular topic by e-mail, and this is their response:

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for your email and for letting us know about the questions raised on the forum.

All of our new timetables have to be with stations four weeks prior to the Summer change over date, in this instance this coming Sunday.

The timetables have been delivered within that time frame and are available upon request from all of our staffed stations.

However as demonstrated by previous years' experience, to avoid unnecessary confusion to customers we ask our staff to display the new information only when it comes into effect.

As well as being available on request, and I do hope the forum members will ask at their station, customers may also view the new timetables on our website, through the 'Print your own timetable' function and they are also available on our mobile phone/tablet app.

I hope that helps,

James.

Fair enough - but it doesn't address the issue that there apparently needs to be a supervisor present before any copy can actually be handed over ... 

[Brucey]

I requested the South West Trains version at Waterloo yesterday.  All the windows had copies at hand and they are available free of charge (unless ordered over the phone, where a very modest postage charge is levied).

A far cry from my experience with FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[Ollie]

Good evening, placing my official hat on now.

The issues experienced purchasing an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) All Line Timetable at Bristol Temple Meads was due to where the timetables were being stored. As said earlier the place they were being stored required a supervisor to be present.

I am pleased to tell you that as of today the timetables are being stored in an alternative part of the office which means that a supervisor no longer needs to be present in order to sell this timetable.

Apologies for the inconvenience caused by the original process. I hope people now find it easier to purchase the timetable at Temple Meads.

Ollie

[bobm]

Thanks for that official update Ollie.

Hopefully that will help those still seeking their copy.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks from me, too, Ollie: as ever, you are a shining example of providing 'excellent customer service' at First Great Western. 

[charles_uk]

AFAIAA the only additional service terminating at Exeter is the normal Summer Fridays only 1436 London Paddington-Exeter and 1820 return. The HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to run this service is, as it was last year, being sourced by running the 1551 London Paddington-Worcester and 1849 return as 180 on Fridays in the high summer. Does anyone have any experience as to how busy it was last year when it was a 180? As a consequence of the additional 180 required for that service it appears that the 1221 London Paddington-Great Malvern will be a Turbo. This goes on to form the halts train so has to be a 2-car, so is the 1221 London-Great Malvern really going to be booked a 2-car throughout on Fridays in the Summer? Hopefully another set will be attached as far as Oxford or that could be a little cosy.

The 15:51 was very busy last summer when it was a Class 180.  So much so, that I remember one of our posters saying he preferred it being a Turbo - which it was on a couple of occasions!  I predict there will be people standing from London as far as Moreton-In-Marsh at least.  Pretty poor form, but it just goes to show how the utilisation of stock is at breaking point.

Today's 15:51 was the first time I have ever seen a service being described as "full & standing" on the information screens at Oxford station. I'd managed to avoid this service for the last two Fridays but it was more than just a little cosy today. I appreciate that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) do want to provide an additional service to the west country on Fridays but surely there has to be a better option than taking the HST from the busy Friday PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) service?