Oh First Great Western, what shall we do?

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

I've no axe to grind here, I'm not FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff, but I agree it's not fair to blame the customer facing staff - whether drivers, conductors, despatchers or revenue protection. It's not their fault personally, and most of them are doing their best to deal with problems not of their making. Accepted, there are a few who are less helpful, but they've probably become just as demoralised as us passengers over the way FGW management seem to lurch from crisis to crisis. I've been interested to note from various threads here that FGW staff often agree with passengers about the problems and their causes. It's more fundamental than just blaming it all on 'lazy staff'.

[dog box]

I do take exception to being called Lazy and a Slacker........and i really do think its about time people  researched The FACTs FIRST before dripping on and on

[grahame]

I have found - virtually without exception - that the operational staff do a magnificent job; I've nothing but admiration for the vast majority of them.  It is indeed utterly unfair to brand them as "lazy"; there are - as in any organisation - a handful who will earn the rest a bad name but that's a handful amongst - what - thousands.

There are excellent staff too at higher levels within First, and withing the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), Network Rail, Local Transport Autorities and the rest.  Even the regular traveller does not meet these people - perhaps he/she isn't even aware of their existence or their job roles, but I have been privelidged to meet a number of them over the last two years in conjunction with my requests for an appropriate service for the TransWilts line.

So where does fault lie?  Indeed - is their fault?  Well - I would look at the system as this thread was doing earlier - and I could point a few fingers.   But I'm not going to do so in the run up to Christmas.   I'm going to look forward to working in the New Year with friends and like-minded people in all the organisations involved.   There are good people - excellent people out there who in spite of the system are genuinely working to make things better.

[John R]

For the record, I first talked about the cancellations due to staff shortages, which led to the comment agreeing with me and then talking about staff attitude. I certainly didn't mean my comment to imply that these shortages were the fault of staff or that they are in any way lazy. The majority of staff are probably much more cheerful and courteous than I would be working for an organisation that appears to have no idea how to run a railway and with customers who take it out on me.  No, I see it as a management problem fair and square (except on days when England were playing in the Rugby World Cup when there did appear to be a sudden increase in the number of cancellations due to unavailability of staff. But even then staff were probably taking long overdue days that they were entitled to.)

SO Merry Xmas to all FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff on the front line, and I hope you too have something to cheer about in 2008, as do all us long suffering passengers.



   

[vacman]

[/quote]

 Their staff are appalling, and a lot must be slackers, not turning up to do their job (hence= "cancelled due to a member of train crew being unavailable"). Gosh, in the days of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) I bet this didn't happen. And it is First's fault that they do not have extra staff to cope with this.

[/quote]So we're appaling, lazy slackers? YOUR WORDS! Why would anyone want to work any overtime? Would YOU want to spend more time working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) than you had to in the current climate? which is ultimately down to the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport)'s incompetence, maybe you should write to FGW and ask to do a days work experience with a Train Manager or a Revenue inspector and then pass comment when you actually know what your talking about, maybe try putting up with a few people of YOUR menatality only then will you see what we have to put up with, our staff do a great job in the circumstances. 

[Jim]

And yes, I agree with John R. Of course it is down to First that they operate such an abysmal service. Their staff are appalling, and a lot must be slackers, not turning up to do their job (hence= "cancelled due to a member of train crew being unavailable").

I am not a member of staff - but I ain't going to take that comment lying down.

Do you think
a) They actually want to turn up if they face a bloody attitude like yours
b) That FGW^▸ (First Great Western) might not actually be diagraming crew for trains
c) Staff might actually be ill - belive it or not - humans break down!


I don't care how many you think are slackers - it is not on.

The frontline staff and frontline management do a fantastic job for the money they earn. Perhaps you should just either
a) Go out with a member of staff before and do their job - then say that or
b) Keep your mouth shut unless you have the full facts.

It is true, 1 or 2 staff do skive - but not as many as it seems you make out to. There would be an outrage if staff called passengers slackers when they didn't
a) Buy a ticket from the ticket office
b) Carry their own bags
c) Check times themselves
d) Shut Doors behind them - etc.

I think though if anything  - thing before they speak!

[Shazz]

Ok, I didn't realise.

However, the gov. could strip First Group of the Greater Western franchise, and then take it over.

They havnt done anything wrong according to the legally binding contract they have with the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about). So no they can't.  (If they tryed i'd put a bet on first taking legal action over it) As first are delivering the services they are contracted to do. As at the end of the day, the DfT tell first what trains to run, how many, and how often. The blame can be laid 75% at the part of the DfT, the rest can be given to first.

The earliest possible time anything will be changing is 2016, when the franchise gets refranchised.

As a result, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) arn't going anywhere, for at least the next 8-9 years.

[grahame]

I'm delighted to see that all (bar one!) posters on this thread have a huge admiration and regard for the operational staff.  Me too.  I thought about voting on it but - no - I know what the outcome would be and we should move on.

Shazz suggested 75% DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and 25% FGW^▸ (First Great Western) "responsible" for the current situation.  Maybe ... although they act the way that they do because of the way the system is set up.   It's never an easy path to attempt to move forward by changing a system, and I advocate working within the system - pushing at open doors rather than closed ones, and certainly not trying to knock fresh doors through brick walls.  That way you end up covered in dirt and with little result unless you have a great deal of strength and preseverance.

I look forward to working with various parties next year towards the aim I have oft stated - of an appropriate train service on the TransWilts line, and wider afield too.

[Shazz]

I'm delighted to see that all (bar one!) posters on this thread have a huge admiration and regard for the operational staff.  Me too.  I thought about voting on it but - no - I know what the outcome would be and we should move on.

For the abuse they have to put up with, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train staff do a top job!

[Mookiemoo]

Why would anyone want to work any overtime?
[/quote]

Extra money?

Possibly even at an enhanced rate?

My dad worked for BT for 30 years - worked every single saturday morning - earned more that morning than for a full average day.

His mon-fri paid the mortgage, his saturday paid for the holidays and fun stuff.

[Shazz]

Why would anyone want to work any overtime?


Extra money?

Possibly even at an enhanced rate?

My dad worked for BT for 30 years - worked every single saturday morning - earned more that morning than for a full average day.

His mon-fri paid the mortgage, his saturday paid for the holidays and fun stuff.

This could be down to the fact that most companies overtime pay is the same as full time pay these days?

[oooooo]

Well yes, you do get extra money for overtime, and you do get an enhanced rate for rest days and Sundays. BUT, sometimes this is not enough, especially this time of year when you have better things to be doing, or if you've just had a few bad days on the trot, why would you want to do extra?? Staff morale is pretty low and people are kinda fed up with helping FGW^▸ (First Great Western) out the sh1t that they have got themselves in....

[gaf71]

Well yes, you do get extra money for overtime, and you do get an enhanced rate for rest days and Sundays. BUT, sometimes this is not enough, especially this time of year when you have better things to be doing, or if you've just had a few bad days on the trot, why would you want to do extra?? Staff morale is pretty low and people are kinda fed up with helping FGW^▸ (First Great Western) out the sh1t that they have got themselves in....

Exactly right. I posted in another thread, that i could have worked 6 days overtime running up to xmas day, but there was no way this was going to happen after the farcical previous 2 weeks at work, facing loads of abuse etc. It doesn't matter how much money you earn for overtime, sometimes the time off is a much better option.

[Superwang]

As a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hst driver, I have to work long driving hours, overtime and come in on my days off. also, I am shielded from the passengers until I leave my cab.

Yes I am then asked many questions usually from passengers in a state of dispair or stress and worry about their journeys

All the information I know is bits and pieces of information I have learned from my personal experience. If I pass on any info in good faith it is usually incorrect as FGW change things daily......even I am confused!!!

I constantly feel shocked and embarressed in the way our customers are treated for the fares they pay, and I do my utmost to assist them the best way I can within my power.........but it is never enough.

Moral is the MAIN thing to get off the floor, we are a battered, bewildered workforce, wandering aimlessly in a sea of baron desert with only an endless horizon of no hope to view

I strive to give a good service every day in my job, but my efforts are usually sabotaged by management practices or network rail probs.

I loved to come to work...........now I just come to work 

So do spare a thought for the drivers, we may not be in the front line of customer service with all the info, but we do care and usually try to help you where we can...........usually ending up with getting abuse from passengers!

[12hoursunday]

As a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hst driver, I have to work long driving hours, overtime and come in on my days off. also, I am shielded from the passengers until I leave my cab.

Yes I am then asked many questions usually from passengers in a state of dispair or stress and worry about their journeys

All the information I know is bits and pieces of information I have learned from my personal experience. If I pass on any info in good faith it is usually incorrect as FGW change things daily......even I am confused!!!

I constantly feel shocked and embarressed in the way our customers are treated for the fares they pay, and I do my utmost to assist them the best way I can within my power.........but it is never enough.

Moral is the MAIN thing to get off the floor, we are a battered, bewildered workforce, wandering aimlessly in a sea of baron desert with only an endless horizon of no hope to view

I strive to give a good service every day in my job, but my efforts are usually sabotaged by management practices or network rail probs.

I loved to come to work...........now I just come to work 

So do spare a thought for the drivers, we may not be in the front line of customer service with all the info, but we do care and usually try to help you where we can...........usually ending up with getting abuse from passengers!

Can I just say welcome to the vicar. Superwang is known to me as vicar because the only time I seem to see him is on a Sunday as he works out of Swansea and me Bristol.

Have to agree on many of the points he has stated though 98% of staff ain't, if anything slackers, thirteen days out of fourteen worked ( can't work anymore as the rules drawn up by Lord Hidden after the Clapham Junction accident won't allow it ) and many of them 12 hour shifts because of the voluntering to that little bit extra to keep the service going. Coming off the booked shift for much the same reason as I've just quoted, just two of the things that I wouldn't do if I were a slacker. Some may say well you do get paid for it " and that is true but most of the guys & gals doing this job still have a little pride in the job they do although moral is now coming to it lowest ebb do it to put the customer first.

I said earlier that it won't change overnight, nor next week or the week after that and probally not next year either with a change of franchise ownership and those of you on here thinking it will are living in cloud cuckoo land.

I believe that after talking with a few of the Waterloo based SWT^▸ (South West Trains) drivers (a couple of them ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) militants as well) we have a bloke in charge who was highly thought of at SWT and might even turn this shambles around given the chance, lets ( all of us) hope so! Oh and please remember that He's only been in the job 3 months