Petition to get FGW removed from the Franchise

[whole diary]

[pawlmi]

Go here to sign a petition on the Government website to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) removed from the franchise as they are clearly incompetent :

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FirstGW/
 

[Shazz]

As i've said many times before, it's not going to happen.

[devon_metro]

Not another...

[swlines]

I don't think it will be impossible for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to not lose the franchise.

For instance, they have already received a yellow card for performance in the first year and a half of the franchise. As a result, I suspect that if performance dies off again it is highly possible, and with pressure from user groups and Passenger Focus it would most likely be possible.

For what its worth, the next franchise up will be Southern (South Central) - and I hear one of the terms of that franchise is to look at integrating journies better with Great Western around Southampton in order to allow GW^▸ (Great Western) to pull out of Brighton. (the Brighton services will be withdrawn and most likely the units released will be used across the region to bolster existing services).

[Lee]

For what its worth, the next franchise up will be Southern (South Central) - and I hear one of the terms of that franchise is to look at integrating journies better with Great Western around Southampton.

This process is already beginning with the recent introduction of the Southampton-Brighton service.

[swlines]

That service was introduced due to the South Western franchise, what I'm talking about is an entirely different kettle of fish.

My sources tell me that the December 2009 timetable will include an additional Southampton Central - Brighton service every 3 hours, calling at Southampton Airport, Eastleigh, Fareham, Cosham, Havant, Chichester, Barnham, Worthing, Hove and Brighton ....

The perfect thing about this little scheme will be that it will allow travelling between Southampton Airport and Gatwick Airport with only one change without having to lug bags on bridges or in lifts, something BAA are pushing for.

[Lee]

That service was introduced due to the South Western franchise, what I'm talking about is an entirely different kettle of fish.

Agreed. What interests me is working out what type of services would best connect into FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services at Southampton.

I note with interest the bit at the end of your original post.....

[dog box]

Go here to sign a petition on the Government website to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) removed from the franchise as they are clearly incompetent :

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FirstGW/
 

yawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....usual rubbish, would you remove someone who is paying you billions^ and replace them with someone else whos only going to run it for a subsidy

[vacman]

Go here to sign a petition on the Government website to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) removed from the franchise as they are clearly incompetent :

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FirstGW/
 

And it's all going to magicly get better overnight, the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) (government-state) are the main baddies in all this anyway, so you want them to take over the entire franchise? It would probably be in a bigger mess than it is now!

[12hoursunday]

Go here to sign a petition on the Government website to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) removed from the franchise as they are clearly incompetent :

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FirstGW/
 

YAWN!!!

I don't think it will be impossible for FGW to not lose the franchise.

For instance, they have already received a yellow card for performance in the first year and a half of the franchise. As a result, I suspect that if performance dies off again it is highly possible, and with pressure from user groups and Passenger Focus it would most likely be possible.

For what its worth, the next franchise up will be Southern (South Central) - and I hear one of the terms of that franchise is to look at integrating journies better with Great Western around Southampton in order to allow GW^▸ (Great Western) to pull out of Brighton. (the Brighton services will be withdrawn and most likely the units released will be used across the region to bolster existing services).

Where ever do you hear all this claptrap?

Remember that First have only to provide the base service stipulated in the franchise contract. The advertised timetable is over well and above that so I am sorry to dissapoint you but they'll be here for a few more years yet. Still you can always dream on eh!

[Lee]

Go here to sign a petition on the Government website to get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) removed from the franchise as they are clearly incompetent :

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FirstGW/
 

yawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....usual rubbish, would you remove someone who is paying you billions^ and replace them with someone else whos only going to run it for a subsidy

That wouldnt necessarily be the case. National Express took over the East Coast, having pledged to pay a higher overall premium than GNER^▸ (Great North Eastern Railways) originally did.

And it's all going to magicly get better overnight, the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) (government-state) are the main baddies in all this anyway, so you want them to take over the entire franchise? It would probably be in a bigger mess than it is now!

That's the billion dollar (or pound) question, isnt it? The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s past record doesnt bode well.

[Lee]

I don't think it will be impossible for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to not lose the franchise.

For instance, they have already received a yellow card for performance in the first year and a half of the franchise. As a result, I suspect that if performance dies off again it is highly possible, and with pressure from user groups and Passenger Focus it would most likely be possible.

For what its worth, the next franchise up will be Southern (South Central) - and I hear one of the terms of that franchise is to look at integrating journies better with Great Western around Southampton in order to allow GW^▸ (Great Western) to pull out of Brighton. (the Brighton services will be withdrawn and most likely the units released will be used across the region to bolster existing services).

Where ever do you hear all this claptrap?

According to the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) link below, on Friday 5 January 2007 FirstGroup chief executive, Moir Lockhead and (the then) FGW Managing Director, Alison Foster received a 'yellow card' warning from Department for Transport officials that unless services improved FirstGroup would lose the Greater Western franchise.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/01/end_train_overcrowding_scandal.html

Do you know for sure that Tom's claims regarding the Southern Franchise are false, 12hoursunday?

[John R]

"Remember that First have only to provide the base service stipulated in the franchise contract."

But they're not. Just look at their passenger charter figures.

[vacman]

"Remember that First have only to provide the base service stipulated in the franchise contract."

But they're not. Just look at their passenger charter figures.

As 12hoursunday pointed out, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are running quite a few more trains than they are contracted to.

[John R]

First have today published their passenger charter figures for the last 4 week period. As anyone who uses this forum will expect they've taken a marked turn for the worse. As an example, Bristol area cancellations, last 12 months average 2.9%, last 4 weeks 6.8%, target, 0.5%. In other words, cancellations ran at 1360% of the franchise target.

First might be scheduling more services than they are contracted to, but that's not much use to its passengers, sorry customers, if they don't actually run.

The other services are equally awful, with punctuality on the Thames Valley falling to 64%.