Ambrose Challenges Chancellor To "Try Our Trains"

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Tony Ambrose has challenged the Chancellor to spend a week travelling on Bristol's commuter trains (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=19499198

[dog box]

A few questions folks what actual journey does Mr Ambrose take every day??...was under the impression that it was Oldfield Park to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) at peak times.
If it is does he actually expect it to be empty and get a seat for such a short journey?.......well people you all need to get about a bit and you can guarantee that every train going into a big city in peak times in this country when close to its destination is going to be loaded like the Bangalore Express!!!
 i know that the cardiff portsmouths need extra capacity but the commuter trains are the same everywhere

[Shazz]

Maybe FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should invite mr ambrose to run there servies for a week?

I'm sure he'd make do a lot worse than FGW currently are

[ruthg]

A few questions folks what actual journey does Mr Ambrose take every day??...was under the impression that it was Oldfield Park to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) at peak times.
If it is does he actually expect it to be empty and get a seat for such a short journey?.......well people you all need to get about a bit and you can guarantee that every train going into a big city in peak times in this country when close to its destination is going to be loaded like the Bangalore Express!!!
 i know that the cardiff portsmouths need extra capacity but the commuter trains are the same everywhere

If it's the 06:32 from Weymouth which I frequently get, then it's standing room only from Trowbridge and also sometimes from Westbury, giving passengers 40-50 minutes of standing in seriously cramped conditions. On more than one occasion last year people were unable to board at Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford because there was no room! 

[vacman]

Overcrowding is going to happen on any commuter train, try Edinburgh-Glasgow in the peaks!

[Lee]

Would now be a good time to point out that Chancellor Alistair Darling was a former Transport Secretary, and someone who did his level best to defend the originally proposed franchise cuts?

[vacman]

Would now be a good time to point out that Chancellor Alistair Darling was a former Transport Secretary, and someone who did his level best to defend the originally proposed franchise cuts?

Good point Lee!

[ruthg]

If it's the 06:32 from Weymouth which I frequently get, then it's standing room only from Trowbridge and also sometimes from Westbury, giving passengers 40-50 minutes of standing in seriously cramped conditions. On more than one occasion last year people were unable to board at Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford because there was no room! 

The passenger charter copied from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site -

"5.2 Getting a seat
Whilst the purchase of a ticket does not guarantee a seat, we plan services so that customers boarding trains should be able to obtain a seat in normal circumstances. You should not have to stand on our trains during off peak times, and during peak times you should not normally have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one station stop if this is longer)."

So even FGW think it's unreasonable to stand more than 20 mins, how ironic. 

[vacman]

If it's the 06:32 from Weymouth which I frequently get, then it's standing room only from Trowbridge and also sometimes from Westbury, giving passengers 40-50 minutes of standing in seriously cramped conditions. On more than one occasion last year people were unable to board at Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford because there was no room! 

The passenger charter copied from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site -

"5.2 Getting a seat
Whilst the purchase of a ticket does not guarantee a seat, we plan services so that customers boarding trains should be able to obtain a seat in normal circumstances. You should not have to stand on our trains during off peak times, and during peak times you should not normally have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one station stop if this is longer)."

So even FGW think it's unreasonable.

Good point, maybe you should take this up with them? Make a log of every time you have to stand for a couple of weeks and make a passengers charter claim!!

[smokey]

If it's the 06:32 from Weymouth which I frequently get, then it's standing room only from Trowbridge and also sometimes from Westbury, giving passengers 40-50 minutes of standing in seriously cramped conditions. On more than one occasion last year people were unable to board at Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Freshford because there was no room! 

The passenger charter copied from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site -

"5.2 Getting a seat
Whilst the purchase of a ticket does not guarantee a seat, we plan services so that customers boarding trains should be able to obtain a seat in normal circumstances. You should not have to stand on our trains during off peak times, and during peak times you should not normally have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one station stop if this is longer)."

So even FGW think it's unreasonable.

Well when bidding for a franchise, you aren't going to see the truth.

Can you imagine First saying "Peak Trains will be crowded, passengers will have to stand like cattle for up to an hour or two, but to cut demand WE WILL HIKE UP FARES".

No you have to look through the SMOKE Screen to get to the Truth.

[vacman]

Out of interest (maybe devon metro can help) how are the 142's performing in terms of booked four cars actually being booked four cars? is there any more overcrowding? they seem to be quite reliable as you don't see many line incidents on the devon metro services.

[devon_metro]

The diagrams that are 4 car to Paignton have been performing when I am out and about, and they do proviede more capacity although I think Barnstaple has been neglected as any 4 cars from Exmouth seem to be split at Exeter SD

Personally, off peak, 4 car is too much, 2 car isn't enough. We should have got our hands on the 3 car 144s!

[vacman]

The diagrams that are 4 car to Paignton have been performing when I am out and about, and they do proviede more capacity although I think Barnstaple has been neglected as any 4 cars from Exmouth seem to be split at Exeter SD

Personally, off peak, 4 car is too much, 2 car isn't enough. We should have got our hands on the 3 car 144s!

We "should" have "kept" our hands on the 158's! 142's are bearable but will be glad when we get our 150/1's to replace them!

[smokey]

Totally agree with Vacman we should have kept the 158 fleet.

[mada]

Totally agree with Vacman we should have kept the 158 fleet.

When the 150's arrive do you imagine First will refurbish them to match the current fleet?