Ambrose Challenges Chancellor To "Try Our Trains"

[whole diary]

[Shazz]

I believe they are booked to be refurbished.

(the ones we have now anyway)

When the next 10 or so arrive, i'd assume it'd just be coming towards the end of the refurbing process, so they could probably just go straight in and get done before delivery

[tramway]

I would say a good challenge, it^s not just the overcrowding, which is bad enough given the stock cuts from the Wessex fleet, but actually finding one running to actually travel on can be entertaining.

And on the subject of standing, the 06.04 off Trowbridge was cancelled this morning with the prospect of standing for 40 minutes waiting for the next service. Fortunately a replacement taxi took us to Bath to find the Swansea service was delayed and we waited a further 20 minutes for the Gloucester train which had come through Trowbridge. 

Anyway a 2 hr journey to Filton today.

And it^s not just a peak commuting periods that there are problems, try getting on at Trowbridge at the weekend heading to Bath, one cancellation and it^s mayhem, peak weekday mornings are a doddle.

And why should it take complaints from passengers for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to give an adequate service, scrutiny and punishment when necessary from the regulator should be the mechanism.

It would also seem complete stupidity in a growing market to then start limiting availability of the one commodity you are trying to sell. If you are Cartier it may make business sense, but not to travel on hand me down 150/1^s.

[Jim]

I prefer the 150/1's to the 150/2's!

That 06.04 isn't normally canned however!

[vacman]

I would say a good challenge, it^s not just the overcrowding, which is bad enough given the stock cuts from the Wessex fleet, but actually finding one running to actually travel on can be entertaining.

And on the subject of standing, the 06.04 off Trowbridge was cancelled this morning with the prospect of standing for 40 minutes waiting for the next service. Fortunately a replacement taxi took us to Bath to find the Swansea service was delayed and we waited a further 20 minutes for the Gloucester train which had come through Trowbridge. 

Anyway a 2 hr journey to Filton today.

And it^s not just a peak commuting periods that there are problems, try getting on at Trowbridge at the weekend heading to Bath, one cancellation and it^s mayhem, peak weekday mornings are a doddle.

And why should it take complaints from passengers for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to give an adequate service, scrutiny and punishment when necessary from the regulator should be the mechanism.

It would also seem complete stupidity in a growing market to then start limiting availability of the one commodity you are trying to sell. If you are Cartier it may make business sense, but not to travel on hand me down 150/1^s.

OK, we'll have the hand me down 150/1's in Devon as their so bad, and you can have the hand me down 142's!! All of a sudden 150/1's look like concorde!

[Conner]

I would say a good challenge, it^s not just the overcrowding, which is bad enough given the stock cuts from the Wessex fleet, but actually finding one running to actually travel on can be entertaining.

And on the subject of standing, the 06.04 off Trowbridge was cancelled this morning with the prospect of standing for 40 minutes waiting for the next service. Fortunately a replacement taxi took us to Bath to find the Swansea service was delayed and we waited a further 20 minutes for the Gloucester train which had come through Trowbridge. 

Anyway a 2 hr journey to Filton today.

And it^s not just a peak commuting periods that there are problems, try getting on at Trowbridge at the weekend heading to Bath, one cancellation and it^s mayhem, peak weekday mornings are a doddle.

And why should it take complaints from passengers for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to give an adequate service, scrutiny and punishment when necessary from the regulator should be the mechanism.

It would also seem complete stupidity in a growing market to then start limiting availability of the one commodity you are trying to sell. If you are Cartier it may make business sense, but not to travel on hand me down 150/1^s.

OK, we'll have the hand me down 150/1's in Devon as their so bad, and you can have the hand me down 142's!! All of a sudden 150/1's look like concorde!

[lighthearted]No, we're having 150/1's on Cornish branchlines you can have the 153's instead upcountry then if you can breathe when you get off be gratefull.[/lighthearted]

[devon_metro]

Why?

Busier services need bigger trains surely?

[vacman]

Why?

Busier services need bigger trains surely?

So St Ives and Falmouth aren't busy?

[devon_metro]

Is St Ives full and standing during winter?

[12hoursunday]

And I challenge Mr Ambrose to try Clapham Junction to Waterloo in the morning rush and visa-versa in the evening.



On another note whats happened with his other main project, the stopping of the aircraft going to Bristol International Airport using the airspace over Bath. Is that on hold for a while?

[Timmer]

On another note whats happened with his other main project, the stopping of the aircraft going to Bristol International Airport using the airspace over Bath. Is that on hold for a while?

I can give you an update on that as I live in Bath under the flight path of planes heading to Bristol Intl Aiport and that is that planes are now banned from flying over Bath unless they have a good reason for doing so. They now fly to the north of the city before turning to make the final approach to the airport. Having said all that as I was posting this a plane bound for Bristol just flew over  but the weather conditions are pretty rank at the moment with a lot of low cloud and drizzle so probably better to fly over clear space then over the heights of Lansdown which are covered in low cloud.

Whether this came about as a result of Mr Ambrose's campaign I dont know. Personally planes flying over Bath never bothered me, even at night, and as I say I live on the flight path. I can think of other noises that really do bother me and thats dogs barking constantly. Yes dogs bark fact of life but when it goes on and on its no joke and I know Im not alone in thinking this as its listed as one of the most annoying noises in today's society. And before I get any posts from dog owners, I have nothing against dogs or their owners as the vast majority are great pets. Its always just the very few who spoil it for others.

Apologies for going somewhat off topic here.

[smokey]

If the Right Honourable Alistair Darling (Chancellor) EVER DOES travel on a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) service it would be more smoke screens.

The Right Honourable John "I'LL PUNCH YOUR LIGHTS OUT" Prescott (Deputy Prime Minister) took a ride in Cornwall on a busy Wessex Trains, Normally a Full and Standing two car 150 service, yet on the day of JP's trip it was a Four Car 158 fresh off depot and spotless.

Never before and never again was THAT train a 158 let alone 4 car.

[Conner]

Is St Ives full and standing during winter?

I was one one today and it got very close upon leaving St Ives.