Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[johoare]

Lots of cancellations at Maidenhead this morning for Paddington bound trains.. The 7.18 (This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS)), 7.27 (his service was cancelled throughout due to a problem at the depot (MU^▸ (Multiple Unit))), 7.44 (This service was cancelled between Maidenhead and Slough due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI)), 7.46 (This service was cancelled throughout due to a problem at the depot (MU), 8.11 (This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS))...

I have to say I don't understand the "This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS)".. Any one here have any idea?

[TaplowGreen]

I think they were referring to stories ran in the press on Monday about the heads of Firstgroup, Stagecoach etc and the salaries/bonuses/shares they receive on the eve of the fare increases.

Very easy way to address that......link their bonuses etc to customer satisfaction scores....you'd notice a vast improvement in services surprisingly quickly.

[lordgoata]

I have to say I don't understand the "This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS)".. Any one here have any idea?

As a complete guess, I think slower==later?, ie. they could have sent out the planned train eventually, but it would have clashed with another service that was running at the same time, so it was instead cancelled.

[stuving]

I have to say I don't understand the "This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS)".. Any one here have any idea?

As a complete guess, I think slower==later?, ie. they could have sent out the planned train eventually, but it would have clashed with another service that was running at the same time, so it was instead cancelled.

I imagine it's most sensible use would be for cutting out stops. The same code also covers short formations, which may also lead to removing stops due to platform delays and lack of space.

In this case it looks more like a side effect of inventing a plan for coping with this depot issue and then realising it wasn't (coping, that is).

[johoare]

I have to say I don't understand the "This service was cancelled throughout due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train (MS)".. Any one here have any idea?

As a complete guess, I think slower==later?, ie. they could have sent out the planned train eventually, but it would have clashed with another service that was running at the same time, so it was instead cancelled.

I imagine it's most sensible use would be for cutting out stops. The same code also covers short formations, which may also lead to removing stops due to platform delays and lack of space.

In this case it looks more like a side effect of inventing a plan for coping with this depot issue and then realising it wasn't (coping, that is).

With the added benefit/disadvantage of very crowded trains for those that did run 

[ChrisB]

At one point in the broadcast the presenter was highlighting the bonuses paid to the directors of the private rail companies and mentioned GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) albeit, I think, as First Great Western and his bonus of a multiple of millions.

I suspect you heard about FirstGroup bonuses.....Tim O'Toole & his fellow Directors.
Remember they run more buses than trains (incl in the USA) and more profit from them than their rail operation. So possibly earned. Ditto Stagecoach.

I just might have time myself this coming weekend to 'listen again'.

Daily programmes like 'Today' are only available for 24 hours, until replaced by the following days edition?

[stuving]

At one point in the broadcast the presenter was highlighting the bonuses paid to the directors of the private rail companies and mentioned GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) albeit, I think, as First Great Western and his bonus of a multiple of millions.

I suspect you heard about FirstGroup bonuses.....Tim O'Toole & his fellow Directors.
Remember they run more buses than trains (incl in the USA) and more profit from them than their rail operation. So possibly earned. Ditto Stagecoach.

I just might have time myself this coming weekend to 'listen again'.

Daily programmes like 'Today' are only available for 24 hours, until replaced by the following days edition?

As it happens, Tim O'Toole didn't take any bonus in 2017 - though that was due to the Croydon tram accident.

First group is mainly an American bus company, but GWR does make up most of its rail operations and about 18% of first Group. At group level its operating profit was £338M on revenues of £5653M, and after tax and the rest the bottom line figure was £116M - about 2%. If I was a shareholder, I would say he might just be worth his £0.85M basic pay, but no bonuses would be due.

I can't see anything from "First Greater Western plc" since the 2013-14 accounts on the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) website (though with no link to that I can find). The group accounts have a lot about "corporate governance", but all at group level. I can't see anything about how the group controls its operating companies, and how they are governed - and I think that should be there (or at least somewhere). But I expect GWR/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) profits were no better than the group's.

[IndustryInsider]

With the arrival of SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) on their books, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will now be a much smaller percentage of the rail side of the business, and FirstGroup overall.

[stuving]

With the arrival of SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) on their books, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will now be a much smaller percentage of the rail side of the business, and FirstGroup overall.

SWR will roughly double the size of their rail business, but that alone donsn't have so much effect on the group figures - so it would only reduce GWR to about 16% of the total.

Incidentally, while the 2016/17 accounts are easy enough to find, they come with a health warning for passengers (or at least commuters). The self-contragulatory tone of much of he text is likely to induce nausea, if not more extreme reactions. (And the "First" colours used don't help, of course)

[Timmer]

With the arrival of SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) on their books, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will now be a much smaller percentage of the rail side of the business, and FirstGroup overall.

I wonder if in time they come to regret winning the SW franchise. Not been a good start so far has it?

[IndustryInsider]

According to SHRUG it's been a wonderful start (compared with the Stagecoach era of course... 

[didcotdean]

Well I came back from Reading to Didcot this afternoon on an 8-carriage 387 which arrived 1 minute early and after Goring had the carriage to myself. Must do the lottery this weekend whilst my luck is in.

[IndustryInsider]

Looks like the 18:19 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains), the other evening train from London booked to be a 12-car is actually going to be formed as such tonight.  Reports of that and the 17:49 from anybody that are on them are would be good to hear.

[Birdie100]

One of the 'Ribena' gang (not sure the correct term for Paddington station staff) was stood on 17.49 to direct passengers to front 8 today. Stuck standing in carriage 7 of 12amd train arrived 5mins late into maidenhead

[TaplowGreen]

Looks like the 18:19 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains), the other evening train from London booked to be a 12-car is actually going to be formed as such tonight.  Reports of that and the 17:49 from anybody that are on them are would be good to hear.

1749 was 12 cars......1759 was 8 despite being advertised as shortformed to 4 which was a great relief to all.