Things Getting Better?

[whole diary]

[Station Manager]

Without wishing to upset anyone, I'd just like to post the fact that during January I issued around 35% less taxi and bus replacement Dockets than for the month of December.
Should be taken into account that there are fewer passengers around in January than December (which is the busiest winter month).

Still far to many trains get cancelled, or short work, (turn back before end of booked working).

One suggestion I would make is that the Adelante units taken off hire should be made available by the Rosco's for short term spot hiring to cover for failed HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s or other units.

With a spare Adelante around, a bit of unit swapping and that cancelled train can be reinstated.

[willc]

Yes, there are some signs of better performance. The Charlbury commuter blog may not be entirely scientific, but there is definitely a trend to better performance, though with the odd glitch, often imported delays caused between London and Oxford.

For example, yesterday both the morning and evening peaks were almost as per timetable, though one mid-afternoon working hit trouble, but on Thursday evening, a failed Heathrow Express managed to screw up the early evening service on the Cotswold Line both ways - and no doubt did the same for much of the rest of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network.

Ian L has also flagged up on the Charlbury town forum that the latest four-weekly Passengers' Charter figures are now posted on the FGW website and the Thames Valley peak punctuality figure is up from a shocking 64 per cent for December to 78 per cent for January. See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=265

[vacman]

Yes, there are some signs of better performance. The Charlbury commuter blog may not be entirely scientific, but there is definitely a trend to better performance, though with the odd glitch, often imported delays caused between London and Oxford.

For example, yesterday both the morning and evening peaks were almost as per timetable, though one mid-afternoon working hit trouble, but on Thursday evening, a failed Heathrow Express managed to screw up the early evening service on the Cotswold Line both ways - and no doubt did the same for much of the rest of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network.

Ian L has also flagged up on the Charlbury town forum that the latest four-weekly Passengers' Charter figures are now posted on the FGW website and the Thames Valley peak punctuality figure is up from a shocking 64 per cent for December to 78 per cent for January. See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=265

Some people will be upset this month, no season ticket discount trigger for some!

[simonw]

Getting better - are you sure?

During January, dozens ( or even hundreds) of trains where cancelled due to flooding at Chipping Sodbury, landslides at Chipping Sodbury and other problems at Wotton Bassett, Severn Tunnel and Box Tunnel.

Many passengers chose to drive or cancel journeys because of this! This no doubt helped to reduce the number of dockets issued.

[Shazz]

Maybe so, but thats not FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s fault...

Overall i have noticed a better pefromance on the services i use with them!

[tom-langley]

For example, yesterday both the morning and evening peaks were almost as per timetable, though one mid-afternoon working hit trouble, but on Thursday evening, a failed Heathrow Express managed to screw up the early evening service on the Cotswold Line both ways - and no doubt did the same for much of the rest of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=265

I know this is a bit off topic.

But is it me or are the Hearthrow express trains not as reliable as you would expect for just over 10 year old trains. A member of my family works for said company and oftern seems to encounter fiailed trains. They say that the trains we never desingned to do short 15 min hops and this is why they are breaking down, I dont often hear about the turbos FGW use breaking brown or am I mistaken?

[Jim]

I think on the whole it's getting better, but with 200% compo available if your over 60late, those late trains will become busier, as they can posiabally be paid to travel!

[Btline]

For example, yesterday both the morning and evening peaks were almost as per timetable, though one mid-afternoon working hit trouble, but on Thursday evening, a failed Heathrow Express managed to screw up the early evening service on the Cotswold Line both ways - and no doubt did the same for much of the rest of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=265

I know this is a bit off topic.

But is it me or are the Hearthrow express trains not as reliable as you would expect for just over 10 year old trains. A member of my family works for said company and oftern seems to encounter fiailed trains. They say that the trains we never desingned to do short 15 min hops and this is why they are breaking down, I dont often hear about the turbos FGW use breaking brown or am I mistaken?

Ha! I would be surprised! No- those Thames Turbos are clapping/clapped out (see another post of mine somewhere for an eg!). They won't last much longer!

I think the gov/FGW will have to order some Desiros to replace the Thames Turbos within the next few years.

Preferably mainly electric ones!

[Lee]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) "London suburban" services are due to get new DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) vehicles as part of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) Rolling Stock Plan :

Extract from the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport)'s long awaited rolling stock plan published today.

9. First Great Western would introduce additional class 150 DMU vehicles for regional services around Bristol cascaded from London Midland, as well as new DMU vehicles for London suburban services. Furthermore, the possibility of lengthening some existing HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets to increase capacity on the Thames Valley route into Paddington is being investigated.

Total quoted is 52 coaches, but no indication of the split. This seems to confirm the cascade of Class 150s from London Midland that has been often quoted.

[12hoursunday]

Getting better - are you sure?

During January, dozens ( or even hundreds) of trains where cancelled due to flooding at Chipping Sodbury, landslides at Chipping Sodbury and other problems at Wotton Bassett, Severn Tunnel and Box Tunnel.

Many passengers chose to drive or cancel journeys because of this! This no doubt helped to reduce the number of dockets issued.

Sorry to dissapoint but this has nothing to do with FGW^▸ (First Great Western), Network Rail are in charge of Flooding and I have a feeling the Station Manager was on about the dockets issued on behalf of the train company.

[Btline]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) "London suburban" services are due to get new DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) vehicles as part of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) Rolling Stock Plan :

Extract from the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport)'s long awaited rolling stock plan published today.

9. First Great Western would introduce additional class 150 DMU vehicles for regional services around Bristol cascaded from London Midland, as well as new DMU vehicles for London suburban services. Furthermore, the possibility of lengthening some existing HST^▸ (High Speed Train) sets to increase capacity on the Thames Valley route into Paddington is being investigated.

Total quoted is 52 coaches, but no indication of the split. This seems to confirm the cascade of Class 150s from London Midland that has been often quoted.

That's a relief. As long as they're not Pacers!

[Lee]

Ian L has also flagged up on the Charlbury town forum that the latest four-weekly Passengers' Charter figures are now posted on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and the Thames Valley peak punctuality figure is up from a shocking 64 per cent for December to 78 per cent for January. See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=265

Here is a related Oxford Mail article (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2035831.0.trains_fail_on_punctuality.php

[Station Manager]

Getting better - are you sure?

During January, dozens ( or even hundreds) of trains where cancelled due to flooding at Chipping Sodbury, landslides at Chipping Sodbury and other problems at Wotton Bassett, Severn Tunnel and Box Tunnel.

Many passengers chose to drive or cancel journeys because of this! This no doubt helped to reduce the number of dockets issued.

Sorry flooding did cause problems to services, but that was mainly NR^» (Network Rail - home page) problem.

My post does refer to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) problems.

[devon_metro]

2 units due to transfer from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) this weekend, rumoured to be 150s - more to follow.

[Conner]

2 units due to transfer from ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) this weekend, rumoured to be 150s - more to follow.

Hopefully not pacers, hopefully 150's/ 158's.