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Lee
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« on: February 11, 2008, 14:57:39 » |
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The Cotswold Line Promotion Group says it is virtually impossible to promote local rail services now because they have become so unreliable (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/02/its_almost_impossible_to_promo.html#moreCLPG» chairman Derek Potter said: "We have made certain suggestions to try and improve reliability to First Great Western and as a promotion group have been reluctant to join the public criticism in the hope that measures taken would already have improved the service.
"However the appalling unreliability of the service over recent months, coupled with a lack of reliable information over delays and substitute servicing, is making our job promoting the service virtually impossible and, more importantly, is deterring passengers from using Cotswold Line services." Richard Rowland, regional manager for First Great Western, said: "We are very aware of the performance along this route and have arranged a meeting with the CLPG to discuss the issues.
"We have worked for many years collaboratively with the CLPG and other stakeholders to develop the timetable and the CLPG has had a great influence on the timetable we run today and also the increase in the use of high speed trains along the Cotswold Line.
"We look forward to continuing this relationship and establishing solutions to the performance issues." |
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IanL
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« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2008, 13:44:52 » |
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Btline
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2008, 13:50:20 » |
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I'm not very impressed with the CLPG» - look at their website!  They never replied regarding my petition, nor did they put it on the website!  Do they want the line to get better?  |
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Lee
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« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2008, 10:00:01 » |
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Hmmm....I will be interested to read willc's report on this. |
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Btline
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« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2008, 11:54:56 » |
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Pointless- Network Rail have AGAIN refused to confirm that they want to redouble the line! What good came from that meeting? Can't they see- that single track is the main problem- the root of all the other problems (ie- train terminate early because they were delayed because of the single track). Having more staff here and there, and a better relationship with LM▸ is not going to help anyone, if the 15.51 to Hereford (for eg) gets stuck on the single track section for 10 mins at Charlbury (for whatever reason), therefore delaying the whole FGW▸ schedule for hours! Not good enough. |
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IanL
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« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2008, 12:31:06 » |
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I deliberately posted the link without comment as I wanted to see what others thought. I am not impressed by CLPG» at this time, letting FGW▸ off with playing the blame game (ie blame network rail). What about all the trains cancelled in december due to staff availability (trying to run a railway relying on staff overtime shifts), train failures, short notice (or no notice) cancellations, non-working train information screens, short formed trains and overcrowding.
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Btline
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« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2008, 12:43:09 » |
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I deliberately posted the link without comment as I wanted to see what others thought. I am not impressed by CLPG» at this time, letting FGW▸ off with playing the blame game (ie blame network rail). What about all the trains cancelled in december due to staff availability (trying to run a railway relying on staff overtime shifts), train failures, short notice (or no notice) cancellations, non-working train information screens, short formed trains and overcrowding.
Quite right! The CLPG are absolutely useless. They still have not replied to my emails, nor have they put the petition link on the website. However, Network Rail are responsible for not getting double track down. If the Cotswold Line is to get better, full redoubling is the only answer. Forget, "infrastructure improvements at Oxford" REMEMBER CHILTERN RAILWAYS GOT THEIR LINE DOUBLED (the line that BR▸ mothballed and singled, disguising it as "improvements"). If Chiltern did it, why can FGW? |
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Lee
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« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2008, 12:47:22 » |
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Quite right! The CLPG» are absolutely useless. They still have not replied to my emails, nor have they put the petition link on the website. I think that if anyone from the CLPG is reading this, that may well be a hint.... While I am not going to comment on the usefulness (or otherwise) of the CLPG, I will say that they didnt reply to my e-mails either. |
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Andy W
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« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2008, 07:58:25 » |
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I'm not sure whether or not CLPG» are as active as they once were but credit must be given to them for improvements in the past.
Working with FGW▸ must be like pushing string uphill.
Btline makes a good point about Chiltern who, in my experience, are vastly better. I travel from Pershore to Paddington and it is both (a lot) cheaper and quicker to drive to Warwick Parkway and go on the Chiltern line. The trains are by and large punctual, they have similar seat space to the Adelante and the one class 'Clubman' works well giving extra seating by not having first class.
In the recent thread about doubling one observation was that on the single lines the track alignment had been altered so doubling by installing a parallel track is not possible and the existing single track would need to be realigned as well.
In the very recent past most of the track has been replaced - why wasn't it realigned at that time to make doubling at a later date easier and a cheaper?
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Btline
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« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2008, 19:16:40 » |
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I'm not sure whether or not CLPG» are as active as they once were but credit must be given to them for improvements in the past.
Working with FGW▸ must be like pushing string uphill.
True, but they must not slow down now! Much more is needed! Btline makes a good point about Chiltern who, in my experience, are vastly better. I travel from Pershore to Paddington and it is both (a lot) cheaper and quicker to drive to Warwick Parkway and go on the Chiltern line. The trains are by and large punctual, they have similar seat space to the Adelante and the one class 'Clubman' works well giving extra seating by not having first class.
Completely agree! In the recent thread about doubling one observation was that on the single lines the track alignment had been altered so doubling by installing a parallel track is not possible and the existing single track would need to be realigned as well.
In the very recent past most of the track has been replaced - why wasn't it realigned at that time to make doubling at a later date easier and a cheaper?
Typical short sightenedness. I would not be surprised if they had removed some of the "double" structures and replaced them with "single track" structures (e.g. bridges etc.) |
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Lee
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« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2008, 15:47:29 » |
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The Cotswold Line Promotion Group AGM▸ will be held in the Moreton-In-Marsh Area on 10 May 2008.
If anyone could post the exact venue then I would be most grateful.....
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Lee
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« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2008, 14:57:07 » |
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My thanks to willc for the following :
The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Womens Institute Hall, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire on Saturday 10th May 2008 at 1045.
The WI Hall is in New Road, which is one of the two approach roads to the station, so just a minute's walk from the trains.
The time fits in nicely with the trains due from Malvern at 10.16 and from Oxford at 10.25.
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willc
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« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2008, 23:54:33 » |
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The agenda enclosed with the new Cotswold and Malvern Line News says the guest speaker will be the transport journalist Christian Wolmar.
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