Not able to get on the train

[whole diary]

[Jez]

The fact that you could not use your reserved seat is ridiculous! Personally I would have demanded to sit down in it as I have some paper telling me its mine!

Reserving seats on Cardiff-Portsmouth trains at the moment is a pointless exercise. If there is a seat you sit in it so you can allow others to actually get on the train. You probably have little chance of getting anywhere near your reserved seat anyway as no one can move its so rammed full.

The other week I was on the Portsmouth-Cardiff service, I got on at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) and off when it terminated at Cardiff. Someone asked this bloke to move from where he was sitting as it was reserved and he did. It seems not all trains on this service dont have the reserved signs put out.

[vacman]

We'll raise your journey with Andrew Haines, CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of first when we see him in a couple of weeks . Weekend trains are often far more overcrowded than weekday trains, and your experience occurs with regularity on Saturdays and Sundays. This is simply becasue FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is saving money. They have the extra rolling stock parked up to make longer trains in the week, but choose not to use it.
Tony, More Trains Less Strain

Where are these extra unit's then? you seem to alk a lot of rubbish but never provide any evidence to back it up?

[Shazz]

We'll raise your journey with Andrew Haines, CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of first when we see him in a couple of weeks . Weekend trains are often far more overcrowded than weekday trains, and your experience occurs with regularity on Saturdays and Sundays. This is simply becasue FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is saving money. They have the extra rolling stock parked up to make longer trains in the week, but choose not to use it.
Tony, More Trains Less Strain

Where are these extra unit's then? you seem to alk a lot of rubbish but never provide any evidence to back it up?

He's in MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain).

of course he does, its all about the propaganda to spread lies in the papers to make FGW sound bad

[vacman]

I expect they'll find something negative to say about the latest improvements, or they'll try and claim the glory for it.

[Shazz]

I expect they'll find something negative to say about the latest improvements, or they'll try and claim the glory for it.

And they'll get shot down by the government/ fgw about them having nothing to do with it? (as usual)

[Graz]

No matter what your views on MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are, you must agree that the service experienced by Bruce on the Sunday was clearly unacceptable (not 'propaganda' in the slightest) and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do -something- to reduce overcrowding on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route on that day.

Also, MTLS wouldn't criticise something they themselves have campaigned for...I'm sure if it wasn't for their help these improvements wouldn't have happened.

[Shazz]

No matter what your views on MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are, you must agree that the service experienced by Bruce on the Sunday was clearly unacceptable (not 'propaganda' in the slightest) and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do -something- to reduce overcrowding on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route on that day.

Also, MTLS wouldn't criticise something they themselves have campaigned for...I'm sure if it wasn't for their help these improvements wouldn't have happened.

I wasnt referring to the service, of course thats unacceptable.

I'm referring to the post tonya made on this page, about how first have loads of imaginary trains sat in sidings 7 days a week

[Graz]

I undestand that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) wouldn't have the extra capacity weekdays and saturday, but just out of interest, FGW run less services on Sundays (as do all tocs) ...surely there are some spare carriages around? 

[devon_metro]

The fact that you could not use your reserved seat is ridiculous! Personally I would have demanded to sit down in it as I have some paper telling me its mine!

Reserving seats on Cardiff-Portsmouth trains at the moment is a pointless exercise. If there is a seat you sit in it so you can allow others to actually get on the train. You probably have little chance of getting anywhere near your reserved seat anyway as no one can move its so rammed full.

The other week I was on the Portsmouth-Cardiff service, I got on at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) and off when it terminated at Cardiff. Someone asked this bloke to move from where he was sitting as it was reserved and he did. It seems not all trains on this service dont have the reserved signs put out.

Always up when I use them and I've only stood once - in wessex days with a 2 car  

[Lee]

The fact that you could not use your reserved seat is ridiculous! Personally I would have demanded to sit down in it as I have some paper telling me its mine!

Reserving seats on Cardiff-Portsmouth trains at the moment is a pointless exercise. If there is a seat you sit in it so you can allow others to actually get on the train. You probably have little chance of getting anywhere near your reserved seat anyway as no one can move its so rammed full.

The other week I was on the Portsmouth-Cardiff service, I got on at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) and off when it terminated at Cardiff. Someone asked this bloke to move from where he was sitting as it was reserved and he did. It seems not all trains on this service dont have the reserved signs put out.

Always up when I use them and I've only stood once - in wessex days with a 2 car  

Then all I can say is that you have been really, really lucky....

[vacman]

No matter what your views on MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are, you must agree that the service experienced by Bruce on the Sunday was clearly unacceptable (not 'propaganda' in the slightest) and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do -something- to reduce overcrowding on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route on that day.

Also, MTLS wouldn't criticise something they themselves have campaigned for...I'm sure if it wasn't for their help these improvements wouldn't have happened.

Wasn't disagreeing with the bad (well, appaling!) service on sunday, just pi**es me off when MTLS try and jump on the bandwagon, as for Cardifff Pompey services, well they are to be improved, don't know if you've heard!!

[smokey]

No matter what your views on MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are, you must agree that the service experienced by Bruce on the Sunday was clearly unacceptable (not 'propaganda' in the slightest) and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) need to do -something- to reduce overcrowding on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route on that day.

Also, MTLS wouldn't criticise something they themselves have campaigned for...I'm sure if it wasn't for their help these improvements wouldn't have happened.

Wasn't disagreeing with the bad (well, appaling!) service on sunday, just pi**es me off when MTLS try and jump on the bandwagon, as for Cardifff Pompey services, well they are to be improved, don't know if you've heard!!

What is happening to Cardiff-Portsmouth services are they bigging increased from 2 to 4 car trains hopefully so, or are we to see a return of 3car 158 units, which where lost when FGW took over.
Whilst 4 car (2x2) sets are an improvement, I don't see how restoring 3 car units is an Improvement, thats only restoring what was taken away.

[Caroline M]

Hello,
I'm looking for people with nightmare train journeys. I'm a researcher with a production company based in London. If you've had any train horror stories please get in touch with me. My email address is marsdencaroline@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing your tales... Caroline.

[dog box]

Hello,
I'm looking for people with nightmare train journeys. I'm a researcher with a production company based in London. If you've had any train horror stories please get in touch with me. My email address is marsdencaroline@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing your tales... Caroline.

NO .........and i would not tell you even if i had

[grahame]

Hello,
I'm looking for people with nightmare train journeys. I'm a researcher with a production company based in London. If you've had any train horror stories please get in touch with me. My email address is marsdencaroline@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing your tales... Caroline.

Caroline, I get the press calling me from time to time looking for horror stories with which to bash train companies over the head and that leaves me in something of a quandry - on one hand I dearly want to get publicity to help highlight issues that need to be resolved, but on the other hand I want - I REALLY want - to work with the train companies and others to help sort things out amicably.

As well as the strong reaction from "Dogbox", your post has been notified to me as the board administrator by others who are also concerned at your post as they feel that it's inappropriate.   As adminstrator, I also have the unique ability to see where you're posting from and it's way "out of area" - so I might suggest that you would do better making a more discreet approach to people, and to do so more locally to where you live - a horror journey down here is not going to be as revelant to you as one on your own doorstep, 200 miles to the North, would be.

By the way - I can tell you about an 8 hour delay I suffered comming into St Pancras some 30 years ago - a ripping yarn that one, and if you're researching something along the "folk tales" lines I have a few others, such as the time the overhead electic cables came down on top of the train I was in anw whiplash / broke the windows.  p.m. me or email me if you want more on these!

Graham