Message from MTLS

[whole diary]

[Steve Bray]

What bugged me about First getting this franchise was their franchise application boast along the lines of "we have local knowledge because we've been operating trains in this area". Hmmm. What precise local knowledge did they have? 

[dog box]

Local knowledge? well they used to run Great Western Trains before which just happened to be pretty local

[BPWuser]

Well I thought MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) was instrumental in getting people (and in particular Govt) to wake and notice what was going on. But I think they are wrong in continuing to campaign for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s removal, as the problem was as much the government's making, although FGW then screwed it up badly.

I have to agree with John R, sorry Vacman. When the national media report our problems they always mention the fare strike. Well done to the people who did take part, they have to take some credit for the extra carriages which are now being promised. As previously mentioned in other threads FGW won't lose the franchise whilst they still agree to pay the govt all those payments (sorry they fleece the passengers in order to pay the govt).

[devon_metro]

And who first devised such a stupid system for running a public system.

Errr

The Government perhaps?

[vacman]

Well I thought MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) was instrumental in getting people (and in particular Govt) to wake and notice what was going on. But I think they are wrong in continuing to campaign for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s removal, as the problem was as much the government's making, although FGW then screwed it up badly.

I have to agree with John R, sorry Vacman. When the national media report our problems they always mention the fare strike. Well done to the people who did take part, they have to take some credit for the extra carriages which are now being promised. As previously mentioned in other threads FGW won't lose the franchise whilst they still agree to pay the govt all those payments (sorry they fleece the passengers in order to pay the govt).

Sorry, but your missinformed, the wheels were in motion for the extra units from Arriva in November last year, the fare strike was in January this year, yeah, nice to see youare condoning the people who verbally assaulted the gateline staff at various stations, the fare strike that all the herberts jumped on the back of to faredodge on another day.

[dog box]

precisely Vacman.....

[Steve Bray]

Local knowledge? well they used to run Great Western Trains before which just happened to be pretty local

Precisely - so how come they get so much wrong with their 'local knowledge'? Why didn't they anticipate all the overcrowding on Bristol services and Thames Valley services? Droves of people didn't suddenly start using the trains on the day they started the entire GW^▸ (Great Western) franchise.

[Btline]

Gosh, quite a few responses to my post!

I have to say, that MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain)'s comment about FGW^▸ (First Great Western) loosing the franchise within 6 months is absolute rubbish.

Look- they are getting back on track. New 158s coming soon, with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) following after.

And in a way, the 180 being sent away is getting FGW an HST (via Hull Trains and East Midlands Trains!).

I have to say, for the first time, I am optimistic....

[vacman]

Gosh, quite a few responses to my post!

I have to say, that MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain)'s comment about FGW^▸ (First Great Western) loosing the franchise within 6 months is absolute rubbish.

Look- they are getting back on track. New 158s coming soon, with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) following after.

And in a way, the 180 being sent away is getting FGW an HST (via Hull Trains and East Midlands Trains!).

I have to say, for the first time, I am optimistic....

I think they deserve a chance to prove themselves, one last chance. My gripe is with the way MTLS behave, if FGW became the best operator in the world overnight then MTLS would find fault!

[dog box]

Steve......at risk of repeating something that has been stated about 100 times on here... FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

[Timmer]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

Just about sums up the whole thing nicely I think.

[smokey]

Steve......at risk of repeating something that has been stated about 100 times on here... FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are correct in that there has been NO Service Improvements, with more passengers travelling FGW need to run MORE Trains with more stock just to reinstate the Wessex Days level of Service, and to restore to earlier levels is NO Improvement.

One small improvement made by FGW is the installing of Ticket Barriers at main Stations, but these should have been installed in the 1990's, but never were because whilst First may have seen a small rise in Fares NE would have seen a much bigger raise from collected local fares, that just stinks.

[vacman]

Steve......at risk of repeating something that has been stated about 100 times on here... FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are correct in that there has been NO Service Improvements, with more passengers travelling FGW need to run MORE Trains with more stock just to reinstate the Wessex Days level of Service, and to restore to earlier levels is NO Improvement.

One small improvement made by FGW is the installing of Ticket Barriers at main Stations, but these should have been installed in the 1990's, but never were because whilst First may have seen a small rise in Fares NE would have seen a much bigger raise from collected local fares, that just stinks.

Ummmm, yeah, so like its been pointed out 100's of times ITS THE DFT^▸ (Department for Transport)!!!! the service is a vast improvement on what the DFT wanted, so yes, there are service improvements.

[Btline]

Steve......at risk of repeating something that has been stated about 100 times on here... FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are correct in that there has been NO Service Improvements, with more passengers travelling FGW need to run MORE Trains with more stock just to reinstate the Wessex Days level of Service, and to restore to earlier levels is NO Improvement.

One small improvement made by FGW is the installing of Ticket Barriers at main Stations, but these should have been installed in the 1990's, but never were because whilst First may have seen a small rise in Fares NE would have seen a much bigger raise from collected local fares, that just stinks.

In some cases they should revert to the Wessex Timetable (TransWilts?)!! 

[Lee]

Steve......at risk of repeating something that has been stated about 100 times on here... FGW^▸ (First Great Western) bid to run the Franchise on information from Daft... you will run this many trains using this amount of Rolling Stock.
Basically they both screwed up and underestimated demand.

MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) are correct in that there has been NO Service Improvements, with more passengers travelling FGW need to run MORE Trains with more stock just to reinstate the Wessex Days level of Service, and to restore to earlier levels is NO Improvement.

One small improvement made by FGW is the installing of Ticket Barriers at main Stations, but these should have been installed in the 1990's, but never were because whilst First may have seen a small rise in Fares NE would have seen a much bigger raise from collected local fares, that just stinks.

Ummmm, yeah, so like its been pointed out 100's of times ITS THE DFT^▸ (Department for Transport)!!!! the service is a vast improvement on what the DFT wanted, so yes, there are service improvements.

As has also been pointed out 100's of times, it was not all the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about). See below for a good background link.
http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/11/answering-some-questions.html

dog box's earlier quote is close enough to the truth for me, as it states that they both screwed up and underestimated demand. The only real difference I have with it is (as Insider admits in the above link) that FGW did make some cuts above and beyond what they had to do.

I also draw your attention to a quote by me in response to Insider :

I do , however , think that FGW's decision to ask for a change to the Westbury - Swindon section of the SLC^▸ (Service Level Commitment) (granted by the DfT) , in order to allow them to please Stroud Valley commuters (who already had an hourly service) at the expense of Melksham / TransWilts commuters (who had virtually no service) , while saving themselves having to use an extra unit , was not their finest hour and has earned them the mistrust of quite a few people on the ground.