MP's Say FGW Failing Paddington-Penzance Passengers

[whole diary]

[Lee]

First Great Western is failing the region by not providing enough seats for passengers during busy times, claim the region's MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) (link below.)
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20553067

The MPs say they regularly see passengers standing in carriages for up to an hour until seats become available.

"Currently, the trains are oversubscribed depending on which service you get. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is not doing anything wrong, but if you pay an enormous amount of money, you should really be able to offer a seat in return.

"What we need are enough carriages for enough trains to meet demand."

But he accused the company of discouraging passengers by raising prices beyond the reach of the ordinary person.

"My opinion is the pricing policy is aimed at reducing the number of people who use trains because it's so expensive to add carriages or new services," he said.

"They are making optimum profit from what they have. I think part of the fare increase has been about suppressing numbers."

"It is crucial for the South West that we have a comfortable and reliable service because it is a lifeline for people and the economy."

"It's not just about overcrowding, it's about toilets not functioning, heating not working, air conditioning systems breaking. All these things are unacceptable. It's been made very clear to FGW they are drinking in the last chance saloon if they want any chance of keeping franchise."

FGW spokesman Adrian Booth said the company had completely refurbished high-speed trains and phased out older rolling stock in the past year :

"Adding carriages to our high speed trains is not an option," he said. "Apart from the lack of availability of further carriages to make the trains longer, additional weight would mean trains would have to travel slower. That would mean less space available on a very dense railway network, so as a consequence we would be able to run fewer services and therefore fewer seats would be available overall."

[swlines]

Travelling slower?

Oh right. Like how they don't travel faster when a coach is removed... funny how NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast) are fine with it really.

[Conner]

I think it would help if the person who worte this ever knew about FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

More seats, um what has the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurb done One minute they complain about no tables and then about too little seats, you can't have both.

How can you add an extra carriage to a HST when there aren't any carriages

And paying an enormous amount of money. What are all the Advance tickets which people moan aren't available, who buys those then

There pricing is extremely cheap. Short distance BDR's are incredibily cheap in Devon and Cornwall and so are Advance fares.

People who write these articles should do some research first.

[devon_metro]

Are the MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) really so under worked that then have no other nonscence to talk about?

Why not give their yearly allowances to buy a 153 

[vacman]

What do you expect from the liberal d1ckocrats, Paul Tyler is OK though, he travels first class at the expense of the tax payer and treats staff like sh1t on the train, doesn't even acknowledge you when you check his ticket.

[Chris from Nailsea]

For those who want to know more about Paul Tyler, his website is http://www.paultyler.libdems.org/ .

[Conner]

Well this morning they have stepped it up a level.
MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s are now meeting with the Rail Minister to demand that First Great Western is stripped of its franchise. Good luck. It is never going to happen. And we would be worse off with another company.

[andrewr]

Quote from Connor
"Well this morning they have stepped it up a level.
MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s are now meeting with the Rail Minister to demand that First Great Western is stripped of its franchise. Good luck. It is never going to happen. And we would be worse off with another company."

I think you're right - from what I've seen, the recent punctuality figures are very good indeed, and the basics in terms of catering, working toilets etc seems to be getting back to where it should be as well.

That doesn't excuse FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for the utter shambles we've had to endure over the past couple of years, but the new management team does seem to be making a difference - I reckon we should at least give 'em a chance to put things right...

Andy Roden

[Chris2]

Since I have been travelling with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and wessex trains. The service has changed from reasonable to worse, and I personally feel that it has been improving in the last couple of months in Cornwall. Also if FGW are stripped of the franchise some of the high speed trains that they currently use will be unavailable for whoever runs the service.

But I can not see the government removing the franchise when it will bring in so much money for them over the full term. Since FGW were put onto special measures and changed the management team they were very approachable at London Paddington for a meet the manager session.

[Conner]

Chris2, you must admit FGW^▸ (First Great Western) introduced very cheap tickets in Cronwall, certainly the best move they have made.

[Chris2]

I certainly admit that the cheap day returns are a great move (but I don't travel at this time very often as I travel in the morning peak and evening peak), and so are the advance fares for prices in cornwall where available.

[Conner]

If you travel in the peaks and know what time you will travel at you can buy the week before on very cheap Advance fares. Lots of people do it.

[Chris2]

For the advance purchase fares to Plymouth, you need to be travelling from beyond St. Austell, they are not available for St. Austell to Plymouth on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but are available on Cross Country trains.

[Conner]

Oh right. I know alot of people use them further down.

[vacman]

For the advance purchase fares to Plymouth, you need to be travelling from beyond St. Austell, they are not available for St. Austell to Plymouth on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but are available on Cross Country trains.

Alittle secret, some people who travel from Lostwithiel/Bodmin buy a leisure advance from Truro as it works out cheaper.