Lots of train failures/short formed trains

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Nor do they have long left, take a trip down to Lymington whilst you can...

South West Trains axe is falling...

What is the likelihood of this.

Quite high actually

[Btline]

 

[devon_metro]

Not to worry.

4CIG 1881 is being restored to full mainline working order not too far from Lymington

[thetrout]

As Mk 1s have separate underframes, I believe that there exists concern that body and frame could shear off, as at Clapham.  I am also pretty sure that the Mk 1s used by railtour companys have to have a non passenger carrying vehicle at either end of the train, preferably not another Mk1.  Lack of central door locking is also an issue.

You are 100% Spot On G.Uard

With regards to the central door locking, either has to be fitted or an attendant at each vestibule with an exterior door.

[IanL]

Yesterday, Malvern to Paddington, Adelante forming the 1631 from Oxford was cancelled due to train failure. It was stationary at p1 Oxford with lots of announcements before crawling away into sidings.

[BBM]

Tonight at Paddington the departure of 17:15 to Swansea was announced as delayed due to mechanical problems. I see from Live Departure Boards that it eventually left at 17:44 and is now currently running 54 minutes late from Swindon. It looks like the 17:45 to Carmarthen has overtaken it!

I caught the 17:36 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) Turbo (a 5-car 165 formation instead of a 6-car 166) in Platform 9 which was opposite the 17:30 to Taunton via Bristol TM^‡(resolve) in 8. The HST^▸ (High Speed Train) was still there with concerned looking FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff standing by it when we departed 2 minutes late at 17:38 but according to LDB it left shortly afterwards at 17:41.

According to FGW Live Updates the 18:00 to Bristol TM has been cancelled due to a train fault.

Not a good day again for FGW!

[Ollie]

Tonight at Paddington the departure of 17:15 to Swansea was announced as delayed due to mechanical problems. I see from Live Departure Boards that it eventually left at 17:44 and is now currently running 54 minutes late from Swindon. It looks like the 17:45 to Carmarthen has overtaken it!

I caught the 17:36 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) Turbo (a 5-car 165 formation instead of a 6-car 166) in Platform 9 which was opposite the 17:30 to Taunton via Bristol TM^‡(resolve) in 8. The HST^▸ (High Speed Train) was still there with concerned looking FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff standing by it when we departed 2 minutes late at 17:38 but according to LDB it left shortly afterwards at 17:41.

According to FGW Live Updates the 18:00 to Bristol TM has been cancelled due to a train fault.

Not a good day again for FGW!

Was a bad day indeed.
It was the 17:48 Cheltenham that had the fault, and the set for the 18:00 was used on the 17:48 (which ended up leaving about 15 late) and the 18:00 as you say was cancelled.

[G.Uard]

I have a week's annual leave and look what happens.

Oh heck, I have to go back tomorrow.

[willc]

And the best-laid substitution plans continue to go awry. Today's 8.52 from Malvern to London was a three-car 165 - how long before it's a two-car? No sooner had the conductor announced there would be a slight delay opening the doors at Oxford due to coupling on to another set than he was back on announcing that there wasn't an extra set today. Glad I got off as there were lots of people waiting to board at Oxford. Still, it's not half-term any more, so who cares...

[willc]

Following is a reply to an email I sent to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services about the extra Turbos:

"I can imagine your dismay at the change we have made to the type of train we provide to run our 09:50 service from Moreton-in-Marsh, especially the impact this had during half-term week. A considerable amount of research has been done to make sure that the capacity of a Turbo is able to cope with the average number of passengers who will use this service but of course we will of course continue to monitor this.

"I know you will remain disappointed but I hope you will come to understand our position".

No, I won't understand their position, especially when the loading in half-term and any other school holiday period is well above average, leading to the overcrowding and lousy travel experience for both regular passengers and the families on days out who FGW surely want to encourage to keep on using their trains in future. The bit of my email about this aspect of the situation was studiously ignored. They just don't seem to get it, do they?

[grahame]

Following is a reply to an email I sent to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services about the extra Turbos:

"A considerable amount of research has been done to make sure that the capacity of a Turbo is able to cope with the average number of passengers who will use this service ....

Let's say that a fifty seater bus is provided from M to B and it loads with 40 people on Thursday and with 60 people on Friday.   "Considerable research" will tell you that it IS able to cope with the average number of people - 50.   But looking at the people travelling, you'll notice that 60% of them - well over a half - will have had a journey on a service that was unable to cope, and won't exactly be singing the praises of the bus operator!

Is this reply from Customer Services just flannel, or is it an honest admission that it's an accepted company policy to run trains that don't have the capacity to properly cope with the customers who wish to travel on up to half the days?

[IanL]

I have had similar replies from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services in response to a similar question. Lots of unhappy passengers from Charlbury/Hanborough especialy during half term week, but also yesterday (mid week during term time) when it was standing room only. Some of whom were paying for 1st class seats but told there were only 12 1st class seats so sorry, find yourself another one.

[super tm]

Following is a reply to an email I sent to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services about the extra Turbos:

"I can imagine your dismay at the change we have made to the type of train we provide to run our 09:50 service from Moreton-in-Marsh, especially the impact this had during half-term week. A considerable amount of research has been done to make sure that the capacity of a Turbo is able to cope with the average number of passengers who will use this service but of course we will of course continue to monitor this.

"I know you will remain disappointed but I hope you will come to understand our position".

No, I won't understand their position, especially when the loading in half-term and any other school holiday period is well above average, leading to the overcrowding and lousy travel experience for both regular passengers and the families on days out who FGW surely want to encourage to keep on using their trains in future. The bit of my email about this aspect of the situation was studiously ignored. They just don't seem to get it, do they?

Why dont you ask them if they could make off-peak tickets valid on the previous train to ease the load on this one.  Part of the problem is that this is the first off peak train so will always be busy.  I like to see what their response would be !!!!

[IanL]

When I started on this route, off peak tickets were allowed on the 0842 to Paddington (now the 0835) but they were not allowed on the same train if you boarded at oxford. I think this was discontinued from approx 2004 when Thames were replaced by FGWLink.

The 0835 is already very overcrowded because they have delayed the first off peak train thereby moving customers from the offpeak to the peak! So no hope there I am sure.

[devon_metro]

No, I won't understand their position, especially when the loading in half-term and any other school holiday period is well above average, leading to the overcrowding and lousy travel experience for both regular passengers and the families on days out who FGW^▸ (First Great Western) surely want to encourage to keep on using their trains in future. The bit of my email about this aspect of the situation was studiously ignored. They just don't seem to get it, do they?

Erm, is half term isolated to the Cotswolds line only?

As it so happened, the Cotswolds is the only line where turbos are able to be used. I travelled on a packed HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in Devon during half term, and if this was a turbo the overcrowding would have been astronomical. Clearly FGW is simply acting on what they can do. Which is not a lot!