Most Wanted Improvements

[whole diary]

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

a faster cheaper service to london from devon and cornwall

if the west of england line was doubled and upgraded to 125 ops (money no object project) and only stopped at major stations (penzance plymouth exeter yeovil sailsbury clapham waterloo or yeovil reading paddington

would you mind starting at newton abbot and changing at exeter or plymouth if there were decent connection times if it got you to london faster?

[oilengineer]

I'd like to see all maintenance taken back in house.

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) had to take Track maintenance back in-house, it restored standards and SAVED ^millions.

I've worked in-house: The Aim: to maintain to a high standard with consideration to keep costs down.

Also had to work on the same job but under contract:

The Aim: To reduce maintenance cost by cutting corners, leading to More Breakdowns, bigger profits and taking LONGER to do breakdowns.

I can't understand why companies expect to SAVE money with contracts, the aim of a contractor is to MAKE money from the client.

 YOUR MONEY paid by the customer.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

I'd like to see all maintenance taken back in house.

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) had to take Track maintenance back in-house, it restored standards and SAVED ^millions.

I've worked in-house: The Aim: to maintain to a high standard with consideration to keep costs down.

Also had to work on the same job but under contract:

The Aim: To reduce maintenance cost by cutting corners, leading to More Breakdowns, bigger profits and taking LONGER to do breakdowns.

I can't understand why companies expect to SAVE money with contracts, the aim of a contractor is to MAKE money from the client.

 YOUR MONEY paid by the customer.

adhoc contractors= lack of pride for work done (not in all cases)

[Oxman]

Great idea for a thread, but would be better if suggestions are realistic. Reducing fares in the current environment is not.

So forget fares, what would improve your "journey experience"?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Great idea for a thread, but would be better if suggestions are realistic. Reducing fares in the current environment is not.

So forget fares, what would improve your "journey experience"?

im willing to stick my neck out here in the next 20 years i think the most investment will go into the west of england line

[Btline]

Great idea for a thread, but would be better if suggestions are realistic. Reducing fares in the current environment is not.

So forget fares, what would improve your "journey experience"?

But the fares change outlined by posts on this thread would actually INCREASE overall revenue.

By removing/reducing the ridiculously cheap Advance Fares and putting in fair, but dearer walkup fares.

It would bring more people to the railway during off peak times, as people would feel confident that they can turn up at a station, pay a fair fare and travel. With 3 tph off peak between London and Birmingham/ Manchester (and Leeds in December), there is capacity which needs filling.

Result: TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) no longer give seats away. The majority of passengers (impulse travellers) are more satisfied with the fares. A minority of passengers (those who can plan ahead) are disappointed, but are not put off by the fair fares.

[devon_metro]

Why??? It's far from important when stacked up against the direct route via the berks and hants. So many tiny stations and such low linespeeds!

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Why??? It's far from important when stacked up against the direct route via the berks and hants. So many tiny stations and such low linespeeds!

its not the stations inbetween... paddington reading are almost if not at capacity, the only thing that makes the west of england route so slow is its single and your stopping all the time distance wise how many miles is it from exeter to paddington via tivy and so on and how far is waterloo via yeovil

[thetrout]

Here's a list, some realistic and achievable, some would be difficult and there is one very stupid suggestion...

1) Not for me personally, but a Disabled Loo in First Class would be appreciated. If you are in a wheelchair or less able to move, the disabled toilet is in coach C now, Thats a fair walk if you're in G for example. Not to mention the fact that you won't get a wheelchair through the Buffet.

2) FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to buy and refurb MK2's for deployment where routes are overcrowded or lacking in DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s (Partly achieved)

3) I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity)

4) More Vegetarian options in the Buffet for services without a Travelling Chef

5) Catering on Bristol T M - Weymouth

6) Toilets on DMU's to be checked for water levels and cleanliness more often

7) Reopen and publicise/market Bristol T M First Class Lounge

Give Trout soul use of a HST^▸ (High Speed Train)

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Here's a list, some realistic and achievable, some would be difficult and there is one very stupid suggestion... Grin

1) Not for me personally, but a Disabled Loo in First Class would be appreciated. If you are in a wheelchair or less able to move, the disabled toilet is in coach C now, Thats a fair walk if you're in G for example. Not to mention the fact that you won't get a wheelchair through the Buffet.

2) FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to buy and refurb MK2's for deployment where routes are overcrowded or lacking in DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s (Partly achieved)

3) I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity)

4) More Vegetarian options in the Buffet for services without a Travelling Chef

5) Catering on Bristol T M - Weymouth

6) Toilets on DMU's to be checked for water levels and cleanliness more often

7) Reopen and publicise/market Bristol T M First Class Lounge

Cool Give Trout soul use of a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Wink Tongue Grin Cheesy

Here's a list, some realistic and achievable, some would be difficult and there is one very stupid suggestion...

1) Not for me personally, but a Disabled Loo in First Class would be appreciated. If you are in a wheelchair or less able to move, the disabled toilet is in coach C now, Thats a fair walk if you're in G for example. Not to mention the fact that you won't get a wheelchair through the Buffet. .. your correct there should be one not having one that is easy to get to from first class is poor in otherwords if your disabled you have to go standard or go without

2) FGW to buy and refurb MK2's for deployment where routes are overcrowded or lacking in DMU's (Partly achieved) and i think its fair to say it works! unfortunatly we will hear station linger time ... but i dont think this is a huge issue the main problem is that you need two locos per set or a loco and a dvt unless your going to a station where you can do a run around which isnt practical on shorter journeys

3) I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity).... all this would ultimatly do is reduce capacity and wouldnt return any real revinue increase only improve journeys for those with money

4) More Vegetarian options in the Buffet for services without a Travelling Chef .....wouldnt be cost effective to serve the minority, perhapse an alternating menu?

5) Catering on Bristol T M -..... Weymouth agree and on taunton cardiff! buffet on loco and trolly on dmu

6) Toilets on DMU's to be checked for water levels and cleanliness more often ...cleanliness as a whole on the fleet

7) Reopen and publicise/market Bristol T M First Class Lounge if its an empty room and it gets people out the car go for it

Give Trout soul use of a HST ..... umm there you go (Devon County Council - website)-LIGHTS-2-COACHES-DUMMY-UNIT_W0QQitemZ180362867613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Trains_Railway_Models?hash=item29fe76f39d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1684" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HORNBY-INTERCITY-125-DCC-LIGHTS-2-COACHES-DUMMY-UNIT_W0QQitemZ180362867613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Trains_Railway_Models?hash=item29fe76f39d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1684|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50 
ok here goes

[devon_metro]

Why??? It's far from important when stacked up against the direct route via the berks and hants. So many tiny stations and such low linespeeds!

its not the stations inbetween... paddington reading are almost if not at capacity, the only thing that makes the west of england route so slow is its single and your stopping all the time distance wise how many miles is it from exeter to paddington via tivy and so on and how far is waterloo via yeovil

Are you trying to tell me that the 100mph railway between Basingstoke and Waterloo is less crowded and more suited than Readng to Paddington?

[grahame]

If you could pick one improvement above all others that you would like to see - what would it be?

I (and 678 others) would like a more appropriate TransWilts service.  Of the 679 of us making this request, over 90% live in Wiltshire or nearby counties.  Over 250 of us are regular Wiltshire Commuters, and a further 330 travel quite often within the county.

Current services leave Swindon for Westbury and beyond at 06:15 and 18:45, and return at 07:02 and 19:32.   A more appropriate service that all 679 (accounting for some 150,000 annual journeys in Wiltshire) have called for would provide four extra round trips, carefully timed to cover potential peak flows (leisure, business, commuter, school / colledge) as described here.

I can't certainly speak for all 678 of the other people who support this improvement as to whether they would pick it above all others, but speaking personally, the complete lack of any usable train service at my local station has to be top of my list of overdue improvements, with fares, availability of Wifi on the trains, etc, being a long way down my list; there is no point in offering a good fare if there's no train to use it on!

The need for a decent service on this line has been brough home by the large number of supporters (above), and by evidence gathered.  A fortnight ago today, I had an afternoon meeting with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) / DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/ WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) in Swindon, and presented myself at the station at 16:20 for a return to Westbury.  Some chap (or chapess?) had decided to fall asleep beside the railway line near Reading, so trains were delayed and the 16:30 was delayed ... as we approached Bath, the Westbury service was seen leaving from the other platform and we dragged into Westbury at a couple of minutes to six - 100 minutes for a journey which (had there been a direct train 10 minutes after I had arrived in Swindon) would have taken around 50 minutes.

[Mookiemoo]

I'm going to get shot for this but

") I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity).... all this would ultimatly do is reduce capacity and wouldnt return any real revinue increase only improve journeys for those with money"

What is wrong with that?  Why shouldnt people who can and will pay more get a better service

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

I'm going to get shot for this but

") I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity).... all this would ultimatly do is reduce capacity and wouldnt return any real revinue increase only improve journeys for those with money"

What is wrong with that?  Why shouldnt people who can and will pay more get a better service

There's nothing wrong with it if services wernt at capacity or there was more rolling stock but at the moment don't you think it kinda goes against the bringing fairs down easing over crowding that most people want? How is swapping half a coach to 2+1 with legroom going to help?

[Mookiemoo]

I'm going to get shot for this but

") I know I will be shot for this... but... First Class seating on Pompey - Cardiff and Bristol T M - Weymouth routes (If they can provide it on Turbo's they should provide on a 158 or 150, but 153/14x would be pointless due to limited capacity).... all this would ultimatly do is reduce capacity and wouldnt return any real revinue increase only improve journeys for those with money"

What is wrong with that?  Why shouldnt people who can and will pay more get a better service

There's nothing wrong with it if services wernt at capacity or there was more rolling stock but at the moment don't you think it kinda goes against the bringing fairs down easing over crowding that most people want? How is swapping half a coach to 2+1 with legroom going to help?

Because without it, I wont use the train - it becomes stressful and not relaxing.

Frankly, I dont care if people have to stand or are cramped if I can travel in comfort