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jester
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« Reply #45 on: May 29, 2008, 00:10:37 » |
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should never have been 'under threat'. Such a constantly well used service would be a blow to the region if it was ended.
Always busy, never enough berths sundays/fridays in either direction and bank holidays - well, book well ahead!
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andrewr
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« Reply #46 on: May 29, 2008, 08:15:11 » |
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Well, since around 8000 of us - including a lot of contributors to the forum - got together to try and save the service, it seems to have gone from strength to strength! I have to give FGW▸ credit for the way they've handled the sleeper in recent times - they've done a lot of research to find what passengers want, and they're starting to respond with the likes of a proper breakfast onboard and so on.
What's really good news is that they've added a fifth sleeper coach on busy nights, and I'm told that if loadings carry on rising, they may have to look into generating a business case within the next 12-18 months for a sixth! I think that's a real tribute to the quality of the service, and the excellent staff who look after snoozing passengers. For once, it's good news on GW▸ - let's hope it continues and that we don't have to fight to save the train in another few years!
Andy Roden
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oooooo
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« Reply #47 on: June 22, 2008, 21:42:46 » |
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Launch train Monday 23rd June: 1Z08 15:08 Penzance to Plymouth calling major stations. ECS▸ back.
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Super Guard
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« Reply #48 on: June 23, 2008, 23:05:40 » |
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Video from BBC» Spotlight SouthWest about the relaunch: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7470329.stm(What you don't see is the presenter introducing the video and getting in the " MPs▸ thought FGW▸ was the worst operator on the planet" comment  ) Favourite quote from the video: "They've apparently done 'something' to the breaks to make it a smoother journey"... quality reporting |
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Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own. I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.
If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #49 on: June 23, 2008, 23:21:28 » |
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A couple of points from me (cue groans from the other moderators!  ) Describing FGW▸ in the press these days apparently involves the obligatory use of the phrase "Under fire train company FGW ...". For goodness sake! Why not try to be impartial and just describe them (at least initially) as "Local train operating company FGW ... " ? And there are some very high quality reporters around, in my personal opinion: for example, among our members here in the coffee shop!   |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Super Guard
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« Reply #50 on: June 24, 2008, 00:50:01 » |
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Perhaps they could get jobs with the BBC» then  |
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Any opinions made on this forum are purely personal and my own. I am in no way speaking for, or offering the views of First Great Western or First Group.
If my employer feels I have broken any aspect of the Social Media Policy, please PM me immediately, so I can rectify without delay.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #51 on: June 24, 2008, 01:15:05 » |
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I'm not so concerned with the BBC» - it's the various local newspapers, who all seem to have a presumption that FGW▸ are still suffering the same problems / low public esteem that they clearly were, back in January. Things have moved on since then - FGW certainly have - and that's why I think it's not fair to keep starting every article in the local papers now with a pre-emptive dismissal of FGW as a 'failing' train company. (Posted by me personally: my opinions are not necessarily those of FGW ) |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Lee
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« Reply #52 on: June 24, 2008, 07:54:30 » |
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I think its mainly a case of that "bad news" will always sell papers, and "good news" (although featured more than people realise) will not always get the level of coverage that perhaps it merits. From my perspective, one of the things that has greatly improved is that, if I raise an issue of importance to the Coffee Shop or CANBER▸ , Andrew Haines will always ensure that I get a speedy and detailed response, either from him personally or the person responsible for the matter. Frankly, this is in stark contrast to how things were before he came along. There have also been welcome moves towards improvements on several lines/services (TransWilts being a notable exception.) However, FGW▸ remain gaffe-prone, and when things do go wrong, they tend to go wrong in spectacular fashion, the debacles over the Exeter ticket promotion and the Free Severn Beach Line service cancellations being good examples. Errors like this could be avoided, and FGW still (in my opinion) have work to do on this front. Here is a view from the I Hate FGW blog author, in which she notes (with caution) that things have improved (link below.) http://www.canber.co.uk/?q=node/29 |
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Umberleigh
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« Reply #53 on: June 26, 2008, 18:33:33 » |
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Have used the sleeper last 3 Wednesday nights from Padd to Exeter and will be doing same journey each week for the foreseeable future. Always book a seat in advance and pay only ^12, although have paid ^20.50 once, which is still a bargain.
Love the ex-HST▸ 1st class seats, very comfortable and have heard other passengers say the same. Staff all very friendly and the train has a 'happy' feel to it, other than the occasional moaning old git who seems to be expecting 110 mph all the way to Bodmin or wherever....
Have noticed that there are always a lot more seats reserved than actual passengers on board (although there has still been a healthy number of people traveling) so my question is, are these 'no-shows' included in the usage figures? After all, they have paid to use the service and thus technically last night's (seated) service was 90% full, not bad for a Wednesday!
Can anyone in the know shed any light on this?
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Zoe
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« Reply #54 on: November 11, 2008, 20:28:11 » |
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Hi, does the Night Riviera have a standard route if there are no engineering works? I used it one time and it went EXD» - BRI» - TRO» - NBY» - RDG‡ - PAD» .
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Btline
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« Reply #55 on: November 11, 2008, 20:36:13 » |
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Zoe - there was a thread a while back which discussed the various routes of the NR» service.
I have had a search but can't find it. Maybe a mod can.
It was the one where we tried to guess the routes knowing there were about 10!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #56 on: November 11, 2008, 21:07:09 » |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #57 on: November 11, 2008, 21:27:45 » |
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The timetabled route is Penzance - Bristol TM‡ - Bristol Parkway - London Paddington. Whether it will go that way or not is a different matter!
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Zoe
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« Reply #58 on: November 11, 2008, 21:48:21 » |
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Is there any reason why it does not stop at Taunton early Monday mornings?
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super tm
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« Reply #59 on: November 12, 2008, 13:01:29 » |
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AIUI▸ it has not done so for many, many years. Allows diversion via yeovil without any need for bus replacement to Taunton.
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