Need some help from those in the know - cotswolds easements next six weeks....

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Ok, I have established I cant commute WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) to Slough via the cotswolds and do a full days work - not unless I want to get up at 0430 and get back to the house at 2230.  I am also loathe to be out of pocket because of this - its not my fault the line is closed.  Can anyone who knows the rules answer the following questions (and I will make sure my thanks is registered this time)

1. Will Worcester season tickets be valid via Newport and Hereford?  (I'd get off at hereford and buy a single to ludlow!).  The argument, made by the WOS ticket office, that there is sufficient service from WOS is not adequate.  It may be if you are attending business meetings in London but not if you are commuting to the Thames Valley other than REading or Paddington because of the lack of fast services for connections.  I may be odd in what I do but why should I be out of pocket. 

2. If (1) is not valid (and I suspect it wont be but I will be registering a complaint with customer service ) then what is the cheapest way of doing the following:
- WOS to Slough on the 0700ish that gets to slough at 0944 - FC^‡(resolve) and SC prices considered but need reasonable chance of table - willing to use force at WOS to get on first if need be (tongue in cheek mode) - If I'm not doing it every day then I'm not as precious about FC
- returning next day slough to ludlow via newport - again, SC considered if I have a reasonable chance of getting a table.  Not sure the loadings on these - most likely to be the 1915 departure from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). 

I will commute every other day and WFH^▸ (Working From Home) on Wed.  I'm having to factor in the holiday in express in slough at 90 quid a night not including food.

The ONLY positive in this might be a direct morning service to slough!

[Mookiemoo]

Anybody?  Or am I being given the cold shoulder because of an etiquette faux pas! (sp?)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. 

Well, FallenAngel, I'd like to think that any previous 'misunderstanding' over an apparent breach of etiquette has not caused such lack of responses - rather, that some difficulty in meeting your rather specific requirements has resulted in a lack of suggestions?

... SC considered if I have a reasonable chance of getting a table.

Not sure I could quantify that chance - but not high, I'd venture to suggest?

Sorry! 

[willc]

More likely because it's a pretty complicated request, which would probably be better answered by someone in a booking office who could punch the combinations into a ticket machine.

Any easement involving Worcester tickets being used via Newport would need the consent of Arriva, who set the fares on the Marches line and probably feel they've done their bit already by agreeing to accept FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s Hereford via Cotswold Line tickets.

It's rather more straightforward for FGW to lift their own restriction on Cotswold Line-routed tickets being used via Stroud or Bristol Parkway (and a general note to anyone who maybe using the alternative routes, that you can only use FGW's services between BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains), Cheltenham and Worcester, not XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) ones).

And an apology if you didn't see my note elsewhere, I now believe that WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains)-Slough 'through' train is a misprint in the timetable booklet, where it is clearly shown in bold, but the journey planner says change Reading.

[Mookiemoo]

More likely because it's a pretty complicated request, which would probably be better answered by someone in a booking office who could punch the combinations into a ticket machine.

Any easement involving Worcester tickets being used via Newport would need the consent of Arriva, who set the fares on the Marches line. It's rather more straightforward for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to lift their own restriction on Cotswold Line-routed tickets being used via Stroud.

Which is why I asked!

I cannot get a straight answer from anyone in officialdome!

I've asked an arrive person, a FGW and at two ticket offices - I get different answer!

The conclusion is suck it and see

But after my experiene with the Swansea jobsworth I cant afford to suck it and see

[willc]

As a last resort, how about FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s own booking line on 08457 000125 - they can't very well use the excuse that they don't know who to contact within the company for a straight answer.

And don't forget, we do have trains from Moreton-in-Marsh from August 3 until 21st - the 07.07 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) would get you to Slough with a Reading change for 8.57. The 08.13 HST would get you to Slough for 09.51, changing to a Turbo at Oxford (but if you want to risk it, there's a two-minute 'connection' at Reading for arrival at 09.44).

Just depends if you want another 45 minutes on the road from Worcester I guess, as I'm not sure how long your drive is the other side of worcester - but I could tell you where to park for free all day in Moreton if you want, nice and close to the station.

On the way back, I'm afraid the 18.21 HST from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) is now only running to Oxford, so departing SLO at 18.16, you would have Reading and Oxford changes (out of and back on to turbos) getting to Moreton at 20.18 (or you could leave 18.30, using XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for Reading-Oxford, to join the same 19.39 Turbo from Oxford. Then there's a 19.37 HST direct from Slough to Moreton, arriving 21.03.

In the circumstances surely it can't hurt to try phoning them - they must know about the situation on the Cotswold Line, so ought to be primed to expect complex questions about it.

[Mookiemoo]

As a last resort, how about FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s own booking line on 08457 000125 - they can't very well use the excuse that they don't know who to contact within the company for a straight answer.

Because previous experiences with them have notbeen positive - admitedly that was a couple of years ago but I generally do not trust any telephone help line!  Bit old fashioned in that respect

[Chris from Nailsea]

Nevertheless, willc, thank you very much for your helpful suggestions. 

[Mookiemoo]

When I replied there was only the first two lines!  I swear!

 

[Mookiemoo]

As a last resort, how about FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s own booking line on 08457 000125 - they can't very well use the excuse that they don't know who to contact within the company for a straight answer.

And don't forget, we do have trains from Moreton-in-Marsh from August 3 until 21st - the 07.07 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) would get you to Slough with a Reading change for 8.57. The 08.13 HST would get you to Slough for 09.51, changing to a Turbo at Oxford (but if you want to risk it, there's a two-minute 'connection' at Reading for arrival at 09.44).

Just depends if you want another 45 minutes on the road from Worcester I guess, as I'm not sure how long your drive is the other side of worcester - but I could tell you where to park for free all day in Moreton if you want, nice and close to the station.

On the way back, I'm afraid the 18.21 HST from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) is now only running to Oxford, so departing SLO at 18.16, you would have Reading and Oxford changes (out of and back on to turbos) getting to Moreton at 20.18 (or you could leave 18.30, using XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for Reading-Oxford, to join the same 19.39 Turbo from Oxford. Then there's a 19.37 HST direct from Slough to Moreton, arriving 21.03.

In the circumstances surely it can't hurt to try phoning them - they must know about the situation on the Cotswold Line, so ought to be primed to expect complex questions about it.

The problem is I have about a 40 minute drive to WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) - add on 45 minutes - eeek

The ONLY way I can do what I do is sleeping most mornings - and I do mean sleeping - I'm out by Norton junction and set my alarm to go off 5 minutes before im due into my station.

It may not sound much but by the time I drive to Morton and get on - not going to happen - ill be in a coma within three days.

I will phone them but I almost know they will say its not valid since I'm pretty sure they dont assume anyone actually commutes daily to the Thames Valley from WOS!  Logically I know why I just think its unfair - but I also know they cant cater for every individuality

So...........lets get over the easements with somespecific questions:

1. How heavily loaded is the SC of the train that leaves newport and gets me to Slough just before 10 - do I have any chance of a table
2. Likewise, the 1915 Swansea train whih I would pick up at reading....

With my (dubious) student discount on said fares with only two returns a week I would not be THAT much out of pocket especially after saving the fuel since I wont be driving this end!

[willc]

You're right - there were - then I stuck some more on.

I'm sure they assume - perhaps not unreasonably - that not only do not that many people do your commute but also that they're even less likely to be doing it starting out from further west than Worcester itself.

As for the tables, unless you're boarding at the start of the journey on pretty much any FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service these days - except maybe an off-peak Cotswold Line service at the western end of the route or later in the evening elsewhere - you've no chance of one in standard. People always make a beeline for them because, like you, they don't want to perch a laptop on a shelf, or they're in a group and want to sit together or just don't want to stare at those seat backs. That first train leaves Swansea at 7am - need I say more?

[Mookiemoo]

Well combining my research over the last few days has shown:

1. Ticket offices say WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) not valid
2. TM^‡(resolve)'s on both Arriva Wales and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) all say they'd accept them - only had one who wasnt sure and even she said she'd give it the benefit of the doubt.  Since these are the people who have to accept the ticket.......

So I am going to suck it and see ..................... it may only be a week if current client doesnt sort out paperwork and my next client is not in TV - but then, it may do!  And if Arriva dont accept it, its chump change to Newport and the worst a FGW TM could do is excess me to Bristol where they definitely are valid from!

Thanks everyone

[willc]

Good luck. Hope you don't meet a jobsworth.

I'm probably going to be in the car for most of the next couple of weeks, sharing with a colleague who drives from Chipping Norton. The time penalty, even on the non-stop buses to Oxford, is just too a bit too much.

[Mookiemoo]

Good luck. Hope you don't meet a jobsworth.

I'm probably going to be in the car for most of the next couple of weeks, sharing with a colleague who drives from Chipping Norton. The time penalty, even on the non-stop buses to Oxford, is just too a bit too much.

I would imagine if I complained about an excess for a jobsworth moment -= i.e. trying to charge me Newport to Slough because Newport to Bristol wasnt valid (or maybe it is who knows) then under the circumstances - I may get leverage

[inspector_blakey]

I have actually found calling FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer services (which I think is option 4 when you call 08457 000125 but listen to all the options first just in case) a very positive experience. My call has always been answered by a courteous and helpful person who has listened to what I was asking and went to the trouble of finding out the answer, even if it took them a few minutes whilst they checked with the relevant people to make sure. They really do go out of their way to assist and based on my "previous" I would recommend them without hesitation.