Minister for Transport, and Ministers of State, at the Department for Transport

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/26/firstgroupbusiness.travelleisure

Words fail me how she can say that 

[Shazz]

She's an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), what did you expext?

[devon_metro]

Whats she on about regarding dodgy data when her department lost loads of stuff from the DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)

Need some more of this: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41299000/jpg/_41299184_eggkelly203280_pa.jpg

[miniman]

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly today ordered FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to buy more carriages

Now, I'm the last person to stick up for FGW as you know, but surely this "ill-informed woman" should be asked to specify where exactly these extra carriages are supposed to come from?

[Lee]

First Great Western has been warned by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly in the House of Commons that it could be stripped of its franchise if services do not improve (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/03/rail_company_is_told_get_a_gri.html#more

http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2092983.0.rail_firms_told_to_get_a_grip.php

http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20060080

http://thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231754&home=yes&more_nodeId1=231776&contentPK=20060869

[Shazz]

yes because improvements can deffinatly happen in a week since she last sprawled the media with crap.

[west49th]

Headline on thisisdevon.co.uk says she's been highly critical again today.

More in tomorrow's western morning news, apparently.

Anyone picked up on anything?

[Lee]

Headline on thisisdevon.co.uk says she's been highly critical again today.

More in tomorrow's western morning news, apparently.

Anyone picked up on anything?

Main topic, plus more articles can be found in the link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1948.msg14432#msg14432

[Graz]

I find it amusing that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) seem to be turning things around, yet the government have only just started this harsh critisism campaign- they certainly kept quiet for the several months that the first new timetable was introduced and chaos ensued.

In this case, I feel it's the government themselves who need to "get a grip" -- on reality.

[zebedee]

Get a grip?  Get out more likely.....on a boat in the ocean far, far away, never to return   

[dog box]

All over Bristol Evening post.............old news yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn have they got nothing better to continually wite about

[Lee]

More article links.
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20063460

http://thisissomerset.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=147472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=242195&contentPK=20062723&folderPk=113662&pNodeId=251478

http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=20070611

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20067228

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2093565.0.transport_chiefs_threat_to_rail_company.php

[12hoursunday]

First need to learn a lesson and not treat their customers with CONTEMPT. Unless the quality of their service improves, they deserve to loose their profitable franchise. Providing regional/local services with SHODDY, DIRTY, UNRELIABLE OLD TRAINS simply will not do. The ^29m investment will not bring the lease of new trains - it will bring a few more clapped out old wrecks onto our local lines. It's also laughable frankly that part of this additional investment will go to funding extra compensation - sort out the underlying problems and they won't need to pay compensation! This morning I nearly considered taking the train into central Bristol, but chose to drive instead, as the car is clean comfortable and reliable. The Clifton/Redland to Temple Meads line is none of these and the timetable is infrequent, though it should be an obvious choice for me! Come on First - get a grip and get some NEW TRAINS that will actually make people choose to use them rather than their cars!
Chris, Bristol

what planet is person on? New Trains this, New Trains that. Some people don't seem to able to grasp the fact that First only lease their rolling stock ( well most of it). They talk like it's a case of someone popping down the local train sales hypermarket to pick up some new one's. If they were to order new trains today it would be three years until we see the first of them. As for Shoddy dirty trains what do'es he think they do? throw all that crap in (old newspapers/bottles.sandwich wrappers etc) in the morning! It's the punters that make them dirty mate!

[devon_metro]

I might go and buy her a mirror

[welshman]

I might buy her one too.  But then she's got a reputation for flannelling while ignoring the facts. See here for the ways in which she's been in difficulty.

She is also said to be a member of Opus Dei and I'm bound to say I'm suspicious of anyone who believes all that and goes for mortification as well.