18:33 London Paddington to Oxford - HST or Turbo - and alternative trains

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Thank you for your email of 24 May 2010.

Wow! Such a full and detailed response from an email which it appears you only sent yesterday!!

[Chris from Nailsea]

I could be rather cynical and suggest that it was only such a speedy response because FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were merely copying and pasting 'standard fob-off paragraphs' numbered 3, 7, 5, 19, 58 and 247 into their reply. 

[ChrisB]

And here is my reply from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to my complaint.. It's a mixture of a standard email with the odd incorrect fact thrown in (the bit about re-timing the 18.33.. if only! ) and some apologising..

It's pretty accurate - I'm sure they'll relook at the reintroduction od the 1836, especially if the new TT results in worse overcrowding than before.

[johoare]

And here is my reply from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to my complaint.. It's a mixture of a standard email with the odd incorrect fact thrown in (the bit about re-timing the 18.33.. if only! ) and some apologising..

It's pretty accurate - I'm sure they'll relook at the reintroduction od the 1836, especially if the new TT results in worse overcrowding than before.

The inaccuracy was when they said that the 18.33 had been re-timed.. It hasn't.. It's gone totally from the timetable.. It's the 18.42 that has been retimed.. I didn't write it very well first time.. sorry 

[johoare]

I could be rather cynical and suggest that it was only such a speedy response because FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were merely copying and pasting 'standard fob-off paragraphs' numbered 3, 7, 5, 19, 58 and 247 into their reply. 

So which paragraph number was this one..?

"Running more trains may seem like an obvious solution but there is a limit to the number of trains we can run at peak time"

In my reply I did point out to them that they managed perfectly well running that train last week and lots of weeks before that 

[BBM]

I could be rather cynical and suggest that it was only such a speedy response because FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were merely copying and pasting 'standard fob-off paragraphs' numbered 3, 7, 5, 19, 58 and 247 into their reply. 

I think that's true about their response to the complaint about the air-conditioning particularly as it's very long and rambling. If they're going to use a standard reply why not be more succinct and say something like "yes we know the air-conditioning in the 166s is cr*p but we've no money to replace the a/c units, you'll just have to cross your fingers that 166 201 with its better a/c turns up now and again, or else a 165 with opening windows (but in that case be prepared for the 90 mph hurricane inside the train when it's at full speed...)" 

[Phil]

What that standard response doesn't cover is the situation my son faced on Tuesday this week travelling from Filton Abbey Wood to Trowbridge on a particularly packed peak-time evening train. Not only was the air-conditioning not working, but the heating was switched on as well! Lucky really that nobody fainted - apparently it was extremely uncomfortable for all concerned.

[argg]

As a rule, if the air conditioning fails in one carriage we try and move passengers into others wherever possible.

Interesting concept on a full to bursting train

We are currently refreshing our Turbo fleet and when this is complete, our customers will benefit from cleaner, more modern trains. The first refreshed vehicles have now entered service, with plans to complete the project by March 2012.   We are very pleased to be making the following modifications, which will improve the overall comfort of our customer's journeys:

- Fitment of laminated glass with anti graffiti film.
- Provision of a new public information system.
- Renewal of flooring in the saloon, vestibule and toilet areas.
- Upgrade of the toilets and the installation of more reliable equipment.
- Provision of new signage and magazine racks.
- Repainting of ceiling, wall panels, bulkheads and toilets.
- Renewal of seat covers, seats trims, dado panels and waist trims.
- An upgrade of the air conditioning system.
 
Thank you once again for bringing your comments and concerns to our attention. We welcome feedback from customers, which highlights areas in which we can improve any aspect of our service."

Not quite sure how most of these address the "more modern" aspect.  Cleaner, possibly until they get as dirty as before. I travelled on a refreshed 165 this morning which effectively puts it back to where it was when first introduced - hardly "more modern".  Did notice that the upholstery on most seats was already coming away on the corners of the seats.  Hope they didn't spend too much.

Its easy to criticise I know but coupled with the frankly dangerous overcrowding which occurs in the morning peak at the exit/access to platforms 10-16  it all makes for a thoroughly miserable daily experience

[IndustryInsider]

As a rule, if the air conditioning fails in one carriage we try and move passengers into others wherever possible.

Interesting concept on a full to bursting train

And a complete and utter lie too.  Maybe on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) or perhaps in the old days an Adelante, but the 166's air-con is so utterly useless that it's a completely impractical idea - especially on a driver only service.  I await this new air-conditioning system with interest, though unless some fix to the passenger opened windows is addressed it won't solve the problem no matter how good it is.

[johoare]

I agree.. Mind you HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) don't need opening windows as their air con works so if the y can make it work on the turbos they can somehow seal the windows shut hopefully.. Mind you if the air con works, people don't look around for windows to open 

Incidentally the train was less crowded today. It was also a train with windows and no air con so much better.. I am wondering which train everyone now gets.. I'm guessing the 18.18 since that was so busy yesterday.. Or maybe everyone was just in the pub because they couldn't face the train 

[ChrisB]

Mind you if the air con works, people don't look around for windows to open 

Not so - There are many fresh-air freaks around - who insist onm oppening windows even in depths of winter.....

[johoare]

Well.. I think I've found a lot of displaced passengers from the long gone 18.33... I've been on the 18.36 a couple of times but it keeps getting to Maidenhead late which has put me and I guess other people off of getting it as it's so much slower than the 18.33 even before it's delayed..

I think most people are doing what I am doing and getting the first non stop to Maidenhead train after the 18.18 which is now the 19.06... Tonight it was packed.. I got to Paddington nearly ten minutes before it left and already it was standing room only and only 3 carriages.. And yes.. it was a (non) air-conditioned train so yet again we were heated up to a lot hotter than the outside temperature.. Sweat was dripping off people.. We were all packed in like animals.. Oh.. no.. animals wouldn't be allowed to travel like that..How can this be acceptable day after day? I just don't understand it..

[ChrisB]

get the slower 1836....

[argg]

get the slower 1836....

...which must arrive before the 1906. Or the 1845 (not non-stop but is that important?)

The 1906 used to be a very nice train for Twyford (arriving on plat 4) but the last couple of times I tried it was over full well before departure - which now makes sense if as Jo reckons additional M'head passengers are on it.

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) a couple of non-stop to M'head and Twyford (and Reading) trains in peak morning and evening would relieve the pressure on all the services and make the journey bearable.  (3 car would do)

I know - there's a whole region to administer, everyone has there own wants, cash is an issue, why run trains with a bit of capacity when a full to bursting is better VFM etc. etc.

I assume the Health & Saftey issue has been debated already about overcrowded trains.  Presumably the principle is that if everyone is jammed in they don't all fly about the carriage in the event of an emergency stop or (god forbid) a crash

[ChrisB]

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) a couple of non-stop to M'head and Twyford (and Reading) trains in peak morning and evening would relieve the pressure on all the services and make the journey bearable.  (3 car would do)

Been discussed with the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) timetablers many times, and you're pretty much on the button, except to say that there just isn't any more stock to be had in the peaks and if there was, a lack of paths would still prevent it unfortunately - without making poor soles at other stations suffer further.

All stations are considered every timnetable, that's a promise - I sit on a tiometable committee, so I am aware of this....

I assume the Health & Saftey issue has been debated already about overcrowded trains.  Presumably the principle is that if everyone is jammed in they don't all fly about the carriage in the event of an emergency stop or (god forbid) a crash

yes, that certainly is one principle....


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