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October 15, 2007
A First to Stagecoach comparison
[15th October, 08:00, near Basingstoke]
I'm on the 07:35 from Andover into Waterloo. Although it's a rush hour train, I have a seat ... and at a table too so that I'm able to have my laptop open and do a little typing. The seat is soft and comfortable, and in spite of the foggy, foggy morning the train is on time. When I get to London, I'll be near enough to my final destination to walk rather than use the tube or a bus. And my fare is only £42.90 return.
I checked when I woke this morning to see about the alternative route from Melksham / Chippenham to London, and saw straight away that an least some trains were missing out the Bath and Chippenham stops. I could have spent over £100.00, taken my chances, and ended up in Paddington with that horrid onward journey Eastwards into the heart of London where Brunel's railway expires on the outskirts.
Andrew Haines, a former Managing Director of South West Trains is now in charge at First Great Western. My morning comparison shows just how much work he has to do. I understand he's planning to be at the FGW helm for less that a year; I wish him all the best in turning the services around, and look forward to being wooed back onto the more logical western route from my home town for my London journeys.
Posted by gje at October 15, 2007 04:24 PM