And more than three in four are therefore happy with the service.  Surely that's more of a surprise!

Not quite the whole story. Quote :

"Fewer than half of rail passengers travelling between Bristol and London feel they are getting good value for money from train operator First Great Western. The firm is also said to have the third lowest rating in the country for overall satisfaction among its customers, according to a new national survey. Only 37 per cent of people questioned felt that First dealt well with delays and 41 per cent did not feel they were given enough information during their journey. The number of First Great Western passengers who were satisfied with punctuality was also below the national average, with 73 per cent being satisfied in the South West, compared with 79 per cent nationally."

Some rather unkind commentators have pointed out that Passenger Focus is funded by the DfT , but I am sure that has no bearing whatsoever on their surveys....

There is little satisfaction in rail travel on FGW and everyone who does it knows this.  Does our money have to be spent telling us what we already know?

That DfT fund Passenger Focus does not surprise me considering the bland response and subsequent non-response I have had from them.