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Topic: Routed via Bath - even when a direct train is available! (Read 1863 times)
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Graham Ellis
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I had a customer returning to Southampton by train yesterday evening, and First had sold him a train-specific ticket from Chippenham at 18:45, changing at Bath (depart 19:07) and Westbury (depart 19:40) ...
Oh Gawd ... that's three sides around a square, so I ran him over to Trowbridge to catch the train there, at 19:28 ... the one coming off Bath at 19:07 and the only train on which his ticket was valid.
A question.
Why ON EARTH didn't the website offer him the 19:01 from Chippenham - a through train to Southampton (20:45 arrival) ? Especially as - as far as I can see - that is the very train he changed onto at Westbury anyway!
Is it just me, or do you get the impression that First are trying to encourage traffic away from the direct route via Melksham ... are we back in to a "closure by stealth" scenario here? ....
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Graham Ellis
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I have received a very quick response - with more to follow - on this subject. To hear this 'closure by stealth' stuff yet again is depressing. "....." c) everyone agrees that the route has potential for development. I couldn't agree more - it IS depressing. But it will continue to be asked by people who are seeing the services offered for the first time - the current awful service, official national rail information that misses out half of the few remaining trains, and tickets sold that route people away from direct services over the line onto other services that require multiple changes and take longer - and wonder why. The way to clear this stuff is to provide an appropriate service. And if that will take yet another year, then to pre-announce witha big fanfare that service that will be provided and help us build up to it. And I'm delighted to see that last segment - "everyone agrees that the route has potential for development". I am cheered that we have come a very, very long way. |
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« Last Edit: December 14, 2007, 11:36:07 AM by Graham Ellis »
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Industry Insider
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Who are you quoting, Graham? Looking forward to the more to follow...
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Graham Ellis
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Who are you quoting, Graham? Looking forward to the more to follow...
I wanted to get in quickly with that positive rather than let the "closure by stealth" sit there for too long ... but with the current service that looks like it's designed to drive people away (when in fact it is designed to save a train by using "marginal" or spare time of a unit) keeps having newcomers make that suggestion. There will be more to follow as I get clearance and further comment back. The "everyone agrees that the route has potential for development" is NOT news to me - but it's great (no, I'll say it stronger - it's GLORIOUS!) to see it writ in an email from one of the main players. And it shows just how far we have come back towards a sensible approach. I look forward to 2008. |
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Lee
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I remain dubious myself. While there is no concrete evidence (but plenty of circumstansial) that an official plan exists to run down the service , the current mad situation could lead to equally mad decisions being taken in the relatively near future.
I would agree though , that the best way to kill this notion off is to provide an appropriate service , and I remain ever ready to play my part in that process.
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Sion Bretton
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Is this why so many services this week have been cancelled, with the start of new timetable?
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