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Topic: New Year, Same Old Problems (Saltash) (Read 8109 times)
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Lee
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The New Year has not started well cancellation - wise on the Devon - Cornwall border (link below.) http://www.srug.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=2"Congratulations to FGW on a stunning start to the first working day of the new year. The main commuter service - the 07:53 was cancelled without explanation. This is now the only morning train that serves the minor Plymouth stations, and the next train to Plymouth is 45 minutes later - hardly a viable delay on a working day." "If FGW are going to continue to play 'shuffle-the-cancellation' as they haven't bothered to lease enough rolling stock to run a reliable service we expect that passenger numbers, which have been rising, will rapidly start to decline." "This correspondent for one simply decided to drive over the bridge and use the park'n'ride - a little more expensive than the train but a lot cheaper and more convenient than the buses." |
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Lee
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Here is a further article , entitled "The Chaos Continues - What on earth is going on at First Great Western?" , which also points out that certain HST trains are STILL missing out Saltash & St Germans (link below.) http://www.srug.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2Here is some background on this : Quote from the Saltash Rail Users Group Website (link below) : http://www.srug.org.uk/"SRUG members were left dismayed and stranded as the early morning commuter services that are now HSTs trundled through the station without stopping. Apparently this was an 'operational error', small consolation to passengers without service..." The guard thought it was unsafe to stop apprentally  |
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Graham Ellis
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"Congratulations to FGW on a stunning start to the first working day of the new year. The main commuter service - the 07:53 was cancelled without explanation. This is now the only morning train that serves the minor Plymouth stations, and the next train to Plymouth is 45 minutes later - hardly a viable delay on a working day."
"If FGW are going to continue to play 'shuffle-the-cancellation' as they haven't bothered to lease enough rolling stock to run a reliable service we expect that passenger numbers, which have been rising, will rapidly start to decline."
I heard a rumour that First didn't even include the ex-Wessex services in the Great Western bid, stating that they only wanted the main line services, but that the DfT told them "all or nothing". Of course, I don't expect we could get any confirmation of that as everything will be "commercial in confidence", but I do wonder if the rumour is true ... and if so, whether there's a delibarate under-resourcing going on. Why, because it would let First get shot of service and stations which "no-one wants" once they're unused because of reliability and infrequency and concentrate on the business that they really wanted, with the fallout going to their buses or to cars. In this scenario poor Andrew Griffiths, ex Wessex and with an excellent reputation for delevoping services, could be seen as their sacrificial lamb who is at this time doing his level best but will in due course carry the can. I don't know whether to believe the rumour and the scenario painted - but I can't believe that company that's shown itself to be pretty good overall, with good communitcations and managers, should have made such a mess accidentally. |
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Nick Field
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I hope that rumour is not true, its makes very scary reading and I wonder if Andrew Griffiths might be aware of it?
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« Last Edit: January 05, 2007, 07:43:16 PM by Nick Field »
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Nick Field
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"Congratulations to FGW on a stunning start to the first working day of the new year. The main commuter service - the 07:53 was cancelled without explanation. This is now the only morning train that serves the minor Plymouth stations, and the next train to Plymouth is 45 minutes later - hardly a viable delay on a working day."
"If FGW are going to continue to play 'shuffle-the-cancellation' as they haven't bothered to lease enough rolling stock to run a reliable service we expect that passenger numbers, which have been rising, will rapidly start to decline."
I heard a rumour that First didn't even include the ex-Wessex services in the Great Western bid, stating that they only wanted the main line services, but that the DfT told them "all or nothing". Of course, I don't expect we could get any confirmation of that as everything will be "commercial in confidence", but I do wonder if the rumour is true ... and if so, whether there's a delibarate under-resourcing going on. Why, because it would let First get shot of service and stations which "no-one wants" once they're unused because of reliability and infrequency and concentrate on the business that they really wanted, with the fallout going to their buses or to cars. In this scenario poor Andrew Griffiths, ex Wessex and with an excellent reputation for delevoping services, could be seen as their sacrificial lamb who is at this time doing his level best but will in due course carry the can. I don't know whether to believe the rumour and the scenario painted - but I can't believe that company that's shown itself to be pretty good overall, with good communitcations and managers, should have made such a mess accidentally. If this rumour did turn out to be true, would it be something that first are doing behind the DfTs back, or would the DfT be behind it as well? |
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Graham Ellis
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If this rumour did turn out to be true, would it be something that first are doing behind the DfTs back, or would the DfT be behind it as well? Well, clearly the DfT would be aware that the question had been asked. And it could have been sprung from something as innocent as an exchange at a very early meeting, with the bidders looking to learn what the contraints were. That's what I felt it probably was when I first heard it, buit I'm beginning to wonder in the light of what's been going on. I thought long and hard before I posted this. But these pages are ready and there's plenty of opportunity for someone to pitch in and tell us what the real status is - either to re-assure us or to confirm things. And I'm being very careful indeed until I know better to point out that it did come to me as just a rumour, and should be treated only as such. But we do need to discuss scenarios and the thinking that goes on behind if we're to be proactive in suggestions we make, to push on open doors and not ones that are locked closed, and to avoid being causght by surprise on any negative moves. |
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bubblecat
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Just a small thought to add onto this.
FGW run my buses as well, so in essence, if they did manage to get people from train to bus in North Somerset they would lose none of the business.
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Exestudent
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As an ex Wessex Trains manager who no longer works for FGW, I have been reading the comments on this forum this evening with much interest. I have thought long and hard about posting, but thought I'd like to add some things.
Firstly, being passionate about railways in the westcountry, and being proud what Wessex Trains achieved, I am so angry and embarrassed at the present state of affairs...
I can't comment about the above rumour, although my personal opinion is that it can’t be true. What I will say though is it was clear from day one of the franchise on April 1st, when we were 'kicked out' of our offices in Exeter, FGW weren't interested in the Wessex side of the business. This was born out, when in the development of the new timetable, ex Wessex staff were not involved in anyway shape or form, despite engineering some of the best timetables the region has seen in many a year! When ex Wessex staff warned FGW that the timetable had huge flaws, particularly in the number of units and peak overcrowding, well suffice to say it was like banging ones head against a brick wall....Needless to say I don't believe anyone who questioned the timetable still works for FGW.
Excuse me if I don't sign with my name, as I still work in the Rail Industry, and work with FGW.
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Graham Ellis
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Hello, Exestudent, I'm delighted that you have posted, and understand your anonymity. You are confirming much of what we had suspected. The big question now is "where now" ... how go move forward. And this at least helps us understand a major player with whom we have to work, just as you do.
One follow up question that I've wondered about, and wonder if you can shed any light. We're told that there can't be any more trains because that's where the DfT has the limit placed, but I wonder how the limit / number came to be in the first place. Was each bidder free to specify a number of trains during the bidding process that then became the cap (so it was really First who set the limit that they're working to), or was it part of the DfT's detailed request to all bidders that would have forced Stagecoach and National Express, had they won, to have equally limited resources?
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Exestudent
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How I understand the restriction on units is quite different to what I've read elsewhere, so I may have got this wrong. I will say I wasn't personally involved in any aspects of the franchise bid, this is just what colleagues have told me, and what I've picked up myself. I would point alot of the problems at the minute though are down to St Philips Marsh depot being unfinished, very few extra staff taken on there, and noone to train them in how to maintain DMU's. Those 4 class 153's at Eastleigh wouldn't make much differnece at the minute because there would be noone to makew them fit for traffic again.
However back to the subject. It is certain that the DfT requested all bidders made use of the 8 class 143's, orginally in the spec of course to work Devon local branches, one of the rare successes we had was to stop that! Beyond that, I believe the franchise agreement states that seating capacity must at least match Dec 05 capacity. This clearly hasn't happened on many routes, and I personally believe its FGW who have got their sums wrong. But clearly the DfT has had to approve the plan so there's many unanswered questions. My big concern now though is for the summer. In Wessex days we had the 31's, and usually managed to 'borrow' a couple of units from somewhere else, to ensure the Weymouth and St Ives branches were at least strengthened. I'd love to know FGW's plans for summer...
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Graham Ellis
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That's an interesting insight - very interesting. I'm always one to work with people to try to achive an outcome that's satisafctory for all, rather than take to the ramparts for a battle - I would much rather walk in through a door. I see a few indications of open doors but at times really, really wonder if they truely are doors, or just decoys painted on the walls. Sorry - I'm talking in riddles here. I have my fingers crossed that the December '07 consultation, and some of timetable improvements already being looked at, will action be acted on / actioned rather than just being answered with a sympathetic letter. Ideas welcome from all quarters!
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Lee
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Here is a further article , entitled "The Chaos Continues - What on earth is going on at First Great Western?" , which also points out that certain HST trains are STILL missing out Saltash & St Germans (link below.) http://www.srug.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2Here is some background on this : Quote from the Saltash Rail Users Group Website (link below) : http://www.srug.org.uk/"SRUG members were left dismayed and stranded as the early morning commuter services that are now HSTs trundled through the station without stopping. Apparently this was an 'operational error', small consolation to passengers without service..." The guard thought it was unsafe to stop apprentally Here is a BBC article on this (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6247357.stm |
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Lee
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The RMT give their view on HST trains calling at stations not served by HSTs for many years prior to privatisation in the link below. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/01/train_safety_at_stations_first.html#moreInteresting quote : "Despite requests from our Representatives, FGW refused to carry out risk assessments. At one stage they claimed that they had 'Grandfather Rights' that allowed them to stop HSTs at the stations concerned without needing to undertake risk assessments. This of course is complete nonsense." |
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