First Great Western - A disaster waiting to happen

Commuting daily between Bath and Bristol for the last one year has given me a deep insight into how First Great Western (FGW) manage and operate a busy intercity link.

The regular signal faults, jam packed trains, 'late running' services and just plain bad luck always seem to add that extra twist to my daily commute. The unpredictable and expensive FGW buses are almost boring in comparison.

If that was not enough, FGW have no way of monitoring how many cycles are brought on board. The cycle rack allows for 3 cycles on the Portsmouth harbour train for example. But more often than not one can find up to 5 cycles blocking the passage (see photo).

Not only can the extra cycles hurt someone in case of emergency breaking but they can also get dislodged and block the exit.

Keeping all this in mind I am curious to see what FGW can do with the Great Western Line and with the massive upgrade being planned in the Bristol-Bath area.

I guess the only thing they can do is increase the fare and enjoy hefty bonuses.

Cardiff 536

Firstly its a train. To be precise the 5.36 pm First Great Western service to Cardiff from Bath Spa.

I take this train back home everyday and as luck would have it, in my humble opinion, it is also the worst performing rail service in the Western world (I joke not!)

Statistics won't allow me to say it is late 10/10 times but I will still say it, if only to release some of the anger. ;)

Often the train has tiptoe room only (great if you are a ballerina) because First Great Western are facing 'an acute shortage of rolling stock' in these 'difficult economic times' (sob sob).

I don't know whether this is a problem of privatization or a simple case of some manager in FGW not doing his/her job.

:D