Aaaggh - Darned Trains!

red · Post: # 104345Post **red** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:52 pm

hmm yeh I found it easier to take trains in the Netherlands.. it really shouldn't be easier for me to understand and use a system in a different country...

ina · Post: # 104348Post **ina** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:55 pm

Annpan wrote: The trains should have never been privatised... it is a complete sham.

This is not a personal attack MrsF but this just really gets to me

Other countries seem to be able to have a decent train system.

Last time I was in Germany I saw, to my horror, that the trains have been at least part privatised...

Annpan · Post: # 104351Post **Annpan** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:58 pm

ina wrote:
Annpan wrote: The trains should have never been privatised... it is a complete sham.

This is not a personal attack MrsF but this just really gets to me

Other countries seem to be able to have a decent train system.
Last time I was in Germany I saw, to my horror, that the trains have been at least part privatised...

I am of the belief that infrastructure of any country should not be privatised - have private systems alongside if that is called for but not the original and main system... it is holding the country to ransom

mrsflibble · Tue May 20, 2008 3:04 pm

I am all for a return to nationalised rail, but there's no way the government will ever do it, somehow they make more money this way.

Shirley · Post: # 104364Post **Shirley** » Tue May 20, 2008 4:18 pm

To get to Edinburgh by train from here we'd need to either walk/drive to the bus stop in Lumsden (5 miles away) and then get the bus to Huntly (20 miles from home) to catch a train to Aberdeen (40 miles east of home) and then finally catch the train to Edinburgh. It would appear to cost Â£83 or thereabouts for 2 adults and one 5 year old using the family railcard.... Â£143 without. It would take 3.5 hours on the train alone.

Andy Hamilton · Wed May 21, 2008 10:15 am

mrsflibble wrote:
Andy Hamilton wrote:We have the worst train operator in the country down here,
ok, flipping into GWR spokesperson here... they had some REALLY bad trains sold to them..

We might be talking at cross purposes here, I am talking about First Great Western (FGW). The fact that 16p in every Â£1 goes to the treasury does not help I am sure. But lets not forget that FGW still make some very healthy profits whilst delivering a service that is worse than in some 3rd world countries.

The firm behind the First Great Western rail service recently branded "unacceptable" by ministers today reported a sharp jump in profits.FirstGroup, which last year added the North American owner of the Greyhound buscompany to its portfolio of UK rail and bus services, said annual profits reached Â£360.1 million, a jump of 39 per cent on last year.

I have watched my local Severn Beach line destroyed by FGW the trains before they took over were on time and are very cheap. Fares have doubled and I have waited over 2 hours for a train before. Due to public pressure the service has been increased on this line but without a reliable service I can see this being revoked, people have to get to work on time! I have missed all sorts of meeting because of this crappy line in fact the only other option is to jump on an overcrowed and over priced bus that takes 4 times longer and is run by the same company. We have no choice in Bristol than to give money to Worst Great Western.

lsm1066 · Post: # 104556Post **lsm1066** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:04 pm

Andy Hamilton wrote:We have the worst train operator in the country down here, so at least you get trains that turn up and have seats! I took a return trip to Reading on Sunday and had to stand for part of the journey each way, on a flipping sunday I ask you! I don't care if I sound like a grumpy old man our trains are pretty poo. Saying that when they work well there is some amazing scenery from the lines out of Bristol and it can be a very comfortable journey. I have noticed that the trains are filling up a lot more over the summer months, I guess that the South West is a tourist area.

I used to commute every day from Swindon to London. I got the 6:45am train which had come from Weston Super Mud, and by the time it got to Swindon it was standing room only! Not only is God's Wonderful Railway (now First Great Western?) a tourist route, it's a massive commuter route. 20 years ago my season ticket was over grand a year. I shudder to think what it is now. (I just looked. It's six and a half grand now, not including the tube!)

mrsflibble · Thu May 22, 2008 2:56 pm

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=209

mrsflibble · Thu May 22, 2008 2:57 pm

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=209

all I can say for them is they pay for my house, food, car.....