FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

.... at putting hundreds at risk.

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It was a three car unit - the rear car was completely locked out of
use. This meant that EVERYONE had to pack into the two forward cars.
We left after a ten minute squeeze into an already jammed train. We
stopped at Southall where even more tried to get on board - most
failed - most were left behind - they'd waited an hour. By this time
you'd have thought that an apology was due from the driver - but NONE
was made. We endured the most appalling cattle truck conditions -
babies and mothers, the elderly, hundreds of others - until Ealing -
where there was a gigantic squash for some to disembark, and many more
embark. Again this took about 10 minutes. We arrived at Paddington
almost an HOUR late. Again no apology - no-one to complain to - no
apology from the driver. As someone remarked is this really 2004. God
help us when they reduce the local service even further in December to
make way for more over-priced HEX services. (I use the word 'service'
with complete sarcasm - FGWL wouldn't know what a service was).

SB

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"S.Byers" wrote in message
om...

... at putting hundreds at risk.

surely they put themselves at risk by attempting to get into an already full
train. Indeed those getting on at Southall exacerbated the situation and
put "babies and mothers, the elderly, hundreds of others" at even greater
risk by squeezing in. Would an apology from the driver have magically
conjured up another three cars?

Al

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

Huge wrote:
(S.Byers) writes:
The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived
-
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It's "gunwhales", BTW.

actually, it's "gunwales".

CC

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"S.Byers" wrote in message
om...
... at putting hundreds at risk.

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It was a three car unit - the rear car was completely locked out of
use. This meant that EVERYONE had to pack into the two forward cars.
We left after a ten minute squeeze into an already jammed train. We
stopped at Southall where even more tried to get on board - most
failed - most were left behind - they'd waited an hour. By this time
you'd have thought that an apology was due from the driver - but NONE
was made. We endured the most appalling cattle truck conditions -
babies and mothers, the elderly, hundreds of others - until Ealing -
where there was a gigantic squash for some to disembark, and many more
embark. Again this took about 10 minutes. We arrived at Paddington
almost an HOUR late. Again no apology - no-one to complain to - no
apology from the driver. As someone remarked is this really 2004. God
help us when they reduce the local service even further in December to
make way for more over-priced HEX services. (I use the word 'service'
with complete sarcasm - FGWL wouldn't know what a service was).

SB

FGWL, hmmmn. I love the way they launched the service proclaiming that they
were going to be so much better than Thames Trains when I, as a daily
commuter between Ealing Broadway and Paddington, have seen the service
reduced to ridiculously poor levels. I see on-board posters "boasting" of
improved services - I'm not quite sure how they worked that out; more than a
little bit of wishful thinking..

Lately there have been on-board posters stating "no-one likes a dirty train"
and talks about how they are deep cleaning all of the trains. This would be
a great idea if they could actually get the basics of running a train
company correct in the first place - i.e. an efficient on-time service..

Surely the majority of the staff are the same now as when they were Thames
Trains so what has happened...?

The new timetable launches on 12th December - if this makes things better
than they are now then they will proclaim that as a great success story. In
my opinion, things would have to greatly improve to even be on par with the
service offered by Thames Trains this time last year.

Regarding the new timetable, has anyone noticed that they claim the new
timetable will make more space on the track for a new stopping service
between Paddington and Heathrow BUT that this will not be introduced until
Spring '05... great so from December 12 to "Spring '05" are we going to be
running at an even lower capacity than normal?

Anyway, moaning over, except to say that I think we should start a campaign
to ban them from using the word "great" in their company name.

--
Ant May

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Huge" wrote in message
...
(S.Byers) writes:
.... at putting hundreds at risk.

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.

It's "gunwhales", BTW.

Actually it isn't - it's gunwales. No 'h'.

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

In article ,
Ant May wrote:

Regarding the new timetable, has anyone noticed that they claim the new
timetable will make more space on the track for a new stopping service
between Paddington and Heathrow BUT that this will not be introduced
until Spring '05... great so from December 12 to "Spring '05" are we
going to be running at an even lower capacity than normal?

The half hourly Paddington-Heathrow service will run from 12 December but
only as far as Hayes, and will be worked by Class 165s. It will be
extended from Hayes to Heathrow next Spring when the first four 360/2
Desiros are available. The first of these units is already at Old Oak
Common. Other services will also be strengthened after 12 December, with
more trains formed of two 165/166s instead of one providing more seats.

David

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Ant May" wrote in message
...

Regarding the new timetable, has anyone noticed that they claim the new
timetable will make more space on the track for a new stopping service
between Paddington and Heathrow BUT that this will not be introduced until
Spring '05... great so from December 12 to "Spring '05" are we going to be
running at an even lower capacity than normal?

Until the new trains for the stopping service to Heathrow are available,
FGWL will operate Paddington - Hayes & Harlington trains in the paths set
aside for the new service. From 12 December they should be able to alleviate
some of the overcrowding, as Adelantes will take over some journeys from
Thames Turbo (mainly Oxford and Worcester services), and Chiltern are taking
over the Stratford-upon-Avon service, so FGWL will not run north of Banbury.

Peter

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of...)
 

Huge wrote:
(S.Byers) writes:
The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It's "gunwhales", BTW.

According to the OED it is either "gunwale" or "gunnel" as the original
poster spelled it.

Of course it additionally lists archaic variant spellings such as the
one you used and gonne walle, gunwayle, gunwaile, gun-wall, gun(n)al,
and gunhill.
--
Michael Hoffman

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"S.Byers" wrote in message
om...
... at putting hundreds at risk.

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It was a three car unit - the rear car was completely locked out of
use. This meant that EVERYONE had to pack into the two forward cars.
We left after a ten minute squeeze into an already jammed train. We
stopped at Southall where even more tried to get on board - most
failed - most were left behind - they'd waited an hour. By this time
you'd have thought that an apology was due from the driver - but NONE
was made. We endured the most appalling cattle truck conditions -
babies and mothers, the elderly, hundreds of others - until Ealing -
where there was a gigantic squash for some to disembark, and many more
embark. Again this took about 10 minutes. We arrived at Paddington
almost an HOUR late. Again no apology - no-one to complain to - no
apology from the driver. As someone remarked is this really 2004. God
help us when they reduce the local service even further in December to
make way for more over-priced HEX services. (I use the word 'service'
with complete sarcasm - FGWL wouldn't know what a service was).

SB

I love it when they use a computerised voice to say "I am sorry that the
train service has been delayed"
As if the computer is able to feel the depth of emotion that you do when
facing the prospect of unemployment in the immediate future.

I wonder if the management are aware that the insincere computerised apology
causes so much resentment.

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Michael Hoffman" wrote in
message ...
Huge wrote:
(S.Byers) writes:
The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -
well eventually - fully 25 minutes late - but packed to the gunnels.
It's "gunwhales", BTW.

According to the OED it is either "gunwale" or "gunnel" as the original
poster spelled it.

Of course it additionally lists archaic variant spellings such as the
one you used and gonne walle, gunwayle, gunwaile, gun-wall, gun(n)al,
and gunhill.
--
Michael Hoffman

Yes okay the train was chock a block - we get the picture and we are more
concerned with the situation on the trains than the correct use of nautical
below the decks terminology.

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

gwr4090 wrote in message ...

The half hourly Paddington-Heathrow service will run from 12 December but
only as far as Hayes, and will be worked by Class 165s. It will be
extended from Hayes to Heathrow next Spring when the first four 360/2
Desiros are available.

How will this service will compare in terms of fares and journey times
with the Heathrow Express? Is it to be expected that HX will lose much
custom to the new service?

Andy Kirkham
Glasgow

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

In article ,
Skokkie wrote:

Yes okay the train was chock a block - we get the picture and we are more
concerned with the situation on the trains than the correct use of nautical
below the decks terminology.

I believe the gunwales are (just) above the decks ...

Nick
--
http://www.leverton.org/ ... So express yourself

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Nick Leverton" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Skokkie wrote:

Yes okay the train was chock a block - we get the picture and we are more
concerned with the situation on the trains than the correct use of
nautical
below the decks terminology.

I believe the gunwales are (just) above the decks ...


Yeah but the riff raff below the decks used diverse colloquialisms to
describe them

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of...)
 

Andy Kirkham wrote:
gwr4090 wrote in message ...


The half hourly Paddington-Heathrow service will run from 12 December but
only as far as Hayes, and will be worked by Class 165s. It will be
extended from Hayes to Heathrow next Spring when the first four 360/2
Desiros are available.


How will this service will compare in terms of fares and journey times
with the Heathrow Express? Is it to be expected that HX will lose much
custom to the new service?

Between Paddington, Ealing, Southall and Hayes, the services (Heathrow
Connect) are available for use as normal FGWL services, with the same
fares. Revenue for these tickets will go to FGWL.

Fares from Ealing, Southall and Hayes to Heathrow will have a premium
added (i.e. the Hayes-Heathrow section will be expensive). The premium
will go to BAA.

There will be no reduced fare between Paddington and Heathrow, and
Heathrow Connect will be advertised as a Hayes train at Paddington
(similarly, it will be advertised as an Ealing train at Heathrow).
Therefore the custom will be entirely different from HEx, so no HEx
custom will really be lost.

Shameless plug:
http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/67

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

In article ,
Andy Kirkham wrote:
gwr4090 wrote in message ...

The half hourly Paddington-Heathrow service will run from 12 December
but only as far as Hayes, and will be worked by Class 165s. It will be
extended from Hayes to Heathrow next Spring when the first four 360/2
Desiros are available.

How will this service will compare in terms of fares and journey times
with the Heathrow Express? Is it to be expected that HX will lose much
custom to the new service?

The half hourly Heathrow Connect stopping services from Paddington should
reach Heathrow T123 in about 28 mins, compared with 15 mins for Heathrow
Express services.

David

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 08:37:53 -0800, S.Byers wrote:

... at putting hundreds at risk.

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -

This has bugged me for a while. When you say "ex-Hayes", I assume you mean
the service from hayes, however what does Ex-hayes actually mean?

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

In article ,
Paul Weaver wrote:
On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 08:37:53 -0800, S.Byers wrote:

The 11.53 today (Sunday) ex-Hayes to Paddington FGWL strain arrived -

This has bugged me for a while. When you say "ex-Hayes", I assume you mean
the service from hayes, however what does Ex-hayes actually mean?

Ex is Latin for "from".

Nick
--
http://www.leverton.org/ ... So express yourself

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of...)
 

gwr4090 wrote:

The half hourly Heathrow Connect stopping services from Paddington should
reach Heathrow T123 in about 28 mins, compared with 15 mins for Heathrow
Express services.

Hmmm.

With that schedule, they could serve Hanwell, Acton Main Line and West
Ealing as well, unless the Heathrow branch is incredibly slow. This
would solve the main problem with the new service, which is vastly
reduced frequency at these 3 stations.

(Standard slow train timing Paddington to Hayes is 20 minutes, missing
only Acton Main Line.)

Colin McKenzie

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Colin McKenzie" wrote in message
...
gwr4090 wrote:

The half hourly Heathrow Connect stopping services from Paddington should
reach Heathrow T123 in about 28 mins, compared with 15 mins for Heathrow
Express services.

Hmmm.

With that schedule, they could serve Hanwell, Acton Main Line and West
Ealing as well, unless the Heathrow branch is incredibly slow. This would
solve the main problem with the new service, which is vastly reduced
frequency at these 3 stations.

None of these stations will have a reduced frequency in the new timetable.
The only difference is that the slow train to Slough now only goes as far as
Hayes.

Peter Smyth

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Peter Smyth" wrote in message
...

None of these stations will have a reduced frequency in the new timetable.
The only difference is that the slow train to Slough now only goes as far
as Hayes.

What about stations beyond Hayes?

P C

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"Paul Clare" moc.evresupmoc@eralc_luap wrote in message
...

"Peter Smyth" wrote in message
...

None of these stations will have a reduced frequency in the new
timetable. The only difference is that the slow train to Slough now only
goes as far as Hayes.

What about stations beyond Hayes?

The slow Oxford service will now call at Ealing Broadway, Hayes, West
Drayton, Iver, Langley, Slough, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading then most
stations to Oxford.

Peter Smyth

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of...)
 

Peter Smyth wrote:

"Colin McKenzie" wrote in message
gwr4090 wrote:

The half hourly Heathrow Connect stopping services from Paddington should
reach Heathrow T123 in about 28 mins, compared with 15 mins for Heathrow
Express services.

With that schedule, they could serve Hanwell, Acton Main Line and West
Ealing as well, unless the Heathrow branch is incredibly slow. This would
solve the main problem with the new service, which is vastly reduced
frequency at these 3 stations.

None of these stations will have a reduced frequency in the new timetable.
The only difference is that the slow train to Slough now only goes as far as
Hayes.

Your source for this statement?

Mine is Ealing Gazette, backed up by the reaction of Ealing Council
and the response of FGW to local complaints, which is that the trains
will be longer. One qualification: the local discussion is about peak
hour frequencies. It is possible that off-peak frequencies are not
affected.

Colin McKenzie

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

In message , Charles Ellson
writes
It's not. There's a choice of "gunnels" or "gunwales" assuming you're
not warning us about a particularly militant group of cetaceans.
You've put an image in my mind there Charles which has quite cheered me
up fir the day! :-))

--
Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK
Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for
London & the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of...)
 

(I use the word 'service'
with complete sarcasm - FGWL wouldn't know what a service was).

Their service is much better than that ****-poor system operated by
Thames Strains.
--
To reply direct, remove NOSPAM and replace with railwaysonline
For railway information, news and photos see http://www.railwaysonline.co.uk
"You love railways online"

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

When the new HEX Connect service starts the local service from
Paddington to Hayes will have to terminate at Hayes at the rarely used
bay platform 5.

However next year when the Connect service goes from Paddington to
Hayes to Heathrow it will have to stop at platform 1 – the platform on
the fast down line.

Otherwise it will have to use the down local platform 3 – but then it
will have to cross both fast lines to get onto the Heathrow branch.

Seems like someone hasn't really thought this through properly.

SB


"Peter Smyth" wrote in message ...
"Paul Clare" moc.evresupmoc@eralc_luap wrote in message
...

"Peter Smyth" wrote in message
...

None of these stations will have a reduced frequency in the new
timetable. The only difference is that the slow train to Slough now only
goes as far as Hayes.

What about stations beyond Hayes?

The slow Oxford service will now call at Ealing Broadway, Hayes, West
Drayton, Iver, Langley, Slough, Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading then most
stations to Oxford.

Peter Smyth

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

"S.Byers" wrote in message
om...
When the new HEX Connect service starts the local service from
Paddington to Hayes will have to terminate at Hayes at the rarely used
bay platform 5.

However next year when the Connect service goes from Paddington to
Hayes to Heathrow it will have to stop at platform 1 - the platform on
the fast down line.

Otherwise it will have to use the down local platform 3 - but then it
will have to cross both fast lines to get onto the Heathrow branch.

I imagine it will use platform 3 then the Up spur from Airport Junction -
the line is reversible - and cross to the down Airport line before entering
the tunnel to Heathrow 123. This way it won't conflict with the fast lines
at all, but the Up spur will be quite intensively used, with four Up
Heathrow Expresses, two Up Heathrow Connects, and two Down Heathrow
Connects.

Peter

FGW Link excels even Thames Strains at public safety (lack of ...)
 

Behold the educated words of S.Byers in uk.local.london:

When the new HEX Connect service starts the local service from
Paddington to Hayes will have to terminate at Hayes at the rarely used
bay platform 5.

However next year when the Connect service goes from Paddington to
Hayes to Heathrow it will have to stop at platform 1 – the platform on
the fast down line.

Otherwise it will have to use the down local platform 3 – but then it
will have to cross both fast lines to get onto the Heathrow branch.

The sad thing is, that's one of the more interesting items posted to
uk.local.london since midnight last...
--
Al

If a hungry man has water / and a thirsty man has bread / be not dismayed /
that when they trade / both come out ahead