If Carlsberg did railway lines....

...the wouldn't do First Great Western.

I've now decided not to write about elated journeys, as I'd be doing that every day and it gets dull. I will however post when moments of gross ineptitude rear their heads.

So for tonight's tail. Having arrived at Paddington at 1847, just missing the fast Swansea service via Reading I quickly worked out that the next fastest service home, having discounted the delayed Oxford service was the 1900 to Bristol. Soon it's platform was announced - Platform 1. I and many others made our way there and boarded, only to note the window stickers said 'Plymouth', which is a later train. I eventually found a train crew member, who wasn't actually sure as they were due to be on the Bristol train it a colleague had just said this was the Plymouth train.

Then came the inevitable apologetic announcement, confirming the train at Platform 1 was the Plymouth train, and those wishing to travel to Bristol had to move to Platform 9. I joined the rush, and with a coup,e of side-steps, a body-check (on a gentleman larger than me, so no guilt was felt when he walked into me) and a surprising turn of pace I made the journey, and gratefully took one of the few remaining seats.

As I sat the apologetic announcements continued, and then to top it off customers were advised via tannoy to head to platform 10 to join the 1845 Swansea service....which had left already, so anyone who followed that advice would have found an empty platform.

As a work colleague of mine would say on such occassions......Jackpot.

Safe travelling everyone.

I'm late, I'm late....

Cried the Rabbit in Lewis Carroll's tales involving Alice. Lewis Carroll wrote the books in Oxford, and used to travel the Great Western Railway. I wonder if this was a little bit of foresight in his part, seeing what people would say when First Group ran the line? Probably not, however these are words I frequently heard passengers say this morning.

It all started with the cancellation of the 7.20 service from Cholsey, which is normally an 8 carriage 125 train. The reason given for the cancellation was "a train was delayed in travelling from the depot." it wasn't given as broken down, or anything else, merely delayed. So why wasn't the service merely delayed?

I as many other did then waited patiently for the 7.34 service, which was a two carriage DMU.

We all boarded and there were not many seats left, in fact after the next station it was standing room only. By Tilehurst we had to leave the majority of would be passengers behind. At Reading the same thing happened even after an exodus. It was only once we got to Maidenhead that the driver as part of their apology re the fact we couldn't take all passengers admitted that this train normally had more carriages, however we only had two due to a breakdown of an engine.  I lost count of how many passengers failed to catch the train today, bearing in mind this was probably their second choice after the cancelled service I also feel really sorry for them.

If you were one of those left behind then write to Mark Hopwood, MD of FGW, as I know he likes to receive feedback on the service provided.

And if you didn't make it on, I can offer a slight crumb of comfort....it was far from pleasant on the train in terms of cramped conditions, and some rather unfortunate odours produced by fellow passengers.

Ch....ch....changes

.....last minute platform changes rather than Mr Bowies wonderful tune is the subject for tonight's rant.

After a lovely trip to Cornwall courtesy of FGW I have experienced minor delays on every day of travel since resuming my commute, however because they were minor didn't really think youd want to hear about them. Tonight however, having left work in a happy frame of mind I now need to grumble.

My first grumble is that again a train I was on was delayed, although if it wasn't for the mysterious halt outside Reading we may well have been on time. The only plus was that for the first time this week the air con worked, good job given how busy the train was and how hot it is.

My second grumble is having bough a bottle of water and strolled to platform 10 in good time to catch the 1918 service home there was a last minute platform change. Now I know these announcement induce a sense of panic in some at the thought of a quick sprint up the stairs, over the bridge and down again, but that doesn't bother me that much . What does is when the announcement in a female voice goes "First Great Western regret to announce to passengers on Platform 10 that...(mans voice kicks in) this is a platform change, will passengers for Manchester Picaddilly please go to platform 4, I repeat Manchester Picadilly Passengers to platform 4." job done, no apology, and no further reference to Platform 10 passengers. Platform staff when questioned are just as bemused, and then the magical mystery tour begins as we all run up the steps, spot that the screens have finally updated, and run down some more stairs to the correct platform......just in time.

Then feeling relieved to be on the right train home pulling out of the station FGW deliver the coup de grace. After moving 500 yards we stop. And wait......in silence.......and wait some more. As a friend of mine says in such situations "Jackpot!"

Thanks FGW for a whole week of late trains and delaying the start to my weekend, I've even missed putting the boys to bed. I am now going to drink beer!

Have a good weekend everyone, safe and speedy travelling.