First Great Western - a complaint
I am writing to complain about the 8.16 First Great Western service from Yate to Bristol Parkway on which I had the misfortune to travel this morning.
I have taken this service many times at the same time of day, naively hoping for an improvement each time. This was not to be. The train rolled in at 8.30, largely full while around 50 people waited on the platform. I was astonished that only two carriages were present after witnessing this scenario on several occasions. Why have more carriages not been added for what is obviously a very busy in-demand service?
Luckily, I only use this service in emergencies, and as I was only travelling to Bristol Parkway, I just had to hold my breath and tolerate being obscenely pressed against strangers for eight minutes. The train reached Parkway and positively exploded onto the platform, leaving the rather distressed looking passengers waiting to get on to fight their way through the melee for their dose of torture.
I cannot believe people are made to pay for this inhumane experience. Trying to persuade people to "ease the strain and take the train" is quite frankly a huge joke. I arrived at work feeling not only unclean but slightly panicked by the experience.
This experience has made me feel quite happy and guilt free to go back to congesting the roads and polluting the atmosphere with my two-litre gas guzzler, which I will joyously do from tomorrow. I suspect half the occupants of the train would agree but are unfortunately stuck with this service out of necessity and/or desperation.
I doubt many who read this letter will have experienced the 8.16 from Yate. If you would like to consider a comparison in order to empathise with my complaint – consider the tightly packed, triple-deckered pigs once seen on their way to Westerleigh abattoir. The similarity in occupant expression is striking.
I would go on to plead for action and hope for a positive reply. I do however realise this will not happen, and the depressing situation as outlined above will continue daily while people are still paying for this substandard service. Laws on animals transported to slaughter will ease the plight of the above mentioned pigs. I wonder what it will take for the same to happen to the population of Yate, or indeed anyone unfortunate enough to need this service at any step of their journey?
Elaine Rutherford, By email.
4 Comments
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Thursday, November 12 2009, 3:14PM
“That's a good idea, Jon, lets all complain to First Great Western. I'm sure their immedaiate response will be to add more carriages to the train.
HO HO HO HO HO ROTFLMAO”
by john, yate
Thursday, November 12 2009, 10:25AM
“Dear readers a reply to A DISTRESSING JOURNEY,
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that the First Great Western 07:40hrs service from Yate to Bristol is also very much like a cattle train and has been for many years and not only that we have to put up with abusive kids swearing and spitting when the children are on school holiday, even the local MP has been involved and we still see nothing, I have and many others have complained to First Great Western but do not get any great response.
I have on the other hand been told that my season ticket has gone up by £200 and that¿s with discount!!! And yet we see no improvements. Many a time I would get on the platform for the return journey which is just as bad at 4:45pm, to be told that I cant fit on the train and have to wait for a later one if it turns up! Only the other week there were people left on the platform. I would like to know where and what all the money that First Great Western gets every year goes on as they do not seem to put any into this very busy train service.
I to would much prefer to use my car but as the Bristol city council has increased all parking charges I stay away from that and stick with the very dirty and uncomfortable train ride, you would think this day and age that public transport would be the best but not in this city
h”
by KB, Bristol, England
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 1:40PM
“Elaine, I use this service on a daily basis, and after years of pressure, there is to be a third carriage as of December.
Regarding your comment about livestock transport, there are laws in place regulating the amount of animals that can be carried. However, the policy regarding train travel is that it's the individual's choice as to whether they take that particular train or not and that ultimately, it is the guard's decision as to how many passengers are allowed to board”
by Jon, Bristol
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 3:55PM
“Maybe complaining to the train operator rather than a local rag would be an idea?”