Reading Roars!

I have been keeping track of First Great Western mentions in the press. It appears that pressure is mounting on the train company.

Chancellor Alistair Darling recently told FGW to “get a grip”.

In Cardiff, tougher words were said by Jenny Randerson AM (”Train service branded ‘Worst Great Western’“) :

First Great Western is rapidly gaining the title of the worst train company in Britain. It is now the Worst Great Western.

This is having a serious affect on the economy of South Wales and I want to challenge Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to join me in condemning First Great Western. With the huge fare rises announced recently, this is just unacceptable.

I believe it is time FGW was told to shape up or risk losing all of its rail franchises.

In Reading - and this is the bit that particularly interests me - FGW managers will be asked to face commuters in a public meeting planned by councillors. The move follows the passing of a Lib Dem motion saying that the council believes that “First Great Western’s performance in running the commuter route to London is well below par and that its fares are overpriced.”

Lastly, an article has appeared in The Guardian about new FGW Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Haines, an appointment welcomed by commuter watchdog Passenger Focus. According to the article (”Rude awakening on the 6.30 from Paddington“) , Haines is working a six-day week on the franchise (as well as on four other rail services). He says, realistically:

My experience of business transformation is that it does not happen overnight.

Haine adds:

First Great Western underestimated the scale of the challenge. It underestimated the strength of passenger feeling … be it timetable changes, be it fare rises, be it service levels. It was a complex task, integrating three franchises into one, re-engineering and refurbishing a high-speed train fleet in three years.

It’s a tough job. I hope he gets it right.