Reading Roars!

I was pretty stunned to read that Network Rail bosses are to receive six-figure bonuses.  I don’t like seeing executives rewarded for failure anyway, but this really stung.  The UK rail travel experience is often unpleasant and horrendously expensive.

Fortunately, if you feel similarly frustrated, you can have your say this coming Tuesday evening, as Network Rail and First Great Western’s managing director will be in Reading and taking questions from the public.  The event is a Reading Borough Council Scrutiny Panel meeting, held at 7pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices.  

What might FGW and NR expect?  Here are just 5 issues (emboldened), taken from Twitter (and no, I didn’t write these):

• My #fgw train looks like it’s going to be 30 mins late. Which means two train-loads of passengers in one train. Joy!
• The #FGW website sucks balls. Oh and so does the CrossCountry one. It’s amazing how difficult it is to buy train tickets.
• #fgw providing another filthy overcrowded service from Reading (17:57). Sitting in 1st class with a cattle-class ticket as revenge.
• Oh God no AC on train D: Worst Late Western I hate you. #fgw #firstgreatwestern #worstlatewestern

It’s worth stressing that these opportunities don’t happen very often.  The last scrutiny meeting with FGW was almost exactly one year ago.  FGW then gave us buzzword-heavy presentations and passionate words were spoken from the audience. 

Whether you feel angry about FGW services or simply love a good game of bullshit bingo, Tuesday night promises to be special.