(FIRST GROUP'S) GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ON TOP FORM

Here's a fabulous evening's service out of London for my family, waiting to join me here in Bath:

The 39 minutes' delay to the 2130 is due to "A broken down train earlier today"; the cancellation of the 2227 is due to "A borken down train"; the delay to the 2321 is due to "A broken down train earlier today".

These operators don't know how to run a railway - but they sure know how to make profits from not maintaining trains, and therefore not running them.

... and they make an announcement on the 2321 arrival saying "We have to let crew have a 20 minute break" ... oh that's all right, then ... not enough well-maintained trains; not enough crew ... 

... do they expect sympathy?

COUNTRY RAILWAY HAS FAULTY TRAINS

I don't seem to be getting the courtesy of replies from 'First' Great Western when I take the trouble to write to them - so this is where my observations will have to reside in future (unless, of course, I need some retribution from them)....

So here I was today at Avoncliff Station, waiting for my usual weekly service to Bath Spa.  I pressed the button for the recorded announcements, and was told that the train was delayed by (at the time) 36 minutes!  36 minutes on a country railway!!!  

Surely, for a railway service that is:

• Adequately resourced
• Adequately maintained, and
• Adequately staffed

... delays like this just shouldn't happen.  Let's see what our Railway Company told us ...  

... "This train has been delayed by a fault on this train".  So, if they're telling the truth - and I know they frequently don't - it's the adequate maintenance that we have to put the cross against.

Pathetic, isn't it? - And they simply don't seem to care.