Business

First Great Western invests after survey

February 09, 2010

A train operator has responded to customer demands by announcing a multi-million pound makeover.

First Great Western is investing more than £8 million to improve its commuter fleet in the Thames Valley, a budget increase of a third. The upgrade comes following last year’s National Passenger Survey, in which customers voiced opinions on improvements that could be made.

The makeover will include the upgrade of 151 carriages.

Additional benefits will include a GPS-linked public address system to improve accuracy and clarity of journey information, new toilets, a new air conditioning system and a complete refurbishment of carriage interiors. Work has already begun on two coaches, with a projected completion date for the entire fleet of March 2012.

Work will take place on just a few carriages at a time, and trains on quieter routes may be made of fewer carriages than usual.

Managing director of First Great Western, Mark Hopwood, said: “This investment is a direct response to the issues our customers have been telling us about. Understandably their first priority is for their trains to be on time, and with improvements in punctuality and reliability of more than three per cent in the past year, we’re making real progress.”

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I've never thought the train interiors were too bad (I can't comment on the toilets, never used them). What frustrated me as a commuter on the Reading to Paddington line was that if you weren't lucky enough to persuade a fellow passenger to let you have the seat that their bag was nestling into, then you'd obviously end up standing...for a relatively short journey I know, but for a HUGE price, while there were three empty first class carriages. Before someone else mentions that you are entitled to sit in first class if there is nowhere else to sit...yes you are, as a full price ticket holder. Offer does NOT apply to season ticket holders.

Wabbit, Reading
09/02/2010 at 12:35

So FGW didn't wasn't aware their rolling stock was in a dilapidated state?! They had to wait to be told so by their passengers?!

Big P, Reading
09/02/2010 at 11:24

The air conditioning will not be new all they are doing is trying to make the existing system work (which never has). The toilets are not going to be new either. The insides are getting painted, and new carpets and floors fitted. Seats will be recovered not replaced. All this was expected to happen three years ago. Nothing will be done to the mechanics of the trains, and as for listening to customers this is all part of their franchise terms. If they looked after the trains in the first place they wouldn’t be in this state. They also do far more miles than they were designed to do. Hopefully they will fix the windows so they stay shut. Problem is any work will be undone as they do not look after the trains. This is very much a cheaper plan than was initially looked at. They also wanted to reduce the amount of seats to increase standing room but couldn't as the carriages are not strong enough. Nice bit of PR by FGW, but as usual all total rubbish.

hornbeam, reading
09/02/2010 at 09:48

Is this the long-overdue refurbishment of the old Thames Turbo trains? It's about time - perhaps sitting in the same half of the carriage as the toilet won't be such a smelly experience from now on.