David Drew, MP for Stroud (Lab and Co-operative), has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for First Group’s Greater Western’s train services to be returned to the public sector.
This motion is being supported by passenger groups and rail unions.
Archive for July, 2007
Early Day Motion on First Great Western train services
Monday, July 23rd, 2007TravelWatch South West criticise FGW
Thursday, July 5th, 2007A short article in the Avon Advertiser (p. 7, 4 July) headlined: “Service is just not the ticket – rail users” covers the response of TravelWatch South West to the National Passenger Survey.
The survey revealed a drop in passenger satisfaction with FGW performance on the ex-Wessex network. TravelWatch have said they want to see improvements in capacity, punctuality and reliability, ticket-buying facilities, handling of delays and ambiance of FGW rolling stock.
According to the survey, overall satisfaction dropped by 8% which is now 5% below average compared to other operators. The biggest changes was the way the operator handled delays, falling in satisfaction by 17%.
Of 31 factors, only 3 have gone up for ex-Wessex services – all are station and train staff related (up by 1-2%).
TravelWatch have said: “Our message to First Great Western is ‘We are watching, but will not be content with just waiting’. We expect the autumn survey results to show improvement on what is, so far, a poor reflection of this new franchise.”
Robert Key wins FGW tickets
Thursday, July 5th, 2007During yesterday’s Commons debate, Robert Key, MP (Cons) for Salisbury contributing the following:-
Oral Answers to Questions – Wales: Train Services (4 Jul 2007)
Robert Key: The fourth prize in a recent charity auction in my
constituency was a pair of First Great Western first class return
tickets to London. I do not think that I dare travel First Great
Western, but if the Minister would like them, I will gladly give them to him.
Did he accept??
Other Tehminas
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007Quite by chance, I happened upon this string of comments about the meaning of Tehmina on an (old?) blog called Tam’s Diaries. There were suggestions of all descriptions from people called Tehmina across the world. Some suggestions were: ‘true witness’, ’shred’ or ’scintilla’, ‘healthy’ or ‘insurance’ in Arabic, ‘honest’ in Hebrew, ‘precious of heart’ and originating from south India, and then there was my suggestion which I believe, to my best knowledge, to be true, that it is from old Persian (Pahlavi) or older, and means ’strong woman’.
I think among these descriptions, any ought to do?
Give us this day our daily bread
Monday, July 2nd, 2007Last year, during the FA World Cup, I bought a sandwich which came with its own thought for the day. Today I find myself buying the same sandwich made by Daily Bread: shaved cheddar and pickle. It still comes with its daily motto which today is:
If God wanted us to fly, He would have given us airline tickets
Mel Brooks
Quite so.