heart-of-wessex
Established Member
Hi all,
Yesterday me and DJC_158 had a geat day spotting in london, however crumbled on the way back! We had to get a 2045 Paddington - BTM HST (why is there no 2015) to Chippenham due in at 2200 and was able to get the 2210 234 Chippenham - Melksham bus. 43009 left on time racing out then stopped at Hayes & Harlington (pressumibly for a red light) and we thought it was either a HEX (and a very slow one!!), a Class 7 freight put in front or the signalman forgot to set the route. after 3 minutes we were away with what seemed like greens all to reading. People started getting on/off as slow as possible, already 5 down at Reading, then away to Didcot full whack. Same again at Didcot, people started getting on slowly leaving doors open and at this time we were due into Chippenham at 2207, we left powering to Swindon and on the way the guard said we were due into BTM at 2220...2220?? by my calculations that would mean if we are to arrive at Chippenham at 2207 it would have to take no more than 1 minute from Chippenham - Bath for a 2220 arrival at BTM!!
Anyway we stayed on to Bath Spa to get the 2300 Bus from Bath - Melksham instead, didnt pay for a single to Bath as twice the guard came to our carridge and ran away to do the doors each time (not that I wanted to pay for their delays) but what REALLY got me fuming was:
- We were 10 down nearly all the way, especially at Chippenham/Bath
- The guard made NO apologies OR a reason why we were late, but yet he couldn't apologise enough that there was no buffet on board
- And whats really annoying is the 2211 Swindon - Westbury no longer runs!! If this was Wessex days we would of got on that back home, alot easier!!
Anyway really annoyed with FGW's services at the moment, ill be like Julian W. soon
cheers,
James.
Yesterday me and DJC_158 had a geat day spotting in london, however crumbled on the way back! We had to get a 2045 Paddington - BTM HST (why is there no 2015) to Chippenham due in at 2200 and was able to get the 2210 234 Chippenham - Melksham bus. 43009 left on time racing out then stopped at Hayes & Harlington (pressumibly for a red light) and we thought it was either a HEX (and a very slow one!!), a Class 7 freight put in front or the signalman forgot to set the route. after 3 minutes we were away with what seemed like greens all to reading. People started getting on/off as slow as possible, already 5 down at Reading, then away to Didcot full whack. Same again at Didcot, people started getting on slowly leaving doors open and at this time we were due into Chippenham at 2207, we left powering to Swindon and on the way the guard said we were due into BTM at 2220...2220?? by my calculations that would mean if we are to arrive at Chippenham at 2207 it would have to take no more than 1 minute from Chippenham - Bath for a 2220 arrival at BTM!!
Anyway we stayed on to Bath Spa to get the 2300 Bus from Bath - Melksham instead, didnt pay for a single to Bath as twice the guard came to our carridge and ran away to do the doors each time (not that I wanted to pay for their delays) but what REALLY got me fuming was:
- We were 10 down nearly all the way, especially at Chippenham/Bath
- The guard made NO apologies OR a reason why we were late, but yet he couldn't apologise enough that there was no buffet on board
- And whats really annoying is the 2211 Swindon - Westbury no longer runs!! If this was Wessex days we would of got on that back home, alot easier!!
Anyway really annoyed with FGW's services at the moment, ill be like Julian W. soon
cheers,
James.