October 5 - ominous silence

I have noticed that the station announcer regales us with a constant stream of inane diatribe until there is a problem and we would actually like to know what is going on. Then silence. Today the announcer told us that there was a good service on all lines. The arrival board nervously displayed 6 minutes to next train and my phone told me that the circle line had been suspended. Great coordination, well done! Ah well, the Metropolitan line to Baker street and then a Bakerloo cattle truck to Paddington, where I watched my connecting train depart without me. 

September 27 - Commuter Broiler - again.

I just missed the Oxford train only to find that the 17:50 was delayed and delayed and delayed. Eventually a replacement service was offered. With cast iron predictability, only 3 carriage were offered up to accommodate 7 carriages worth of passengers. It got warm immediately. Then they sealed us in. By the time the first sop came I has unpleasantly moist. Another memorable First Great Western experience.

September 23 - 07:08 cancelled - what a surprise!

With a predictable inevitability the 07:08 was again cancelled despite the early warning system blithely stating at 06:45 "There are no disruptions reported at this time affecting services between your selected stations Maidenhead to London Paddington." I am now given to arriving in time for the 07:03. So, thank you First Great Western for taking even more time from my day.

September 6 - Rain

Yes, today it rained and the Metropolitan decided to flood. So we all had to decamp at Euston Square and catch the bus. Joy of joys. I honestly believe I could have covered the distance faster on foot. A half hour journey managed to elongate itself into an hour and a half. Still, who could have foreseen rain at the beginning of Autumn?

September 2 - a reply (of sorts)

Thank you for your email of 25 August 2011. I am really sorry for the problems you had on your journey with us from Maidenhead to London Paddington on 23, 24 and 25 August. Our 0708 service was disrupted due to over running rail improvement works on the North Cotswolds line and I apologise for the inconvenience this caused.

Network Rail are ultimately responsible for rail improvement works and they are working hard to renew the track, which is a massive project. So that the least inconvenience is caused to our customers, most of the work takes place through the night. Unfortunately sometimes this can over run, which can disrupt the performance of morning services. This is very frustrating and we are working closely with Network Rail to make sure it doesn't happen.

Where this happens if you held a daily or weekly season ticket you would be due compensation for delays of more the 1 hour. We compensate Season Ticket holders in two ways. A discount on renewal will be applied if we have failed to meet our targets for punctuality or reliability. Also, if our overall performance on any day falls below an unacceptable level we will declare a void day for the charter groups affected and refund the daily ticket cost. As we didn't declare a void day on this occasion, I am afraid no compensation is due.

August 25 - complaint

For the 3rd day in succession I have arrived at the Maidenhead station to find that the 07:08 to Paddington is cancelled for no apprent reason at all. If you do not intend running this service it would be a great deal more efficient to let me know. That way I can leave my home even earlier to get to work. This service was cancelled on August 23, 24 and 25.

You then compound frustration with discomfort by only having 5 carriages on the next train to accomodate 2 train loads of people. I would be very interested to hear your justification for charging me in excess of £3,000 a year for this continued unpleasant experience.

In addition your email alerting service is content to tell me "No known disruption: Maidenhead to London Paddington", which is blatently incorrect.

August 25 - 07:08 cancelled (yet again)

Wouldn't it be simpler just to remove this train from the schedule? What really irks me is that the alternative train is always shortened to 5 carriages. Another unpleasant trip. 3rd complaint letter.

August 24 - 07:08 cancelled (again)

I don't enjoy the challenge of trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. I wonder if this is the shape of things to come. Charge higher fares, supply less trains, all while the government urges us to use public transport in favour of private cars. Hm....

August 23 - missing train (again)

Today we have the 07:08 cancelled once more for no apparent reason forcing two train loads of passengers onto the 07:03. I see a pattern here.

August 18 - Commuter Obstacle Course

First the H&C is cancelled. Quick dodge onto the Metropolitan line. Next halt the train on the wrong platform at Baker Street and allow people out by manually opening only one door making us all go through the connecting doors from carriage to carriage. Dodge onto the Bakerloo line and up into Paddington to find the usual 8 carriage train reduced to three. Add some gentle heat and enjoy the aroma of several hundred perspiring, frustrated commuters all reflecting on the justification of the impending fare increases.

August 4 - Team Work

The silly season is well underway. This morning the 07:08 was scheduled to depart at 07:41, which means that the 07:19 will arrive ahead of it. This is bearable but the underground made up for it by going slightly faster than an arthritic tortoise. I has half an hour late due to this partnership of ineptitude.

August 3 - Commuter Soup

Wait for temperatures to reach 30 degrees. Fill a train of 7 carriages to the brim, then cancel it and offer up a train with only 3 carriages. Seal the doors and pull out into the sun, then stop and allow to boil for 10 minutes. If the train was filled with cattle the train operator would have been fined out of existence. Thank you for the very intimate sauna First Great Western.

July 21 - Coordinated Mahem

First Great Western decided to reschedule the 07:08 to 08:03 today. So I caught the 07:19. However, unthwarted by my nonchalance the H&C decided to make a train break down at Farringdon, very effectively blocking the H&C, Circle and Metropolitan lines. So it was Bakerloo line to Oxford Street, change to the Central line and walk in drizzle from St. Pauls. A really good start to the day.

July 7 - Make 'em sweat

Load 8 carriages to capacity and with 3 minutes to spare, cancel the train and route everyone 9 platforms down the line to a 6 carriage train. Not content with that once they're all nicely squashed together close the doors and wait for 10 minutes while they gently simmer. Serve up in Maidenhead lightly roasted and sweating like over excited pigs. Thank you, First Great Western a trip to remember.

June Summary

After May I foolishly got my hopes up. But in the long play of things I suppose 5 delays isn't that bad.

June 28 - 17:33 to Oxford cancelled

For reasons not adequately explained, I suspect lightning since there was quite a bit of that. Even the 17:50, which was packed to beyond capacity, ran at a snail's pace until well into the journey.

June 23 - Fatality at Southall

I sensed bad news when I encountered a full concourse at Paddington. I can't really blame the rail service for this tragic event. Nevertheless the resultant chaos put everybody about an hour behind.

June 15 - Train cancellation

At last First Great Western are back to their familiar ambivalent, lacklustre ways. First they allow the train to fill to capacity then they announce that it won't be leaving and that a replacement service is on the adjacent platform.... except for those who want to go to Maidenhead. They will have to catch the slow stopping service leaving in 20 minutes. An hour of delay - another letter day.

June 9 - Cancelled 07:08

I arrived at the station to be told that the trusted 07:08 had been cancelled and replaced with the 07:03. Thankfully I was early and had to run to change platforms as the short train filled right to capacity. We all stood in a uncomfortable intimate melee. Notwithstanding that the train was full to capacity one passenger tried vainly to get himself, his fold-up bike, a holdall and his laptop case in.

June 7 - Signal Failure at Moorgate

I knew it was too good to last! Today a 15 minute wait on an ever filling platform at Paddington while the announcer blithely drones on about there being a good service on all underground lines. I wonder what goes on in their minds sometimes or maybe they aren't allow to use their common sense for health and safety reasons.