Post by O.V.S.Bulleid on Feb 7, 2009 10:24:29 GMT
Friends
I was looking at the various responses from the "Meet the Managers" sessions held in the last few months and a number of conclusions have to be drawn: -
Some of the published answers are actually illogical, let me give a few examples: -
Turning to the coming ChavLine trains one hears that some GoVex managers are becoming increasingly worried that fewer passengers will migrate from classic terminals because of "wrong terminal" or "over-priced" considerations. Being a spirit one can simply hang around Fraggle Rock meeting rooms and train interiors listening to conversations (in my time during WWII there were notices saying "Beware, the walls have ears"). There is a recession and the number of season ticket holders have reduced, quite a good proportion of which were first class (or first class have downgraded due to the extortionate fares increase). One also hears that Ebbsfleet doesn't attract that many Eurostar passengers whereas Ashford's client base has held up. It is clearly going to either be a "white knuckle" ride for GoVex and their political masters in the DfT (yes I believe that the civil service has become politicised). Will they suddenly announce a survey (or train loading assessment) that has prompted another contracted variation to the contracted SLC2 (beyond those already negotiated) or will they watch whilst train loadings become worse than the stock reductions (that have recently been reversed) on other routes. I believe that urgent reassessments are already going on in Great Minster House, reputations are at risk....
Yours sincerely
O.V.S.Bulleid
I was looking at the various responses from the "Meet the Managers" sessions held in the last few months and a number of conclusions have to be drawn: -
- It takes ages to agree what record of the questions are finally shown on the website.
- Commuters have advised me that questions that they asked were not recorded due to the fact that the given answer was not complementary to GoVex policy.
- Answers that have been published are not the same as the verbal response given to the commuter.
Some of the published answers are actually illogical, let me give a few examples: -
- "We cannot operate any more trains in the London Bridge area". The Southern did! In 1976, after the London Bridge rebuilding, Charing Cross had 25 departures and Cannon Street had 24. Some of the Cannon Street departures were via the "Up Line" through Borough Market Jn and platform 2 at London Bridge whilst empty stock was standing on the curve from Metropolitan Jn into Cannon Street ready to occupy the vacated platform of the train that had exited via the Up Line.
- "Journey times are slower than in the 1980s because of increased housing and the pressure to increase the number of stops". Well, let's be logical. What ever way you split passengers onto various trains, the number of passengers do not change in total. If there are 3 trains per hour then it is not beyond the wit of man to make 1 of 3 faster and operate it just in front of the slowest one. The third train then becomes a semi fast. Yes there is a less frequent service over the longer distance (2 instead of 3) but journey times will be quicker or the same for most passengers.
- "Some passengers will have to stand". Hold on please GoVex. British Rail not only ran more trains but metro services (known then as suburban) invariably had 10 coaches. A 4EPB had 386 seats whereas a 376 has just under 30% less - in one extra coach. Is this progress? Yes the 4EPB had slam doors at each seating bay but they loaded and unloaded more quickly, dwell times were less. But we simply can't have slam doors I hear a muffled comment - why not? The Paris RER and Metro have passenger operated doors that are controlled by a version of CDL (Central Door Locking). Even charter operators have rolling stock with CDL and it is perfectly acceptable to the Health and Safety zelots. Now more passengers have to stand because the DfT either cannot provide suitable/enough rolling stock or adequate track capacity.
Turning to the coming ChavLine trains one hears that some GoVex managers are becoming increasingly worried that fewer passengers will migrate from classic terminals because of "wrong terminal" or "over-priced" considerations. Being a spirit one can simply hang around Fraggle Rock meeting rooms and train interiors listening to conversations (in my time during WWII there were notices saying "Beware, the walls have ears"). There is a recession and the number of season ticket holders have reduced, quite a good proportion of which were first class (or first class have downgraded due to the extortionate fares increase). One also hears that Ebbsfleet doesn't attract that many Eurostar passengers whereas Ashford's client base has held up. It is clearly going to either be a "white knuckle" ride for GoVex and their political masters in the DfT (yes I believe that the civil service has become politicised). Will they suddenly announce a survey (or train loading assessment) that has prompted another contracted variation to the contracted SLC2 (beyond those already negotiated) or will they watch whilst train loadings become worse than the stock reductions (that have recently been reversed) on other routes. I believe that urgent reassessments are already going on in Great Minster House, reputations are at risk....
Yours sincerely
O.V.S.Bulleid
