The Trains

Fri 16 Feb 2007, 08:18

Having read all the suggestions, I can only reiterate that FGW will not take any real action until it feels compelled to either by threat of loss of revenue or threat of loss of public face.

Placation whether by voucher or transitory reassurances that something vaguely will be done in the future is a whole lot easier (and cheaper) than actually addressing the problem and doing something to rectify it.

I believe the first step is to create an online petition that simply and succinctly registers the fact that the regular users of the Cotwolds line find the level of service unacceptable and insist that FGW take concrete steps to rectify a situation that they've been aware of for at least 5 years and appear either unwilling or incapable of addressing.

Space for individual anecdotal comments (especially about impact on employment), would be very useful as the cumulative economic impact of train users being unable to sustain employment in Oxford (or London), because of the inconsistent train service is a serious political issue. The more evidence of this the better.

An outreach email to other community websites informing them of the petition and permitting them to link will also add clout.

Those who can log the frequency of late trains and cancellations should add these comments on a daily basis if possible; perhaps as an accompanying Late Train Blog to the petition.

Once there are enough signatures and comments and a long enough blog log to paint a picture, a simple press release will insure the petition is given wider coverage. The press can read the story themselves online as it unfolds on a daily basis. The idea of rural commuters thwarted by FGW raising their voices the only way they can is certainly newsworthy in itself.

Politicians like Cameron and Johnson will wade in once they see there's political capital to be gained in identifying with a grass roots issue. At that point we may see the government putting pressure on FGW to actually do something.

Nice to see some momentum on an issue we can all agree on.