Referring to Mr Darwin’s letter (Hereford Times August 7) re FGW’s lack of care to its passengers may I offer some constructive comments and action passengers should take.
There is very little excuse for terminating trains short of destination, especially in this particular instance when the train was only 15 mins late. FGW trains is sited in Swindon and had not ascertained when the next train bound for Hereford would come along - at this time this is a wait of 1 hour 30 mins. Totally unacceptable.
Passengers should ignore a request from the guard to disembark from the train, and under no circumstances should they do so. All passengers should sit tight in their carriages until the relief coach is physically sighted alongside.
Mutinies have been held previously on the Hereford line and on at least two occasions, as a result of this, the train has been forced to proceed to its destination.
All who use First Great Western, and, indeed, other companies, if those rail companies are remiss in their duty of care to their passengers, should, in addition, carry out the following: Immediately take the matter up with their relevant MP and insist that he/she takes it up with the rail minister (Rt Hon Tom Harris) and the secretary of state for transport (Rt Hon Ruth Kelly). The Department of Transport is the real culprit as it lays down rules to the TOCs (Train Operating Companies) making it difficult for them to operate the railway in a proper manner - but that is another story.
There are many different interests involved in our rail system which seem to make it difficult for the service to passengers to be the top priority. We have to remember that the primary responsibility of the TOCs is to make a profit for their shareholders.
The travelling public must make its dissatisfaction known, for without the paying passenger there will be no profit.
MICHAEL R SULLIVAN, Kings Acre Rd, Hereford.
