I haven't posted in a while but there is a good reason for that. The reason is, wait for it, I no longer work for FGW. I know, it's a shocker and I have been really busy shifting things around and settling into my new job.
Sadly, this does mean that I am not appraised of the latest developments from within the company, which rather defeats the object of having a blog, does it not? It's very inconveneint that they could not see fit to keep me updated on a regular basis so that I could pass the info on to you good people but them's the breaks as they say.
I'm now not actually involved in the rail industry at all, so I fcan't help frustrated users of other companies either (I know that there can't be as many as with FGW but they have to be there somewhere). At the risk of giving myself away to any of my fomer colleagues who happen to read this (yeah right), I've now moved 'properly' into the legal profession and gone to work in private practice rather than in-house for FGW. Prizes then for those able to guess my previous role.
This pretty much means the end of the blog in it's current form. I do still know my shit about the ral industry mind you, so if anyone has queries or wants clarification on some aspect of rail travel, chances are I can still help to a degree.
Cheery-bye then folks, chins up and all that.
Peace
About Me
- Insider
- I know whereof I speak and I try to be honest. Except when I rant. Then all bets are off. It should be noted that facts are facts but the views and opinions expressed here are my own and in no way represent an official viewpoint of First Great Western except where noted.
10 comments:
Insider,
Though you are apparently now an 'outsider', like me - may I say, thank you for your very useful and well stated posts in this blog? I remain a great fan!
All the best for your future success, in the big wide world outside FGW!
Thanks, mate!
Chris :-)
Welcome to "civvy street" !
Do keep us up to date with how things are going, it would be fair to say that you have been missed.
For my part, it was nice to be able to have some honest debate and gain some valued insight from someone in the "thick of it", so to speak.
Looking forward to hearing tales of the legal profession, and I dare say the odd rail-related post as well.
Best Regards
Lee
when are the barriers at Paddington going to be fully operational?
anonymous: the plan is for every platform at Paddington to be fully gated by 2009 in preparation for PAYG oyster to be integrated into the overland rail network. Any help??
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Aluguel de Computadores, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://aluguel-de-computadores.blogspot.com. A hug.
Thanks for all the insights, Insider, and good luck in your new role.
Hi Insider,
Sorry to have to contact you via a comment thread like this, but I couldn't find an email address to send you a private message. I work as a journalist for BBC Wales' documentary TV series "Week In Week Out". We're making a television programme about First Great Western and would love to speak to you about your experiences with the company. Anything you say would be off the record until you decided otherwise. We would in no way seek to identify you beyond what you are comfortable with. If you feel able to help, please email me at wiwo@bbc.co.uk and I'll send you my personal contact details. Whatever help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
Good luck in your new job and thanks for taking the time to consider this request.
Week In Week Out
Hi Insider,
It's the BBC again. I just came across the comment you posted on ihatefirstgreatwestern and want to reassure you that we're not looking for scapegoats or playing a blame game. We're making a serious attempt to understand what's gone wrong - and what should be done to improve performance long-term. What we're after is the best insight and analysis into what is a complex, multi-partner industry. Your first hand experience of the day-to-day reality of running FGW's services would clearly be valuable. We wouldn't identify you, beyond what you're happy with, and anything you say to us off the record will remain confidential. Please do get in touch.
Week In Week Out
Tickets please, tickets please
Get your tickets ready for inspection
Ladies and gentlemen
Take your feet off the second-class seats
Thank you sir, thanks, cheers
You fucking rat cunt scum motherfuckers
Get on, get off, and shut your fucking mouth
Pay up; pay more, what’s the matter, got no choice?
Can’t afford it? Bollocks. No train, no work
Give me your fucking money and shut the fuck up
Thank you thanks, cheers.
We apologise for the delay to this service
The train driver hasn’t showed; we’ll wait
Till he gets here, and while we wait
Read The Metro like good little people
Piss on the floor and seats
Close the windows
Use up the oxygen
Stare at the fucking station
At the drunken bums and thugs
Thank you thanks, cheers.
This is the 08:07 service to Reading
Calling at place a, place b, place c and Arsehole.
Smoke in the toilet, shit on the floor
Put your fucking litter in the bins provided
In the vestibule
No cycles, just prams and punks
Fat paedophiles, junkies, perverts and cunts only
And get your fucking tickets ready
For inspection, ladies and gentlemen
Thank you thanks, cheers.
http://diggingformud.com/id1.html
Tickets Please is the summation of my commuting life, inspired by all the train companies I've used, their happy fun-filled staff and the friendly considerate customers I share my life with. I added my poem to this site because other people share my experience of using public transport.
Love it, hate it or delete it, do whatever you want, my poem won't make one jot of difference to the running of the railways, FGW, commuting, finding a cure for cancer, learning Japanese or anything else. Neither will this blogging community at their Evening Primrose Cricket Match get together with tea on the table after the first innings and old Wobbly Mac pulling pints of Best behind the bar.
I'm sure most of the noble folks on this site feel very strongly about the state of First Class policy, the turnout of lower classes and all the rest, and my heart bleeds for them. Tickets Please does not fit into their Stilton scented, crystal chandelier conception of commuting pain: good. If it did we would live in a joyous world, the sound of twittering tits berry nibbling in the bushes by the train tracks, fluffy bunnies bouncing around in happy land and all of life's troubles would melt into the ether under a blissful halo sun.
I wish it were true. Then I wake up cramped and stuffed into a factory seat amongst the other sardines, see a pair of tits nut nibbling on the station and have the indecency of being accosted by rent-a-cop skinhead thugs in the name of revenue protection.
My hope for a better world is restored every morning and efficiently destroyed when I buy my way back on to the depressing platform amongst the other automatons going through the motions of life. That is what I hate.
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