London Banter - View Single Post

Paul Corfield · November 19th 06, 09:25 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On 18 Nov 2006 16:52:34 -0800, wrote:

Dave Plumb wrote:
I don't think FCC are much different to WAGN. Twice on saturday lunchtimes
I've had to wait for following slow (317) services because the 4 car unit
was packed with Arsenal supporters (while the P'boro and Camb services whiz
through with 8 cars and half empty!).

Funny you should mention it - happened to me this afternoon (1233 from
Stevenage wedged). So on getting home, I emailed FCC and about 20
minutes ago (yes, 0030 on a Sunday morning), got the following reply: -

"Thank you for your email regarding your journey with us on 18
November
2006. Please accept my apologies for the difficulties you
encountered
whilst attempting to travel on the 1233 service and whilst
actually
travelling on the 1239 service between Stevenage and London Kings
Cross.

I am sorry for the discomfort that you experienced during the
course of
your journey because of the crowded conditions on the train. We want
our
customers to travel in comfort and appreciate the anxiety that is
caused by
such conditions.

So provide some extra carriages rather than have them sit in Hornsey
depot!

We aim to deploy our current fleet in the most effective way
possible in
order to meet the anticipated demand for each service. As many of
our
customers hold fully flexible tickets we cannot always provide the
amount
of capacity required. We seek to ensure that all our trains have at
least
the advertised amount of carriages and our resources are
concentrated on
those services that we know to be the busiest.

I particularly like the comment that seeks to blame passengers because
they buy fully flexible tickets rather than being forced to buy cheapo
discount tickets that restrict them to one departure. How sad that this
might cause FCC a bit of trouble in matching capacity to demand!

Do they imagine they are running a business class only airline or a
railway? As everyone else has said the crowding being referred to is
entirely predictable and it would take little effort to provide
appropriate additional capacity.

All this franchise is about is screwing as much money out of passengers
for the least possible expenditure in providing the actual service.
Thank goodness I only use it on rare occasions.
--
Paul C

Admits to working for London Underground!