RMT general secretary Bob Crow called on Railways Minister Tom Harris to intervene as train service cancellations hit over 60 a day and other services are being replaced by buses since FGW introduced a new winter timetable last month.

"While perfectly serviceable trains are sitting in sidings, long-suffering commuters are daily shoehorned into fewer and shorter trains and railway staff bear the brunt of the anger and frustration experienced by rail users.

"Commuters now face chaos during the mass return to work following the New Year break due to the appalling mess that FGW have created," he said.

He said that if the management responsible for the current fiasco aren't up to the job, then government should take the Greater Western franchise in-house and run it in the public sector.

RMT's Parliamentary group of MPs has already put down an early day motion on the crisis (see below) and met with the minister to raise concerns about First Great Western rail service cuts.

ends

Notes for editors:First Great Western introduced a new winter timetable on 11 December 2006, which has significantly reduced the frequency and quantity of trains serving commuters and other rail users across the franchise. 41 MPs have so far signed an Early Day Motion 311 (see below) submitted by Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy.

Early Day Motion 311:
27.11.2006

FIRST GREAT WESTERN TRAIN SERVICE REDUCTIONS IN BRISTOL AND WEST OF ENGLAND

McCarthy, Kerry

"That this House notes with concern that from 11th December 2006 users of First Great Western train services in the Bristol and West of England area will suffer the loss of their early morning train service from Cardiff to Bristol, early morning services and late evening services between Bristol and Gloucester, irregular intervals between trains from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton, reduced capacity on short platform stations to Weston, such as Worle, loss of connectivity on trains to and from London and extensive reductions in train services to local stations in the Bristol area; further notes that First Great Western plans to reduce the amount of rolling stock used on train services in the Bristol area, including cutting Cardiff-Portsmouth trains from three to two coaches, an overall reduction of 1,839 seats, equating to a 20 per cent. cut in train seat availability, and a reduction in the number of trains from 69 to 57, equating to an 18 per cent. cut in trains; calls on the Government to urge First Great Western urgently to reconsider the reductions in levels of rolling stock on these key services, the consequences for overcrowding and forcing passengers onto the already heavily congested road network, with all the outcomes for increased carbon emissions, pollution and road traffic accidents that these train service cuts will lead to; and further calls on the Government to ensure that capacity and train service frequency in the Bristol and West of England area are maintained and improved."

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FirstGroup wasawarded the new Greater Western franchise by the Department for Transport just over a year ago in return paying the government around a £1 billion premium. On Friday 5 January 2007 FirstGroup chief executive, Moir Lockhead and FGW Managing Director, Alison Foster received a 'yellow card' warning from Department for Transport officials that unless services improve FirstGroup will lose the Greater Western franchise.

BBC News Points West reported on Friday 5 December that 4 class 153 train units (single cars) are currently in "warm storage" at Eastleigh depot in Southampton although industry sources also confirm 3 class 158 train units (two or three cars) are stored at the depot, while a further class 158 (798) three car unit is stored at Reading. All units were in passenger service on the Greater Western franchise before 11 December 2006 and it is feared that further units will be withdrawn from passenger service to go into "warm storage" as FirstGroup struggle to meet the repayment terms of the franchise agreement.

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See also

FGW: Timetable changes for Monday 8 - Friday 12 January

Please note cancellations and alterations will be in operation this week (Monday 8 to Friday 12 January) due to a shortage of serviceable trains. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The following service alteration will apply all week.

St Ives branchline services will be replaced by road transport all week
Looe branchline services will be replaced by road transport all week

05:29 Gloucester to Westbury - Cancelled
Road transport will operate from Chippenham

05:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Fareham - Terminates at Westbury

07:23 Warminster to Cardiff Central - Terminates at Bristol Temple Meads

13:00 Cardiff Central to Westbury - Cancelled

13:30 Cardiff Central to Fareham will call additionally at Severn Tunnel Junction, Patchway, Keynsham, Oldfield Park, Freshford, Avoncliffe on request and Bradford on Avon

13:32 Westbury to Cardiff Central - Cancelled

14:12 Fareham to Cardiff will call additionally at Bradford on Avon, Avoncliffe, Freshford, Oldfield Park, Keynsham, Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction

18:27 Southampton Central to Cheltenham Spa - Terminates at Westbury
Replaced by road transport from Westbury

20.11 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach - Cancelled
Replaced by road transport

20.50 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads - Cancelled
Replaced by road transport

20:59 Weston super Mare to Filton Abbey Wood - Terminates at Bristol Temple Meads

22:05 Fareham to Westbury - Cancelled
Replaced by road transport

Further information

Customers are advised to check their journeys before they travel, by using the Train Times and Tickets, or Live Updates sections on the right of this page, or by calling National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.