Protesters from the More Train Less Strain group made national headlines on Monday when 2,000 commuters staged a fare strike in protest at overcrowding and delays following the introduction of a new timetable.

The action prompted a heated debate among MPs in the House of Commons and led First Great Western boss Alison Forster to announce a raft of changes to improve services in the coming weeks.

Campaign spokesman Peter Andrews said many members felt their battle to restore a "reasonable" timetable and "sensible" ticket prices had only just begun.

"We're launching Train Watch to make sure passengers record exactly what is happening on their daily commute," he said.

"We want them to email us at worstlatewestern@yahoo.co.uk if people can't get on the train because it's too crowded, if people are forced to travel in the toilets or if anybody faints.

"We also want to know which trains people travelled on, whether the train was punctual, how many carriages were supplied and how crowded the train was on a scale of 1-4."

Mr Andrews said he was asking campaigners and members of the public to report back on their experience of services running from Bath Spa and Oldfield Park, between 7.30am and 8.45am, and returning from Bristol Temple Meads between 4.30pm and 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

"At the end of each week we'll tell the Chronicle what we've learnt and at the end of four weeks, we will send the results to First and hold them to their promises," he said. The first weekly update will be printed in the Chronicle next week.

"If things don't improve, further action will definitely take place, but it will be much more heavy and radical than the fare strike," Mr Andrews added.

He also urged passengers to sign a petition to Tony Blair on http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wessextrains .

"We were delighted with the response and publicity the fare strike got and we've had people from up and down the First Great Western line asking our advice on how best to protest. But we need to keep the pressure up," he said.

In Westminster, politicians yesterday continued to heap pressure on the Government to remedy the problems on the rail network.

Westbury MP Dr Andrew Murrison added his name to an Early Day Motion (EDM), authored by Conservative shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling, complaining that fares are up while comfort is down.

The motion blasted the view of a top Department of Transport official that people on a 30-minute rail journey should not expect to have a seat.

Dr Murrison said: "This EDM struck a chord with me because of the appalling situation we've got locally with First Great Western's service.

"Angry letters continue to roll in from constituents and, while I appreciate the constraints ministers have forced on FGW, the company really must sort itself out.

"I look forward to hearing how it intends to do so."

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MP urges PM to take note

Yeovil News: 26th January 2007
By Steve Sowden

SOMERTON MP David Heath has urged the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to give serious consideration to the concerns of rail passengers throughout the West of England, who have put a petition on the PM's website.

More than 400 people have signed the petition which calls for a reliable train service, with adequate capacity at peak times.

Commuters, fed-up with late and overcrowded trains, are calling for a return to the timetable that was changed last year.

The petition is that latest action taken by the protest group More Train Less Strain, who organised a day of protest on Monday, where approximately 2,000 passengers refused to pay their fares.

The petition calls for an immediate return of a service that meets the needs of travellers in Wiltshire, Bristol, B&NES and South East Wales' and includes all intermediate stations and journeys in both directions.

Mr Heath is calling for Mr. Blair and the Government to take notice of passengers' frustration.

Mr Heath said: "I completely understand what has motivated so many people to sign the petition protesting at rail services in the West and I hope many more do so.

"The service being provided by First Great Western simply is not good enough and passengers are being left frustrated and angry by a morning diet of late and overcrowded trains.

"I understand the Prime Minister has a lot on his plate, with the ever-worsening situation in Iraq and a Home Office in disarray, but I hope he gives this petition the consideration it deserves.

"The Prime Minister and his Government must be made to realise that the train service in this part of the world is not befitting of 21st Century Britain."