First Great Western seeks voluntary redundancies

Media reports state that First Great Western has invited management and clerical staff to apply for voluntary redundancy – the offer has apparently been made to all managers (except competence, driver and guard managers) and to all clerical staff (except sales office grades) and is seen as part of the company’s drive to reduce costs during the current recession.

First Great Western ‘Turbos’ to be cascaded West?

The recent decision by the Department for Transport to electrify the railway lines from Hayes and Harlington to Bristol/Swansea, Newbury and Oxford has led to speculation that the fleet of class 165 and 166 units (‘Turbos’), which currently operate the London and Thames Valley services of First Great Western will be cascaded to the South West of England to combat overcrowding – a cascade to the South West could necessitate changes to tracks and platforms as the ‘Turbo’ trains are slightly wider than the existing diesel multiple units which are currently used.

Devon County Council wins major transport award

Devon County Council has won the ‘Transport Local Authority of the Year’ award at the National Transport Awards – the award was for the work by the local authority in delivering ‘easier, greener and safer’ travel in the county. Devon County Council was particularly commended for the introduction of new low-floor double-decker vehicles on the inter-urban bus route between Exeter and Newton Abbot operated by Stagecoach Devon, for the eleven innovative ‘Fare Car’ schemes providing transport for residents in rural areas and for the promotion of cycling and travel plans in the county’s schools.

FirstGroup rail revenue grows

FirstGroup has announced that the revenue generated by the company’s rail businesses in Britain increased by 2.3 per cent in the three months to 30 June 2009 – First Great Western is currently receiving revenue support from the Department for Transport (DfT) under the ‘cap and collar’ arrangements in the franchise agreement.

Arriva CrossCountry industrial action

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) who are employed by Arriva CrossCountry will be taking industrial action from Monday 3 August to Wednesday 2 September inclusive in a row over pay and conditions – the industrial action will include a ban on overtime and a refusal to ‘pick up’ litter from the company’s trains.

First Great Western improvement recognised

First Great Western has won the ‘Operations and Performance’ category at the Railway Industry Innovation Awards – the award is given to the train operating company with the best performance improvement in the previous twelve months. The First Great Western PPM (Public Performance Measure) had increased by over seven percentage points in the year to 30 May 2009.

New park and ride for Gloucester?

Gloucestershire County Council has commenced a three month consultation on the possible construction of a new park-and-ride facility on land close to the Highnam roundabout at the junction of the A40 and A48 roads to the west of Gloucester – buses operating between the proposed park-and-ride site and Gloucester city centre would be able to use the recently opened bus lane on the A40 road between Highnam and Over. The proposed park-and-ride facility would particularly benefit residents of the Forest of Dean who travel to and from Gloucester for employment or for leisure and shopping activities.

New platform for West Somerset Railway

A new island-platform at Norton Fitzwarren on the West Somerset Railway was opened on Saturday 1 August, following approval for use by safety inspectors from the Office of Rail Regulation – the railway is now able to operate through trains between Minehead and Norton Fitzwarren.

And finally

First Devon and Cornwall have attracted a new regular passenger to the company’s Ugobus service number 3 linking Barne Barton and Plymouth City Centre – a twelve year-old cat called Casper, who undertakes a regular unaccompanied return journey!