Train times - last chance to object
Train travellers have until this Wednesday to object to a controversial timetable change.
The draft timetable for December envisages that the 17.22 train from Oxford to Charlbury - one of the main trains for those commuting back from Oxford - will be moved to 17.08. This change, first publicised on the Charlbury Website forum, would make it much more difficult for many Charlbury people who work in Oxford to catch the train.
Those wanting to object are asked to contact TT06@firstgroup.com by 8th March.
One regular Charlbury-Oxford commuter received the following reply from Oliver Lovell, First Great Western's "Customer Champion" for the Cotswold Line and a stalwart of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group.
Along with many, many others, you have rightly voiced concern that the existing 1722 stopping train is - in FGW's draft - shown to run 14 minutes earlier from December 06, than at present.
The Cotswold Promotion Group's timetable sub-committee is putting forward possible alternatives, for we all agree that a significant number of rail commuters to/from Oxford will desert the line if a satisfactory solution for the timing of this train is not found. This is, therefore,very much in the Company's own financial interests. In instance after instance, it is the long sections of single line which is the bugbear - a significant restraint and a severe headache for the timetable planners!
Given the draft timings of the London-bound train at this busy hour in the evening, we have established that a 1715 departure from Oxford (also too early for most travellers) would be the latest it could be made without conflicting with the path of this southbound train on the single line. The CLPG is also looking into the possibility of running the stopper at 1738 from Oxford - a timing, I feel,which would be close to ideal. This, though, would involve re-timing other services. Our proposals are being put to First Great Western for their perusal.
It is also most important for individual rail users to also to express their concerns, and, therefore, I would ask you - as a regular user of Cotswold Line trains - to contact the FGW Timetable planners who are inviting comments by setting up a special e-mail address for this purpose. This is: TT06@firstgroup.com .The deadline, however,is now close (8th March).
Please be assured that you are one of a great many rail users who have similar concerns, and I and others are making FGW fully-aware of shortcomings in their draft timetable. Please contact me again if you feel I could be of further help.
With best wishes,
sincerely,
Oliver Lovell (Customer Champion - Cotswolds)
Richard Fairhurst · Mon 6 Mar 2006, 18:01 · Link