Forum Topic

Acton Mainline

The ongoing saga of the lack of information at AML continues - see latest response from FGW. Please all complain to them as well. Takes a few minutes and we need to keep the pressure up.*****Thank you for your further email of 31 March 2011 and please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in responding. I am sorry that the work being carried out on the information screens and clock at Acton Mainline station has not been completed.  I appreciate the frustration this is clearly causing you and I do apologise.Whilst I would very much like to advise you of a completion date, I regret I cannot provide this at present.  That said if I do receive any updates on this matter, I will certainly let you know.  In the meantime please accept my apologies for the inconvenience that has been caused and thank you for contacting us with your views. Yours sincerelyTina HollandCustomer Services Advisor

Eddy Leviten ● 5624d10 Comments

I will have an update on the new CIS system on the inner Thames Valley on Wednesday and will post here.  Network Rail has overall responsibility for this work, so the delays may not be the fault of FGW.

Libby Kemp ● 5623d

Thanks Libby although FGW are not saying it is anyone else's fault sO I have to assume it is their responsibility. My main concern is that they don't try to run down AML before Crossrail arrives and we suffer from poor service and a shabby station.

Eddy Leviten ● 5622d

We already suffer from poor service and a shabby station!!

Jen Morty ● 5622d

FGW do not seem to care about the state of AML Station, I am sure that they must have had complaints from the travelling public but nothing is done to impove matters.The station is always covered in grafitti and information lacking. The station ticket office is not open that often.2 trains per hour in each direction with NO service on Sundays is just ridiculous.More people would use AML if the trains ran more frequently I am sure.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5622d

It seems wholly circular: people don't use the service much because it is infrequent and prone tocancellation - which means the operator can claim it is underused and therefore not matter if it has no investment or priority.the hallmark of a vicious circle. How to make it virtuous?

Sara Nathan ● 5621d

FGW has its faults and I have been one of their main critics in the past, but the CSI and the train patterns are not in their gift. Network Rail, own the stations, decide how any trains are going to run and when and are responsible for major infrastructure such as the new CSI systems, not sure who is responsible for the removal of graffiti but will check it out.The only way to have more trains stopping at Acton Mainline is for a strong lobby from the council and MP to put pressure on Network Rail and the DFT. As LBE rarely bothers to respond to NR consultations, never mind lobby, it is no surprise the system is poor. Network Rail are not interested in serving passengers their remit is to the TOCS, their customers,  to provide them with the minimum paths as set out in the DFT franchise agreement.LBE are also allowing NR to get away with the minimum upgrades to stations and station environs on their land for Crossrail.

Libby Kemp ● 5621d

That is ridiculous! The fact that they refuse to give any completion date, however vague, makes me feel they have a lack of respect for their customers.Perhaps someone could speak to the appropriate member of staff personally to ask what is actually going on, and report back here?

The Editor ● 5618d

I wonder where one finds "an appropriate member of staff" Not at the station itslef - that's for certain!

Sara Nathan ● 5618d

I have not had any imformation from those I know with connections to FGW as to when the new system will be completed at Acton Main Line, but some with inside information have been providing regular updates on which stations are due to be worked on thanks to a list being sent to some FGW staff. It doesn't look like they are doing these works in geographical order, it all seems to be pretty random - Castle Bar Park was scheduled to have improvements by the end of March but I've not seen any further mentions of stations on the Greenford line. One message I have seen claims FGW are not entirely to blame for the delays to the new information systems but it claims there was a mistake in the Office for Rail Regulation's funding to Network Rail for their part in the upgrades. The most recent message I have is that installation of information points is now complete so work by the contractors Telent should begin on remaining installations of the CIS, so we may see some movement but I don't know when. If I get any information from FGW insiders I will let you know.

James Vertigan ● 5618d

It is days like today that the problems with the system at Acton Main Line really show themselves - there have been cancelled trains most of this afternoon between Paddington and Greenford due to a signal problem in the West Ealing area. Of course anyone waiting at Acton Main Line without access to the Live Departures information will be stranded as services have been cancelled and the ticket office is unstaffed now...

James Vertigan ● 5617d