Penalty Fare Appeal Support

First Capital Connect is to hold an open Meet the Managers session at St. Pancras International station tonight, 28th January 2010.

Neal Lawson, who has recently been promoted to Managing Director, will be there between 4pm and 7pm.

PFAS urges all passengers and commuters to speak to Neal and let him know what you really think. Of course we have to state that you must remain legal. (We have had reports of underhand illegal tactics planned to take place.)

Tell Neal that his new compensation package is completely unacceptable, tell him what you really think!

PFAS will also be sending along a dossier of all your complaints and correspondence to hand to him on the day.

First TransPennineExpress are currently having a 25% off tickets sale.

You need to be quick though as it ends on the 31st Jan 2010.

“Book Advance Purchase Tickets anytime between 6th – 31st January 2010 and you can get a whopping 25% off journeys booked for travel up to 31st March 2010.”

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/11/bag-a-bargain-in-our-january-sale-.htm

First Capital Connect, the worst train operator in the country, has decided to increase its compensation levels to season ticket holders that have had to suffer the recent sustained disruption on the Thameslink route.

This offer has not gone down well with travellers, with most commuters stating that this is the minimum that FCC can get away with. One commuter is quoted as stating “This is nowhere near enough. Even giving FCC a bit of leeway at either end, there was huge, unprecedented disruption from November 12 to January 12. That is two clear months which equates to one sixth of a year. Compensation of five per cent equates to one 20th.”

This insulting offer is reported to cost parent company FirstGroup £1m. However when you consider that FCC receives £140m in public subsidy, you can see its not a very good offer.

FCC has stated that they are currently setting up a new improved IT system to cope with the claims and dont expect to start dealing with them until Feb 8th at the earliest.

Summary of offer

Annual season ticket holders: Will be entitled to claim either a 5% discount off their next purchase (equivalent to over 2 weeks free travel) or tickets for 10 days free travel.

Monthly season ticket holders: Will be entitled to claim either a 50% discount off their next monthly card following the start of the scheme (equivalent to 2 weeks free travel) or tickets for 10 days free travel.

Weekly ticket holders:
- with four weeks of tickets during the period: Will be entitled to claim tickets for 5 days free travel.
- with eight or more tickets during the period will be entitled to claim ticket for 10 days free travel.

First Class ticket holders: Will additionally be entitled to claim for a refund of the difference between First Class and standard fare for the period 12 November 2009 to 23 January 2010 when First Class accommodation was declassified.

Services across the UK are continuing to be affected by severe snow blizzards.

We have looked over the internet and have found the amendments for tomorrow Thursday 7th January 2010.

There will be changes to train times for:
Chiltern Railways
Trains towards London will not call at West Ruislip, but will call additionally at South Ruislip. Some trains are calling additionally at other stations
A normal service is running between London Marylebone and Aylesbury

East Coast
Because of poor weather conditions, journeys may be delayed by up to 60 minutes.
No trains will run between Glasgow and Edinburgh (other than the 15:00 and 18:00 London Kings Cross to Glasgow Central services)
Buses replace trains between Inverness and Perth
A reduced service will run between London Kings Cross and Leeds

First Capital Connect
A normal service is expected to run.

First Great Western
Newbury – Bedwyn
Some services between Bedwyn, Newbury and London Paddington will only run between Bedwyn, Newbury and Reading. Customers planning to travel on these services will need to travel on alternative services between Reading and London Paddington
Maidenhead – Marlow
An hourly service will run between Maidenhead and Marlow.
North Cotswold Services
It is planned to run a normal service but this will be subject to short notice alterations should the conditions deteriorate.
North Downs Services
Apart from the alterations listed below, a normal service will run on this route.
06:06 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
07:21 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
08:20 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
09:31 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
16:50 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
18:05 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
19:04 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
20:02 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
Bristol – Avonmouth – Severn Beach
Services on this route will not run.
Westbury – Melksham – Swindon
Services on this route will not run
To and from Brighton
Services on this route will not run between Westbury and Brighton in both directions.
High Speed Services
Some High Speed trains between London and Cheltenham, Bristol and Cardiff will be cancelled.
Oxford – Bicester Town services
Services have been suspended
Plymouth – Gunnislake services
Services on this route will not run between Bere Alston and Gunnislake

National Express East Anglia.
Peterborough – London Liverpool Street
These services will run between Peterborough and Ipswich only.
Lowestoft – London Liverpool Street
These services will run between Lowestoft and Ipswich only. If you are travelling between Lowestoft and London Liverpool Street you will need to change trains at Ipswich
Norwich – London Liverpool Street
The following trains are cancelled:
17:50 London Liverpool Street to Norwich
18:20 London Liverpool Street to Norwich
Other alterations
The 21:38 London Liverpool Street to Norwich service is cancelled

Stansted Express
A reduced service will run at:
25 and 55 minutes past the hour from London Liverpool Street
15 and 43 minutes past the hour from Stansted Airport

Southeastern
Orpington to London Victoria via Herne Hill – half hourly service
Dartford to London Charing Cross via Bexleyheath – half hourly service
Dartford to London Cannon Street via Greenwich – half hourly service
Gillingham to London Charing Cross via Sidcup – half hourly service
Hayes to London Cannon Street – half hourly service
Grove Park to Bromley North – will not run. Replacement bus service available.
Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea – will not run. Replacement bus service available.
Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East – half hourly service
Ashford to London Charing Cross – half hourly service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Canterbury West – hourly service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Dover Priory – hourly service
Hastings to Tonbridge – hourly service
Faversham to London Victoria – half hourly service
Dover Priory to Faversham via Canterbury East – hourly service
Ramsgate to Faversham via Margate – hourly service
Strood to Paddock Wood – hourly service

Last services
Trains will finish earlier in the day than usual. The last trains are as follows:
From London / coast-bound services:
London Charing Cross to Ashford International – 21:15
Tonbridge to Hastings – 19:40
London Victoria to Ashford International via Maidstone East – 21:07
Ashford International to Ramsgate via Canterbury West – 21:42 (calling at all stations) and at 23:22 (calling at Canterbury West only)
Ashford International to Ramsgate via Dover Priory – 21:12 (calling at all stations to Ramsgate) and at 23:52 (calling at Dover Priory only)
London Victoria to Faversham – 21:22
Rochester to Faversham – 00:33
Faversham to Ramsgate via Herne Bay – 20:30
Margate to Ramsgate – 21:53
Faversham to Dover Priory via Canterbury East – 20:00
London Victoria to Orpington – 22:55
London Charing Cross to Dartford via Bexleyheath – 20:32
London Charing Cross to Gillingham via Sidcup – 19:56
London Charing Cross to Sevenoaks via Grove Park – 20:36
London Cannon Street to Dartford via Greenwich – 19:47
London Cannon Street to Hayes – 19:30

To London:
Ashford International to London Charing Cross – 19:23
Hastings to Tonbridge – 19:50
Ashford International to London Victoria via Maidstone East – 20:18
Ramsgate to Ashford International via Canterbury West – 20:12 (calling at all stations) and at 22:05 (calling at Canterbury West only)
Ramsgate to Ashford International via Dover Priory – 20:22 (from Ramsgate) and at 22:44 (from Dover)
Ramsgate to Faversham via Herne Bay – 19:25
Ramsgate to Margate – 22:59
Dover Priory to Faversham via Canterbury East – 19:55
Faversham to London Victoria – 19:41
Faversham to Rochester – 21:58
Strood to Paddock Wood – 20:05
Paddock Wood to Strood – 21:12
Orpington to London Victoria – 20:25
Dartford to Charing Cross via Bexleyheath – 19:22
Gillingham to Charing Cross via Sidcup – 19:37
Sevenoaks to Charing Cross via Grove Park – 19:27
Dartford to Cannon Street via Greenwich – 20:01
Hayes to Cannon Street – 20:20

Southern
The following peak hour trains will be cancelled
05.47 Portsmouth Harbour to Three Bridges
07.14 Eastbourne to London Bridge
06.32 Littlehampton to London Victoria
07.16 Bognor Regis to London Bridge
06.46 Portsmouth Harbour to Barnham
07.40 Horsham to London Victoria
05.48 Southampton to Barnham
07.08 Three Bridges to Horsham
06.56 Brighton to London Victoria – Cancelled between Brighton and Gatwick Airport
18.22 London Bridge to Brighton
17.47 London Victoria to Littlehampton
18.36 London Victoria to Brighton
16.32 London Victoria to Southampton
17.32 London Victoria to Southampton
18.32 London Victoria to Southampton
In addition, the following trains will be cancelled throughout the day
32 minutes past the hour – London Victoria to Southampton/Bognor Regis
30 minutes past the hour – Bognor Regis to London Victoria
12 minutes past the hour – Portsmouth Harbour to London Victoria via Horsham
13 minutes past the hour – Southampton toLondon Victoria via Horsham
02 minutes past the hour – London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour services will all run to Bognor Regis. The Horsham to Portsmouth Harbour portion of the train will be cancelled
47 minutes past the hour – London Victoria to Littlehampton via Haywards Heath
07 minutes past the hour – London to Eastbourne via Haywards Heath
58 minutes past the hour – Eastbourne to London via Haywards Heath
15 minutes past the hour – Littlehampton to London via Haywards Heath
23 minutes past the hour – Brighton to West Worthing
53 minutes past the hour – Brighton to West Worthing
09 minutes past the hour – West Worthing to Brighton
39 minutes past the hour – West Worthing to Brighton
22 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Lewes
58 minutes past the hour – Lewes to Brighton
14 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Hove
44 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Hove
24 minutes past the hour – Hove to Brighton
54 minutes past the hour – Hove to Brighton

South West Trains
A normal service is expected on all routes. However, short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.
Some trains will be running with fewer carriages and many on train facilities will be out of use

So its snowing again, as if you couldn’t already guess what with all the news coverage and that 35th E-mail from the Met Office warning you of an Extreme Weather event.

So as is normal in these conditions the railway network decides to shutdown, or run an emergency timetable. Must be the wrong kind of snow again.

So far we have received reports of alterations from the companies listed below:

Wednesday 6 January
Chiltern Railway
An amended timetable will be running.

East Coast
A reduced service will run between Glasgow and Edinburgh
Buses replace trains between Inverness and Perth
A severely reduced service will run between London Kings Cross and Leeds

East Midlands Trains
Trains will not run between Sheffield and Leeds. Passengers are to use other train operators to complete their journeys.

First Great Western
Newbury – Bedwyn
Some services between Bedwyn, Newbury and London Paddington will only run between Bedwyn, Newbury and Reading. Customers planning to travel on these services will need to travel on alternative services between Reading and London Paddington
Maidenhead – Marlow
An hourly service will run between Maidenhead and Marlow.Direct service between Bourne End and London Paddington will not run and customers who wish to travel on these services will need to change trains at Maidenhead.
Twyford – Henley
An hourly service will run between Henley and Twyford. Direct services between Henley and London Paddington will not run.
North Downs Services
Apart from the alterations listed below, a normal service will run on this route.
06:06 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
07:21 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
08:20 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
09:31 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
16:50 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
18:05 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
19:04 Reading to Shalford service will terminate at Guildford
20:02 Shalford to Reading service will start from Guildford
Bristol – Avonmouth – Severn Beach
Services on this route are Cancelled
Westbury – Melksham – Swindon
Services on this route are Cancelled
To and from Brighton
Services on this route will not run between Westbury and Brighton in both directions.
High Speed Services
All High Speed services will run other than the following trains which are cancelled:
05:53 Cheltenham to London Paddington
06:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
07:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
08:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
09:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
10:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
11:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
12:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
15:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
09:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
10:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
11:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
12:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
13:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
14:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
15:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington

National Express East Anglia
Peterborough – London Liverpool Street
These services will run between Peterborough and Ipswich only.
Lowestoft – London Liverpool Street
These services will run between Lowestoft and Ipswich only.
Norwich – London Liverpool Street
The following trains are cancelled:
06:25 Norwich to London Liverpool Street
06:55 Norwich to London Liverpool Street
17:50 London Liverpool Street to Norwich
18:20 London Liverpool Street to Norwich
Other alterations
The 21:38 London Liverpool Street to Norwich service is cancelled
The 06:40 Great Yarmouth to London Liverpool Street service will terminate at Ipswich
Stansted Express
A reduced service will run at:
25 and 55 minutes past the hour from London Liverpool Street
15 and 43 minutes past the hour from Stansted Airport

Southeastern
Metro
Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars via Bellingham – normal service
Orpington to London Victoria via Herne Hill – half hourly service
Dartford to London Charing Cross via Bexleyheath – half hourly service
Dartford to London Cannon Street via Greenwich – half hourly service
Gillingham to London Charing Cross via Sidcup – half hourly service
Hayes to London Cannon Street – half hourly service

Mainline
Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East – half hourly service
Ashford to London Charing Cross – half hourly service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Canterbury West – hourly service
Ramsgate to Ashford via Dover Priory – hourly service
Hastings to Tonbridge – hourly service
Faversham to London Victoria – half hourly service
Dover Priory to Faversham via Canterbury East – hourly service
Ramsgate to Faversham via Margate – hourly service
Strood to Paddock Wood – hourly service

Southern
The following peak hour trains will be cancelled
05.47 Portsmouth Harbour to Three Bridges
07.14 Eastbourne to London Bridge
06.32 Littlehampton to London Victoria
07.16 Bognor Regis to London Bridge
06.46 Portsmouth Harbour to Barnham
07.40 Horsham to London Victoria
05.48 Southampton to Barnham
07.08 Three Bridges to Horsham
06.56 Brighton to London Victoria – Cancelled between Brighton and Gatwick Airport
18.22 London Bridge to Brighton
17.47 London Victoria to Littlehampton
18.36 London Victoria to Brighton
16.32 London Victoria to Southampton
17.32 London Victoria to Southampton
18.32 London Victoria to Southampton

In addition, the following trains will be cancelled throughout the day
32 minutes past the hour – London Victoria to Southampton/Bognor Regis
30 minutes past the hour – Bognor Regis to London Victoria
12 minutes past the hour – Portsmouth Harbour to Horsham
13 minutes past the hour – Southampton to Horsham
02 minutes past the hour – London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour services will all run to Bognor Regis. The Horsham to Portsmouth Harbour portion of the train will be cancelled
37 minutes past the hour – Haywards Heath to Littlehampton
07 minutes past the hour – Haywards Heath to Eastbourne
58 minutes past the hour – Eastbourne to Haywards Heath
15 minutes past the hour – Littlehampton to Haywards Heath
23 minutes past the hour – Brighton to West Worthing
53 minutes past the hour – Brighton to West Worthing
09 minutes past the hour – West Worthing to Brighton
39 minutes past the hour – West Worthing to Brighton
22 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Lewes
58 minutes past the hour – Lewes to Brighton
14 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Hove
44 minutes past the hour – Brighton to Hove
24 minutes past the hour – Hove to Brighton
54 minutes past the hour – Hove to Brighton

South West Trains
Long distance services
London Waterloo – Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth
Two trains per hour will run between London Waterloo and Bournemouth.
One train per hour will run between Bournemouth and Weymouth, calling at all stations.
London Waterloo – Salisbury, Yeovil Junction and Exeter
Two trains per hour will run between London Waterloo and Salisbury.
Subject to the weather conditions, a trains will run once every two hours between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction or between Salisbury and Exeter, calling at all stations. Additional trains will be run at peak times.
Passengers will need to change trains at Salisbury to connect with these services to Yeovil Junction and Exeter.
London Waterloo – Portsmouth via Haslemere
Two trains per hour will run between London Waterloo and Portsmouth.
London Waterloo – Portsmouth via Eastleigh
Two trains per hour will run between Basingstoke and Portsmouth Harbour.
Passengers should change at Winchester or Basingstoke for other trains to/from London Waterloo.
London Waterloo – Basingstoke
Two trains per hour will run and all trains will call at Clapham Junction and Surbiton.
London Waterloo – Alton
Two trains per hour will run and all trains will call at Clapham Junction, Surbiton, West Byfleet, Woking, and then all stations to Alton.
Portsmouth – Southampton
One train per hour will run calling at all stations
Lymington Branch
One train per hour will run calling at all stations
Salisbury – Romsey via Southampton and Eastleigh
One train per hour will run calling at all stations

London Suburban area
There will be no South West Trains service, and no replacement road transport will be available, on the following routes:
London Waterloo to Hampton Court.
London Waterloo to Guildford via Epsom and Leatherhead.
London Waterloo to Chessington South.
Teddington and Shepperton
Virginia Water and Weybridge
Ascot and Ash Vale
Guildford and Aldershot
No trains will call at Longcross

Trains will run on the following routes but to an amended timetable. Some trains will make extra stops to cover cancellations on other routes.
London Waterloo – Guildford via Cobham
Two trains per hour will run.
London Waterloo – Woking
Two trains per hour will run.
London Waterloo – Dorking
Two trains per hour will run.
London Waterloo – Twickenham – Kingston – Wimbledon – London Waterloo
There will be a train every 15 minutes calling at all stations
London Waterloo – Reading
Two trains per hour will run.
London Waterloo – Windsor
Two trains per hour will run via Brentford and Hounslow. These will be the only trains to run on the “Hounslow Loop” line.

East Coast have issued the following information:

Due to adverse weather conditions affecting the UK, East Coast will be operating a revised timetable 05/01/10.

Trains will be running, but some services may be subject to alteration, cancellation or delay.  Services to and from Scotland, the North East and West Yorkshire have been revised and passengers are likely to experience increased journey times.

Please note the below changes to the timetable

Anglo/Scot and North East to London Kings Cross:

0600 Edinburgh to Kings Cross terminate Newcastle.
0950 Glasgow to Kings Cross will start Edinburgh at 11:00,
1150 Glasgow to Kings Cross will start Edinburgh at 13:00.
1350 Glasgow to Kings Cross will start Edinburgh 15:00
1550 Glasgow to Kings Cross will start Edinburgh 17:00
1750 Glasgow to Kings Cross will start Edinburgh 19:00
1950 Glasgow to York will start Edinburgh 21:00

Passengers for London are advised to travel to Euston using Virgin West Coast services.  Passengers for other destinations on the east coast are advised to travel via Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh and join the next available service.

0755 Inverness to Kings Cross will start at Perth departing 09:55.  A replacement coach service will be in operation from Inverness, Aviemore, Kingussie and Pitlochry to Edinburgh.

London Kings Cross to North East / Scotland changes:

0625 Newcastle to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 0815.
0615 Doncaster to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 0939.
0700 Kings Cross to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 1204.
0900 Kings Cross to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 1408.
1100 Kings Cross to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 1550.
1300 Kings Cross to Glasgow will terminate at Edinburgh 1803.

Passengers travelling to Glasgow are advised to travel via Glasgow Queen St.  A replacement bus service will be in operation for passengers for Motherwell.

1200 Kings Cross to Inverness will terminate at Perth 1830.

A replacement coach service will be in operation for passengers for Inverness, Aviemore, Kingussie and Pitlochry

1820 Kings Cross to Newcastle cancelled.

West Yorkshire to London Kings Cross changes:

0600 Newcastle to Kings Cross will additional stop at Newark
0640 Leeds to Kings Cross cancelled.
1205 Leeds to Kings Cross cancelled.
1340 Leeds to Kings Cross cancelled.
1705 Leeds to Kings Cross cancelled.
1940 Leeds to Kings Cross cancelled.

London Kings Cross to West Yorkshire changes:

0910 Kings Cross to Leeds cancelled.
1035 Kings Cross to Leeds cancelled.
1435 Kings Cross to Leeds cancelled.
1635 Kings Cross to Leeds cancelled.
1703 Kings Cross to Leeds will additionally stop at Retford
2003 Kings Cross to Leeds cancelled.

Passengers with tickets for services that are cancelled may travel on the next available East Coast service.