Let's face it, the rail service is in a semi derelict state and has been for as long as I can remember. As someone who used to commute regularly I have lost track of the number of times I have ended up sitting on my briefcase, on the floor, simply because there was no where else to sit. Plus the number of times when the train broke down, rails broke, signals broke or any number of other delays. There seems to be a collective folk memory, much like people telling you " in my day, we had proper summers" of little Choo choos puffing contentedly along pristine tracks all three quarters full of smiling commuters. I don't think it's ever been like that. And with a rising population, greater centralisation of jobs into the major towns and cities it's only going to get worse.

Yes, indeed what was nostalgically regarded as the best commuter pre nationalised Southern Railway had serious passenger complaints almost from the day it was set up. We still haven't solved the morning and evening peak issue rather as you imply, it's just got worse.

Ironic really, with today's ability to properly work at home round the clock and the IT lead shrinking of the old monolithic business enterprises, why do so many still need to flock to node towns every day within a fairly rigid time bandwidth?

The next revolution?

Im sure you have experienced a Skype meeting at home where people are joining from all over the world?

Thats why people still go to the office.

Oh yes; I suspect that's the point, we simply haven't yet adapted to the technology. Same sort of issue with many other things. For instance, why do we still have magazines? it's not only an end user issue, it's also a formatting 'look and feel' problem. Going to take awhile, but we'll get there. Little steps at a time.

Dont get me wrong. Skype is great. But I still like to socialise and meet with my fellow colleagues. I like work. Sad I know!!!!

Massive question, then, would it be worth encouraging people working not at home, but in a very local environment, where several others albeit for different organisations, do their work in the same place? Each individual worker electronically in touch with his own co-workers, who he meets face to face only when strictly necessary.

This is precisely what one guy at my company does currently. Our main office in the UK is near Newbury but he works out of a Regus office where he lives in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire with people from other companies. It appears to have been working quite well for him for the past few years.

Take the 0747 or the 0751 🤔 The 0751 will be held; nope, not when it goes from 16 minutes late to 21 🙄

Not worth worrying about, no one gives a s***. Indeed, why should they? Came back from South Wales a day or so back, brand new sparkly train. Middle aged chap in suit jumps in at Bristol with bag of food he's got from station buffet. A chicken thing, covered in sauce. Eats it, wipes hands on empty seat next to him and shoves waste packages in carrier which just gets left on his seat when he got out at Didcot. For customers like that, you don't need to provide a good service, they don't expect it.

People like that should be restricted to riding in a cattle truck. Bet if he'd got a smear of someone else's lunch on his clothes he'd sue the operator.

People like that should be restricted to riding in a cattle truck. Bet if he'd got a smear of someone else's lunch on his clothes he'd sue the operator.

New day; same cobblers: 08:58 two coaches; late one behind it. Joke service. It makes you wonder what the buses will be like.

Large red/black/cream boxes with a wheel on each corner that carry a lot of people.

And take 70 minutes to get to Reading😦

Large red/black/cream boxes with a wheel on each corner that carry a lot of people.

I don’t think it will be that many people.

Ever since the timetable was altered the trains now leave from all sorts of platforms. I’ve just missed one because of that. I hate our train service; pile of junk.

My company is putting me up for 5 nights in a very nice hotel just down the road from my place of work. Be quite nice. I can have a lie in!!! They can stick the buses up there @ss.

Im not. I’m too thick, poor and feckless to deserve such opulence.

I’m on the HST, I like the HSTs.

I guess it depends on the Company you work for. Mine has a glassdoor rating that is in the top 20 in the Country. Work Life balance is so important and I've always found delivering 9 hours of quality work is better than being over tired by working 15 hour days. Then again my company is cash rich and I am delivering a near 10 figure ERP system for them at the moment with MS with cutover from 5 legacy systems to 1 very soon.... So they want me close!!

I hope your place sorts you out.😞

My company is putting me up for 5 nights in a very nice hotel just down the road from my place of work. Be quite nice. I can have a lie in!!! They can stick the buses up there @ss.

My company is putting me up for 5 nights in a very nice hotel just down the road from my place of work. Be quite nice. I can have a lie in!!! They can stick the buses up there @ss.

I’m on the HST, I like the HSTs.

Is that going to be for at least the other 8 other occurrences during this tear?

I guess it depends on the Company you work for. Mine has a glassdoor rating that is in the top 20 in the Country. Work Life balance is so important and I've always found delivering 9 hours of quality work is better than being over tired by working 15 hour days. Then again my company is cash rich and I am delivering a near 10 figure ERP system for them at the moment with MS with cutover from 5 legacy systems to 1 very soon.... So they want me close!!

I hope your place sorts you out.😞

Perhaps they should rename the 0747, with “Mint Chocolate Thins” as it is usually ‘after eight’.

Well, Mr C. you at least have your freedom, not for you the 'employee hostel' (no matter how dressed up) or the need bow to the latest corporate creed.

No indeed, thank God he's free to scramble for space on overcrowded public transport every day to get to his slave wage job at someone else's demand. And, here's the best bit, he's free to do this every day of his working life!. Ah, life's sweet.
Recedite, plebes!

Well, Mr C. you at least have your freedom, not for you the 'employee hostel' (no matter how dressed up) or the need bow to the latest corporate creed.

Perhaps they should rename the 0747, with “Mint Chocolate Thins” as it is usually ‘after eight’.

id rather stay in a nice hotel than spend 7 hours a day of "freedom" on the bus and train. My company gave me a choice. Its nice to be consulted.

Get up earlier you lazy s0d!!! 😂
The earlier trains seem to be running ok.

Whether or not I deserve my experience doesn’t remove the fact GWR are running a Shoite service at the moment. It has been officially late every time I’ve used it this month. At least it was so late today that it made choosing the next one easier.

Make the most of it! They'll be gone by this time next year!

Interesting 'choice' stay at home or stay where we tell you .... but don't be late! Must admit, after a couple of years of significant rail disruption it's an odd project that hadn't put in sufficient contingency, but as you say, if you are can rich, it's easier to 'manage' the staff or wage slaves as JSC has it.

If i pitched up at midday tomorrow no one would bat an eye lid. Its about getting the job done. Not the hours you work. In fact I may just do that. 👍

So then, if you 'pitched up late' during a week's fairly minor travel disruption, you could still get the job done? Interesting management conundrum that, if you really think about it! I wonder if any of the Asia / Pacific software houses have sniffed an opportunity yet? So, enjoy it whilst you can.

Yes I could. Because they know I'd get the job done. Obviously your company has an issue with trust or perhaps they just don't trust YOU! I love my job and the people I work with. We party together. Love it.

What trains are we going to have on our line?

Minor problem; I don';t work for a company. Nonetheless, its really good to hear about motivated employees; clearly in some cases corporate hype works. Again, just enjoy it; believe me, its not a privilege extended by many employers.

Inter City services to the West of England and also, apparently, Paddington to Bedwyn, Class 802 in either 5 or 10 car formation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_802

Local services to Reading, and maybe London, class 387/1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_387

Thanks. I haven’t heard glowing reports about 387s, I hope the 802s have a better rep.

It may also demonstrate how much over the odds people might be paying for the service; business has a way of dealing with that.