*Update: Since writing this the first time I have had the displeasure to travel twice weekly with FGW and my estimations have gone down: old trains, slow trains, late trains (especially on a Sunday!) sullen and miserable staff members, overcrowding, prices have gone up etc. They also have the WORST train delays out of all the UK train companies...25% of their trains are late, what a disgrace.*

I always travel from Swindon and my most recent experience focuses on the London route.

Prices: An open day return to Paddington is around £60. A Saver day return is (off peak travel) around £20 but this applies to weekday travel after 9.30 and returning after 6.30 and similar costs apply to all weekend travel. First Class is around £102 and Saver First can be purchased for a 'mere' £70. On the other hand a day return to Bath (20 minutes away) is about £8. However young people up to age 26 can purchase a Young Persons Railway card for £15, which entitles the holder 30% off a wide variety of tickets. There are a wide variety of rail cards. Super Advance is the ideal ticket for advance travel but is subject to availability. Weekend First is available on many FGW services on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Customers with Standard Open, Saver or SuperSaver tickets can enjoy the full First Class experience by paying a supplement of just £10.

Season Tickets and Commuting: A season ticket costs over £5000 a year and is much cheaper than buying regular tickets. You are likely to meet a lot of people in suits, tapping away on their laptops or talking loudly about hedge funds and the FTSE 100 Index, Nasdaq or whether Dawn in Accounts has finished the report on the Michel David Edgar Scott Bartley trust fund initiative. These are the traditional London commuters who find the time and cost of commuting better than living in London and trying to rent/buy a house there.

How long will it take? On a good day, 50-60 minutes. On a bad day: Over 3 hours. I have not been subject to any such delays recently.

You start to feel a bit bored and hungry after reading your travel size copy of The Independent so you make your way to the buffet carriage to purchase and over priced beverage. The Train Manager comes over the intercom announcing the imminent arrival at Paddington. You rush back to your seat, say a cheery goodbye to the glaring man and then leap off the train ready to conquer the world. Congratulations, you have survived a journey on the FGW railway network. It must be noted that the seats in Standard Class are quite comfortable and that the trains are air conditioned and clean.

Staff: There are train drivers, a Train Manager, Customer Hosts and Travelling Chefs. They all seem to be very friendly and chatty people, no complaints at all.

The First Class stewards work until 19.00 hours, Monday to Friday. After 19.00 hours and at weekends, First Class customers should present their ticket to the steward at the Buffet, who will serve their refreshments. Complimentary items are not normally served at seat on journeys between Plymouth and Penzance, but can be obtained from the Buffet. A mobile phone and personal stereo free area is available in the First Class Coach G, of High Speed Trains. The staff are great 'Hello there...would you like a hot bevarage madam or a newspaper? There you go...'

The Buffet: Not THAT expensive just quite expensive. Think London prices. For example a Bacardi Breezer is £3.30, (ok that is more than average) but a coffee is £1.20, a sandwich around £2.30, a muffin or a cake around £1.15. There is a large selection. You can buy hot food from the Travelling Chef, for example an all day breakfast is £5.35, pizza for £4.95, soup for £2.75 and a toasted sandwich for £2.95-£5.95.