Advantages: Clean trains and facilities, helpful staff Disadvantages: The seats are so comfortable you are in danger of sleeping past your stop.
...to buy a ticket. The first is in person at any uk train station where there is a ticket office. The second way to buy a ticket is on the internet. Either on the FGW site or any other site such as National Rail or The Trainline. The last way is to buy directly from the conductor on the service that you are travelling on at the time.
There are many problems with buying tickets over the internet. They include the tickets not reaching you in time. For ... ...class post, but for some reason they dont actually get to you in time to travel. who knows why this happens, but it just does. Then you face long (and i mean long) queues at the train station to pick the tickets up there. I work in London Waterloo and sometimes the queues can have a waiting time of of to 45 minutes. This is not very good if you are booked to go on a specific train. Now, if you didnt want the hassle of buying the ticket on the net ...
smcclt3006 12.08.2007 (24.12.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Fast & Efficient, Plenty of Seats, Buffet's Good, Children's Activities Disadvantages: Maybe a tad expensive - though deals can be found (but not on my route!)
First Great Western (FGW) run services to South Wales (Cardiff, Swansea, Carnaefon), the West Country and right down to Penzance - all of which run through Reading and terminate at London Paddington.
They also run a service though the pictuesque Cotswolds through Oxford and then on to Worcester and Hereford. This is my local line - so my experiences relate to my travels through the Cotswolds.
I must stress that this op is not about First Great ... ...***Timetables***
Combined with First Great Western Link - the sister operator of FGW - trains down to London from the Cotswolds vary in frequency depending on what time of day it is. In the morning peak you can expect one every half-hour. During the day it could be every one or two hours. In the evening, its back to one hour. Coming back from London, very few leave in the morning with the majority, understandably, coming back in the evening peak. ...
evesham1988la 23.08.2005 (24.08.2005)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Punctual and clean. Disadvantages: No trolley service; difficult to buy tickets in advance.
...have travelled several times with First Great Western from Portsmouth to Bristol; punctuality has been a strong point, but there is room for improvement in other ways. I found it easy to look up times of trains and prices of tickets on the website, and it soon became obvious that buying two single tickets in advance was usually cheaper than buying a return. Prices seem to vary according to how busy a particular train is and to how far in advance ... ...day. The carriages of First Great Western trains have been replaced quite recently and are certainly more comfortable than the ones I can remember travelling to and from Cardiff in a number of years ago. I have no complaints about the seats themselves, other than that leg room is very limited. A tall person on a long journey would suffer, I'm sure. There are the usual overhead racks for hand luggage, with extra space at the end of the carriage for ...
denella 06.06.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
...service.
I started getting First Great Western trains from Reading a couple of months ago. I generally get the rush hour trains in and back, but I do also have experience of using their trains during off-peak hours as I used to travel a lot on them at the weekends last year. Generally I am travelling between Reading and London Paddington, but I have also taken trains to other stops around the area such as Oxford.
~~An average day on the trains~~
... ...train.
I realise sometimes First Great Western can't help that their trains are late (if there has been a points failure or similar) but what I find really infuriating is that they have 3 carriages of first class seats on the 10-11 carriage trains. I have never seen any more than one carriage worth of first class passengers in the first class carriages and I think the train company would have much happier customers if they took awway some of these ...
tac20 08.03.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Stress Free, straight into London, no hassle Disadvantages: potentially could be delays?
...Who are they? **
First Great Western are one of the train operating companies. They run trains from London (Paddington) to the West Country and Wales, and I think up to Worcester.
** Getting a Ticket **
Yes I needed one of those!! I decided to get my ticket on the Thursday before I travelled, so off I went to the ticket office. The staff there were really helpful in working out the best option for me, to include a journey on the underground (only ... ...** Journey **
The first announcement that the whole train was no-smoking. I don’t smoke, but was surprised, I always thought people could smoke by the doors.
There was one slight hold up, just outside Castle Cary, probably only for a couple of minutes. It got a bit lumpy and bumpy in places (I guess that was Railtrack – or whatever they call themselves now!) Unfortunately it was while I was coming back from the buffet with a cup of tea, but I find ...
lazza123 06.10.2003 (15.01.2004)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Gorgeous Scenery/Wildlife, Beautiful Convenient Journey Breaks,!st Class Disadvantages: Old Trains, Possibly Overcrowded,Unreliability not confined to this carrier
...the train snaking towards the first of the tunnels through the ancient Devonian rock of the red Devon cliffs. Hurtling through a tunnel with the window open was an exciting new experience for the children. The walls flashed by, near enough it seemed, to touch. Better than watching them through the tame safety of a modern plate-glass train window. Rocketing through the dark, the sound racketing off the walls, we talked of the men who had built them.
... ...Second Class! (Who are these First Class Types anyway and where do they reside? Do they all live in Palaces? Seriously, I expect a completely different version of events would be experienced in First Class. (except for the 20 min late arrival - their carriage didnt come in 20 mins ahead of the rest of the tain lol) This carriage seemed peaceful and spacious at all times.
FARES
It is possible to make considerable savings at firstminutefares.co.uk ...
queenmaebh 13.07.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Regular Service and Cheap Advance Prices. Disadvantages: Expensive if you just turn up
...And it’s all thanks to First Great Western…
***THE COMPANY***
Great Western Trains Company was the first High Speed Train operator to be privatized way back on the 4th of February 1996, when the old British Rail was carved up with the sensitivities of a tired, overworked and underpaid surgeon and sold off to the highest bidder.
Now owned by FirstGroup plc, in a deal in March 1998, the Great Western Railway is in the hands of a company that has ... ...Great Western (FGW) First runs trains in the First North Western and First Great Eastern franchises. They are also in charge of the Croydon TramLink system and numerous bus companies covering the country from Devon and Cornwall to Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
***THE TRAINS***
High Speed Train (HST) – The saviour of the old British Rail and, when it was launched, the fastest Diesel Passenger Train in the world. The HST has been in service for over 25 ...
Critchyboy 13.05.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: It gets you there Disadvantages: may be delays, pricey, sullen staff
*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.*
About the Company: FGW is a train company that operates ... ...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 ...
Katieshaz 15.04.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Don't have the hassle of traffic Disadvantages: Cold, expensive and other people
...wanted to amend my ticket in London, more or less on time both ways and B****Y COLD.
=======================
Oh, I nearly forgot to say, all their trains and NO SMOKING, and two carriages, one in First Class, one in Standard Class are allocated mobile free zones.
SUE ...
sue.51 22.11.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: For those that do not want to drive long journeys or for those that cannot drive. Disadvantages: Delays, breakdowns, accidents and of course overpriced food and drink
3 years ago I visited my online love in Edingburgh. The journey home was a nightmare and I can still remember it as if it were yesterday.
I was travelling on a Great Western train that was heading for London, but I was to change trains at York for a train directly to Oxford. The train pulled out on time from Edinburgh station and I sat waving goodbye to Ian. It was sad, we had got on so well. Like we had known each other for years. I promised to ... ...An hour down the line the train pulled to a halt. Nothing unusual I thought, maybe it is a red light? Maybe the train is making good time and has to slow up? Wrong! There had been a breakdown of another train further up the line and we had to wait until the line was clear. We were there for over an hour! When we eventually started to move again, I looked at my watch. I knew I was going to miss my connection at York. What was I going to do? My ticket ...
carolinesite 22.02.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: no driving anyone around the bend Disadvantages: small delay
...I decided to travel with First Great Western on a day trip to Cardiff, simple because of convience. We didn't want the hassle of driving ( because of raising fuel costs and we wanted to have a good pub lunch wiv beers, well I did)
My partner check out the times of departures, arrival and prices on the net and found nagivating their web-site easy. Sitting next to her while she found these details was far easier then her navigating from car positions. ... ...to go the building society first to get the fare out, so wasn't arriving early) However, the train was delayed by 20 minutes. I didn't think that too bad but then not really in any great hurry to go shopping. The train was actually only 15mins late. The tickets were only £15.10 for a day return so definately cheaper than taking the car.
When we got on the train it was really comfortable, clean and well presented. There was a combination of seating ...
sappleyard 06.07.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Generally reliable, some good deals, quicker than car Disadvantages: Some delays and problems, pricey at peak times
...economy airline for that matter). First Class is better than average, if you're willing to pay extra, with a good range of free snacks and drinks, but not free meals.
So the general gist is, FGW is fine. They've got some nice trains, some good destinations, reliability is less of a problem than the horror stories suggest, and it is possible to get some cheap tickets. It's never going to be the Orient Express, but nor is it the train to hell that ...
brummie_dave 28.12.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Lots of services + classes Disadvantages: Expensive
First Great Western, the main service between the West Country and London offers good services with quite expensive prices. This is the only train operator in the west that offers sleeper carts, buffet, first and gold class etc… in the same train. However, all these features don’t mean a nice train, in fact, FGW trains are probably some of the oldest around, with some rusty metal work in places, and many toilets out of order. The seating ... ...with two seater rows, or four around a table – which is handy for groups or people with laptops. The trains are not particularly fast, although are frequent and reliable (more so than others anyway). FGW also operate some stations, for example Taunton (my local) and Bristol Temple Meads. These stations are of an IMPROVED quality, with up to the minute train info on electronic display screens, now they are finally working. FGW have also introduced ...
leematthews 10.05.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: Direct rail services to London Disadvantages: Price, scheduling, overcrowding, Sunday works
...a bus replacement for the first part of the journey. Then the train the bus met would arrive late so I would miss my connection. The worst week was when the national websites failed to mention that on the Sunday services would be severely disrupted. I had to get 2 buses and 3 trains to travel 85 miles. And not knowing about it beforehand meant I didn’t know what the connecting trains were so I turned up at stations late on the Sunday evening, no ... ...train to get next. Do you know how many trains at Reading station go to London Paddington? And how do you tell which of those are non-stop and which stop at your stop. Not easily that’s all I can say. Not a fun journey, in fact for a female travelling alone it was a bit worrying. And they still charge you the usual price for this nightmare.
Scheduled journey - 2 hours 16 mins, 1 change of train
Actual journey - 3 hours 46 mins, 2 buses, 3 trains ...
filmlover 12.01.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of First Great Western
Advantages: if your lucky you can get a seat Disadvantages: slow, unreliable, expensive, rude, Very Very Late
I HATE First Great Western trains. you may think that is a little harsh but let me explain just how shocking their service is and then you'll think i've been very reserved with my judgement.
Firstly i'll give you some general information. FGW run trains between London Padington and the South West and generally anywhere else in the south west area, this includes Reading, Portsmouth, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and down into Cornwall. ... ...On the outward journey the first train broke down, although they did get a replacement relatively quickly i did end up missing my connection at westbury, and because they recently cut the number of trains going through westbury i had to wait over an hour for another train. By the time i eventually made it to Plymouth i was 2 hours late. Now I wasn't all that bitter about this, its one of those things that happens every now and again so i forgot about ...
esteban1985 29.10.2006 (04.12.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of First Great Western
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Record Rent a Car is present in the main spanish airports and has a very wide fleet. We offer: exceptional discounts, free additional drivers,
unlimited mileage... subscribe to our Club Record and take advantage of special offers.
|
