Sweeping it under the carpet

Oldfield Park station has been without a ticket machine for 2 months and is staffed only irregularly. So, arriving this morning I was pleased to see a member of FGW staff on the station. Maybe today I could buy a ticket before I boarded the train and would not have to join the long queue at the barrier at BTM.

The ticket office was shut, so customers asked the man, who was swepping up rubbish, whether he was selling tickets. To which he replied Yes, but he had to finish sweeping up the rubbish. This drew an amused and frustrated reaction from those wanting tickets, since with several dozen people of the platform it seemed that selling tickets ought to take priority. But no, he continued sweeping and then eventually...VERY slowly, opened the ticket office and prepared to sell tickets. By which time my train had arrived and it was too late. Excellant customer service FGW!

The Metro

We can now get a copy of the Metro at Oldfield Park station. Can't buy a ticket but we can get a newspaper!

Response from Passenger Focus re ticketing

Yes i am aware of teh issue and have spoken to FGW a number of times.
The machines in the area have been broken into for their money and so severely damaged that they have to go back to germany for repair which can take up to three months! Similar problem at keynsham and the staff shortages at temple meads is not helping. I am satisfied that issues are being addressed as quickly as possible.
I will speak with the station manager at bath re staffing the booth at keynsham more often but his ability to do so may be hampered by having to bolster staff at temple meads.

No ticket machine, no staff at Oldfield Park Station

We have had no ticket machine for several weeks, and no staff for at least 2 weeks. Make buying a ticket at the station rather tricky and usually means having to queue up at BTM.

Chaos tonight

Took 2 hours to get home tonight due to the "signalling/power" problems at Bath.

One coach an hour to Keynsham and Oldfield Park...

The Emperor's New Carriages

Once again Bristol Temple Meads is awash with posters promising new, extra carriages on First Great Western services.

Seeing is believing. My service home, which was always 3 carriages until last December, was reduced to just one carriage last night. I suspect these "extra" carriages are an illusion.

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