First Capital Connect

mikeidge

Last year, First Capital Connect put up their price of a Gold Card by 10% – at least, that's true of the route I use. How are they allowed to do then when it's so much about the rate of inflation? I'm dreading what they're going to do this year, as 10% upon 10% every year is quickly going to accumulate. And all this for a service that is inferior to WAGN's.

My friends and I wrote a song that we sent to FCC's head-office by way of a complaint. It was also played on Three Counties Radio. Here's the link! http://www.potatohermits.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?com=show&title=fcc

KeithP

Mike, how many songs did Potato Hermits write?
I've read about the second one here.
I hope they didn't write any more than two.:beer:

Keith

Due to the amount of investment by FCC I'd guess you'll be looking at another increase this year. They are extending all the trains and platforms at the moment aren't they.

mikeidge

As far as I know, they're only extending the carriage capacity on the route from Brighton into London – the improvements won't affect my route at all. (Other than the lovely flourescent pink paint they've added to the lamp-posts at some stations.) I've just got confirmation from them that it will go up by at least 10% again this year. Absolutely absurd! It really annoys me that they're able to say they're running "on time" and have their stats unblemished as long as their trains are under five minutes late. If my train's three minutes late, I'm late for work!

Is there anything customers can do about this? The service isn't getting any better – if anything it's just getting more and more cramped – so it doesn't seem fair that they're able to potentially put up their prices three times a year, way above inflation.

yorkie2

FarceCapitalConnect had the option to lease an additional, long 110mph InterCity train for the peak hours which would have freed up 2 units each of 4 coaches to lengthen existing trains to relieve overcrowding on a total of 3 services each way. (This is the same train that was hired in by Hull Trains a few months back)

They decided NOT to do this as it would have meant a slight reduction in their profits, and there was a risk that some of the bosses would not be able to go on such long holidays this year. To ensure that all bosses can wallow in loads of cash and also to price some people onto the roads so that they don't have to put additional trains on, they are putting up prices instead.

There's nothing much you can do about it, but you could ask them why they decided not to hire the extra train to deal with overcrowding, but they will just issue some ridiculous waffle in response.

KeithP

mikeidge wrote: »

<snip>
If my train's three minutes late, I'm late for work!
<snip>

Mike, perhaps you need to catch an earlier train?

mikeidge

It's not as simple as that - my girlfriend travels on the same service, and if she gets the train half an hour earlier, FCC double her fare for the privilege.

Besides, if a timetable says a train gets in at 08:57, then I expect it to. If it said 08:57-09:01, then it'd be fair enough - but it doesn't!

Conor_3

mikeidge wrote: »

Last year, First Capital Connect put up their price of a Gold Card by 10% – at least, that's true of the route I use. How are they allowed to do then when it's so much about the rate of inflation?

Welcome to capitalism.

gner_ex

mikeidge wrote: »

As far as I know, they're only extending the carriage capacity on the route from Brighton into London – the improvements won't affect my route at all.

Brighton to Bedford (the normal route via London Bridge, and the Peak route via Elephant) will see extensions where necessary to accommodate 12 car trains. The Sutton loop will remain 8 car trains.

The inner suburban route from Moorgate to Drayton Park will see extensions to allow 8 car trains, together with reinstating 8 car capacity on various Hertford Loop stations (most were artificially restricted to 6 car in the late 1970s).

I wouldn't expect to see longer platforms between Letchworth and Foxton though, not in the short term at least.

ticketcollector

yorkie2 wrote: »

There's nothing much you can do about it, but you could ask them why they decided not to hire the extra train to deal with overcrowding, but they will just issue some ridiculous waffle in response.

They didn't hire in the extra train for various reasons.
1) The DaFT would not support the hire, and as FCC is a Franchise the DaFT has to approve most things. HT is an Open Access franchise so is not bound as much by the DaFT.
2) They would have had to pay extra track access charges, more then the 365 access charge.
3) They would have had to pay for an extra driver who is traction trained on the 86.
4) They would have had to pay for a guard as the class 86 plus MK2 coaches are not DOO (Driver only operation).

At the moment I cant think of any other excuses they would use.

gner_ex

ticketcollector wrote: »

They didn't hire in the extra train for various reasons.
1) The DaFT would not support the hire, and as FCC is a Franchise the DaFT has to approve most things. HT is an Open Access franchise so is not bound as much by the DaFT.
2) They would have had to pay extra track access charges, more then the 365 access charge.
3) They would have had to pay for an extra driver who is traction trained on the 86.
4) They would have had to pay for a guard as the class 86 plus MK2 coaches are not DOO (Driver only operation).

At the moment I cant think of any other excuses they would use.

To be fair to FCC, the drivers were to come from GBRF - but thats not the point.