First Capital Connect extension on Thameslink route (From The Argus)

Dear god no!

Oh how depressing. They already use ancient,unreliable rolling stock as they don't give a toss about the passengers (seeing as how they're being booted out) and now the misery is going to be extended. And it also affects Southern passengers (of which I am usually one, thank God) as their trains get held up by the late FCC ones.

Another 28 weeks of "Delay Repay" coming their way.....

''First Capital Connect managing director Neal Lawson said: “We have demonstrated our ability to manage complex projects such as the Thameslink Programme...''

Really Neal?

According to http://www.thameslin
kprogramme.co.uk/par
tners :

''The Thameslink Programme is funded by the government through the Department for Transport (DfT)...
...Station, track and signalling works will be carried out by Network Rail working closely with Southeastern, Southern and First Capital Connect to minimise disruption to passengers.''

The work is *all* being done by Network Rail with the only thing FCC being responsible for is running your tin sweat-boxes through the disruption with minimal delays... Something which you singularly have failed to do practically every day since the Thameslink Programme (nee Thameslink 2000) started.

To claim that you have managed *any* part of this project is stretching your credibility thinner than tissue paper... And, like tissue paper we can see through you.

First Capital Connect have, ever since it took over, run the franchise for the benefit of itself and its shareholders only. Commuters are an annoyance to you, demonstrated daily by the way your company treats us.

Delays, cancellations, filthy trains, rude staff, grafitti, random heating arrangements, breakdowns, timetable changes, non-stopping trains, short-forms... the list goes on.

To demonstrate the contempt with which First Capital Connect view their customer base, in December 2012, between Christmas & The New Year First Capital Connect ran an off-peak service and yet ensured that they charged a peak rate fare. How full of Christmas joy they must have been when they made the decision to rip us off like that... And this was soon followed by the rip-off fare rise in January when the government gave Train Operating Companys permission to raise fares by *up to* 4.2% (which means that they could raise them by anything up to that figure), and First Capital Connect, of course, raised them the full allowable amount.

Got to keep your shareholders sweet eh?

I have travelled home this year on First Capital Connect trains a total of 23 times. I have arrived on time... Once. And have suffered the sum total of 324 minutes. Over 5 HOURS. In one month. And for this I can claim a whole approx £30 in compensation. What a joke.

The sooner FCC are either kicked off the franchise, or resign from it and let someone competant have a go the better. Thousands of long suffering commuters will have a street party the day it happens.

In my experience the service by First Capitol Connect on the Thameslink route has been ok! Yes the rolling stock is the most uncomfortable ever - but dont forget it was designed and built by British Rail Engineering! And let’s not forget prevarication and delayed decision making by successive governments is the major reason that has delayed completion of the Thameslink Programme and the purchase of modern rolling stock on this route! So improvements to Thameslink services are unlikely whoever runs the franchise and wont really happene until the London Bridge Station redevelopment is completed in 2018!

Lawson “We have demonstrated our ability to manage complex projects such as the Thameslink Programme"
Apart from handing out pointless freebies and endless quotes to the press I challenge FCC to publish a list showing what they have spent on the Thameslink Programme project?
I find it very disappointing that First Group is trying to justify that they should get the extension based on a Passenger Focus Group that is “representing the interests of rail users”. The surveys are misleading as they do not represent the daily commuter who pays premium fares. The surveys are generally conducted throughout the day when usage is extremely low and a 4 carriage train instead of 8 would not make a slight difference. A passenger who travels at 2.30pm may only use the train once a year, therefore one should question if their view is valid within a survey that may be used by the railway companies as reference. Why not conduct a survey featuring peak hour passengers only?

Lets not also forget whilst FCC claim improvements (conducted by NETWORK RAIL) who raises the fares and boots customers off the trains so shareholders can avoid the 5 minute delay penalty charge? FCC does not care the slightest when things go wrong.

So far this year FCC has cancelled dozens of trains due to train faults and no drivers. Surely a Thameslink franchise extension should be based on if FCC has improved its maintenance program and more importantly have they improved on driver numbers in the last 3 years? The answer is NO they still rely on drivers doing double shifts. If a driver is not available the service is either cancelled or will skip stations. What kind of service is that?
The only time Neal Lawson comes out of his shell is for the press when things are going well or when the multi million pound franchise is up for grabs!!!

I think it is time to stop pouring money into First Group shareholders pockets, ignore FCC’s misleading PR stunts and stand outside the stations and ask the commuters themselves what they think of FCC.