Summer 2013. The UK basks in temperatures hotter than the regulation 20 degrees. There is more sun than rain. The apocalypse is near. The latest and greatest First Great Western air conditioning systems mysteriously develop faults across the fleet. We start capturing complaints!
First Great Western themselves struggle to explain a 21 degree carriage temperature. Explanations include needing to reset at depots (really? thermostats?, get the temperature ranges wrong, and then seek to blame single problems in single carriages. Customers suffer for months.
@fgwkmc @M_Deaks If the carriage temperature drops to 19 degrees, the system will adjust to allow the temperature to rise to 23 degrees. ^TJ
— First Great Western (@FGW) June 20, 2013
Read on, viewers. See what paying customers think of the advertised First Great Western 21 degrees carriage temperature. We’ll be extra generous and give FGW the 23 degrees upper limit; after all, First Great Western’s words, not ours. We know nothing about 21-23 degree temperature adjustment systems on trains, AKA big thermostats.
We would however, like to know if Mister Andy Mellors, Engineering Director for First Great Western, has as much experience as us in thermostats, i.e. no experience whatsoever.
In the midst of the 2013 summer, as customers voiced air conditioning complaints, the First Great Western PR Machine whirred into action. However, with Dodgy Norman at the helm, the machine soon hit trouble.
@kirksta100 We did give out ice lollies to customers on the concourse at Paddington as well. John R
— First Great Western (@FGW) July 23, 2013
Not usually positive about @fgw but in a carriage where the air con has stopped working and the staff are handing out free water.
— Bubbles Devere (@DiverStu1) July 23, 2013
Train this morning cancelled, train home delayed & @FGW gave free ice lollies to the paps outside the royal hospital today. Loyalty, eh?
— Claire Abbott (@clairington) July 23, 2013
Ah yes, the 2013 Royal Baby. Future King George. With a free First Great Western Ice Lolly upon his 18th birthday.
@FGW were giving out ice lollies at Paddington as I got off the delayed Bristol train. So good!
— Hanna Wade (@hanna_wade) July 23, 2013
Ice Lollies courtesy of @FGW going down a treat at The Lindo Wing #royalbaby #itsaboy pic.twitter.com/njSYGYdUcK
— Jamie Anderson (@Jamie_Anderson) July 23, 2013
Train conductor giving out free bottles of water. Good service @FGW!
— nick jackson (@Nickcicles) July 21, 2013
http://twitter.com/devonben/status/358269686934282241
Any chance of @fgw giving free water out as air con broken? Or will it take someone collapsing for you to get the hint!?
— Craig Lawton (@CJRLawton) July 19, 2013
But of course! It’s easier than solving the issue, right?
You know there's a heatwave on when @FGW start giving out free ice lollies #lolliesonatrain pic.twitter.com/yIQcwhiOBS
— Lucy Scanlon (@lucy_scanlon) July 20, 2013
@tshanmu Hi. Unfortunately you won't be able to claim compensation due to lack of air con. Sorry about that. John R
— First Great Western (@FGW) July 18, 2013
@SimonHogfress We know we are having some problems with the air con on a number of our services and it is being addressed at a senior level.
— First Great Western (@FGW) July 18, 2013
Some services, First Great Western? Some services? "Some services" suggests one or two. How many complaints do we see here? Even without Cat’s solar-powered calculator, we can see it’s more than one or two. Several? Several hundred?
Jesus Christ @fgw the 16.56 from reading to Taunton has no bloody air con in std. Is see you lot in first class air lively and cool !!
— Jason Hyland (@jasonhyland) July 18, 2013
Some services.
I am a disgusting sweaty mess. Cheers @FGW
— Cameron J-G (@CRJG_) July 18, 2013
@fgw another train with broken aircon and just 2 windows to vent an entire carriage #useless
— Simon Eady (@simoneady) July 18, 2013
Look like I have just stepped out of a swimming pool not off a train. Thanks @FGW #oventrains
— Keith McCarthy (@RattyBoJangles) July 18, 2013
Some services.
@PompeyGoat Never get on a FGW train in summer without one of those tools guards have to open windows. Bought one at a boot sale, invaluable
— Stuart Crow (@stucrow) July 18, 2013
Just stepped on FGW at Reading to be greeted with Sauna like heat, told there is no aircon and to cap it off am sat in window seat #roasted
— Paul Thomas (@whingingpomm) July 18, 2013
@FGW HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE YOUR TRAINS AIR-CONDITIONED!!!!! What the hell?
— Niamh Hannon (@NiamhITV) July 18, 2013
@FGW so making your passengers suffer from heat exhaustion because they cant open a window is better?
— Newbury Customer (@NewburyCustomer) July 18, 2013
Shut up and have a free Cornetto. Nothing to see here!
First great western need to invest in using air conditioning on their trains instead of relying on small windows #DrippingInSweat #Attractiv
— Nitika Ratti (@NitikaRatti) July 18, 2013
Well there’s a surprise. Hotter than satans armpit today, and this @FGW train has broken air con. Happy 3.5 hour journey!!
— Rob Tucker (@RobTuck) July 18, 2013
@Burtshire @fgw the train was a 166 and did have air con fitted you could see the vents but it was much hotter than outside the train!
— R (@RxVENUS) July 18, 2013
Ffs @FGW why do your trains not have air conditioning / why is it always broken with only 4 small windows #torture
— R (@RxVENUS) July 18, 2013
Study says working up a sweat several times a week is good for you. First Great Western commuters must be among the healthiest people alive.
— Peter Campbell (@Petercampbell1) July 18, 2013
Oh, and add non functioning air conditioning, in First Class. First Great Western makes case for driving, not using train very powerful!
— Phil Billingham (@PhilBillingham) July 18, 2013
@FGW on train btwn reading & Ealing broadway. Air conditioner broken and windows don't open. What can I do? We're really suffering!
— Daisy Atkin (@jollux_) July 18, 2013
Some services.
No air-con on 11:41 BRI – GCR service @FGW this is cruel & unusual punishment not a train service! *melts*
— Zoe Saunders (@ZASaunders) July 18, 2013
So @fgw claim that this train is air conditioned. It's clearly not. And the handles on the window have been taken off, so they don't open.
— Chris (@iamchrispeach) July 18, 2013
Even better… The carriage is absolutely roasting… Good going @FGW REALLY 'great' service your run. #pointlessbusiness
— Dean Clayton (@DeanClayton1) July 18, 2013
Travelling to London on a #FGW train. Is it impolite to ask who is responsible for putting more water on the sauna coals?
— CharlesB (@CBellUK) July 18, 2013
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