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SWT - Notes from Meeting with Mr Eccles - Finchie (3rd Jun 2005 - 08:58:39) Hi Folks, Following yesterday’s meeting with Graham Eccles here is an update: Evening Void: As per action from March meeting in Liphook (Andrew Haines promised to look at this for the December timetable), Graham will ensure that SWT explores the void between the 18:15 and 19:00. Rather than just pose problems, a solution was tabled, the 18:18 from Waterloo terminates at Haslemere at 19:25 – just continue this once the fast has past it? (thanks to John Tough for all your work on this option). Graham also undertook to re-look at options for the gap in the morning between 6:41 and 7:19. Another train is not an option since the stock is maxed out and it would mean taking away another service. Although this has been explored before with Andrew with no joy – he felt that it is worth having another look Also, we will get an update on the policy if the hourly trains leaving Waterloo, on the hour, in the evening are cancelled i.e. we don’t want to be stranded for an hour (Again, an outstanding action from the Liphook meeting in March) Feedback on a recent problem: about 40 people were left stranded at Haslemere when the slow train was not there waiting. The guard incorrectly said the fast train had “no stopping order” for Liphook. However it did stop at Liphook for the lucky ones that stayed on. Graham’s feedback is that the driver-guard communication is a serious issue that does break down. In this instance it was the guards fault. SWT want to ensure the guard is more mobile & visible in the trains, but this means they are not always in the right place to get a message. One option being looked as is walkie-talkies. Alex – it was right up there on the agenda – “what about Wifi ?!!”. They are rolling this out in stations this year (and I was so surprised I forgot to ask about Haslemere/Liphook). The trains are a challenge at the moment, because any additional equipment will void the 18 month warranty they have left with Siemens, but they would like to try and resolve this issue to see if One candidate mentioned is t-mobile. He is also acutely aware that once rolled out, the provider would have us by the dangly-bits as it will be a captive market. Any price rises would only reflect poorly on SWT, so they would put in some kind of price capping structure. The other complexity is that Siemens won’t agree to any 3rd parties installing it on the trains (because they want that business). Interestingly he asked about congestion in the morning – so I relayed your feedback Rob. Here is his view. They are at capacity and demand will only get higher. The only logical option is to extend to 15 car trains from the present 10 – this will require a huge investment (and subsidised by the government) and is not something that is likely to be swallowed – rather the government will try to get people off the trains by hiking up fares. Aaaagh ! His only suggestion was to get political backing. Mr Arbuthnott, you surely will have renewed energy following your recent re-election. This is of the utmost importance, certainly a bigger priority that the Alton line whinging about train horn noise ! Going forward, Graham is actively recruiting for his replacement and when he is in place he offered to have a handover meeting to ensure continuity. That’s it for now. Cheers, Finchie

Re: SWT - Notes from Meeting with Mr Eccles - LippyChick (12th Jun 2005 - 16:59:49) ..and I'm assuming you left him a copy of your CV Finchie?

Re: SWT - Notes from Meeting with Mr Eccles - Finchie (14th Jun 2005 - 11:50:36) What - and have to deal with "customeers" like myself and keep a smile on my face - no way ! Well done on the bike ride LC - a fantastic day. Cheers, Finchie

Re: SWT - Notes from Meeting with Mr Eccles - Alex Cameron (15th Jun 2005 - 18:11:04) Why does everything these people do have to be subsidised by the government? Which other large, privatised national services are given such generous handouts for investment, when they haven't even figured out that walkie-talkies might be a good idea? Is there any reason they can't go to the bank or the city in the same way every other business has to?

Re: SWT - Notes from Meeting with Mr Eccles - Stephen (15th Aug 2005 - 11:02:19) I quote from an edited transcript of a speech made by Rufus Boydd, MD of SWT on 24th May. "... While SWT takes considerable pride in the way the December 2004 timetable change was managed and the quality of the implementation, it recognises that it took considerable effort to deliver it. If we had our time again, we would have found a way to engage with individual communities such as Liphook, where changes mattered, BUT WE HAD NO CONTACT POINT IN THE COMMUNITY. ..." [My capitalisation] As someone who moved to Liphook recently, but has seen the various posts to this site, I am astounded by this remark.

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