Everything written in this article hits the nail on the head. Can Mike represent all of us rail users and petition the government (if they have the time to deal with anyhting other than their expenses of course) to do something about this ludicrous situation. So much for giving the public a better, more competitive service and choice. One wonders where the joined-up thinking was when this one was introduced. The only winners are the executives of the rail companies, certainly not use rail users. By the way, I am a regular Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton traveller.

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I was thinking of travelling to Wembley with Wrexham & Shropshire. Can forget that now!

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Faults can occur – of course, we know that, and you can’t blame Arriva for that. But why make such a dogs dinner out of the remedial action? Arriva make a big deal about being a major multi national travel group. When they bid for the Wales and Border franchise, they made a big deal out of how they would integrate bus and rail travel (I haven’t seen much evidence of this – have you???).

Yet when something goes wrong, all that big talk counts for NOTHING. The Customer Care people have a set line to trot out (and a set response letter for complaints too) – not their fault, they have to do what their managers tell them. Sounds like a lot of extra training for Arriva Rail Control staff – but I bet they don’t get it!

I wonder if the Shropshire Star will be contacting Arriva for their explanation? Not that it won’t be anything we haven’t heard before.

As for the fragmentation of the industry…without doubt the worst thing that ever happened. For that, blame the Conservatives. And then blame the current Government for doing nothing about it.

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As someone stuck on the arriva train can i point out to the person above that i would have loved to been allowed to get out and walk. No one was permitted to get off the train, no doors were permitted to be opened. We sweltered!!!

Having left Shrewsbury at 17.31 we finally arrived in Wellington at 10.15, it must be some sort of record. And what was nearly as appalling as the clueless way in which the breakdown was handled, was the lack of communication to the passengers.

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edit…….oops, I should have said arrived at Wellington at 22.15.

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4 Ed – that’s a bit harsh on Wrexham & Shropshire since this article is all about Arriva Trains! In my experience W&S trains are one of the better operators, probably because they are a much smaller, local company who rely on passenger fares and get no subsidies from the government. Give them a try before you slate them!!!

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I was on the train that broke down. It was a complete farce i had walked from little dawley to shrewsbury some 18miles with my dog charlie.It took me six hours .I got on the 17.31 train and had to stand by the doors as the train was full and i had my dog which i was happy to do as its only a 20 minute journey!!! to telford central.At 17.36 the train stopped, the conductor and driver it has to be said tried there best to resolve the problem.The train was very hot and stuffy the crew were reluctant to leave the doors open , stating health and safety policy and something about air pressure.Many passengers had no water one needed medication for diabetes. I was lucky in having several spare bottles of water in my rucksack and gave it out willingly as well as food.Several passengers had enjoyed a drink or six and became very agitated it was only down to the efforts of other passengers that the situation did not esculate.One peassenger phoned arriver customer services whilst we were stuck,and got nothing back as to what was happening finaly we decamped to another train….and waited. One passenger banged on the door to find out why we had not mooved the answer “we are waiting for confirmation as to wether we go to wellington or shrewsbury” Finally at 22.15 we arrived at wellington i had been standing for over 4 hours i got off and phoned my partner to pick me up arriving home at 22.30 Thanks arriva!

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Let’s get this straight – the problem is that free enterprise isn’t delivering the goods to everyones satisfaction. When growing up in England I remember British Rail, what a joke. Lets talk about filthy trains and lousy service; and spending 360 million pounds a year in government subsidies.
No, the real problem is with the British people, they “don’t care” about their jobs or the people they serve. The Arriva trains are filthy because the people paid to clean them, “don’t care”. The trains break down because the people paid to maintain them, “don’t care”. The lack of care from station staff is because they, “don’t care”.
Having just survived two weeks in Britain, attending a family wedding and visiting aging parents I can honestly say, as a visitor, that people in shops, hotels, restaurants and transportation; universally, “don’t care”.
This attitude has resulted in much of the manufacturing sector – from ship building to clothing being moved overseas to where people are glad of the work and “care” about the product they make. Soon it will be tourists who will take their vacations elesewhere, and skip the British “don’t care”.
Britain needs to open its gates to the Poles and other East Europeans who still remember the wonderful life they lived under socialism, and are now glad to take jobs from the “don’t care” British.
Look around people – the lousy attitude and “don’t care” are helping Britain to becoming an island version of Zimbabwe.

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THis event was appaling and the passengers involved were completely let down by Arriva and Network Rail – but that has nothing to do with Privatisation and how it was done. British Rail was no better at Customer Service and the reason that nobody did anything obvious to sort the problems on the day was that everyone is scared of Health and Safety and not prepared to put their neck on the line for passengers. That would have been the case whoever was running it all unless the senior management instill an enviroment where people are encouraged to make sensible decisions based on real risk. There is not a fault that could have caused this that would have taken any longer than an hour to move with the help of the right people.

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I was on the 1724 Arriva service from Birmingham to Telford on Monday night – it was jam packed with people standing in the aisles it was an absolute disgrace

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Getting off the train on your own accord whilst it was stood at Upton Magna would result in trespass which is against the law & you would be arrested by the BTP.

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y mab dragon i am not backing up your point as b jones correctly points out it would result in arrest.I am a special constable and part time youthworker both roles require me to act in a professional manner wether on duty or not i would imagine it was the same for many others its called being a responsible adult.Had someone left the train it would more than likely cause others to do so making the situation far worse.

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funny,

when ever a public service goes wrong, he whingers who comment here immediately say, better that it should be in private hands,

A private railway goes wrong and same people want it in public hands.

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