gdp's Comments

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 5 Jul 2013 06:43:20 +0000

Oh heck. good point. all spam removed. all advertising removed. Now listen, don't you go thinking I've been neglecting things just because I left my job on Old Street at the end of January to 'work from home' for six months and because i wasn't commuting myself, didn't care. I always care. I was just busy. WFH seemed to involve starting at 0530hrs and ending at about 1900 - not what it said on the box at all. Also please don't go thinking that because I start commuting again on Monday it's the only reason I have picked up on the spam and stuff and will get this site back into shape. That's merely a coincidence. Apologies, normal service has been resumed. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Sat, 4 Aug 2012 10:06:54 +0000

Live and archived First Capital Connect stats and real reasons for delays now available: Live First Capital Connect Stats First Capital Connect Delays and Cancellations - real reasons. All thanks to Stuart Pinfold. Good work SP. Thanks, CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 07:05:21 +0000

I was on the 0636 this morning and am sure the recorded announcement said change at Blackfriars. It is a bit early for me though so pay no heed. Always good to hear FCC being given the thumbs up on here. It doesn't happen very often! Thanks. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 1 Jun 2012 08:01:00 +0000

Hey! Does anyone at head office know why the innovative and useful RingGo parking service has been discontinued with NO NOTICE? I turned up today and found out ON THE TRAIN. Don't forget FC head office that I am always about 7 minutes walk from you and happy to pop in for a cup of tea at any time. Crapmaster

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:16:58 +0000

Allison Dear has done well for herself, going from Elaine Holt's PA to social media manager (!) I can't find Madame Dear on facebook though. By all means send me links / screenshots and I'll make entertaining use of them here. thanks, CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:21:34 +0000

this is super-interesting. I have a chance to help someone influential put together a case against FCC getting the franchise again. I read every word posted here, I'm strict about moderating and don't allow any personal abuse (well, not too much) and am tremendously grateful of the contributions of people such as yourself. you can email at any time - in total confidence - just set up a random hotmail or yahoo account if you're really worried - with anything that wil help. especially around safety briefings being cut, poor maintenance practice, anything that's going to make it impossible for anyone with any sense over Westminster way to renew the franchise. Also let me know if you want a pint at any time of course too. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:19:25 +0000

hysterical! who on earth is advising FCC re: its use of Social Media?! Whoever it is, wake up and smell the programme! Jesus! FCC is not Fucken STARBUCKS you know, it's a universally HATED company. I can only imagine the board meetings where this was signed off. I imagine it was sold in as something to wave around at time of refranchising, allowing FCC to show just how customer-focused it has been. Not sure who is the biggest crook here, FCC or whoever is taking money off it for miss-guided stuff like this. note to self: continue to copy and paste all the content somewhere, as it will surely be taken down within a week, when someone less thick than whoever signed it off gets wind of it. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:01:38 +0000

excellent news. well, it's not really 'news' as such, more confirmation of what we all know. let me know if you're up for a pint at any time to discuss - in confidence - further. Hertford House is about 4 minutes walk from *my* office. I never get invited round though. NB: I do know that using twitter to abuse (not exactly abuse) the #FirstCC social media team is not big and not clever, but it did help distract me from the 2 hour version of my usual 25 minute journey last night. WHY did it take 12 British Transport Police to get people on the train? Who decided that?! ' Eh up son, there's been a bloody signal failure on the Bedpan line. We'd better call the police, you know, it's the Hertfordshire mob, it's bound to kick off big time.' (a shaking, hairy hand hovers over, then presses firmly down on big blue button that starts glowing as sirens go off and - somewhere else in London - BTP leap up from their camp beds and slide down poles...)

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:26:21 +0000

yes farringdon station - how did that happen?! it appears to have been built in secret across the road from where everyone was expecting it to be. lots of confusing exits, so certainly a good place to hang out when zombies do attack. if anyone knows how men build such things, drop me a line. i would love to know. i also came home in a 12 carriage train, but having to get on at st pancras (after long lunch in the narrow boat on st peters street) I had to bloody stand up! isn't it ironic? later! cm

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 13:27:18 +0000

HIyah Stuart, this looks great - it's gone down now though, have you moved it? Please advise! CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:24:59 +0000

Once again, great help and support. I have passed this on personally to the *victim*, explaining how I cannot actually help at all or offer any useful advice myself, that it's all come from you. Do please note that this is making a big difference to this person's ability to cope with something that's frightening and intimidating to a degree out of all proportion re: the alleged offence. Here's a little more information: This person was temporarily in 'First Class' because, as they boarded the train, they were covered in flies that were prevalent at the station in question on this particularly hot day. They were clearly distressed, there were no seats in Standard and after sorting themselves out, immediately moved from 'First Class' to standard. I have seen the Certificate of Service that's stamped with No ASN Required - whatever that means. It states that the Certificate of Service has been issued because: Occupy a reserved seat, berth or train without an appropriate ticket. Using threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language The person restated how aggressive the Revenue Protection Officer was, he sat himself down some 7 minutes after the person moved from First Class into Standard, was extremely intimidating and aggressive, invading space and intimidating, definitely did not show ID despite being requested repeatedly and did not clearly state what he wanted. He almost immediately called the BTP and retained the standard class tickets of the passenger. The passenger was distressed and didn't understand what the RPI was asking for or intending at all and told them to 'piss off', which the RPI tried hard to insist they repeat, which the passenger did not repeat. When the BTP Officer got on the train he was as rude and aggressive as the RPI, the two appeared to be known to each other to the extent that the passenger queried if this was the case. They both denied it. At no time was it clear to the passenger what the problem was. The RPI had stated that 'anyone in First Class for even one second is committing fraud and theft from FCC', which is clearly A level bollocks. The passenger had to ask for the return of the standard class tickets at least six times so the journey could be continued. The tickets were zipped up in the bag of the RPI, who had previously aggressively stated 'these tickets are not your property, they are the property of FCC'. The RPI clearly had no intention of returning the tickets and only did so when the passenger caught site of the name of the RPI and used it. Once again, thanks for your help. This clearly appears to be total profiteering from someone who clearly is not a law-breaking opportunist, I cannot stand a bully and if FCC is proving it to be anything in this case, it's a big fat bully. Apologies if the above doesn't help, but thanks once again for your support on this, which has been most gratefully received. CM NB: I am happy to take any further advice offline via email/phone/any handy pub.

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:56:34 +0000

This is extremely useful stuff that I am passing on the the person concerned today. thanks ever so much. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:56:00 +0000

That's most helpful, thanks. I am happy to pass no the name of the guy in question, give me a shout on crapmaster@firstcrapitalconnect.co.uk - confidentiality respected and assured as ever. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:51:29 +0000

this is helpful, thanks. anything else at all would be great. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:36:38 +0000

Ah good day everyone. Only a matter of time before FCC crawls to a halt again, referencing sub-zero temperatures as the mitigating factor. Between now and then, can anyone help me re: this person below, who is being intimdated and bullied (as usual) by FCC? Here's the bulk of the correspondence so far with anonymity preserved: ### Please can you help, FCC are taking me to court for having been in First Class for a couple of minutes. I moved of my own volition before being approached some time later by a revenue inspector. He did not show me his badge and so I did not give him my details. He was militant and dogmatic, called XXXX XXXXXXX. He had me removed from the train by a transport policeman (with no discussion or opportunity for me to understand what I was being asked to pay) I am being summoned to court for fraud. Please can you help? This has been going on since the end of July.. I have never been to court and have no means of paying any kind of fine from court. I have asked them at every turn how to prevent this going to court. It has been very cloak and dagger. ### I have corresponded briefly with the person who is obviously remaining anonymous and they explained: •There is one witness but he was an FCC member of staff. •I had appealed to him for support, but he dismissed me. •There were several other passengers in the First class department. A lady leaned forward and said 'I am so sorry, we can not anything - we all work for FCC'. The witness would also have heard me say up to 15 times or so to XXXX XXXXXXX 'I have not seen your identification. Please show me your badge'. Passenger focus group told me that they are very surprised it has escalated to a court summons but also that FCC do not go to court unless they know they can win and that they do win. That really scared me. I would have hoped that a judge would see the nonsense in this. ### I'd like to be able to help this person more than I actually can, even just by advising on the likely outcome/having a whip-round. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks ever so much. NB: Time to start planning this year's First Crapital Connect Christmas party. We should have it on the 17:17 from Farringdon to St Albans in mid December,. I'll bring a few bottles of something seasonal. Admittedly it would be quite a short party. We could continue in 'The Horn I suppose...'

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:13:59 +0000

No ranting or personal abuse please. I get enough of that at home ;) CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 21:52:02 +0000

good insight and update from the front line, thanks. shame a bit of old tree can cause so much disruption. Ben Harding looks like a pleasant gentleman who is surely capable of sorting things out: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ben-harding/1b/52/46

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Sat, 28 May 2011 22:38:03 +0000

excellent work - sorry about that horrendous journey - I'll try and fix/highlight your post. CM

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 9 May 2011 21:00:52 +0000

Good update - thanks - you gotta love social media - in the words of Homer Simpson: 'the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.' admittedly he was actually talking about alcohol, but the two things are similar. It's just that one of them populates a proliferation of digital devices, the other is on tap pretty much everywhere else. Both are close to my own heart at the moment. I love how a Google search for 'Alison Dear' delivers as the #1 result: 'Based in Southampton, Alison Dear provides psychic energy and mediumistic readings as well as numerology reports to clients throughout Southampton' Stupid Google, hopefully it's talking about another AD there, otherwise she's certainly got her work cut out for her. In the event that IS our AD, the FCC social media strategy had better be suitably operationalised (I know it's a made-up word, but it works) otherwise AD is going to be letting down the spiritual community of Southampton, so snowed she will be with people Twittering and Facebooking her all over the shop. Thanks again, your loving Crapmaster

First Capital Connect | We've got you over a barrel | FirstGroup : First Capital Connect | What can we do?

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:43:50 +0000

Good response, thanks. CM