Half-price deal for Cotswold trips (From Witney Gazette)

Half-price deal for Cotswold trips

7:37am Monday 13th August 2007 in Witney By Giles Sheldrick

FIRST Great Western is giving passengers on its Cotswold Line services a treat this week by halving the cost of cheap day return tickets.

The gesture by the train operator, which was described as a welcome piece of PR spin by a passenger pressure group, is to celebrate the reopening of the line between Oxford and Worcester after the tracks were was damaged in last month's floods.

The deal, which will see a fare from Charlbury to London of £10.35 (down from £20.70) and Oxford to London of £8.75 (down from from £17.50), runs from today until Sunday, August 19.

It includes fares for passengers travelling from Oxford, Hanborough, Charlbury, Shipton and Kingham to stations on FGW's routes to London Paddington, Gatwick Airport and Newbury.

Cheap day returns are valid for travel on the Cotswold Line on the 8.24am from Worcester to London and all later trains and on trains leaving Oxford after 10am.

Last month's torrential downpours washed away sections of the track north of Kingham and services were suspended for a fortnight.

FGW commercial director Tom Stables said: "This is our way of saying thank you to customers who have been so patient while the line has been closed to allow for track repairs."

Last month, we reported that Oxfordshire commuters suffer some of the most overcrowded trains in the country.

Some rush-hour FGW trains are so crammed that a third of passengers are forced to stand on some services.

Of the 10 most crowded in London and the South East - the busiest part of the rail network - three are services for Oxford, including the 5.52pm Paddington to Worcester, which can seat 242 people but sometimes carries more than 350.

Speaking about the half-fare offer, Andrew Wilkins, 68, of Long Hanborough, the local representative of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, said: "It's a PR stunt, but I think it's a good idea. They weren't obliged to give compensation because of the extreme weather conditions, but they're allowing people a fortnight extra on their season tickets too.

"First are very good at spin, but not so good at dealing with their customers."

A regular Cotswold Line passenger, who did not want to be named, said last night: "Great Western and Network Rail would do better to spend their money on making sure that trains run reliably.

"The 8.24am from Worcester was cancelled today and is rarely on time into Oxford when it does operate."