Train fails to stop (From Witney Gazette)

Train fails to stop

7:57am Friday 29th February 2008 in Witney By David Horne

TROUBLED train operator First Great Western left some of its Oxfordshire passengers fuming again - the day after the Government ordered it to improve its service.

On Wednesday, the 5.42am from Hereford to Oxford and London Cotswold Line commuter train failed to stop at stations in West Oxfordshire - because of a fault.

FGW said that under health and safety rules, when its selective door opening (SDO) system broke down, it was obliged not to stop at short-platform stations - such as those in West Oxfordshire.

Passengers expecting to board at Kingham (7.18am), Charlbury (7.29am), and Hanborough (7.37am) saw the train speed past, resulting in a knock-on overcrowding effect on the next service.

The company is one of the country's worst performing rail operators. Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, issued it with a remedial notice on Tuesday, after months of complaints from passengers over delays and overcrowding.

SDO was brought in several decades ago, but on December 9 last year was made compulsory on short-platform stations on the Cotswold Line to prevent accidents, when all the carriage doors can be opened.

Lance Cole, FGW spokesman, said: "First Great Western apologises for the service alteration to one service on the Cotswold Line.

"A mechanical issue with the new door opening system prevented the train from operating from its designated short-platformed stations.

"We apologise for the inconvenience that resulted."