First Great Western leaves a five months pregnant freezing cold and helpless.
This is the nightmare of what First Great Western has caused to my five months pregnant girlfriend and I today.
As a usual commuter using First Great Western every week to got to work, today, I saw the true image of this company.
As usual, I always book my ticket in advance. This week,my five months pregnant girlfriend and I were on a little trip to Yorkshire to visit her family.
Yesterday, Sunday 9th, we were meant to go back home which is in Frome, Somerset.
At 14:45, we were in Goole station. Waiting for our train to Doncaster. At 15:10, the time when they train was supposed to arrive, simply didn't arrive. There was no staff. We were told by a random lad that there was engineering work going on. So I decided to call F.G.W Customer Services. The reply was rude 'Sorry, we can't help you with this matter, you should call Northern Line'. I wasn't really happy due to the fact I bought my ticket on their website and they were unable to help me. So I eventually called Northern Line which wasn't really helpful as they failed to tell us where to get the bus. Anyway, We decided to get a local cab. £40 from Goole to Doncaster,that's what it cost us. Once upon our arrival, we were unfortunately late to get our 16:50 service to Birmingham. And the nightmare began. We rushed to customers services and were nicely told to wait at platform 8 for the next train to Birmingham. Departure time: 17:50. As we sat there in the freezing cold with a group of people, the train never arrived. We all went back to the customer services where we were told 'Sorry there was no announcement, the train came on a different platform and left, you will have to change at Sheffield'. Waiting time: 15 min. Puzzled, I went back to our of the staff to ask for advice on how to get to Frome. As he saw me coming towards him, he turned his back! I had to speak to another staff who was next to him. Few people witness it.
15 minutes later, we were on the train to Sheffield. Once we got there, we headed to a member of staff. He recommended us, to take the Plymouth train which calls at Bristol Temple Meads. I also took the opportunity to ask him how to get to Frome. He checked on his computer and told me there were no trains going to Frome. But if I tell the customer services in Bristol, they definitely have to sort a cab out for us. I thought we were getting somewhere. Two hours later, we arrived at Bristol Temple Meads, it was freezing cold, my pregnant girlfriend was absolutely knackered. We rushed to the customer services. There was 5-6 of them. I started giving a brief description of the trouble we have had and I was shocked on how rude they were. They simply told us ''The next train to Frome is....hmmm Tomorrow mate'
I replied 'What do want us to do? I've my girlfriend with me who is actually FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT''
SHOCKINGLY the man replied ''It doesn't matter'' The other one at the back added ''We don't have to know if she is pregnant or not''
And the first one concluded 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do for ya'
My girlfriend was left in tears as we walked out of the room.
She explained to me how knackered and freezing she was. I then rang F.G.W Customer services to see whether they could get us out of there. The lady on the phone to me to hold on 2 minutes. I asked her if there were any chance she could call me back. She agreed. 10 Minutes later, the phone never rang, leaving me no choice than calling back again. To my surprise 'Sorry, our offices are now close'.
Where was the help we were promised? They saw us with a few heavy bags. No sympathy.
I couldn't stop my girlfriend from crying as she was now in pain. So I went out and found a cab. £50 from Bristol to get us to Frome.
Total price; £50 train tickets + £40 cab from Goole to Doncaster + £ 50 from Bristol to Frome.
When we were supposed to get to Frome at 21:47 we arrived at 2am. My girlfriend has now caught a cold. Thanks to First Great Western superb customer services.
Treat people the way you want to be treated.
W.L