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First Great Western passengers face strike turmoil First Great Western passengers face strike turmoil
(about 1 hour later)
Tens of thousands of commuters have been facing severe disruption on First Great Western (FGW) trains since a 48-hour strike took hold.Tens of thousands of commuters have been facing severe disruption on First Great Western (FGW) trains since a 48-hour strike took hold.
High-speed services between London, the West of England and Wales have been halved during the industrial action, which began at 18:30 BST on Wednesday.High-speed services between London, the West of England and Wales have been halved during the industrial action, which began at 18:30 BST on Wednesday.
Overnight services between London and Penzance were cancelled.Overnight services between London and Penzance were cancelled.
The dispute is over plans to dispose of guards and buffet cars on FGW's new Hitachi Inter City Express trains.The dispute is over plans to dispose of guards and buffet cars on FGW's new Hitachi Inter City Express trains.
Click here for the latest on the first Great Western strikeClick here for the latest on the first Great Western strike
FGW said the main impact of the industrial action would be felt by commuters on Thursday morning after members of the RMT union, who are in dispute with the train operator, were instructed not to "book in" for shifts.
The RMT's Mick Cash said: "FGW are running a skeleton service in some areas which is dangerously overcrowded and being operated by inadequately trained managers, raising serious safety issues which RMT will be taking up formally."The RMT's Mick Cash said: "FGW are running a skeleton service in some areas which is dangerously overcrowded and being operated by inadequately trained managers, raising serious safety issues which RMT will be taking up formally."
Will Guyatt, who commutes via train from Chippenham to London every day said: "It's all very well calling this a 48-hour strike. There was chaos from about 4pm yesterday afternoon." However a spokesman for the train operator said safety is "our top priority" and "we would not operate a service without the correct number of safety competent people on board".
FGW is operating a revised timetable and has warned that trains will be much busier than usual.FGW is operating a revised timetable and has warned that trains will be much busier than usual.
Services between London, the West and South Wales have been reduced by more than half and some suburban rail services cancelled.Services between London, the West and South Wales have been reduced by more than half and some suburban rail services cancelled.
The industrial action is likely to affect fans heading to the first Ashes Test match in Cardiff.The industrial action is likely to affect fans heading to the first Ashes Test match in Cardiff.
Will Guyatt, who commutes via train from Chippenham to London every day said: "It's all very well calling this a 48-hour strike. There was chaos from about 4pm yesterday afternoon."
The strike coincides with a separate, 24-hour stoppage on London Underground, which has closed the entire Tube network.The strike coincides with a separate, 24-hour stoppage on London Underground, which has closed the entire Tube network.
Strike timetable changesStrike timetable changes
RMT general secretary, Mick Cash said: "The company still feel that the configuration of the new super express trains is out of their control and that it would be in their best interests to have 'driver-only' operations and to remove the buffet cars.RMT general secretary, Mick Cash said: "The company still feel that the configuration of the new super express trains is out of their control and that it would be in their best interests to have 'driver-only' operations and to remove the buffet cars.
"That position is totally unacceptable and the union is clear that the design of the new fleet of trains is a matter for First Group and that there is still time to modify the rolling stock.""That position is totally unacceptable and the union is clear that the design of the new fleet of trains is a matter for First Group and that there is still time to modify the rolling stock."
In an open letter to customers, FGW's Mark Hopwood said the new trains would have more staff, not fewer.In an open letter to customers, FGW's Mark Hopwood said the new trains would have more staff, not fewer.
He said staff's existing pay and conditions would be protected and there would be "no compulsory redundancies for station and customer service staff".He said staff's existing pay and conditions would be protected and there would be "no compulsory redundancies for station and customer service staff".
The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.
The new trains are being introduced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) on routes between London Paddington and Oxford, Bristol and South Wales.The new trains are being introduced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) on routes between London Paddington and Oxford, Bristol and South Wales.