Meridian First Great Western News

Vandals have attacked another high speed train - this time injuring the driver. Earlier this week the windscreen of a train was shattered on the line between Portsmouth and Salisbury.

In the latest incident this afternoon a piece of wood was thrown at the window of a First Great Western service travelling between Pangbourne and Didcot. No passengers were injured. British Transport Police said the vandalism could have had 'catastrophic consequences'.

• UK
• First Great Western
• Pangbourne

Another First Great Western train has been attacked by vandals.

A large piece of wood was thrown at a high speed service shattering a window and becoming lodged in the drivers cab door.

The driver suffered minor injuries and the train had to be taken out of service.

The attack was near Lower Basildon at 1300 today between Pangbourne and Didcot.

The trains was taken out of service at Didcot.

First Great Western issued a statement and branded the incident "irresponsible" adding the driver was "fortunate to have not been more seriously injured".

Meanwhile thee youths have been questioned by police investigating an attack on a service

in Hampshire earlier this week.

A 15 year-old has been reported to endangering safety and police say enquiries continue.

• UK
• First Great Western

British Transport Police have issued an urgent appeal for information after a driver was injured when someone threw 'an object' which smashed his window.

This was an incredibly irresponsible and dangerous act, which resulted in a train driver being injured.

It is beyond belief that anyone could throw objects at moving trains and we need to trace those responsible before their actions result in serious harm to rail staff or passengers.

If you were in the area at the time and saw anyone acting suspiciously, or know anything about the incident, then please get in touch as a matter of urgency.

• UK
• First Great Western
• Salisbury

A spokesman for First Great Western trains has told ITV News Meridian that it was a 'miracle' that the driver was not more badly injured when a rock smashed through his window.

On the stretch of track that the train was driving along, the trains can go up to 85 miles-per-hour. I'm not exactly sure what speed the train was doing but it was enough that the object completely obliterated the driver's window. I'd hate to think what would have happend if the train had been going at full speed. The driver and the passengers had a very lucky escape. Understandibly the driver is very upset by the experience.

• UK
• First Great Western
• Salisbury

First Great Western Trains say that one of their drivers suffered serious cuts and bruises to his face after an object the size of a brick was thrown from a bridge.

The 'rock' smashed through the driver's window as the train made its way from Romsey to Salisbury.

The Portsmouth to Cardiff service was delayed by an hour. A doctor on board the train treated the injured driver and a South West Trains driver stepped in to take the locamotive to Salisbury.

• UK
• First Great Western
• Salisbury

First Great Western is to cut the number of announcements on its trains. By the end of this month it will have re-trained 1,000 staff to keep them relevant and brief.

Passengers have long said many are annoying, pointless and repetitive.

Even Transport Minister Norman Baker has urged train operators to curb "excessive" announcements.

In this report we talk to David Crone of First Great Western and George Bentley a Train Manager who makes announcements on the line to Paddington, and hear from Passengers.

• UK
• First Great Western

• UK
• First Great Western

Repetitive on board announcements on trains in the Thames Valley will be scrapped after years of passenger's complaints.

First Great Western are retraining one thousand staff to keep their messages to the point after the company's research showed their excessive guard announcements were causing customers to switch off.

• UK
• First Great Western

First Great Western have decided to reduced the number of announcements made on train journeys, following pressure from passengers. Research carried out by the train provider found, half of passengers don't listen to them.

• UK
• First Great Western