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Title: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: grahame on October 13, 2021, 22:05:35 From My London (https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/london-train-companies-cut-thousands-21851168)
(Selective quoting here for comment) Quote The association of train operators, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), says that peak hours travel on railway lines into and out of London and across the UK is not just supressed but will not return to pre-pandemic levels despite leisure and weekend travel booming once again. It's currently stuck at around 65 per cent of 2019's figures. It means that all the extra staff needed at peak hours to manage the larger passenger flows will not be required. The exact figure is estimated to be in the thousands given that the 11 affected train operators in the capital employ 35,802 people according to the ORR (some are based outside London). For now though, the two train companies operated under contract to Transport for London (TfL), London Overground and TfL Rail, pas well as Southeastern which is currently in the process of being taken over by the government will be spared. The likely targets for job cuts are most likely to be platform, ticket office and customer service employees as other positions will still need to work the same number of hours. Drivers union ASLEF estimates that 5,000 drivers are set to retire in the next five years anyway, allowing train companies to cut jobs by not backfilling posts instead of forcing any drivers out. The 11 London train operators which are looking to cut jobs: Avanti West Coast c2c Caledonian Sleeper Chiltern Railways East Midlands Railway Greater Anglia GTR (Thameslink plus Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express) GWR LNER London Northwestern Railway SWR Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: TaplowGreen on October 13, 2021, 22:49:04 Inevitable given the way working patterns are changing, but perhaps a bit sooner than expected and always sad to see people likely to lose their jobs.
Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: Lee on October 14, 2021, 04:10:29 From My London (https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/london-train-companies-cut-thousands-21851168) (Selective quoting here for comment) Quote The association of train operators, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), says that peak hours travel on railway lines into and out of London and across the UK is not just supressed but will not return to pre-pandemic levels despite leisure and weekend travel booming once again. It's currently stuck at around 65 per cent of 2019's figures. It means that all the extra staff needed at peak hours to manage the larger passenger flows will not be required. The exact figure is estimated to be in the thousands given that the 11 affected train operators in the capital employ 35,802 people according to the ORR (some are based outside London). For now though, the two train companies operated under contract to Transport for London (TfL), London Overground and TfL Rail, pas well as Southeastern which is currently in the process of being taken over by the government will be spared. The likely targets for job cuts are most likely to be platform, ticket office and customer service employees as other positions will still need to work the same number of hours. Drivers union ASLEF estimates that 5,000 drivers are set to retire in the next five years anyway, allowing train companies to cut jobs by not backfilling posts instead of forcing any drivers out. The 11 London train operators which are looking to cut jobs: Avanti West Coast c2c Caledonian Sleeper Chiltern Railways East Midlands Railway Greater Anglia GTR (Thameslink plus Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express) GWR LNER London Northwestern Railway SWR Interesting to see SWR on the list, given Claire Mann's recent Bristol-Waterloo comments: Quote from: Claire Mann In line with this, we have sought to identify areas of duplication across the network where the removal of services would reduce the burden on the taxpayer, while not having a significant effect on services for commuters or school flows. Given the volume of services operated between Salisbury and Bristol by GWR and the large proportion of leisure travel on the SWR services, we are confident the withdrawal of our services between will not materially impact key flows of commuter or school traffic and agreed with the Department for Transport to realise the cost savings as soon as possible. Left hand, right hand etc... Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2021, 05:20:07 The only surprise to me there is that the TfL franchises and SouthEastern are to be ‘spared’, even if just ‘for now’. I would have thought they were prime candidates to have a surplus?
Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: Electric train on October 14, 2021, 08:37:49 The only surprise to me there is that the TfL franchises and SouthEastern are to be ‘spared’, even if just ‘for now’. I would have thought they were prime candidates to have a surplus? I am not sure, but I do not think TfL were part of 'joint industry scheme (aka scam)' on modernising the UK railways, the situation with SE may change as each company are going about the staffing slightly differently. NR are going through the process at the moment and an official quote on the first phases is 'all of the wrong people have applied and all the right people have not applied' there are some disappointed people who applied and have been turned down, there is a high risk of compulsory redundancies in 2022 ................ is it brewing up for a perfect storm ??? Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2021, 09:44:10 Details have been sent out to relevant GWR staff now as well I think.
Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: TaplowGreen on October 14, 2021, 09:55:25 Looking at ticket office staff particularly, have these not reduced considerably over the years anyway given channel shift to online/TVM purchases (encouraged by the TOCs) rather than people queuing up at the station?
Notwithstanding the ridiculously complicated fare structure and never really knowing if you're getting the best fare, I would have thought that far fewer people use ticket offices these days - especially during the rush hour. I think there's a stronger argument for retaining Customer Service staff - TfL do this much better - there always seems to be someone available to help at their stations, but then again I guess peak services (especially with Crossrail coming, if it ever arrives) are more of their thing? Hopefully savings can be achieved by VR rather than anyone having to go on a compulsory basis...........no doubt the bruvvers will start rattling sabres in due course, which won't help anyone. Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: Witham Bobby on October 14, 2021, 10:32:04 Somewhat ironic that a company that routinely cancels trains because of a staff shortage would consider letting staff go
Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2021, 13:46:25 Somewhat ironic that a company that routinely cancels trains because of a staff shortage would consider letting staff go They’re not letting those staff go! ;) Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: TaplowGreen on October 14, 2021, 17:08:45 Somewhat ironic that a company that routinely cancels trains because of a staff shortage would consider letting staff go They’re not letting those staff go! ;) This will provide additional leverage to manage them more effectively though. Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: bobm on October 14, 2021, 21:48:46 I wonder what plans Caledonian Sleeper has with only two arrivals and two departures six days a week.
Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: Electric train on October 15, 2021, 07:51:42 Just a little bit about the process that the railway industry is going through.
It is widely recognised by the employers executives and TU's within the industry that passenger numbers are not likely to recover to pre lockdown numbers for many years, if at all; during the lockdown the Government paid the railways to maintain a train service (basically Nationalised), the Government want to reduce that funding and have the UK railways self funding (that's been a UK Government dream since Beeching). The Industry employers and TU have come to an agreed framework to have no compulsory redundancies (in the 2021/22 financial year) and to offer a Voluntary Special Severance Scheme (VSSS), the scheme has been agreed by DfT and the Treasury, yes dear tax payer you are paying for this. Each employer applying it to their own business within the framework agreed. The scheme (VSSS) will be open to all employees to apply to be considered, there is no guarantee someone will be accepted, the industry has skills shortages in a number of areas. For those who are accepted and sign to the terms an agreed severance date between the person and their manager will be made. Added to this many employers have had a recruitment freeze for the last year or so. It is hoped by the employers not to have compulsory redundancies, I doubt that compulsory redundancies will be completely avoided. The next stage will be shape that GBR takes, this will be the biggest fundamental change to the industry since 1994 Title: Re: Staff reductions - London Area Post by: TaplowGreen on October 15, 2021, 10:05:44 That's v interesting, thanks.
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