 Show Posts
|
|
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 111
|
|
2
|
All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Taking your dog on the train and bus
|
on: January 26, 2023, 09:09:33 am
|
Neither of our Westies have needed any distraction whilst on the train. Our late Lucy (pictured here) loved staring out of the window, whilst our current one, Jessie, just loves interracting with other passengers (in a very friendly way!) when not watching the world pass by outside.  And before anybody makes a comment about Lucy occupying a seat, this was a very brief 'staged' photo approved by the Train Manager in a virtually empty carriage. She was back on my good lady wife's lap straight afterwards! |
|
|
|
|
5
|
All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: The importance of connections
|
on: January 20, 2023, 10:25:33 am
|
|
A few years back, in the early days of the Weymouth Wizard, there were a few of us on it having come up from Exeter. The return Wizard was booked into Platform 3 at Castle Cary with an advertised westbound connection for Taunton and beyond arriving into Platform 2 shortly afterwards.
For some unknown reason, the [on-time] Wizard was held outside Cary until the Plymouth train had departed and then routed into Platform 2. Even the TM‡ on the Wizard was puzzled, having announced the imminent arrival at Cary and platform restrictions. With no westbound train due for another 2 hours, the very helpful member of staff on duty put us all into taxis bound for Taunton.
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Rail unions strike action 2022/2023
|
on: January 19, 2023, 04:31:08 pm
|
RMT▸ Press Release RMT press release 19.01.23.
RMT receives fresh offer from RDG‡
Rail union, RMT today received a new offer from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) following negotiations in the national rail dispute.
The union's NEC» will now consider the detail within the offer and what next steps to take.
The proposals include detailed documentation covering a range of issues that affect all of our grade groups at these 14 companies and will require serious and careful consideration.
The proposals on pay and job security are directly conditional on cost savings and alterations to contractual terms, entitlements, and working practices.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The National Executive Committee will be considering this matter and has made no decision on the proposals nor any of the elements within them.
"We will give an update on our next steps in due course."
END
The 'new offer' is essentially the original offer with DOO▸ dropped [although the individual TOCs▸ reserve the right to reinstate it] and an additional 1% on this year's pay offer.
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Rail unions strike action 2022/2023
|
on: January 04, 2023, 07:26:33 pm
|
One of the 'modernisation' pre-conditions that the RMT▸ objects to is the wholesale closure of ticket offices. A petition had been set up on the Government petitions website.... 'Require train operators maintain ticket offices at railway stations'. This is the Government response.... Ticket office usage has reduced substantially in the last decade. The Plan for Rail White Paper outlines the modernisation needed to improve the passenger experience and to ensure the railways are financially sustainable. Together with industry we want to move staff out from ticket offices and into the wider station where they can provide more face-to-face help and assistance to passengers. The Government recognises the multiple functions that the ticket offices around the country provide, including enabling passengers to purchase tickets, providing help and advice, and carrying out seat and cycle reservations. Where a train company does suggest a ticket office closure, we expect train operators to consider how these functions will continue to be provided as part of the proposal they put forward under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement ( TSA▸ ) process. Section 6-18 of the TSA sets out the process that train companies must follow to make such proposals and is publicly available on the Rail Delivery Group’s website ( https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/our-services/rdg-accreditation/ticketing-settlement.html). Alternative retail options are now available in most cases, including ticket vending machines, pay as you go ticketing and online retailing and digital tickets. We recognise that not everyone has access to these retail facilities or is able to use them, and we expect train operators to take this into account when making a proposal. With staff in more mobile roles they can provide additional support to those who cannot or do not want to use alternative retailing options. They will be able to advise on journeys and timetables as well as help customers to buy tickets or access other services. The passenger assistance scheme will continue to be in place to help passengers with additional needs use the rail network with confidence and in safety. To propose any changes to the opening hours or the closure of ticket offices, train operators must follow the process set out in section 6-18 of the TSA. This will involve a public engagement, with train operators required to put notices at stations advising passengers of proposals and what any changes could mean for them. Train operators are also required to contact other operators and the passenger bodies directly under 6-18 of the TSA. If passengers have objections, these can be raised via the passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) for consideration within 21 days of the notice being posted. The passenger bodies will then determine based on all the evidence if they approve or object to the proposed change. Should the Passenger Bodies object to the proposal it could be referred to the Secretary of State for Transport for a decision. A decision will be made based on the requirements in 6-18 (1) of the TSA and the relevant guidance. As part of this process, train operators are specifically required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers who are disabled and include this in their notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in their public engagement. Department for Transport |
|
|
|
|
10
|
All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Rail unions strike action 2022/2023
|
on: January 03, 2023, 10:22:54 am
|
RMT▸ Press release 02/01/23 13:15 RMT press release 02/01/23 13:15.
RMT calls out government for "blocking" rail resolution ahead of strikes starting tomorrow
40,000 workers on Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will take action on 3,4,6 and 7 this week, shutting down most rail services across the country.
Despite the union's best efforts over the Christmas period, rail employers have not arranged any formal negotiations with RMT to resolve the dispute.
Both Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group are being directly blocked by government ministers from producing an acceptable proposal on job security, pay and working conditions.
RMT remains available around the clock for talks so all parties can come to a negotiated settlement.
The situation stands in stark contrast to other areas of the railway where the Department for Transport does not have a mandate.
RMT has secured deals with Scotrail, Transport for Wales, contracts on Eurostar and areas where the railway is under the control of metro mayors.
Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: "The government is blocking the union's attempts to reach a negotiated settlement with the rail employers.
"We have worked with the rail industry to reach successful negotiated settlements ever since privatisation in 1993. And we have achieved deals across the network in 2021 and 2022 where the DfT» has no involvement.
"Yet in this dispute, there is an unprecedented level of ministerial interference, which is hamstringing rail employers from being able to negotiate a package of measures with us, so we can settle this dispute.
"We will continue our industrial action campaign while we work towards a negotiated resolution."
END
Notes:
RMT has achieved deals in the following areas where DfT has not been involved:
Eurostar International: 8% pay rise
Eurostar - Mitie security: 10% pay rise for all staff and 29% for the lowest paid.
Scotrail: 7-9% backdated to April this year
Transport for Wales: Between 6.6% and 9.5% pay rise
Merseyrail: 7% pay rise
MTR Crossrail: 8.2% (2021-2022)
Docklands Light Railway: 9.25%
London Underground: 8.4% (2021)
The 14 train operating companies we are in dispute with alongside Network Rail are as follows:
Chiltern Railways
Cross Country Trains
Greater Anglia,
LNER» ,
East Midlands Railway,
c2c,
Great Western
Railway,
Northern Trains,
South Eastern
South Western Railway
Transpennine Express,
Avanti West Coast,
West Midlands Trains
GTR (including Gatwick Express
John Millington
RMT Press Officer
|
|
|
|
|
As with the esteemed member from Templecombe, I have little faith in 
