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4052
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion
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on: June 19, 2018, 06:38:06
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The only way I can see to resolve this in the short term is to chuck money at the drivers. They ‘only’ get time-and-a-quarter for working a Sunday. Make that time-and-a-half, or even double time, until you’ve got on top of the problem, and you might persuade enough to tip the balance back to where it should be with more drivers making themselves available than exercising their contractual right to say no.
That's a good short term solution to treat the symptoms, but the cause is these outdated contracts, which do not reflect the 7 day nature of the business, and need to be brought up to date - that will require said isolation of GWR▸ /Unions with headbanging/arsekicking/electrodes etc applied to BOTH sides as necessary until a solution is reached. I'm sure it won't be cheap.  |
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4056
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion
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on: June 17, 2018, 18:37:52
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I have resigned myself to the fact that my upcoming 7 day rail rover break will in practice be a 6 day one as I have no intention of ending the holiday with the stress of trying to get home on a Sunday. Since there is no planning which is obvious to the average potential passenger in the running (or not) of trains on Sunday one could spend an entire day at a station waiting, or be cosily tucked up in the luggage rack on the way home with several train loads of others squeezed into the one running. ...
Have you tried "defensive scheduling"? It's something the rail industry should itself practise on a daily basis, but singularly fails to do. Last Sunday, Rosslare to Melksham (Fishguard Harbour on rail) an "the system" came up with me changing at Bridgend and Swindon. Yes - but what if there are problems on London to Swansea? ... and I chose to change at Cardiff Central, in the knowledge that if there was a multi-hour gap on the Paddingtons from Bridgend, there would be a fallback on a different route - changing at Trowbridge, or even at Bristol Temple Meads and Bath (for a bus) or Chippenham. London westward beyond the commuter belt has been very much a Sunday problem of late ... but defensive scheduling and informed travelog decisions offer you alternatives from Waterloo, and perhaps from Marylebone and (for the top of the North Cotswolds) even Euston. Allow plenty of time, take a fully charged laptop so you can make use of waits, change where there's a network of options not a single service to carry on to ... and you may be lucky. Or it may be that you make your own luck. Defensive scheduling Melksham to London is always change at Swindon rather than Chippenham. And in reverse, it's get the first train that calls at Swindon out of Paddington, even if that gives you longer at Swindon. And if you'r on a train that calls at Chippenham from London, change there rather than Swindon; that way you're just a shorter taxi ride from your final target. Simples  Drive, and don't worry about totally unreliable trains. Simples. |
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4057
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues
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on: June 17, 2018, 16:29:36
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As well as getting the training finished another big help to running Sunday services will be an agreement between GWR▸ and ASLEF» over making Sunday part of the working week rather than voluntary. Talks are ongoing apparently.
They are indeed talking about it. Though implementation date is not expected to be before January 2021 as it is recognised that a significant recruitment drive will be needed to bring it in and cover shifts for the rest of the week, and a trainee driver, once they have passed all the initial tests, take a year to become fully qualified. So three more years of this (to a greater or lesser degree) then? GWR should have got this sorted out so that the latest tranche of recruits could not just opt out of Sunday working at will - they knew they were joining a 7 day a week operation, for God's sake it's not 1975 any more. I know of no other service industry which feather beds its workers quite so much to the detriment of its performance and customers. |
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4058
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion
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on: June 17, 2018, 09:49:05
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GWR▸ acknowledging there’s a problem again today. From Journey Check: Cancellations to services on all routes
Due to a shortage of train crew between London Paddington and Weston-super-Mare fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Customers travelling between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester are advised to travel via Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway. Customers for Kemble, Stroud and Stonehouse should change at Swindon or Gloucester for replacement road transport.
CrossCountry are conveying passengers between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads via Gloucester in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Gloucester and Chetenham passengers encouraged to use XC▸ services. Trains already packed on a weekend. Hmmm. GWR need to bite the bullet (rather than directing it at their collective feet) and introduce a workable temporary weekend timetable until they sort out this crew availability farce once and for all. Only someone brave, foolish, totally unaware of the state of GWR, or with no other choice would take a chance on relying on a long distance weekend journey on the regions railways at the moment, especially on Sundays. Probably better off staying at home and firing up the BBQ...………………….like the train drivers!  |
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4060
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Journey by Journey / Plymouth and Cornwall / Re: Cutdown 125's to operate Penzance to Plymouth clockface service
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on: June 17, 2018, 08:40:14
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Interesting you raise the Weymouth line Graham and sort of staying on topic, last year regular users of the Weymouth line had a full length HST▸ to enjoy on summer Saturdays. A crowd buster if ever there was one and a comfortable one at that too. Now it’s gone it’s going to be noticed if a two or three car train takes its place rather than something like a 5 car service.
As I understand it however the HST was never full, so perhaps as you say something "in between" would be about right - 5 car Turbo? |
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4061
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion
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on: June 17, 2018, 08:32:14
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Today's cancellation collection for neatness - with thanks to Graham - possibly the worst yet, interestingly GWR▸ 's website suggests that there is "generally a good service across the network" - so clearly we are just being ungrateful.
08:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 10:43
08:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 10:10
09:00 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 11:18
10:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 12:10
10:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 12:20
10:34 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:07
11:18 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 13:30
11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 13:15
11:54 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 14:24
12:00 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 14:37
12:23 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 12:58
12:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 14:46
12:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 14:20
13:12 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:54
13:20 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 15:54
13:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 15:15
13:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 15:15
14:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 16:47
14:32 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:09
15:00 London Paddington to Taunton due 18:01
15:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 16:54
15:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 20:28
15:27 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:18
15:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 17:15
15:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:45
15:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 17:20
15:47 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:09
16:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:58
16:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 18:45
16:27 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:18
16:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 19:07
16:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 18:15
16:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 18:20
17:23 Exmouth to Paignton due 18:49
17:27 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 19:57
17:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 19:15
17:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 19:45
17:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 19:10
17:50 Paignton to Exmouth due 19:18
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:56
18:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 20:45
18:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 20:15
18:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 20:10
18:38 Hereford to London Paddington due 22:07
18:54 Paignton to Exmouth due 20:24
18:56 Taunton to London Paddington due 21:53
19:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 20:51
19:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 21:25
19:32 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 21:45
19:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 21:10
19:53 Paignton to Exmouth due 21:25
20:09 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:37
20:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 22:35
20:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 23:03
20:28 Exmouth to Paignton due 21:49
20:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 22:10
20:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 22:13
20:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down due 21:06
21:23 Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:38
21:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 23:10
21:30 Exmouth to Paignton due 22:56
21:53 Paignton to Exmouth due 23:20
22:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 23:57
22:05 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:21
23:00 Paignton to Exeter St Davids due 23:52
23:03 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 01:06
23:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare due 23:43
23:29 Exmouth to Exeter St Davids due 00:04
23:47 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads due 00:20
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4062
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues
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on: June 17, 2018, 08:12:03
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Not so much down from 10 to 5 today - more like down from anything to zero
69 Train Cancellations
08:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 10:43
08:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 10:10
09:00 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 11:18
10:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 12:10
10:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 12:20
10:34 London Paddington to Hereford due 14:07
11:18 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 13:30
11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 13:15
11:54 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 14:24
12:00 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 14:37
12:23 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 12:58
12:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 14:46
12:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 14:20
13:12 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:54
13:20 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 15:54
13:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 15:15
13:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 15:15
14:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 16:47
14:32 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:09
15:00 London Paddington to Taunton due 18:01
15:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 16:54
15:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 20:28
15:27 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:18
15:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 17:15
15:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:45
15:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 17:20
15:47 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:09
16:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:58
16:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 18:45
16:27 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:18
16:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 19:07
16:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 18:15
16:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 18:20
17:23 Exmouth to Paignton due 18:49
17:27 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 19:57
17:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 19:15
17:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 19:45
17:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 19:10
17:50 Paignton to Exmouth due 19:18
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:56
18:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 20:45
18:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 20:15
18:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 20:10
18:38 Hereford to London Paddington due 22:07
18:54 Paignton to Exmouth due 20:24
18:56 Taunton to London Paddington due 21:53
19:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 20:51
19:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 21:25
19:32 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 21:45
19:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 21:10
19:53 Paignton to Exmouth due 21:25
20:09 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:37
20:22 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 22:35
20:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 23:03
20:28 Exmouth to Paignton due 21:49
20:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 22:10
20:34 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington due 22:13
20:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down due 21:06
21:23 Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:38
21:30 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway due 23:10
21:30 Exmouth to Paignton due 22:56
21:53 Paignton to Exmouth due 23:20
22:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 23:57
22:05 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:21
23:00 Paignton to Exeter St Davids due 23:52
23:03 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 01:06
23:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare due 23:43
23:29 Exmouth to Exeter St Davids due 00:04
23:47 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads due 00:20
Plus 8 short workings. All (I think - I may not have clicker through a few) due to train crew shortage. Still - if you're stranded at home you could enjoy
Sunday 17 June
17 Jun 2018 CRC Costa Rica 13:00 SRB▸ Serbia
17 Jun 2018 GER Germany 16:00 MEX Mexico
17 Jun 2018 BRA Brazil 19:00 SUI Switzerland
I look at that list and I guestimate that they're 25 to 30 drivers down; should not come an an overnight shock. All very well talking about T minus 12 coming down to T minus 2 or 3 - but this is T zero stuff. Time for an emergency Sunday timetable of an hourly service Paddington to Bristol Parkway via Bristol Temple Meads, and an hourly Paddington to Swansea via Gloucester during Severn Tunnel Sunday closures, rather than an over-optimistic initial plan followed by very patchy cancellations to make for an unforecast and erratic service on the day?
Shouldn't this be in the "shortage of train crew " thread? By no means all of these services are IETs▸ |
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4064
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: IETs into passenger service from 16 Oct 2017 and subsequent performance issues
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on: June 16, 2018, 14:37:11
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Agreed the IET▸ situation is a shambles, but as far as the buffets go it's a very small sideshow with a very few advocates making a disproportionate amount of noise. If there was enough demand to make on train catering profitable/worthwhile, GWR▸ would be doing it. Simple as that. There are more, much better value options than the pretty mediocre and very expensive on train offering and people have voted with their feet. A trolley is as much as it needs - devote all available space for seating, it's what the overwhelming demand is calling for, and for Christ's sake run trains of the appropriate size, reliably. (No offence broadgage, I enjoy your musings, and you were and are absolutely spot on regarding the more important IET issues) |
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4065
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Journey by Journey / London to Reading / Re: Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion
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on: June 16, 2018, 14:26:07
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Another example of GWR▸ raising expectations then failing to keep their promises.
This particular service (0733) is consistently horrendously overcrowded and GWR have been waving the 12 car train in everyone's faces for some time by way of mitigation - it was supposed to start some time ago but I am not sure if as yet it ever has.
Generally speaking GWR seem to fail to understand the quite simple concept when they brag about all the extra capacity from Maidenhead that if you start trains from Didcot that previously started from Maidenhead or Reading, they are likely to be full long before they arrive.
Yet another own goal.
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