Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The information on replacement coaches is also somewhat ambiguous appearing to be only operating between Westbury and Bristol with nothing to cover the gap between Salisbury and Westbury (or can you travel on SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) via Yeovil?)

Northbound calls at Warminster made (or expected) at 18:01, 19:01, 21:16, 22:14 and 23:30 - just one serious gap. Southbound at 18:15, 19:50, 20:30, 21:11, 22:15, 22:26 and 23:12 - again just on serious gap.

Edit to add - missed the crush-busting extra service at 18:18 that ran from Warminster to Westbury 

[TaplowGreen]

Looks like it's catching across First Group........

Fury at Christmas Getaway rail chaos warning after guards call in sick | London Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/fury-at-christmas-getaway-rail-chaos-warning-after-guards-call-in-sick-a3725651.html

[Timmer]

So far so good as far as services affected by train crew issues. Maybe that was the plan, have a bad day yesterday to have as many crew available as possible today.

[TaplowGreen]

......now you have to add this to the equation too.....anyone fancy the 1903 tonight?


14:07 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:33


14:07 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:33 has been previously delayed, has been further delayed at Reading and is now 12 minutes late.
This is due to overcrowding.

[TaplowGreen]

.......blimey they're all at it! Did all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) have their Christmas parties last night?

https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/service-updates?uq=636495641305800000#INC1AC82EFE8C3949A6A693511D045E9370

[TonyK]

You could try flying from Bristol instead...

[bobm]

Seems even Santa has been hit by staff shortages

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2017/12/24/advanced

Due to a lack of elves, this service will be formed of five instead of ten sleighs. All stops will still be served.

 

[TaplowGreen]

Seems even Santa has been hit by staff shortages

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S73184/2017/12/24/advanced

Due to a lack of elves, this service will be formed of five instead of ten sleighs. All stops will still be served.

 

Unions won't have it - Christmas Day working - thin end of the wedge......................treble time anyone? 

[bobm]

I'll have a treble... oh no cross purposes there...

[IndustryInsider]

I think the handful of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) drivers who do work on Christmas Day get treble time.

[TaplowGreen]

I think the handful of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) drivers who do work on Christmas Day get treble time.

My first job was in a Naval Base and the offer for Christmas Day was treble time + a day off in lieu.......loads of people used to volunteer (mostly single blokes/those without children) , 0700-1500 so basically you had a late Christmas lunch and counted the money!

[IndustryInsider]

I think that’s true of the railways as well, hence you’d have no problems getting in enough staff for a reduced Boxing Day Service if the offer is good enough.

[Timmer]

After a fairly good day yesterday, normal* service has been resumed on the Cardiff-Portsmouth/Brighton line 

*normal by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) standards of service on weekends.

[ChrisB]

I think that’s true of the railways as well, hence you’d have no problems getting in enough staff for a reduced Boxing Day Service if the offer is good enough.

Agreed, but possibly causing severe overcrowding as pretty much *everyone wanting to get home* would try & use those trains, rather than a full service on the 27th/spreading themselves out, especially when the 27th is a workday.
The overcrowding/unable to board would generate the complaints one might expect. Is it something the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) want?

Also, the obvious question is how the extra cost (staffing being 25% of the cost of running a 'mormal' service) can be recovered. Would people pay extra? I doubt it generally, a few might, leading to empty seats if the fare differential between 26th & 27th was substantial.

I think the only way would be for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to require a full Saturday service in new franchises with a triple pay/day off in lieu staff pay requirement for those choosing to work. How the lack of staff volunteering problem might be solved if it arose, I'm not sure. It could be used against the TOC should there be unrest at that time.

[TaplowGreen]

I think that’s true of the railways as well, hence you’d have no problems getting in enough staff for a reduced Boxing Day Service if the offer is good enough.

Agreed, but possibly causing severe overcrowding as pretty much *everyone wanting to get home* would try & use those trains, rather than a full service on the 27th/spreading themselves out, especially when the 27th is a workday.
The overcrowding/unable to board would generate the complaints one might expect. Is it something the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) want?

Also, the obvious question is how the extra cost (staffing being 25% of the cost of running a 'mormal' service) can be recovered. Would people pay extra? I doubt it generally, a few might, leading to empty seats if the fare differential between 26th & 27th was substantial.

I think the only way would be for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to require a full Saturday service in new franchises with a triple pay/day off in lieu staff pay requirement for those choosing to work. How the lack of staff volunteering problem might be solved if it arose, I'm not sure. It could be used against the TOC should there be unrest at that time.

I think if there were trains on 26th as well as 27th it would spread things out a great deal more than the current situation of everyone trying to travel on the 27th................we cannot of course be sure either way......it would certainly be very handy for sporting events etc.

Is it fair to say though Chris that a significant part of the point you are trying to make, albeit quite subtly, taking into account premium pay etc is.......................Ooooooooos gunna pay for it?