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Author Topic: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion  (Read 426975 times)
Henry
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« Reply #345 on: January 03, 2018, 15:29:38 »


 I do not think the 'rumblings' of low morale is solely restricted to driver's.

 In the South Devon area, where their are a lot of experienced railway people, I'm heard of similar stories.
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phile
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« Reply #346 on: January 04, 2018, 16:53:45 »

Well there were 35 cancellations, then it dropped to 14 - just now back up to 27.

That’s all within 1 hour.

How the hell are passengers supposed to know if a train is going to run or not ? Crystal Ball ? Make a phone call to FGW (First Great Western) M.D.

How does this install confidence ?

I’d like FGW to get behind a hashtag #honourthetimetable - and state as policy that no matter what the occurrence, they will run the trains timetables - even if in doing so they take a financial hit.

What says everyone ? Do we start adding #honourthetimetable with every communication with FGW ?

I E-Mailed Mark Hopwood at the end of last week not just about crew shortages but also about "More trains than usual under repair" and requesting a Public Statement be issued.   Guess what ?   No reply

I have now received a reply acknowledging my E-Mail addressed to the MD and we will reply in due course.    No progress, just left to Customer to concoct some reply which probably won't answer the question.
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a-driver
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« Reply #347 on: January 04, 2018, 17:33:26 »


 I do not think the 'rumblings' of low morale is solely restricted to driver's.

 In the South Devon area, where their are a lot of experienced railway people, I'm heard of similar stories.

I think driver morale it different depending on the depot.

As for managers, there’s not many with actual driving experience or front line experience and that cause some issues, but, you won’t find many drivers wanting to give up driving to become a manager so I suppose they don’t have much choice. Most of our managers tend to just leave you alone to get on with it.
Morale is also affected by events that GWR (Great Western Railway) can’t control. Most of us want to get back and finish on time, train managers want a smooth trip with no grief etc!
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Timmer
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« Reply #348 on: January 07, 2018, 08:33:25 »

IC (Inter City) services taking a real hit today with 17 cancellations listed with others terminating short. Surprisingly, ‘West’ services all looking good...so far.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #349 on: January 07, 2018, 10:09:09 »

IC (Inter City) services taking a real hit today with 17 cancellations listed with others terminating short. Surprisingly, ‘West’ services all looking good...so far.

.......cancellations getting further West unfortunately.........

19:57 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids due 22:36 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
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Timmer
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« Reply #350 on: January 07, 2018, 17:16:29 »

Oh dear...

Quote
Cancellations to services between Swansea and Bristol Parkway
Due to a shortage of train crew between Swansea and Bristol Parkway all lines are disrupted.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 19:00 07/01.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #351 on: January 07, 2018, 17:37:37 »

Shameful  Angry
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alphaline
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« Reply #352 on: January 14, 2018, 17:26:56 »

A couple of years ago around 100 were rumoured to be in a talent pool for trainee driver courses with most of those for Bristol depot.

Those who were 'accepted' were fed emails every three months with vague wording implying that the candidates would be selected based on overall scores (never mind the fact they had passed three interviews and psychometrics)

Noone was told their score.  The carrot continued to be dangled for months which was great for morale.  Some people got taken on and well done to them.

Six months was enough for me.  I applied elsewhere and got my key despite enduring a pay cut in the process.  I would imagine many others did the same.

Recruitment is a nightmare in the rail industry generally when it comes to drivers and the Great Western electrification delay was largely to blame.

However their recruitment process really needs looking at.  Hopefully it has now improved.  I wonder how many who 'passed' this process got given jobs how many had to reapply and of those how many then failed the tests.  Obviously it is worth it in the end but taking 100 drivers on at one depot was never going to work.  Recent vacancies tend to at least be honest about the 'possibility' of placements rather than giving people false hope. 

There must be plenty still in a talent pool who could reduce these cancellations.  More incentive needed for DIs too?
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #353 on: January 14, 2018, 19:10:26 »

Thank you for posting that fascinating insight to the GWR (Great Western Railway) driver recruitment process, alphaline - and a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!  Smiley

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"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
TaplowGreen
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« Reply #354 on: January 28, 2018, 09:49:04 »

...........all cancelled today due to shortage of train crew - good to see GWR (Great Western Railway) getting on top of the problem.....best of luck if you're travelling to/from West Wales today, buses from Swindon/Cardiff are "looking to be sourced"


08:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 10:44

10:37 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 15:29

11:18 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 13:33

12:37 London Paddington to Swansea due 16:27

13:05 Bristol Temple Meads to Taunton due 14:04

13:37 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 18:30

14:24 Swansea to London Paddington due 18:18

15:19 Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads due 16:20

15:23 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 20:32

15:24 Swansea to London Paddington due 19:18

16:37 London Paddington to Swansea due 20:30

17:15 Swansea to London Paddington due 21:08

17:21 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 22:13

19:15 Swansea to London Paddington due 23:17

19:20 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 00:12
« Last Edit: January 28, 2018, 10:07:06 by TaplowGreen » Logged
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #355 on: January 28, 2018, 10:18:22 »

Isn’t that pretty much the entire Swansea/Cardiff to London service wiped out after 3pm today?
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chuffed
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« Reply #356 on: January 28, 2018, 15:45:07 »

Perhaps they are all needed in Cardiff, to take all those sobbing light blue Mancunians back to Manchester ??!!
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martyjon
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« Reply #357 on: January 28, 2018, 16:08:14 »

Or could it be ;-

Lack of train crew signing the diversionary route.

 Roll Eyes
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Timmer
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« Reply #358 on: January 28, 2018, 17:38:33 »

Or could it be ;-

Lack of train crew signing the diversionary route.

 Roll Eyes
Could well be martyjon. Whatever the reason it’s been a very poor service operating between South Wales and London today.

And there was me going to post to this thread earlier today how much things have improved on local ‘West’ services which they have only for the perennial problem of lack of train crew to pop up somewhere else. Still, at least it’s been a better day on the North Cotswold line.
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chuffed
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« Reply #359 on: January 28, 2018, 18:26:39 »

Sorry getting my b's and d's muddled up there! Grin
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