Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 07:35 29 Mar 2024
- Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45
- Easter getaway begins with flood alerts in place
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
06:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
07:20 Reading to Gatwick Airport
07:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
07:49 Bedwyn to Newbury
08:13 Newbury to Bedwyn
08:46 Bedwyn to Newbury
09:00 Gatwick Airport to Reading
09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury
10:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:29 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
Short Run
04:54 Plymouth to London Paddington
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington
05:33 Plymouth to London Paddington
05:55 Plymouth to London Paddington
06:37 Plymouth to London Paddington
07:03 London Paddington to Paignton
07:24 Exmouth to Paignton
07:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance
07:40 Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
Delayed
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance
05:03 Penzance to London Paddington
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 29, 2024, 07:52:03 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[82] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[76] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[74] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[67] Return of the BRUTE?
[57] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[46] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 49 50 [51] 52 53 ... 139
  Print  
Author Topic: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion  (Read 424552 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40691



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #750 on: June 17, 2018, 14:19:41 »

I have a small feeling that may not quite be Bristol Temple Meads

It was, but scrolling within the app so looking ahead a bit.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
trainer
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1035


View Profile
« Reply #751 on: June 17, 2018, 17:38:35 »

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.

I will console myself with the thought that I am performing a public duty in not taking a space a person with more urgent need may need.  Smiley
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40691



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #752 on: June 17, 2018, 18:11:41 »

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  Grin Grin
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
YouKnowNothing
Full Member
***
Posts: 72


View Profile Email
« Reply #753 on: June 17, 2018, 18:19:04 »

They can even get split ticketing right and you expect them to able to implement this system?
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7747



View Profile
« Reply #754 on: June 17, 2018, 18:37:52 »

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  Grin Grin

Drive, and don't worry about totally unreliable  trains. Simples.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40691



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #755 on: June 17, 2018, 18:41:22 »

Drive, and don't worry about totally unreliable  trains. Simples.

I am no longer able to drive long distances without being worn out for the next day. Sads.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Adelante_CCT
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1314



View Profile
« Reply #756 on: June 17, 2018, 18:55:04 »

I have a small feeling that may not quite be Bristol Temple Meads

It was, but scrolling within the app so looking ahead a bit.

I was referring to the picture  Wink
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7747



View Profile
« Reply #757 on: June 17, 2018, 20:01:46 »

Drive, and don't worry about totally unreliable  trains. Simples.

I am no longer able to drive long distances without being worn out for the next day. Sads.

I'd suggest that following the "defensive scheduling" itineraries you propose and the time spent faffing around, going around the houses & resultant journey times & stress would leave you considerably more "worn" than a car journey directly from A to B with a break or two en route, but each to their own! 🙂
Logged
BBM
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 634


View Profile
« Reply #758 on: June 17, 2018, 20:30:46 »

Looks like the 15.59 Newquay-PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains) was diverted via Bristol this evening to cater for passengers affected by consecutive train cancellations:

Quote
15:59 Newquay to London Paddington due 21:27 will be diverted between Taunton and Reading.
It will no longer call at Westbury and Newbury but will call additionally at Weston-super-Mare, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon and Didcot Parkway.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 19 minutes late.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Logged
Timmer
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6293


View Profile
« Reply #759 on: June 17, 2018, 22:57:39 »

Another difficult day for those travelling to/from South Wales today having to get a bus from Newport to pick up the train at Bristol Parkway...if there was one.

Pad-Bristol Parkway 8 out of 14 trains cancelled including 4 in a row meant no direct service between 14.30 and 19.30.

Bristol Parkway-Pad 7 out of 14 trains cancelled.

How did passengers getting from/to South Wales cope with so many services canned?

Wasn’t too clever either between Temple Meads and Paddington and return this evening with a string of cancellations. As BBM noted the Newquay-Pad train was diverted to help out. Also 21.30 Pad-Bristol Parkway diverted after Swindon to serve Chippenham, Bath and Bristol Temple Meads.

Logged
trainer
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1035


View Profile
« Reply #760 on: June 17, 2018, 22:58:34 »

Graham asks 'Have you tried defensive scheduling?'.  Indeed.  I'm coming back the day before my ticket allows. Grin

I'm not taking a car - driving is not especially relaxing - but, I'm hanging on to some strange idea that rail travel in the UK (United Kingdom) is still the best way to travel where possible.  We know it can be. One way for me to hang on to that notion is not to put myself deliberately at risk of high blood pressure by pretending that the railway industry might deliver what I know that (at present) it will not and then fuming about it.

Staff shortages are only one one piece of the jig-saw of failure.
Logged
Sixty3Closure
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 501


View Profile
« Reply #761 on: June 18, 2018, 09:08:48 »


....How did passengers getting from/to South Wales cope with so many services canned?


Short answer for me is you don't. I was planning to split my time between Thames Valley and South Wales with long weekends and flexible working.  Even with an understanding manager its been impossible to plan. The uncertainty and overcrowding just don't make it a relaxing or practical way to travel so I'm still pretty much London based.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12334


View Profile Email
« Reply #762 on: June 18, 2018, 11:43:11 »

No one has so far mentioned that it was Father's Day yesterday.....most drivers I suspect are fathers. Until Sunday is a rostered day, it will be probably the worst Sunday of the year for driver availability
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7747



View Profile
« Reply #763 on: June 18, 2018, 12:15:46 »

I think it was mentioned albeit on another thread, and if it is indeed the worst Sunday of the year for driver availability, surely that strengthens the case even further for a properly Planned, realistic and workable emergency timetable, rather than the chaotic farce we saw yesterday?
Logged
phile
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1382

Language spoken Welsh as well as English


View Profile Email
« Reply #764 on: June 18, 2018, 13:13:25 »

Another difficult day for those travelling to/from South Wales today having to get a bus from Newport to pick up the train at Bristol Parkway...if there was one.

Pad-Bristol Parkway 8 out of 14 trains cancelled including 4 in a row meant no direct service between 14.30 and 19.30.

Bristol Parkway-Pad 7 out of 14 trains cancelled.

How did passengers getting from/to South Wales cope with so many services canned?

Wasn’t too clever either between Temple Meads and Paddington and return this evening with a string of cancellations. As BBM noted the Newquay-Pad train was diverted to help out. Also 21.30 Pad-Bristol Parkway diverted after Swindon to serve Chippenham, Bath and Bristol Temple Meads.



The South Wales passengers were told on Twitter to go Temple Meads.   Problem - They were cancelled from there as well
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 ... 49 50 [51] 52 53 ... 139
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page