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

[whole diary]

[BBM]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

[IndustryInsider]

No Night (final) service to Newquay

Now reinstated.

[CMRail]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Looks like another one for journey check then! 

In all seriousness, this has happened before one Sunday last year but haven’t seen it since..

[grahame]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Looks like another one for journey check then! 

And the reason given perhaps might be ...
This is due to a member of Internet Crew being unavailable.
This is due to a problem currently under investigation.
This is due to a security alert.
This is due to an earlier security alert.
This is due to an unusually large enquiry flow.
This is due to congestion caused by earlier enquiries
This is due to disruptive enquirers.
This is due to speed restrictions.
This is due to unusual enquiry flow.
This is due to waiting earlier for an internet crew member.
This is due to waiting for an internet crew member.

[TaplowGreen]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Seems to have been no tweets for 10 hours......perhaps the Twitter team have been invited to the Drivers BBQ today? (....not sure how the Trade Unions would feel about that?)

[didcotdean]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

There have been a couple of messages in the last few minutes but these refer to tweets sent hours earlier.

[phile]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Have noticed 2 or 3 times recently on Saturdays and Sundays but afternoon shift arrived.     I asked the question one Monday as to if there had been any problem on the Sunday and the reply asked me some irrelevant question instead which had nothing to do with the issue.

[broadgage]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Seems to have been no tweets for 10 hours......perhaps the Twitter team have been invited to the Drivers BBQ today? (....not sure how the Trade Unions would feel about that?)

The trade unions would demand BBQs for all, but not perhaps that all should attend the same BBQ.

[CMRail]

Looks like nobody is manning the @gwrhelp Twitter account today...

Seems to have been no tweets for 10 hours......perhaps the Twitter team have been invited to the Drivers BBQ today? (....not sure how the Trade Unions would feel about that?)

The trade unions would demand BBQs for all, but not perhaps that all should attend the same BBQ.

Apparently some staff aren’t being invited to BBQs, including the Union Rep. RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) to issue a statement shortly 

[TaplowGreen]

Meltdown.

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
Due to a shortage of train crew between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Additional Information
Due to limited availability of train crew, services will be reduced on Sunday, the 25th of August, and where trains are able to run, they are expected to be busier than usual.

We will run as many trains as possible, but it is expected that service levels will be significantly reduced, with trains cancelled or amended. Bus replacement services will operate to support trains and will be advertised when resourced.

CrossCountry Strike on Sunday, the 25th of August

CrossCountry will have a reduced train service on Sunday, the 25th of August due to strike action taking place.

08:05 London Paddington to Penzance due 14:15
08:19 Romsey to Brighton due 10:08
08:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 10:44
09:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare due 09:30
09:10 Plymouth to Gunnislake due 09:56
09:46 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 12:01
10:10 Gunnislake to Plymouth due 10:55
10:30 Westbury to Swindon due 11:14
10:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 12:45
11:10 Brighton to Bristol Parkway due 15:03
11:18 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 13:21
11:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 13:01
11:28 Swindon to Westbury due 12:08
11:40 Penzance to London Paddington due 17:22
11:42 London Paddington to Paignton due 15:02
12:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 14:46
12:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 14:15
13:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 15:02
13:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 15:53
14:15 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 15:57
14:42 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 16:47
14:49 London Paddington to Hereford due 17:58
15:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 20:21
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:23
15:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 17:02
15:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:14
15:45 Paignton to London Paddington due 19:36
15:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:53
16:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 19:35
16:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:01
16:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:13
16:42 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 18:47
17:23 Exmouth to Paignton due 18:49
17:37 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 19:57
17:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 19:53
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 23:38
18:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:14
18:38 Hereford to London Paddington due 22:04
18:50 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 20:36
18:54 Paignton to Exmouth due 20:24
19:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:14
19:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 21:54
20:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 22:39
09:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 10:32
09:17 Oxford to Great Malvern due 10:56
10:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 12:17
11:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 12:27
11:49 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 14:02
13:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 14:28
14:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 17:31
14:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Parkway due 16:59
14:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 16:13
15:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 16:28
15:55 Paignton to Exmouth due 17:19
15:59 Newquay to London Paddington due 21:14
16:53 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:42
16:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 18:15
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 22:22
17:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 18:27
17:21 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 18:35
17:35 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:33
17:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:27
17:51 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 20:52
18:40 Plymouth to London Paddington due 22:16
18:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 20:17
19:03 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 23:43
19:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 20:26
19:56 Exeter Central to Barnstaple due 21:15
20:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 23:04
20:28 Exmouth to Paignton due 21:49

[martyjon]

Meltdown.

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
Due to a shortage of train crew between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Additional Information
Due to limited availability of train crew, services will be reduced on Sunday, the 25th of August, and where trains are able to run, they are expected to be busier than usual.

We will run as many trains as possible, but it is expected that service levels will be significantly reduced, with trains cancelled or amended. Bus replacement services will operate to support trains and will be advertised when resourced.

CrossCountry Strike on Sunday, the 25th of August

CrossCountry will have a reduced train service on Sunday, the 25th of August due to strike action taking place.

08:05 London Paddington to Penzance due 14:15
08:19 Romsey to Brighton due 10:08
08:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 10:44
09:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare due 09:30
09:10 Plymouth to Gunnislake due 09:56
09:46 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 12:01
10:10 Gunnislake to Plymouth due 10:55
10:30 Westbury to Swindon due 11:14
10:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 12:45
11:10 Brighton to Bristol Parkway due 15:03
11:18 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 13:21
11:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 13:01
11:28 Swindon to Westbury due 12:08
11:40 Penzance to London Paddington due 17:22
11:42 London Paddington to Paignton due 15:02
12:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 14:46
12:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 14:15
13:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 15:02
13:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 15:53
14:15 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 15:57
14:42 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 16:47
14:49 London Paddington to Hereford due 17:58
15:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 20:21
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:23
15:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 17:02
15:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:14
15:45 Paignton to London Paddington due 19:36
15:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:53
16:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 19:35
16:25 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:01
16:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:13
16:42 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 18:47
17:23 Exmouth to Paignton due 18:49
17:37 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 19:57
17:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 19:53
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 23:38
18:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:14
18:38 Hereford to London Paddington due 22:04
18:50 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 20:36
18:54 Paignton to Exmouth due 20:24
19:37 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:14
19:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 21:54
20:37 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 22:39
09:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 10:32
09:17 Oxford to Great Malvern due 10:56
10:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 12:17
11:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 12:27
11:49 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 14:02
13:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 14:28
14:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 17:31
14:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Parkway due 16:59
14:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 16:13
15:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 16:28
15:55 Paignton to Exmouth due 17:19
15:59 Newquay to London Paddington due 21:14
16:53 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:42
16:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 18:15
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 22:22
17:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 18:27
17:21 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 18:35
17:35 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:33
17:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:27
17:51 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 20:52
18:40 Plymouth to London Paddington due 22:16
18:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 20:17
19:03 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 23:43
19:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 20:26
19:56 Exeter Central to Barnstaple due 21:15
20:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 23:04
20:28 Exmouth to Paignton due 21:49

Add to that the shortened services ;-

09:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 10:32
09:17 Oxford to Great Malvern due 10:56
10:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 12:17
11:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 12:27
11:49 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 14:02
12:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 14:15
13:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 14:28
14:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 17:31
14:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Parkway due 16:59
14:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 16:13
15:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 16:28
15:55 Paignton to Exmouth due 17:19
15:59 Newquay to London Paddington due 21:14
16:53 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:42
16:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 18:15
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 22:22
17:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 18:27
17:21 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 18:35
17:35 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:33
17:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:27
17:51 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 20:52
18:40 Plymouth to London Paddington due 22:16
18:54 Bedwyn to London Paddington due 20:17
19:03 Carmarthen to London Paddington due 23:43
19:07 London Paddington to Bedwyn due 20:26
19:56 Exeter Central to Barnstaple due 21:15
20:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 23:04
20:28 Exmouth to Paignton due 21:49

[Timmer]

In view of the above and the virtually non existent XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services scheduled to run today in the South West, I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should put out an advisory not to travel West of Bristol. Trains would have been busy even if a full schedule were to run. With the forecast hot weather it could be dangerous.

[TaplowGreen]

In view of the above and the virtually non existent XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services scheduled to run today in the South West, I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should put out an advisory not to travel West of Bristol. Trains would have been busy even if a full schedule were to run. With the forecast hot weather it could be dangerous.

No activity as yet on the "here to help 24/7" Twitter feed.

[grahame]

Meltdown.

Add to that the shortened services

I looked at our cancellation map and noted that South Wales appears to have got off Scot (or is that Welshman) free - until I realised that the Severn Tunnel is bustituted.

A observation.

Scenario 1.

Sometimes, passengers are told well in advance that services are going to be amended because of engineering, strikes, staff shortages, etc, and which services will be running / where they can catch buses. They will grumble a bit but accept these things need to be, and will make use of the alternative services (even if fewer, slower and with changes), planning their journeys against the services that WILL reliably run.   And they will come back to using the trains the following time because they were able to trust the services advertised to them, although limited, in advance.

Scenario 2.

Passenger plan their journeys, but when they wake on the morning of their travel, services that were shown on their journey planner even the previous day when they checked are no longer available.  This will lead to a serious loss of confidence in the rail provisions, a need to replan at short notice (with options that would have been available earlier to them no longer open) and with other plans blown asunder. People travel to and from events, meetings, appointments and not in isolation for other things they have scheduled.  It will take a long time for people who have been let down by last minute changes to trust the railways to provide the service they should be providing again, especially if it turns out the problems were entirely probable but the rai industry hadn't robustly planned to deal with them.

Traveller (or people trying to travel) will - observation again - be very forgiving of major short term disruption if it could not have been realistically predicted, and if they're passed as much customer information as is practical, sooner rather than later.   A person hit by a train, deep snow, a line washing out, person taken ill (or passengers fighting) on a train, an exploding pigeon dislodging brickwork from a bridge onto the tracks - tell people, and they'll accept and understand.  Insult people's intelligence by pretending you'll be running a full service then decimating it at less than 24 hours notice leaves a sour and long-lingering taste.

[bradshaw]

The Bedwyn service is a Turbo (3 car) vice IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) (5 car), presumably HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) crew replaced by Reading.