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Author Topic: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway since September 2017 - ongoing discussion  (Read 424563 times)
bobm
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« Reply #1635 on: July 19, 2021, 20:41:20 »

Agreed - although at the moment the works at Bristol East means there’s a shortage of paths through Temple Meads.
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grahame
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« Reply #1636 on: July 20, 2021, 06:46:23 »


Have you been reading my correspondence with GWR (Great Western Railway)Grin Grin - As you know we have had an appalling record at Melksham so far this month and I have been trying to establish what we should do about a nationwide campaign at the end of this month - hat we can offer in terms of day trips where people are assured they can (a) get there in the morning and (b) get home without hassle / long delay later in the day. In the analysis, as well as a dozen services cancelled due to lack of train crew, over a dozen have been cancelled due to point, signalling and train faults so far this month.

The issue at Melksham can easily be solved by giving back all drivers route knowledge between Bristol and Taunton to enable diversions to take place without affecting Melksham.
Drivers, signallers and planners are frustrated that this option has been taken away creating them a huge headache when issues occur.


I know our utter frustration when the entire London to West Country passenger traffic is shoe-horned through Melksham, and the powers that be have deemed that the trains passing through won't actually served the stations along the way.  Would love to have that fixed, three possible ways identified:
a) Stop the darned through trains at intermediate stations
b) Send the through trains another way (that's from your suggestion)
c) Put back the second line at least part of the way so that the "important" and our trains can all run!

But - be careful - cancellations are caused by a wide variety of issues and as far as I can tell, not one so far this month has been because the local train has been displaced.  In the wide variety of issues lies an apparent problem - fixing any one thing would not change the whole situation - just a small part of it.   But there is a common theme and it's priorities chosen with limited resources.   I content that where a resource is limited, the service(s) cancelled should be those which are followed by another train - possibly making extra calls - from a few minutes earlier to half an hour or so afterwards.

Yesterday's example was an example of a good decision ... the 06:11 running from Swindon, not being another train for a further 154 minutes.  But then cancelled south of Salisbury, where there's another train 15 minutes behind it.
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bobm
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« Reply #1637 on: July 20, 2021, 07:17:27 »

But - be careful - cancellations are caused by a wide variety of issues and as far as I can tell, not one so far this month has been because the local train has been displaced. 

On the 16th the 07:35 ex-Westbury and the 08:45 ex-Swindon were sacrificed to allow the 07:04 Paddington to Paignton to divert due to a points failure at Newbury.
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grahame
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« Reply #1638 on: July 20, 2021, 08:39:04 »

But - be careful - cancellations are caused by a wide variety of issues and as far as I can tell, not one so far this month has been because the local train has been displaced. 

On the 16th the 07:35 ex-Westbury and the 08:45 ex-Swindon were sacrificed to allow the 07:04 Paddington to Paignton to divert due to a points failure at Newbury.

Ah - thanks - I hadn't realised that was a remote point failure and diversion.

Isn't that 07:35 off Westbury one of just three (out of 17) passenger trains that's supposed to be a high priority - "if something has to be cancelled, it should NOT be this one"??
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GBM
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« Reply #1639 on: July 20, 2021, 11:00:36 »

.......
Isn't that 07:35 off Westbury one of just three (out of 17) passenger trains that's supposed to be a high priority - "if something has to be cancelled, it should NOT be this one"??

I'd heard about 'priority' trains a long time ago, but guessed that had long since gone.
I believe the Torbay Express along with the Cornish Riviera were priorities.
Along with the Brighton Belle and Atlantic Coast Express on the Southern.

Does this guidance still exist, or all through trains regarded as priority?
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« Reply #1640 on: July 20, 2021, 11:31:48 »


I know our utter frustration when the entire London to West Country passenger traffic is shoe-horned through Melksham, and the powers that be have deemed that the trains passing through won't actually served the stations along the way.  Would love to have that fixed, three possible ways identified:
a) Stop the darned through trains at intermediate stations
b) Send the through trains another way (that's from your suggestion)
c) Put back the second line at least part of the way so that the "important" and our trains can all run!

But - be careful - cancellations are caused by a wide variety of issues and as far as I can tell, not one so far this month has been because the local train has been displaced.  In the wide variety of issues lies an apparent problem - fixing any one thing would not change the whole situation - just a small part of it.   But there is a common theme and it's priorities chosen with limited resources.   I content that where a resource is limited, the service(s) cancelled should be those which are followed by another train - possibly making extra calls - from a few minutes earlier to half an hour or so afterwards.

Yesterday's example was an example of a good decision ... the 06:11 running from Swindon, not being another train for a further 154 minutes.  But then cancelled south of Salisbury, where there's another train 15 minutes behind it.

A freight train has just sat down at Southcote Junction - expect a few Melksham diversions.
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bobm
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« Reply #1641 on: July 22, 2021, 15:02:55 »

Service reductions from Monday

Quote
Revised timetable from Monday 26 July

GWR (Great Western Railway) will be operating a revised timetable from Monday 26 July due to a reduction in the number of available staff. A significant number of staff are having to self-isolate following notification from test and trace.

Where possible customers will be contacted and advised of cancellations affecting their journey.

Customers wishing to travel can choose to travel on alternative services immediately before or after their booked service or claim a full refund with no admin fee if their service is affected.

Find out more about claiming a refund or rebooking your journey.

Where services can operate, they are expected to be busier than normal. Please check before you travel.

 

Services affected are:

Bristol Area

Bristol-Weston-super-Mare-Taunton. Weekdays and Saturdays. Monday 26th July to Friday 13th August Inclusive.

Bristol-Weston-super-Mare local services will not run, instead the Bristol-Taunton services will call additional at stations between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
High Speed train services between London/Weston-super-Mare/Taunton will continue to operate as planned.
Lawrence Hill-Severn Beach.  Saturday 7th August and Monday 9th-Friday 13th August Inclusive.

A Rail Replacement Service will be in operation on these dates.
 

London Paddington-Bristol Parkway.  Weekdays. Monday 26th July to Friday 6th August Inclusive.

The following services will NOT run

09:18 London Paddington-Bristol Parkway
14:15 London Paddington-Bristol Parkway
12:24 Bristol Parkway-London Paddington
17:28 Bristol Parkway-London Paddington
 

London Paddington-Plymouth.

Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

The following services will NOT run

05:49 Plymouth-London Paddington
17:36 London Paddington-Plymouth
Saturdays from 31st July-21st August   

06:55 Plymouth-London Paddington
Sundays from 25th  July-15th  August     

19:04 London Paddington-Plymouth
 

Devon and Cornwall

Looe Branch.  Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

The last train service from Liskeard will be 17:46 and from Looe 18:17. A Rail Replacement Service will then operate the evening timetabled services.

Newquay Branch. Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

 16:15 Par-Newquay will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
17:19 Newquay-Par will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
Gunnislake Branch. Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

21:30 Plymouth-Gunnislake will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
22:22  Gunnislake-Exeter will be operated by a Rail Replacement service between Gunnislake and Plymouth with a connecting train onwards to Exeter
Plymouth-Penzance.  Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

09:50 Penzance-Plymouth will NOT run, however alternative services are available
12:17  Plymouth-Penzance will NOT run, however alternative services are available
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Lee
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« Reply #1642 on: July 22, 2021, 15:16:11 »

Service reductions from Monday

Quote
Revised timetable from Monday 26 July

GWR (Great Western Railway) will be operating a revised timetable from Monday 26 July due to a reduction in the number of available staff. A significant number of staff are having to self-isolate following notification from test and trace.

Where possible customers will be contacted and advised of cancellations affecting their journey.

Customers wishing to travel can choose to travel on alternative services immediately before or after their booked service or claim a full refund with no admin fee if their service is affected.

Find out more about claiming a refund or rebooking your journey.

Where services can operate, they are expected to be busier than normal. Please check before you travel.

 

Services affected are:

Bristol Area

Bristol-Weston-super-Mare-Taunton. Weekdays and Saturdays. Monday 26th July to Friday 13th August Inclusive.

Bristol-Weston-super-Mare local services will not run, instead the Bristol-Taunton services will call additional at stations between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
High Speed train services between London/Weston-super-Mare/Taunton will continue to operate as planned.
Lawrence Hill-Severn Beach.  Saturday 7th August and Monday 9th-Friday 13th August Inclusive.

A Rail Replacement Service will be in operation on these dates.
 

London Paddington-Bristol Parkway.  Weekdays. Monday 26th July to Friday 6th August Inclusive.

The following services will NOT run

09:18 London Paddington-Bristol Parkway
14:15 London Paddington-Bristol Parkway
12:24 Bristol Parkway-London Paddington
17:28 Bristol Parkway-London Paddington
 

London Paddington-Plymouth.

Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

The following services will NOT run

05:49 Plymouth-London Paddington
17:36 London Paddington-Plymouth
Saturdays from 31st July-21st August   

06:55 Plymouth-London Paddington
Sundays from 25th  July-15th  August     

19:04 London Paddington-Plymouth
 

Devon and Cornwall

Looe Branch.  Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

The last train service from Liskeard will be 17:46 and from Looe 18:17. A Rail Replacement Service will then operate the evening timetabled services.

Newquay Branch. Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

 16:15 Par-Newquay will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
17:19 Newquay-Par will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
Gunnislake Branch. Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

21:30 Plymouth-Gunnislake will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service
22:22  Gunnislake-Exeter will be operated by a Rail Replacement service between Gunnislake and Plymouth with a connecting train onwards to Exeter
Plymouth-Penzance.  Mon 26th July- Fri 20th August.

09:50 Penzance-Plymouth will NOT run, however alternative services are available
12:17  Plymouth-Penzance will NOT run, however alternative services are available

"TransWilts

We will be rolling a dice each morning, and services defined as follows:

Roll 1-3 - All services before 12 noon cancelled

Roll 4 or 5 - All services after 12 noon cancelled

Roll 6 - All services throughout the day cancelled, with The Wurzels performing live and socially-distanced at the Hub Cafe as compensation, pingdemic permitting."
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1643 on: July 22, 2021, 17:17:58 »

Now also affecting GTR and Southern also from Monday.

Anyone note how many weeks are affected? And how long self-isolation is meant to be? (10 days)
So why are these for 3 or 4 *weeks*?

They might be fully staffed in less than 2....(unlikely, but a tad premature?)
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1644 on: July 23, 2021, 07:27:02 »

"Essential transport" is one of those groups covered;

https://www.itv.com/news/2021-07-22/what-are-the-list-of-jobs-exempt-from-covid-isolation
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1645 on: July 23, 2021, 07:54:11 »

Ohhh, “for work purposes only, and return home straight away”

Would You? Is it mandatory that you do? Many might prefer 10 days off on full pay?
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1646 on: July 23, 2021, 09:16:51 »

Ohhh, “for work purposes only, and return home straight away”

Would You? Is it mandatory that you do? Many might prefer 10 days off on full pay?

I'd like to think I would, and I would hope many will in a time of national need.

Question of character I guess?
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1647 on: July 31, 2021, 07:38:04 »

Looks like a difficult day for those wanting to travel to or from Cornwall to London today with a number of cancellations and very shortened services due to crew shortage.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1648 on: August 14, 2021, 07:31:43 »

Combination of "short notice timetable changes" and crew shortage look like making it a chaotic day - 52 cancellations and over 100 "alterations" listed already.

No doubt the motorways will be busy.

I guess the crew shortage situation should resolve from next week with the isolation rules changing.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1649 on: August 14, 2021, 08:05:33 »

The over-run of works through BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) might have something to do with these changes too. No trains through there today
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