Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

So as the half term holiday begins, services to/from Penzance, Paignton, Newquay etc are cancelled or foreshortened due to staff shortage - once again, great message to send to leisure travellers.

I do not know the exact reason for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staff shortages, I do know there is a large amount of pent-up leave from the Covid period, many rail staff have leave carried over from 2020 and 2021 which has to be used by the end of 2022.  They will want to go away on holiday with their families which means school holidays in many cases.

Also, with there being a high risk of industrial action booking leave and having in granted during that industrial action can be a problem, therefore railstaff may be taking a holiday now.

There are also vacancies in some key rolls in the industry, add this to the demand for leave it all adds up to cancellations.

Yes managers will endeavour to ensure there is sufficient cover however they are also acutely aware of the mental health and wellbeing of their staff

I would pay good money to be on the platform when a member of staff, with a straight face, explains to a load of stranded passengers that the reason for the cancellation of their train is due to staff taking a holiday now because they will be on strike in a few weeks.

[IndustryInsider]

I don’t think that’s the reason.  It’s just the same reason(s) as every year.

[TaplowGreen]

I don’t think that’s the reason.  It’s just the same reason(s) as every year.

It wouldn't surprise me - perhaps any increased pay offer made to avoid the strike could be conditional on Sundays being within the working week for all - two birds killed with one stone and an end to this annual nonsense -  I for one would contribute a packet of sausages to the celebratory BBQ if that could be achieved!!! 

[IndustryInsider]

Feel free to suggest that to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)’s negotiating team, but I don’t think they are interested and are quite content to see a few cancellations to avoid having to pay more staffing costs to bring Sundays into the working week.

[Electric train]

I don’t think that’s the reason.  It’s just the same reason(s) as every year.

It wouldn't surprise me - perhaps any increased pay offer made to avoid the strike could be conditional on Sundays being within the working week for all - two birds killed with one stone and an end to this annual nonsense -  I for one would contribute a packet of sausages to the celebratory BBQ if that could be achieved!!! 

The change in the TnC's is part of the negations  ............. however .....

Feel free to suggest that to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)’s negotiating team, but I don’t think they are interested and are quite content to see a few cancellations to avoid having to pay more staffing costs to bring Sundays into the working week.

As II mentions the DfT are not keen on the price tag

[TaplowGreen]

Another pretty awful performance today due to staff shortage, especially to/from the South West.

[GBM]

Especially with people returning from the Jubilee Pageant!

[Timmer]

Especially with people returning from the Jubilee Pageant!

And for those heading back to the smoke after the long weekend/half term holiday.

[Timmer]

Sunday’s cancellations/part route cancellations already appearing on Journeycheck.

Hope that doesn’t spoil TG’s usual Sunday morning review, though I suspect there will be more by then 

EDIT Since writing the above, both lists have grown quite considerably. Carries on like this, it might be easier to list what’s running rather than what’s not. SW taking another big hit to services.

Is this a result of traincrew being banned from working overtime as a result of striking or staff making themselves unavailable as part of continued unofficial protest?

[IndustryInsider]

Is this a result of traincrew being banned from working overtime as a result of striking or staff making themselves unavailable as part of continued unofficial protest?

I did say before in the TransWilts thread, but to clarify, there are no changes to Sunday/RDW agreements on non-strike days as a result of the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) action.

[TaplowGreen]

No need for a "Sunday morning review" today, it's quite unequivocal!

All that picketing yesterday must have worn everyone out I guess.

Good luck to anyone relying on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) today......................

Cancellations to services on all routes

Due to a shortage of train crew between London Paddington and Penzance fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice

Please be advised that due to a shortage of train crew many trains across the GWR network are unable to run today. In some areas of the network, road transport will replace trains (your GWR rail ticket will be valid on the road transport). If you require further assistance, please be sure to check www.gwr.com where you can check which trains are running and plan your journey. Alternatively you may contact our social media team by visiting www.twitter.com/gwrhelp where one of our colleagues will assist you. You may also speak with a member of train crew or station staff for further advice and help. Finally, if you're travelling from an unstaffed station, you may use one of the available customer help-points that can be found on our platforms. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to your journey with us today.

CrossCountry are conveying passengers between Exeter St Davids and Penzance in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

[TaplowGreen]

Another ropey (and deteriorating) Sunday for the South West due to staff shortage - if I was heading to/from Paignton or Newquay I really wouldn't even consider the train - Paignton especially seems to be the first to get chopped every time.

.........and here comes the summer, when GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should be going all out attracting leisure travel.

[IndustryInsider]

.........and here comes the summer, when GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should be going all out attracting leisure travel.

To be honest, even if all trains are running and at their proper full length, we really don’t need to attract any more leisure travellers at the weekend.  I’ve never known it so busy.

[REVUpminster]

The 1705 Paignton Paddington was cancelled Saturday and I was amazed when at Paignton Station to see the tour (to Taunton as steam) special to Poole that the recorded announcer advising passengers to get on it as the quickest way to Taunton. The tour train left 11 minutes early delaying a local Exmouth service.

[TaplowGreen]

......amongst other cancellations due to crew shortage on the first weekend of the school summer holidays, this one particularly stands out........


11:37 London Paddington to Newquay due 16:42

11:37 London Paddington to Newquay due 16:42 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.