Planned Industrial Action

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

True, so perhaps pressure could be put on them to stop in Crewkerne town centre, rather than the station, in future.

Proper notices of course. A clear 'Rail Replacement Bus' bus stop sign. And clear signage to/from the station. Not forgetting a timetable poster too.

[bradshaw]

I have emailed SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) asking about this

[JayMac]

I have emailed SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) asking about this

And I have tweeted!

[Timmer]

I’m sure you won’t be the only ones. I don’t know what passenger numbers are like at Crewkerne but I suspect it’s more than a fair few.

[grahame]

I’m sure you won’t be the only ones. I don’t know what passenger numbers are like at Crewkerne but I suspect it’s more than a fair few.

About 450 journeys per day (that would be about 220 arrivals and 220 departures) if the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) ticket sale figures are a true reflection of use.

[bradshaw]

Saturday- nothing west of Salisbury or Bournemouth. Only fast buses as per today

[Timmer]

Saturday- nothing west of Salisbury or Bournemouth. Only fast buses as per today

Ouch, not good with holidays in full swing. Yes I know that's why they are striking that day.

[JayMac]

Crewkerne gets a train! One in each direction too!

The 1109 from London Waterloo was extended to Axminster calling Crewkerne. Working back from Axmimster shortly, as I type. Scheduled for a 1406 return departure but the down service is delayed by 14 minutes.

Now, I'm not sure how useful the Crewkerne calls are. Signs up saying no trains, and the station is, according to SWR^» (South Western Railway - about), unstaffed today.

[grahame]

Now, I'm not sure how useful the Crewkerne calls are. Signs up saying no trains, and the station is, according to SWR^» (South Western Railway - about), unstaffed today.

I wouldn't use the passenger numbers in any sort of report / survey in future stations needs  unless I was writing a new Beeching report.

For passengers arriving into Crewkerne, its usage or otherwise will very much depend on how it's been advertised on line and at other stations.  Things like whether it was flagged as cancelled then re-instated, and whether or not web page headlines such a "no trains beyond Yeovil" turned people off before they got to the detail and found the one train.

For passengers leaving Crewkerne, it also depends additionally very much on the signage that you mention, whether departure boards are announcing the trains (one in each direction),  and what the person on the help point tells anyone who asks.

[bradshaw]

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), was also an ecs from New Yard to Yeovil Jct early this morning and one planned to return to Exeter tonight. Perhaps a contingency to operate a shuttle if staff can be found.
The same ecs workings are planned on Saturday but this time to and from Salisbury.

[Bob_Blakey]

I would be very interested to learn, if the 'insider' information is available, which side in this dispute is lying.

The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) website says:
'...the Company sabotaged the talks by confirming they intend to roll out the extension of DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) regardless.'
and
'Our members are striking today to put public safety before private profits and it’s about time SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) took note of what is going on elsewhere in the rail industry, and the settlements RMT has struck that underpin the guard guarantee,...'

while SWR state:
'...We have also offered repeated reassurances that we are guaranteeing jobs, salaries and terms and conditions of Guards. ...'

They can't both be correct.

[SandTEngineer]

Bob, I'm not totally 100% certain, but isn't the dispute about the role of the guards (i.e. they won't be safety critical anymore)?  I think the reference to their T&Cs is that those are their personal ones (like pension entitlement etc.).

I might be wrong though

[grahame]

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), was also an ecs from New Yard to Yeovil Jct early this morning and one planned to return to Exeter tonight. Perhaps a contingency to operate a shuttle if staff can be found.

They seem to "lead" into an early Waterloo service and back out of a late service from Waterloo.

[Bob_Blakey]

Bob, I'm not totally 100% certain, but isn't the dispute about the role of the guards (i.e. they won't be safety critical anymore)?  I think the reference to their T&Cs is that those are their personal ones (like pension entitlement etc.).

I might be wrong though

That is what I thought as well. But the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are now accusing SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) of intending to expand their DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) operational area, something which surely means the complete removal of guards/conductors (I haven't figured out the difference yet!), while SWR say this is completely untrue ('...offered repeated reassurances that we are guaranteeing jobs, salaries and terms and conditions of Guards...') so, as I say, one of the parties in this dispute is lying.

So while SWR and/or the RMT continue behaving like spoilt children the travelling public can go hang.

[stuving]

Bob, I'm not totally 100% certain, but isn't the dispute about the role of the guards (i.e. they won't be safety critical anymore)?  I think the reference to their T&Cs is that those are their personal ones (like pension entitlement etc.).

I might be wrong though

That is what I thought as well. But the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are now accusing SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) of intending to expand their DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) operational area, something which surely means the complete removal of guards/conductors (I haven't figured out the difference yet!), while SWR say this is completely untrue ('...offered repeated reassurances that we are guaranteeing jobs, salaries and terms and conditions of Guards...') so, as I say, one of the parties in this dispute is lying.

So while SWR and/or the RMT continue behaving like spoilt children the travelling public can go hang.

No, I think "introducing DOO" for the RMT means trains that have only door controls for the driver. SWR's huge fleet of new trains will of course have that as standard because that's what all train operators across Europe want (allegedly). I'm sure SWR haven't ordered theirs with new controls fitted for guards to operate, still less with the drivers' ones removed. So if they are promising guards will still be retained (at least outside the inner suburban zone) they must be either talking about the system used on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s Turbos (buzzer signals) or else drivers doing dispatch with or without the guard's help.

I'm not sure how the world looks from inside the RMT, but I suspect TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) are coming to see guards as essential for such things as access (wheelchairs etc.) in areas where stations are not always staffed. I think they are quite happy to concede the status thing about guards vs some other on-train customer service grade provided the RMT will accept the DOO isn't ever going to be left out of trains again.