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Author Topic: Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion  (Read 739120 times)
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #1125 on: August 25, 2019, 09:21:38 »

The Bedwyn service is a Turbo (3 car) vice IET (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) (5 car), presumably HSS (High Speed Services) crew replaced by Reading.

It’ll be to enable them to run DOO (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) so that a Train Manager can be released to work other trains.
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To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
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« Reply #1126 on: August 25, 2019, 10:28:18 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) Twitter does not seem to be operating today, and having checked the website on my phone GWR is reporting a "good service on most of our network".

Have these people not woken up yet?
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Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #1127 on: August 25, 2019, 10:38:55 »

Quote
Have these people not woken up yet?

Perhaps they can't get to work because their train was cancelled  Roll Eyes
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phile
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« Reply #1128 on: August 25, 2019, 10:42:52 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) Twitter does not seem to be operating today, and having checked the website on my phone GWR is reporting a "good service on most of our network".

Have these people not woken up yet?


As yesterday, opened with afternoon shift.   With such severe disruption as there is today, the service is more important than ever for people who want to ask for information.

A sticky at the head of the Twitter Page:-

GWR Help
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We are Great Western Railway, here to help 24/7
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CMRail
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« Reply #1129 on: August 25, 2019, 10:57:00 »

Good luck to all the front line staff out there today dealing with the ever so patient and understanding general public...
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1130 on: August 25, 2019, 12:19:30 »

Good luck to all the front line staff out there today dealing with the ever so patient and understanding general public...

They'll probably find avoiding sarcasm will help them.
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CMRail
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« Reply #1131 on: August 25, 2019, 12:44:08 »

Somebody has taken it to them to make a parody GWR (Great Western Railway) account and reply to the complaints instead..
https://twitter.com/Custome08903108
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broadgage
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« Reply #1132 on: August 25, 2019, 12:44:33 »

Another very poor performance, which sends out the message to avoid train travel at holiday times and to holiday resorts.
I suspect that some GWR (Great Western Railway) staff are declining to work today as an unofficial show of support for the cross country strikers.
Organised secondary strike action is illegal, but nothing prohibits failing to volunteer for voluntary overtime.
And of course it is barbecue season.

There is very considerable anger in the West country tourist trade about the continual failings of GWR.
Not just the traditional staff shortages, but also breakdowns and general unreliability.
And as for the actual trains, it is not just me that considers the new trains to be a significant downgrade, and to be totally unsuitable for long distance travel.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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« Reply #1133 on: August 25, 2019, 13:06:35 »

I suspect that some GWR (Great Western Railway) staff are declining to work today as an unofficial show of support for the cross country strikers.
Organised secondary strike action is illegal, but nothing prohibits failing to volunteer for voluntary overtime.

I would be very surprised if that was the case.  Solidarity between TOCs (Train Operating Company) is a dying concept unless over a very serious safety issue.

Much more likely that it’s due to it being the holiday season, when we’re generally a few crew short anyway, and a beautiful bank holiday weekend of weather.

No doubt some staff are indeed attending BBQ’s.  I wish I was!
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« Reply #1134 on: August 25, 2019, 13:09:53 »

I notice that RTT» (Real Time Trains - website) is not showing all the cancelled trains as cancelled (e.g. 15:25 BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains)).  Is there still some doubt?
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #1135 on: August 25, 2019, 13:25:21 »

I suspect that some GWR (Great Western Railway) staff are declining to work today as an unofficial show of support for the cross country strikers.
Organised secondary strike action is illegal, but nothing prohibits failing to volunteer for voluntary overtime.

I would be very surprised if that was the case.  Solidarity between TOCs (Train Operating Company) is a dying concept unless over a very serious safety issue.

Much more likely that it’s due to it being the holiday season, when we’re generally a few crew short anyway, and a beautiful bank holiday weekend of weather.

No doubt some staff are indeed attending BBQ’s.  I wish I was!

The way that those within the railway industry casually bat these issues away year after year "Ah well it's August and the weather's nice" is breathtaking.

What a shock you'd have  if we all took the same attitude to our customers.
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broadgage
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« Reply #1136 on: August 25, 2019, 13:39:15 »

It is not just August ! June, July, Easter, Christmas, wet weather, windy weather, and hot weather.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #1137 on: August 25, 2019, 13:44:53 »

Just trying to explain why I don’t think Broadgage’s theory was correct, with a more likely explanation.

The only batting away is going on at Headingley.  I’m as exasperated as you.
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Timmer
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« Reply #1138 on: August 25, 2019, 14:14:08 »

The most exasperating thing about all this is it’s hard to pin who is responsible for the continued shortage of crew across the rail network; particularly on weekends. Is it the train company, the unions, the dft even British Rail?

All I do know is there seems to be little urgency to sort it as it’s being going on for years.
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phile
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« Reply #1139 on: August 25, 2019, 14:15:42 »

Twitter opened for afternoon shift
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