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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Christmas and Boxing Day trains - ongoing discussion
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on: January 13, 2013, 16:34:08
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The overwhelming majority of rail staff are professional enough to moderate alcohol intake in relationship to work demands. If Boxing Day were to become a rostered duty day, services would be worked as safely and professionally as they are on any other day.
Operational staff are used to working unsociable hours and in all weather conditions. Yes it is well paid, yes the unions have negotiated a good working environment and yes, we do live in the real world. As many other forms of transport in that real world charge a premium for operating on such festive occasions, presumably TaplowGreen would not mind shelling out enhanced fares to cover the no doubt, scandalously high additional payments to us refugees from 1973.
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Journey by Journey / Cross Country services / Re: Arriva CrossCountry Strike Action over Christmas?
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on: December 19, 2012, 14:12:44
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No problem, just a add on note, Bristol to Cheltenham on XC▸ is around 40 mins compared to FGW▸ around 70 mins, assuming different routes are taken, or does a few extra stops take 30 mins extra?
Also the FGW Services stop at Yate and Cam and Dursley. My cousin wants to go from Southampton to Sheffield via Brum on CC on the 21st. If there's a strike would a vai Brum ticket be valid on SWT▸ and EMT» ?
I would assume so, but as Inspector Blakey pointed out. Very possibly, although you'd need to check nearer the time to ensure that ticket acceptance was indeed operating. If there *was* a strike but XC was still able to operate a reasonable train service, you would most likely be expected to travel on that. Best advice is to keep an eye on the XC website.
If they are operating a reasonable service if the strike comes to fruition, Unlikely that ticket acceptance would be authorised. However, I guess XC's version of "a reasonable service" is trains so rammed that they leave people behind...   FGW services via the old Midland (Charfield) Line, call at Yate and Cam & Dursley but also reverse at Gloucester. AFAIK▸ , they are timed for the 75mph 150X units which are the mainstay of the service. |
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All across the Great Western territory / The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom / Re: Scotrail Strike Action over Christmas!
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on: December 14, 2012, 11:10:20
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From the RMT▸ :
DISMISSAL, S. LEWIS, TICKET EXAMINER ^ FIRST SCOTRAIL
Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 22nd November 2012 (IR/652/12),
The union^s executive has now had opportunity to consider the ballot result and has taken the decision to call on all our members at Scotrail to take strike action as listed below:
All members (excluding Sleeper Service members) are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
23.59 hours on Friday 21st December 2012 and 23.58 hours on Saturday 22nd December 2012.
23.59 hours on Sunday 23rd December 2012 and 23.58 hours on Monday 24th December 2012.
All Sleeper Service members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
17.30 hours on Friday 21st December 2012 and 17.29 hours on Saturday 22nd December 2012.
17.30 hours on Sunday 23rd December 2012 and 17.29 hours on Monday 24th December 2012.
I am sure all members will show their support for colleagues taking part in the above industrial action and I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of your members.
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
General Secretary
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All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: Club 55
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on: November 01, 2012, 14:40:33
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No Club Coffin Dodger this year, (and before anyone starts griping at that I am 60 myself). Far less outlay on First Class complimentary snacks, far fewer confused passengers lumbering around with bags they can't carry and far fewer passengers asking if the train stops at Penzance. Heaven!
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Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in Plymouth and Cornwall / Re: Truro Station refurbishment and installation of ticket barriers (merged topics)
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on: October 24, 2012, 13:47:18
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There is no automatic right of entry to station platforms for non fare paying members of the public. Why should there be? Try walking to the tarmac at Newquay airport or onto the ferry at Plymouth.
From a guard's viewpoint, it makes supreme sense to have barriers at Truro. I have lost count of the number of times I have had to abort dispatch of trains at ungated stations, due to last minute dashes or repeated lingering farewells. Even worse are those who board trains not intending to travel; a major cause of doors on the catch as the hapless helper struggles to leave.
At Truro, there are no grieving relatives seeing off the passenger and consequently fewer bodies to interrupt line of sight with signals and the dispatcher, absolutely vital from a safety standpoint.
With regard to revenue, gate-lines are a huge deterrent to ticket bilkers. Thousands in unpaid revenue, which was previously waltzing off the station is now collected.
Sadly, cost prevents the adoption of gates at all larger stations, although an initiative at Penzance, using a member of staff to control the manual gates recently installed there; has reduced delays and prompted a significant increase in revenue collected. Long may it continue.
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Sideshoots - associated subjects / Campaigns for new and improved services / Re: Okehampton-Tavistock. Discussion on reopening and potential use as a diversionary route
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on: October 19, 2011, 15:49:02
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AFAIK▸
The Loading Gauge in Ireland was constrained by the pioneer Dublin and Kingstown Railway built in 1834 and laid to the Stephenson track gauge of 4' 8 1/2".
This meant that the rolling stock was constructed to the then standard British loading gauge. As the DKR was built through the populated part of the City, subsequent widening to 5' 3" was unable to take advantage of the broader tracks, loading gauge wise, as the line's structure could not be altered without immense cost and disruption. This resulted in the use of vehicles that meet the BR▸ loading gauge, albeit with wider bogies.
I am though, unsure as to the dimensions of the newer DART and IE stock. I think you'll find that CIE» / IR installed slab track on that bit to allow full IR loading gauge sized vehicles to pass through and past each other there without restriction. The CIE 'Cravens' coaches were slightly but significantly higher and wider than the BR Mk1 of the same period to take advantage of the loading gauge and they ran through that bit without problems. Iarnrod Eireann 201 class GM's can also run I believe so there cannot be a problem these days. Suffice to say ex NIR 450's should be able to run on the Dartmoor Railway if you convert them to Standard track gauge and cut the footsteps back a bit.... Interesting! Could they then, run Berne gauge kit in Eire? If so, it begs the question as to why CIE bought Mk3s off the shelf. Do you happen to know the dimensions of the Irish loading gauge viz the UK▸ standard? |
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Journey by Journey / London to Kennet Valley / Re: What a lovely journey home last night (1706 PAD>Tha>
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on: October 19, 2011, 08:44:47
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In many aspects / areas First do indeed provide an excellent service, and in some of the aspects / areas where they don't it's due to matters beyond their immediate control and business interest. Hopefully this forum helps passengers and understand some of the systems that are a bit laberynthine at times, such as fares and who's responsible for what on the railways as they plan for the future. And as people understand, they can make better use of the system, more tuned inputs to the next franchise consultations, and be more understanding of just what's going on and why it might have happened when something's less than perfect for them.
I think one of the issues that customers (and dare I say it Train Operators) face is that when we are buying ticket we perceive we are buying a service to get us from A to B (Possibly via Y and Z sometimes!). We shouldn't have to worry that the Trains and tracks (and signalling and catering) are run by different companies. I actually agree most of the time I think the FGW▸ service is very good - its just when things go wrong their commication skills are sometimes in question! When you buy a ticket to travel on the National Rail Network you enter into an agreement with the Train Companies whose trains you have the right to use. That agreement gives you the right to make the journey or journeys between the stations or within the zones shown on the ticket you have bought. I should imagine that "Train Companies" also includes infrastructure providers in this respect. |
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Stock cascade of class 150s
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on: October 17, 2011, 08:43:56
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001 and 002 are coming to FGW▸ , the two orphaned 150/2 vehicles from LM▸ are at Eastleigh at the moment.
IIRC▸ , the orphans are both non WC▸ . I heard that they would be hybridised with a 153 units to make 2 car train, but in theory, nothing to stop a 3 car 150/2 either. No but the idea of a three car set of sufficient capacity to work services without strengthening (thus no need for gangwayed cab ends) make poking the loose 150/2 coaches into 150/1 sets a better idea. Leaving the two car 150/2's to double up or run with 153's in the peaks and retain through gangway access. However I gather there is a minimum ratio of toilets to vehicles for trains used on longer runs, ergo a three car fixed formation set needs two toilets as I understand it. Of course! I actually meant to put 150/1. To much red with Sunday lunch :-) |
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