Expect lots of Turbo vice 387 coverage due to lack of drivers with Traction knowledge.

Both Monday & Tuesday there are a high number of uncovered jobs.

There are still also issues with Coupling & Uncoupling in service at stations, as no agreement has been reached with ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) & GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). Some platform staff have been trained to "assist" drivers with the Fly Doors between units, however expect "issues" UFN^‡(resolve).

This service was amended at 1652 well in advance of the departure time!!! Some people just choose not to look at the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) at Paddington and just go to the platform. The train was expected 10 late and if it had run with the booked stops would have caused more delays to more people.

Well if you believe the GWR twitter feed??

The ongoing issue with Crew Shortage is multiple things. Yes on paper there are enough drivers. There are 3 main things one is the high number of training programmes at present. There are around 6-10 drivers a day released for 387 training. There are also roughly the same number for Route briefings for post Xmas changes. This training has to be done or we will be in an even worse state than now post New Year. THIS INFO IS JUST LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) (not sure about WEST issues but probably similar)

Then the other reason is the season, high levels of annual leave and sickness. However if you didn't have the 1st issue of approx. 20 drivers a day being released the 2nd issue would probably go all but unnoticed.

20 drivers a day is 20 diagrams of work uncovered, with approx. 6 hours of driving on average per turn that's a lot of uncovered trains.

The 3rd reason is the ongoing issue of overtime payment. There are no incentive payments to work overtime. Yes there is a flexibility deal (opt in or out) for majority of drivers but that doesn't cover any last minute issues. This is the railways industry own making. When you are being paid over £50k a year why would you agree to work an extra hour for roughly £20 (take home). Most would rather just go home, so drivers are refusing overtime.

So what are they doing about it???

LTV has over 40 active trainee drivers but this takes time. Recently around 8 have become competent. This number should have been higher. But training and exams are tough and some haven't passed the relevant tests. Why not train more you ask. It just isn't possible. Each trainee needs (after many weeks in classroom), 250 hours of driving over the routes that they will work. There are only so many instructors, many drivers don't want the added pressure or responsibility of teaching and that cant be forced on anyone. So it all takes time
GWR has had a huge training programme for trainee drivers over the last 7 years. Unfortunatly other TOCS know this and they just don't bother and then advertise for Qualified drivers and poach staff. Other parts of the country are much cheaper to live in and you can earn a higher salary for some TOCS. So the turnover of Drivers in LTV area is very high.
Reading currently has 45 drivers on a waiting list for transfers to other parts of GWR!!! they currently have around 28 trainees so it is a constant battle that will be here for the foreseeable future. (and another batch of trainees is starting next year)

My sources say its going to get even worse from New Year...so brace yourselves (but I keep my fingers crossed for a happy new year)

Yes another total block All Day Saturday / Sunday

https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/reading2017

An emergency agreement between GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) drivers for some flexibility to their conditions has been reached. With immediate effect drivers can agree to do different turns if it suits them. If a driver has the route and traction knowledge ( such as an instructor or assessor) they can now work any turn even if not training another driver. This was previously being done which was a breach of conditions. A driver who does overtime will get a taxi home if the new end time means they can not get home by train. A one off payment is being made to all LTV drivers for the above.

From next week additional flex to.those drivers who.opt in and agree. The drivers turn can be extended by 1 hour (start or end) for any reason. This was previously not allowed. And a spare, rest day work or someone on overtime was needed. This mainly affects very early and late trains due to engineering and the retaining of services or ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to depots.

These arrangements are a short term fix and valid.until end of the year only.
Harmonization talks are ongoing for a long term fix

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere...apologies if so...

Have heard on very good authority that the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") commissioning work for this blockade has NOT taken place. A source has claimed that the safety case paperwork was not completed in time. Or something to that effect. Decision was made to run the advertised service and not attempt to run trains even though this may have been a possibility.

Again Source says is that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) is fuming at NR^» (Network Rail - home page). And the upcoming planned sunday morning blocks may need to be changed. The techs will still need a repeat block of this weekend but no one has any idea when this will be?

The January launch date for 387 to Rdg / Did is unlikely.

This information is only rumour and may be unfounded but have heard similar reports from various GWR sources. Watch this space, as I can only assume someone from GWR or NR will have no choice but to issue a press release?

Just out of interest what do you think GWR should do? If the line is closed what do you expect? Its like saying what should BA^» (British Airways - about) do if Heathrow shuts the Runways? You have to go to another airport. They cant possibly move people by road safely when a London Terminus is shut without warning. All you can do is divert or advise those who can to postpone journeys. There are contingency plans in place for various line closures, but it is never as simple as just putting it into place. 

Not sure for how long over the actual switch on period, but majority of the actual station will be closed including the Transfer Deck Footbridge. Car Park access via the Subway only.

Only platforms 4+5 will be open for train services, as platform 6 is too close (So I have been told by a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staff member in planning dept) to the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") during the switch on / testing process. SWT^▸ (South West Trains) are looking into running their 10 car trains during this period, again possibly just rumor?

Just out of interest to those who say GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) response was poor and employees hide etc... From my experience last night that simply isn't true given the circumstances. What do you want to happen when the Railway is broken to such an extent they can NOT run trains through such a key location.

I was at Paddington just after 16:00 trying to get to Reading. By 16:20 the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) had been turned off because service was suspended. TO advertise trains as Delayed and then cancel at train time is just annoying and false information. The announcer for Network Rail was making very clear PA^▸ (Public Address) that ALL service was suspended. By 1630 they were advising to use SWT^▸ (South West Trains) from Waterloo, Chiltern from MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)). Local buses from Ealing (Central Line). Also LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd) for Heathrow.

Many people including myself chose to ignore those messages, hoping it would be all ok soon. I headed upstairs to the pub. Is it GWRs fault that we ignore their advice?? Or just our own stubbornness or just that we are use to diverting for 2 hours to find that the line had opened 5 mins after you left.

From what I observed on the concourse there were plenty of staff at the 2 help desks. The announcements were frequent advising they had no estimate for service and to please use alternative routes. Also that tickets would be valid tomorrow if that was easier option for those who could postpone journeys. I actually stood near a help desk by the ticket office for about 20 mins just to be nosey.

The staff were well informed and were providing info on the diversions. By now it was around 1800, and they had been told at least another 2 hours before any departures. The diversions were extended to allow Virgin Trains via Birmingham for North Cots and also Bristol etc.

I had arranged a lift from a friend to Slough and got there about 1915. I didn't have to wait long and a turbo arrived from Reading to go back all stations. I asked the staff there how frequent the service had been. And they said not too bad. Local buses were taking tickets for Langley & Iver. Also on the 81 which runs towards Heathrow and connects for other buses to get to West Drayton & Hayes/Southall. So people were moving. London was being served via Windsor and a walk to SWT services.

When I got back to Reading, I had a wander around there were PA's, staff were visible. Yes it was busy on plats 456 for SWT services, but it was being controlled safely. From speaking to a friend later in evening. SWT even ran additional services to CLJ and WAT only vice booked ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock). So nice to see other TOCS helping.

There were services being turned around I see a Bristol and a S Wales service leave. Also Oxford trains seem to be running too.

Then being sad when I got home I watched what service ran when the lines opened which was around 2030.

And I was amased how many trains actually ran, given the displacement of crew. All HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) services from 2045 until close ran as booked. LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) services had an odd cancelled service. A couple of Oxfords called into Didcot extra to help ease congestion. But was far better than evening before. Even the 0022 Pad Oxford ran which is my normal train home after drinks in London.

And on a final note, I'm not saying GWR did good. But I don't feel they did as bad as some make out. Too many peoples default setting on here is just to criticise. From what I witnessed first hand, staff were dealing with a terrible situation as best they could. There were PA's. I could see staff.

Network Rail should be ashamed....but ultimately they are responsible for the safe operation of trains. And lets all just remember that no one was injured, we were all just late (some more than others) home, but we got home.
Personally I would rather be late home safe than someone try and risk running a train on an unsafe system of signalling.
Of course Id rather have a seat on an air conditioned train and be on time.....but to expect that every day is madness

Nothing on drivers diagrams with regards to holds at any station / branch line service. Its purely down to the driver or communication from station staff or control (via signaller).

It isn't and not anytime soon...i believe these paths are for the bi mode class 800 for driver training in future....

No GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Drivers have Sundays included in their basic pay in any sector (WEST, LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) or HSS^▸ (High Speed Services)). Just different local conditions regarding how they can get it covered if they don't wish to work.

HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) drivers maximum of 4 hours (mon-sat) and 4 1/2 hours (Sunday) continuous before a 10 min cab break as a minimum... total driving is 8 hours per shift (possibly 8 1/2 on a Sunday not certain)

LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) drivers maximum is 5 hours, unless a cab break of 14 mins then 6 hours is limit.
Total driving 8 1/2 hours per shift

There are also mileage limits but will have to ask a friend for that figure....I will also see if I can locate the WEST area rules on limits too

Its a manually controlled system at Paddington!!! Someone has to post the platform to the system then auto voice takes over.

It is best practice not to advertise the platform until it has been routed in, just in case it gets changed which causes more annoyance.

If the control person is busy say on the phone, making the tea or otherwise engaged at the precise moment the train is routed into the platform there may be a delay until the magic button gets pressed.

Not a good start to the New Year....

An ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Reading to Paddington struck a person at Hayes & Harlington earlier this morning, at around 0450.

Minor disruption to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service with just the return working to Reading Cancelled by the looks of it...

However  Heathrow Express & Connect startup and people with early flights got disrupted worse....luckily the Tube was already up and running from New Years Eve...


Thoughts with everyone involved....