First Great Western - industrial action in 2015 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

But the train we're saying does run, but so overcrowded that some fail to board. As the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) has pre-warned that there are no further services available - & the strike is something outwith their control arguably - I think your suggdstion may not be the same as theirs.

*However*, I would expect the TOC to make this *abundantly* clear in advance...otherwise, yes, at least bustitution for those left behind

[Eliza]

I know this will appear a daft question but I don't want to take anything for granted during a rail strike.  The London Paddington to Plymouth service is scheduled to run every two hours.  Does  that mean the service will run in the opposite direction?  I have to catch the train from Exeter St David's to Taunton on Thursday 9 July.

[ChrisB]

es, that means in every two hours in both directions

[Eliza]

Thanks, ChrisB.

[bobm]

I know this will appear a daft question but I don't want to take anything for granted during a rail strike.  The London Paddington to Plymouth service is scheduled to run every two hours.  Does  that mean the service will run in the opposite direction?  I have to catch the train from Exeter St David's to Taunton on Thursday 9 July.

You also have the option of Cross Country services which will be running as normal, but may be a bit more crowded that usual.

[TaplowGreen]

I know this will appear a daft question but I don't want to take anything for granted during a rail strike.  The London Paddington to Plymouth service is scheduled to run every two hours.  Does  that mean the service will run in the opposite direction?  I have to catch the train from Exeter St David's to Taunton on Thursday 9 July.

You also have the option of Cross Country services which will be running as normal, but may be a bit more crowded that usual.

I hereby nominate Bob M for the "Understatement of the day" award! 

[bobm]

I hereby nominate Bob M for the "Understatement of the day" award! 

Excellent - I'll go to the Wetherspoons to celebrate! 

[Eliza]

Thanks bobm for letting me know that CrossCountry will be running, if there is a strike.  Best foot forward (or sharpest elbow), if it happens.

[grahame]

I'm noting the wording "Expected Rail Strike 09 July - 11 July 2015" on the front of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) web site, with a link to the press release.  Does the use of the word "expected" imply that there's little expectation of the talks achieving any steps sufficient to result in the action being cancelled or suspended?

[TaplowGreen]

Aren't they supposed to be meeting today?

[grahame]

Aren't they supposed to be meeting today?

Indeed - I was asking about an anticipated outcome.

[broadgage]

I expect the strike to go ahead and have little faith in more talks averting the strike.

MOST strikes are over money, and in such cases an improved last minute offer is often made and either accepted or the action postponed whilst the improved offer is considered.

THIS dispute is however not primarily over money. It is over whom controls the doors, the withdrawal of buffets, and over who maintains the trains. Two of these subjects are not the sort of thing on which an improved offer can be made at the least minute.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could offer to keep the doors under the control of the train manager, but probably wont IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion).

As regards the withdrawal of buffets, the new trains are already being built without buffets. Whilst in theory flexibility of internal layout including the ability to add a buffet is an "essential requirement" of the design, I cant realistically see it happening. A compromise is just about possible by removing a luggage rack to provide a parking space for a trolley and then trying to persuade the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) (and me) that this constitutes a buffet. I doubt that it would work, what the RMT (and I) want is a proper buffet that can prepare basic hot snacks to order. Bacon rolls, paninis, and the like, and not a parked trolley.

As regards the RMTs demand that maintenance of the new trains be brought in house, I don't believe that this can be done. Maintenance by the train supplier is part of the deal, with the contract based on the provision of a certain number of trains fit for use each day. IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the contract for the new trains does not even specify exactly how many are to be built, but instead specifies how many are to be available for use each day. It being up to the supplier to decide how many to build to provide the agreed number each day.

[the void]

The issue isn't really about who controls the doors, but about always having a Train Manager on every train. The trains are capable of being operated without a Train Manager and that is what the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) don't like. They want assurances that, despite the trains being able to run without a TM^‡(resolve), FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will never do so. FGW have repeated stressed that is not their intention to run the trains without a TM, apart from in extreme circumstances. Take this scenario - the TM is due to work a service from Paddington to Bristol but they have been displaced due to disruption and are stuck in Reading. No spare TM can be found so the only course of action available at present is to turf all the customers off the train and run it empty stock to Reading where the TM can join and allow customers to board. With the new trains it would be possible to run the train with all the customers on board to Reading and pick up the TM. This is the kind of circumstance that FGW are taking about, but the RMT would rather the current system is retained.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, that's correct.  The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) and some of their membership see it as the thin end of the wedge.  If they erode the responsibility of the TM^‡(resolve) and make it possible for trains to run DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) in exceptional circumstances, in years to come what's stopping the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) from altering that further so that, for example, London to Penzance trains routinely only have a TM rostered between London and Exeter, or London to Worcester trains run DOO as standard.

The buffet car aspect of the action is pretty much a red herring as they can't really affect FGW^▸ (First Great Western) or its customers to any great degree, though the TM dispute and the maintenance staff/train dispatchers obviously have much more power in that respect.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned mush is ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)'s role in all of this.  The majority of FGW drivers do not work DOO trains, and you can be sure that there will be a resistance on the part of those that don't, principally on the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) side of things, to start doing so without some kind of extra payment.  ASLEF have so far been reasonably quiet in this respect, they've said they support the RMT's campaign and that DOO should not be expanded, but over time it's yet another possible industrial action scenario.

[IndustryInsider]

The talks have stalled.  No great surprises there!

http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/talks-collapse-and-action-goes-ahead-on-first-great-western/