ChrisB
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« Reply #30 on: July 03, 2015, 20:31:44 » |
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But the train we're saying does run, but so overcrowded that some fail to board. As the TOC▸ 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
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Eliza
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« Reply #31 on: July 04, 2015, 10:47:14 » |
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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.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #32 on: July 04, 2015, 10:50:21 » |
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es, that means in every two hours in both directions
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Eliza
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« Reply #33 on: July 04, 2015, 11:34:29 » |
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Thanks, ChrisB.
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bobm
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« Reply #34 on: July 04, 2015, 11:47:03 » |
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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.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #35 on: July 04, 2015, 17:16:42 » |
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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!
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bobm
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« Reply #36 on: July 04, 2015, 17:18:25 » |
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I hereby nominate Bob M for the "Understatement of the day" award! Excellent - I'll go to the Wetherspoons to celebrate!
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Eliza
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« Reply #37 on: July 05, 2015, 20:18:35 » |
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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.
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grahame
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« Reply #38 on: July 06, 2015, 06:09:54 » |
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I'm noting the wording "Expected Rail Strike 09 July - 11 July 2015" on the front of the FGW▸ 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?
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #39 on: July 06, 2015, 07:13:18 » |
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Aren't they supposed to be meeting today?
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grahame
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« Reply #40 on: July 06, 2015, 07:38:25 » |
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Aren't they supposed to be meeting today?
Indeed - I was asking about an anticipated outcome.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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broadgage
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« Reply #41 on: July 06, 2015, 09:52:19 » |
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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▸ could offer to keep the doors under the control of the train manager, but probably wont IMHO▸ .
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▸ (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▸ 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.
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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▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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the void
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« Reply #42 on: July 06, 2015, 11:22:54 » |
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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▸ don't like. They want assurances that, despite the trains being able to run without a TM‡, FGW▸ 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.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #43 on: July 06, 2015, 12:16:40 » |
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Yes, that's correct. The RMT▸ and some of their membership see it as the thin end of the wedge. If they erode the responsibility of the TM‡ and make it possible for trains to run DOO▸ in exceptional circumstances, in years to come what's stopping the TOC▸ 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▸ 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» '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▸ 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.
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To view my GWML▸ 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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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #44 on: July 06, 2015, 12:37:20 » |
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To view my GWML▸ 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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