First Great Western - industrial action in 2015 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Was always likely to be - the instruction to union members is not to book on for shifts which start after 18:30.  The vast majority working tomorrow will have started work by then - with the notable exception of the sleepers, which is why they are cancelled on Wednesday night but will run on Friday night as staff book on again after 18:30 on Friday.

[Rhydgaled]

Have East Coast agreed to *all* these demands?

It's 'Virgin Trains East Coast' (VTEC) now, not just 'East Coast', but I think the answer is no since I believe the plan remains that Agility Trains will be in charge of maintaining both IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) fleets (GW^▸ (Great Western) and EC). VTEC may have met most of the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)'s other demands though, I don't know.

I've just received the following in my e-mail:

Hi,

I am a journalist from Sky News who is covering the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) strike this week.

We would like to do some filming tomorrow in the South West with commuters who may be affected and I wondered if you could help please?

Would you consider doing an interview or could you recommend anyone from your forum who would be able to help?

Please let me know,

Many thanks,

Siobhan Robbins

West of England Correspondent

I'm no commuter, and I'm in Wales not the south west, but I hope the broadcasters will find somebody who will air similar views to mine, which are:
1. assurance is needed, from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), that this and all subsequent franchises must retain a Guard on every train or, at the very least, that a Guard must be diagramed on every train with heavy penalties for the operator if more than a specified number of services are without a guard (due to staff shortage, disruption etc.) on any one day (FirstGW only have any influence on the current franchise, so the assurance needs to come from DfT not them)
2. The structure of the industry which allows DfT/NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) to pass blame arround in circles needs to be tackled, with the reponsibilities of each entity clearly defined
3. The Intercity Express Programme has not been conducted with passenger's best interests, with capacity being reduced on certain lines (despite capacity increases for London and Bristol) by new shorter trains and the removal of guards and buffets.

Unless item (1.) above is addressed, I am please the RMT is taking industrial action although it is very disapointing there is no less-disruptive method of trying to make the DfT listen.

[JayMac]

1. assurance is needed, from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), that this and all subsequent franchises must retain a Guard on every train or, at the very least, that a Guard must be diagramed on every train...

Every train? Even where there is DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) currently?

[Timmer]

A little more effort could be made for stations between Westbury and Weymouth rather than just say 'make alternative arrangements'.

You can add: For Dorchester and Upwey change at Southampton. For Yeovil change at Salisbury.

I am being a little pedantic here. Overall FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have done a good job of providing info on their website.

UPDATE: FGW have updated their strike info page on the website to reflect the above. If anyone from FGW reading this well done. Most of us on this forum want to see your customers affected by this action as little as possible so are glad to see the right info made available for those who need to travel during the strike.

[PhilWakely]

Maybe this should be posted on the Pedants thread, but I have just received the following email from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)....

Due to planned strike action by RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) members:
 
^   There will be minor alternations to services after 18.00 on Wednesday 8th July.
^   Services on Thursday 9th July to start of service on Saturday 11th July will be significantly affected.
^   An overtime ban on Saturday 11th July could also mean late notice changes or possible cancellations. We are hoping there will only be minor alterations.
 
Stay updated
To find out which services are impacted, including the latest updates relating to this strike action, please visit our website, or @fgw Twitter (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or call 0345 7000 125 (7am ^ 10pm, 7 days a week).
 
First Great Western

An interesting use of the word 'alternation' - which, fortunately, does have the same meaning as 'alteration'      

[Timmer]

Unless item (1.) above is addressed, I am please the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is taking industrial action although it is very disapointing there is no less-disruptive method of trying to make the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) listen.

They won't listen and this strike will change nothing. Dft specified IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) (however good or bad we think it is) with First Group being the franchise holders who will introduce it to the GW^▸ (Great Western) network, so striking against FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will make no difference. It was the same when HST^▸ (High Speed Train) was introduced. I was too young to remember this but I have read there was trouble with the unions then as well.

It wouldn't surprise me if FGW are under instruction from Dft to hold firm on this one and 'ride out' the industrial action.

[grahame]

An interesting use of the word 'alternation' - which, fortunately, does have the same meaning as 'alteration'      

If we're going "pedant", I'll say they are similar but not the same.

http://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/perl3/prog/ch05_08.htm

Alternation is a train at 08:36 or one at 08:49.
Alteration is changing the train at 08:49 to run at a different time such as 08:36.

[JayMac]

UPDATE: FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have updated their strike info page on the website to reflect the above. If anyone from FGW reading this well done. Most of us on this forum want to see your customers affected by this action as little as possible so are glad to see the right info made available for those who need to travel during the strike.

I had also pointed out to FGW, via social media, the missing/ambiguous information on their 'strike' page.

I think it's a work in progress though as the Weymouth to Westbury bit currently says:

Customer for Yeovil Pen Mill can change at Salisbury for South West Trains services to Yeovil Junction - ticket acceptance needed?

Indeed it will be needed. Tickets to Yeovil Pen Mill are not valid to Junction.

[bobm]

1. assurance is needed, from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), that this and all subsequent franchises must retain a Guard on every train or, at the very least, that a Guard must be diagramed on every train...

Every train? Even where there is DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) currently?

Apparently one of the new items offered on Monday was an assurance that DOO would not be extended beyond its present limits in the Thames Valley.  Thus if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) had agreement to run an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) without a Train Manager in times of disruption it couldn't go too far.

[Ollie]

Apologies for Weymouth to Westbury bit, I made a typo in what I sent them, and with my note for it saying it will need ticket acceptance it was added to the site, I've requested it be sorted.

[JayMac]

Top work Ollie. 

Could you perhaps also look to get the morning and evening service from Bristol to Worcester and back mentioned somewhere?

Also the Plymouth to Gunnislake section makes no mention of the morning and evening services that are planned to run.

[Richard Fairhurst]

The Cotswold Line service has been upgraded from "peak hour only" to "Between Worcester and Oxford: A two hourly service will operate at major stations along the line".

Excellent news. I might get a pint in Worcester on Friday evening after all...

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, good news indeed.  I think the Cornbury Festival is the main reason for the increase.  I think it'll be a Class 180 operated shuttle service.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm giving my previous post a 'bump' here, as this is a genuine invitation from Sky News to any of our readers in the South West who may want to put their views across.

I've just received the following in my e-mail:

Hi,
I am a journalist from Sky News who is covering the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) strike this week.
We would like to do some filming tomorrow in the South West with commuters who may be affected and I wondered if you could help please?
Would you consider doing an interview or could you recommend anyone from your forum who would be able to help?
Please let me know,
Many thanks,
Siobhan Robbins
West of England Correspondent

If anyone is interested, please reply here or send me a personal message and I'll provide contact details.

I've already replied by e-mail to Siobhan:

Hi, Siobhan,
Thanks for your invitation.
These days I'm not a commuter, so the strike doesn't affect me personally.
However, I've posted an appeal for help from our readers out on the Coffee Shop forum, and will put anyone who is interested in contact with you, if that's alright?
Regards, Chris.

Siobhan replied:

Sounds good, thanks

I quite understand that many of our railway staff members may be reluctant to take up this offer, but would any of our commuter passenger members be interested?

I'd simply send you a PM with details of Siobhan's e-mail address and mobile number, without obligation, for you to make contact with Sky News if you want to do so.

Thanks, CfN. 

[Ollie]

Top work Ollie. 

Could you perhaps also look to get the morning and evening service from Bristol to Worcester and back mentioned somewhere?

Also the Plymouth to Gunnislake section makes no mention of the morning and evening services that are planned to run.

I'll ask about the Bristol to Worcester bit.

Unfortunately Plymouth to Gunnislake is now cancelled as there won't be enough crew to work it.