First Great Western - industrial action in 2015 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) has started playing silly b*ggers......This is the delicious moment a tube strike-supporting Londoner calling himself ^Joe^ was exposed as the RMT^s Political Officer Jared Wood on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) London Vanessa Show this morning:

http://www.sunnation.co.uk/listen-to-the-hilarious-moment-tube-strike-supporting-average-joe-outed-as-union-activist/



Admin Note: Link replaced due to offensive comments in the previous link - which occurred after the link was posted here.  bobm

[IndustryInsider]

That will be happening at the Crossrail sub-surface stations, and should be considered for every station which has identical types of trains stopping at it all the time.  Trouble is there's not many places where that applies and I think that is just as big a barrier as the installation and maintenance costs (please excuse the pun!).

[IndustryInsider]

If anybody would like a little bit of light reading, here is a link to a recent report from the RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) regarding a strategy to reduce the many Platform Train Interface incidents or all types:

http://www.rssb.co.uk/Library/improving-industry-performance/2015-01-platform-train-interface-strategy.pdf

[ChrisB]

That will be happening at the Crossrail sub-surface stations, and should be considered for every station which has identical types of trains stopping at it all the time.  Trouble is there's not many places where that applies and I think that is just as big a barrier as the installation and maintenance costs (please excuse the pun!).

Regardless of length of train, a common stopping point could be arranged for each platform - it's the common length of each coach of each type of train is needed with doors in the same place on every coach. If that's ok, then it is possible. It might p*ss off commuters on short trains when they end up far up platforms, but is would be possible.

[chrisr_75]

That will be happening at the Crossrail sub-surface stations, and should be considered for every station which has identical types of trains stopping at it all the time.  Trouble is there's not many places where that applies and I think that is just as big a barrier as the installation and maintenance costs (please excuse the pun!).

Due to the slightly unfortunate sequence of posts, am I the only one picturing an RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) official at every Crossrail sub-surface station, pretending to be someone they're not...  

Installation and maintenance costs are reported by II as being quite high  

Sorry!  

[IndustryInsider]

Regardless of length of train, a common stopping point could be arranged for each platform - it's the common length of each coach of each type of train is needed with doors in the same place on every coach. If that's ok, then it is possible. It might p*ss off commuters on short trains when they end up far up platforms, but is would be possible.

That's the problem - there usually isn't a common length of each coach with doors in the same place.  On virtually all national rail stations there's various different stock operating with different lengths and door positions.  Taking the suburban stations on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) for example, the 166s have different door positions to the 180s, which are different to the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).  Even after Crossrail the Class 345 Crossrail trains will probably differ to the Class 387s and even if they're the same then what about when an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) has to make an unexpected stop to de-train the passengers?

Just not a practical solution at most stations, regardless of the cost.

[paul7575]

On SWT^▸ (South West Trains)'s 444s the doors aren't even in the same positions on all successive coaches, they'd have to be differently organised if a train appeared in reverse formation...

Paul

[Timmer]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have released details of the planned service they intend to run should the strikes go ahead later this month. Details here: www.fgw.co.uk/strike

Broadly similar to the service offered last time but frequencies improved on some lines.

Things slightly different this time around due to engineering work taking place in the Bath area in that replacement bus services will run as normal. A half hourly rail shuttle service will operate between Bath and Bristol to connect with HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services to London which will all start/terminate at Bristol TM^‡(resolve) rather than continuing onto/starting at Bath Spa.

[John R]

A much improved service on the Bristol to Taunton route, with roughly an hourly service all day, whereas previously was two peak hour services only in each direction.  Similarly on the Gloucester to Swindon line.  3 services each way on the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) line instead of 1.  And maybe a few more improvements too I would expect.

So as was historically the case with rail strikes, subsequent action tends to be less effective. I would have thought the union will be (privately) somewhat disappointed at the level of service FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is stating it will operate. Hourly services from London to Cardiff, Bristol and Plymouth, together with a basic level of service on the majority of other principal routes is not bad at all.

[Adelante_CCT]

Potentially not such a good service as hoped, depending on how many signallers turn up
http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/dismissal-t-rayner--signaller--network-rail140815/

[grahame]

Potentially not such a good service as hoped, depending on how many signallers turn up
http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/dismissal-t-rayner--signaller--network-rail140815/

TO ALL RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) SIGNALLING MEMBERS AT THAMES VALLEY SIGNALLING CENTRE AND SWINDON A

Further to previous correspondence, you are to be congratulated for your magnificent support for your colleague Tony Rayner which was demonstrated in your strong yes vote for action. Clearly there is overwhelming support for Brother Rayner who we believe has been unfairly dismissed by Network Rail.  Having considered the ballot results the General Grades Committee has decided to call industrial action in this dispute.

All Signalling members at Swindon A and Thames Valley Signalling Centre are therefore instructed as follows: -

^    With effect from 0001 hours Sunday 23rd August 2015 until 23.59 hours on Saturday 29th August 2015 members are instructed not to work any overtime.

[Timmer]

Strike goes ahead as talks breakdown. It looks like more services will run this time around compared to the last round of industrial action.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34007374

A strike by workers at First Great Western (FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) is set to go ahead this weekend after talks failed to resolve a row over new trains.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)) will walk out for 24 hours on Sunday, from 00:01 BST, causing disruption to services.

The strike is being held over threats to jobs, services and the introduction of the new Hitachi Inter City trains.

The union said it had not reached agreement on "fundamental issues".

A spokesman said: "Despite strenuous efforts, we have failed to reach agreement with First Great Western on the fundamental issues at the heart of the dispute over the introduction of the new Hitachi trains.

"As a result the action this Sunday goes ahead. The union remains available for talks."

The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.

FGW rail workers held a 48-hour strike last month over the same dispute, causing disruption to tens of thousands of commuters. Continues...

[ChrisB]

The full statement from the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)
http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/intercity-express-programme-iep200815/

20 August 2015

To: First Great Western RMT Members


Our Ref: HC/14/2

20 August 2015


To: First Great Western RMT Members


Dear colleague

INTERCITY EXPRESS PROGRAMME (IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.))

Further to previous correspondence, you will know doubt be aware that talks with the company have taken place over the last two days. While limited progress has been made, no agreement has yet been reached on the major issues at the heart of this dispute, which are:

^    Assurances over TUPE^▸ (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.) and PTR&R on Engineering Grades
^    The Role of the Guard
^    The removal of buffet cars

These talks have now been adjourned until next week when hopefully further more substantial progress can be made. However, while any agreement is yet to be reached, all industrial action which you have been previously notified of remains in place.

To reiterate, the action is as follows:

All Fleet Maintenance Grade Members

All Fleet Maintenance grade members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

^    00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Saturday 29th August 2015
^    00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Monday 31st August 2015

All Fleet Maintenance grade members will be instructed to take discontinuous industrial action short of a strike as outlined below: -

^    Not to work any overtime or rest days between 00.01 hours and 23:59 hours on Sunday 23rd August 2015
^    Not to work any overtime or rest days between 00.01 hours and 23:59 hours on Sunday 30th August 2015

All Other Grades (Excluding Fleet Maintenance Members)

All members excluding Fleet Maintenance grades will be instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

^    00.01 hours and 23.59 hours on Sunday 23rd August 2015
^    00.01 hours on Saturday 29th August 2015 and 23.59 hours on Monday 31st August 2015

As I say above, talks will restart next week, but all this action remains on. Thank you for supporting your union until now during this dispute and I look forward to this continuing until our goals are achieved.

SUPPORT YOUR UNION!
ALL GRADES UNITED TO DEFEND JOBS AND SERVICES!

Best wishes.
 
Mick Cash
General Secretary

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have made changes to ticket restrictions
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travel-updates/strike-information-update/ticket-information

We^re expecting to run a good service across most of our network, however if you^re impacted by any changes we have the following ticketing arrangements to help you continue your journey.

If you have tickets for travel on Sunday 23 August your ticket will also be accepted for travel on FGW services on Saturday 22 August.

If you have tickets for travel on the bank holiday weekend (Saturday 29, Sunday 30 or Monday 31 August) your ticket is valid for any day of the bank holiday weekend. If you have an advance purchase ticket we ask you travel as close to your booked time as possible. 

If your journey involves a line where we^re not planning to offer a service at all on Sunday 23 August, then you can also travel on any off-peak FGW services on Monday 24 August.  The same applies on the bank holiday weekend ^ if your journey involves a line we^re not planning to offer a service on, you can travel on any off-peak train on Tuesday 1 September. The lines we will not run a service on are:
^Plymouth - Gunnislake
^Falmouth ^ Truro
^Newquay - Par
^Looe ^ Liskeard
^Severn Beach - Bristol Temple Meads
^Weymouth - Westbury

Advance Purchase

If you have an Advance Purchase (train^specific) ticket for travel on Sunday 23 August, your ticket will also be valid on the FGW train immediately before or after your booked time.

If you have an Advance Purchase (train^specific) ticket for travel between Saturday 29 August ^ Monday 31 August, your ticket will also be valid on the FGW train immediately before or after your booked time.

Refunds

We appreciate that the disruption may mean you don^t want to travel - if you^ve already purchased your ticket you can claim a full refund for free. See our strike refunds page for details on how to claim

Seat reservations
We^ll aim to honour seat reservations where we can, however we're unable to provide a guarantee for the strike day.  If you decide to change your plans in line with our advice above, we can update your reservation free of charge.


Season Ticket Holders
Train services will be running across the majority of our network and you^re likely to be able to make your planned journey. A small number of routes will be closed during the strike action, and customers with season tickets affected by these can claim compensation by emailing fgwfeedback@firstgroup.com. Check our timetable summary map and service overview for full details.


Other operator acceptance
We^ve arranged for FGW tickets to be accepted on other operators^ services on some routes during the strike days.

^Cross Country Trains: Between Oxford, Reading and Basingstoke; Reading ^ Wokingham; Gloucester ^ Bristol; Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance
^Southern: Redhill to Gatwick
^Arriva Trains Wales: Newport - Cheltenham Spa; Carmarthen ^ Swansea; Swansea ^ Newport; Newport - Hereford.
^London Midland: Hereford - Worcester Shrub Hill.
^South West Trains: Salisbury - Southampton and connecting services to Weymouth; Salisbury - Yeovil Junction.
^Transport for London: Greenford - London Paddington.
^First Bus: We also have agreements with First Bus for routes in Devon and Cornwall and Bristol.

Late night services
We^ve had to cancel our usual Sleeper services on Sunday 23 August, Sunday 30 August and Monday 31 August. We^ll be in touch with already booked customers individually offering alternative arrangements.

 The Friday 28 August London to Penzance sleeper will run as normal, but we^ll be in touch with customers booked on the Penzance to London sleeper on the Friday about alternative arrangements.

[NickB]

Do we get void days for strike days?

[bobm]

Be interesting to see what support the strike gets.  Obviously not scientific, but a lot of staff I have spoken to are not in favour of further action - particularly if it involves three days over the bank holiday.  A couple have suggested there should be a re-ballot.