"Shortage of train crew"

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

It's a possibility.  One of the problems GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have is that they don't know how many drivers they will actually need in three years time as there are still some unknowns, such as how many drivers will retire/move to other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s and how many services they will actually be operating.

[chrisr_75]

We are massively overstaffed with drivers were I am based and I think the same can be said for a lot of other depots on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) network.

Which begs the question why on earth can GWR not manage to cobble together a full timetable with no shortages of train crew?! Are there really so few volunteers for Sunday working out of this over staffing you speak of? Or is it down to limited availability of other staff such as guards/train managers?

[ChrisB]

As stated before, would you volunteer for Sundays if you were earning £45k+? I certainly wouldn't.

[chrisr_75]

As stated before, would you volunteer for Sundays if you were earning £45k+? I certainly wouldn't.

My point being that in the grossly overstaffed environment that a-driver describes, surely enough people are likely to volunteer to ensure a Sunday service, or at least the management could somehow persuade enough people to come in. £45k isn't that much really, especially if you're paying to live in SE England...working Sundays could boost income by more than 25% depending on hours worked - that's got to be tempting for many and is enough to pay for a new car, nice holiday or whatever...my guess is there's some sort of breakdown in the relationship between employees and management as I don't recall such apparently widespread problems in the past on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

I have in the past attended work (without any overtime payment and on a lower salary than quote for GWR drivers) at weekends/evenings for the sole benefit of ensuring my employer at the time was able to meet certain targets.

[ChrisB]

Are you in unionised employment?

It is obvious that what you suggest isn't happening.

[ellendune]

Are you in unionised employment?

Do you work for a small company?  Or a small autonomous unit within a larger company?

That is entirely different to working for a large monolithic organisation.   Creating such a culture  in a large organisation without small autonomous units is very difficult.

[chrisr_75]

Are you in unionised employment?

Nope, never have & likely never will. Not sure what that's got to do with anything?

It is obvious that what you suggest isn't happening.

Is it? Please do elaborate

[ChrisB]

Understanding just why it isn't as easy as you suggest.

Well, I know it has been considered, for some time. Too damn expensive, but as has been mentioned above, another chance is coming up if/when IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) come online. The unions may prevent it again.

[IndustryInsider]

That ship may have already sailed.  HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) have just agreed a nice little deal to learn the new trains (and any future ones) with AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) no strings attached other than a commitment to further discussions regarding Sunday shifts.

[ChrisB]

With the short franchise, probably out of reach expense-wise unfortunately. DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) could/should have considered this at the time of granting if they were serious about wanting to sort out this problem.

[chrisr_75]

Understanding just why it isn't as easy as you suggest.

Well, I know it has been considered, for some time. Too damn expensive, but as has been mentioned above, another chance is coming up if/when IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) come online. The unions may prevent it again.

Fair enough, my comments were intended to provoke some debate, but failed somewhat with your rather concise response!

I'm well aware of the difficulties that the more militant transport unions present and realise that they can be a stumbling block to any sort of progress or evolution of workplace cultures. That's not to say change couldn't happen - the union members could force this if they so chose, but they sadly either don't give a toss or haven't been presented with sensible proposals or are happy to just be dominated by the union bosses.

It's a bit pathetic that the industry cannot or will not evolve!

[TaplowGreen]

......along with several other peak services this morning.......


06:28 Maidenhead to London Paddington due 06:54 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

In the days of NSE^▸ (Network South East) Thames and Chiltern, Thames Trains, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Link and I think even the early days of FGW, there was a traincrew management presence at (for example) Paddington, and it almost unheard of to cancel trains through lack of traincrew.  I remember occasions when the local manager would ask traincrew the day before, or even phone them at home on the day, to work all or part of their Rest Day to cover an open turn.  The local manager would always find someone to keep the service going, even if it meant tweaking the diagrams to do so. 

The managers knew their staff and there was mutual trust and support, and the “small company” culture was similar to what chrisr_75 is suggesting.  That local management presence has now gone, and traincrew are now just a resource (like a train or a locomotive) who – operationally at least - are managed (if that isn’t too strong a word) remotely by people who have probably never met them.   

I would be very surprised if traincrew productivity has not fallen over the years.

[ChrisB]

I think you're right - sad innit?

[the void]

That local management presence has now gone, and traincrew are now just a resource (like a train or a locomotive) who – operationally at least - are managed (if that isn’t too strong a word) remotely by people who have probably never met them.   

Sorry, but this is complete nonsense. Train crew are still managed locally.