Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

Possibly, but the other three services seem to be running.

The Okehampton driver duty have been split across three diagrams meaning 3 drivers with route knowledge needed...
The guard's is still one.

[TaplowGreen]

Possibly, but the other three services seem to be running.

The Okehampton driver duty have been split across three diagrams meaning 3 drivers with route knowledge needed...
The guard's is still one.

I guess with 3 drivers there is always one free to look after the BBQ? 😉

[Timmer]

One train you really don’t want to cancel heading SW on a half term bank holiday weekend:

09:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 14:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train guards.

Wouldn’t want to be on the 10:03.

[bobm]

Agreed - although I am surprised there are not more cancellations/short workings given it is a bank holiday weekend and half term.

[lbraine]

I’ll let you know - as I’m on the 10:03 (with reservations in Coach B)

[Timmer]

Agreed - although I am surprised there are not more cancellations/short workings given it is a bank holiday weekend and half term.

Yes it appears GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have faired better this time around with sorting out the rosters in time for the weekend. Mind you I should wait before saying that as we haven’t seen what’s to come for Sunday yet!

A few cancellations/short workings spread around the West local part of the service which we haven’t seen much of late.

[TaplowGreen]

Agreed - although I am surprised there are not more cancellations/short workings given it is a bank holiday weekend and half term.

Yes it appears GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have faired better this time around with sorting out the rosters in time for the weekend. Mind you I should wait before saying that as we haven’t seen what’s to come for Sunday yet!

A few cancellations/short workings spread around the West local part of the service which we haven’t seen much of late.

Not too bad (so far) apart from (inevitably) the Cotswold line, and I'd have thought GWR could make the advice a bit more helpful...……….several like this

09:18 London Paddington to Evesham due 11:19


09:18 London Paddington to Evesham due 11:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train drivers.
Further Information
Customers are advised to travel on the next available train service.

[lbraine]

Reservations on the 10:93 have been cancelled 

Doubling the misery from one train load of passengers to two train loads.

Railway logic at work again

[broadgage]

Reservations on the 10:93 have been cancelled 

Doubling the misery from one train load of passengers to two train loads.

Railway logic at work again

I have very limited faith in reservations.
When is there plenty of room, you don't really need a reservation, though it is nice to have just in case.
When you really want/need a reservation due to overcrowding, then they are either not enforced or not put out.

I try to avoid rail travel at times when experience suggests that overcrowding is likely. I have however been caught out by unforeseen circumstances such as the cancellation of a previous train.
On at least two occasions my reserved seat has been occupied by someone else who has declined to move. Being reluctant to thump them, there is no option but standing.
On other occasions I have taken my reserved seat by arriving in plenty of time but still faced considerable argument from others who felt that they had a greater need.

One particular problem is when someone has booked a seat on a cancelled train , they often feel that they are entitled to that seat on the following service.

These days of course we have the added joys of the new shorter trains and what to do about reservations for the missing 5 coaches when 5 turn up instead of 5+5, or when an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) deputises for an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.).

[lbraine]

So .. the 10:03 ex PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) arrived full and standing with passengers - like my family - left on the platform as it departed. Bursting.

Talked to the Dispatch Manager (sterling lady trying her utmost to get people on trains) and decided that the best way to get on a train and pay for first class upgrade (for 4 adults and 2 children - gulp !).

Boarded coach L to find both L and K has no seats - and the  train manager announcing that there were no first class upgrades

A seat was found for my 78 year old father-in-law, so kudos points to the train crew for that.

Overall we have paid just over £1000 pounds for return tickets - for the privilege of standing/sitting on a vestibule floor.

[broadgage]

Very poor, and increasingly common, regrettably.
Under the circumstances, I don't see what else the staff could have done.

If however GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were running their business competently, by engaging enough staff to reliably run the advertised service, then this sort of situation would not regularly arise.


 

[lbraine]

Oh - and the continuous scrolling messages on the platform train destination boards detailing the  better, faster, more trains railway in 2019 caused many a sarcastic comment from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) customers.

‘All for nothing/waste of money’ if trains can’t be run to the published timetables now was the general sentiment. Perhaps a little more flowery language was used though.

[phile]

Most of the crew shortages today seem to be at the back end rather than drivers

[TaplowGreen]

Agreed - although I am surprised there are not more cancellations/short workings given it is a bank holiday weekend and half term.

Yes it appears GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have faired better this time around with sorting out the rosters in time for the weekend. Mind you I should wait before saying that as we haven’t seen what’s to come for Sunday yet!

A few cancellations/short workings spread around the West local part of the service which we haven’t seen much of late.

Thought it was too good to last, cancellations are rolling in thick and fast now............…usual reasons, no drivers/Guards.

They'd better not cancel any more Exeter services this evening with Chiefs playing at Twickenham this afternoon.

09:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 14:27
12:18 London Paddington to Moreton-In-Marsh due 14:00
12:28 Evesham to London Paddington due 14:30
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 14:40
12:58 Oxford to London Paddington due 14:00
13:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 15:20
14:40 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 16:38
14:48 London Paddington to Oxford due 15:50
15:00 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 17:38
15:28 Evesham to London Paddington due 17:30
15:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 19:14
15:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 17:40
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance due 21:28
16:18 London Paddington to Evesham due 18:23
16:29 Swansea to London Paddington due 20:14
16:40 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:37
16:58 Oxford to London Paddington due 18:00
17:00 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:28
17:00 London Paddington to Carmarthen due 21:48
17:03 London Paddington to Plymouth due 20:35
17:25 Evesham to London Paddington due 19:30
17:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 19:50
18:00 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:43
18:00 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 20:40
18:18 London Paddington to Evesham due 20:23
18:48 London Paddington to Oxford due 19:50
19:20 Westbury to Southampton Central due 20:22
20:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 00:25
21:36 Evesham to London Paddington due 23:51
21:40 Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth due 22:08
22:16 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:50
22:20 London Paddington to Oxford due 23:27
23:35 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 01:05

[Timmer]

disappointing after a reasonable start. Big gaps in IC^▸ (Inter City) services appearing later in the afternoon.