Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Ed Sheeran live in Cardiff too.

[a-driver]

Ed Sheeran live in Cardiff too.

Got a mate back at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) who’s taking his daughter to see Ed Sheran at the weekend,
“Saving myself a fortune by staying overnight in Bristol” he said
Somebody then advised him of the fact the Severn Tunnel is closed and it’s buses.  Apparantly the grin was soon wiped off his face. 

[Jason]

What might have happened on this one ?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C40319/2018/06/21/advanced

0603 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington - This service was cancelled between Swindon and London Paddington due to an issue with the train crew (TG).

Yet another delay to my journeys in what has been a very bad two weeks.

[RA]

What might have happened on this one ?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C40319/2018/06/21/advanced

0603 Bristol Parkway to London Paddington - This service was cancelled between Swindon and London Paddington due to an issue with the train crew (TG).

Yet another delay to my journeys in what has been a very bad two weeks.

TG is the delay attribution code for driver related issues. Appears to be no driver to bring the 3G02 empty stock from Paddington to Swindon. It looks like the set from 1L05 was used to form the 1G02 06:40 Swindon to Cheltenham service instead.

[TaplowGreen]

Should make the late evening interesting tonight at Paddington for those who've had a few ales.....all cancelled, including the last stopper

22:27 London Paddington to Reading due 23:40
23:14 Reading to London Paddington due 00:14
23:20 London Paddington to Oxford due 00:32
00:34 London Paddington to Reading due 01:34

[NickB]

Does anyone know what happened at Paddington last night to get the Thames valley home when these services were cancelled?

Ps. Further peak services cancelled this morning for the same reason. I guess it is holiday season.

[TaplowGreen]

BBQ weather, AND the football's on...…………..today's crew shortage cancellations so far

08:27 London Paddington to Swansea due 12:26
08:39 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple due 09:50
09:58 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 11:10
10:04 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare due 10:30
11:25 Taunton to Weston-Super-Mare due 11:57
11:27 London Paddington to Paignton due 15:03
11:59 Exeter Central to Barnstaple due 13:16
12:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 14:46
12:48 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway due 13:00
13:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 18:25
13:06 Plymouth to Gunnislake due 13:52
13:22 Barnstaple to Exeter Central due 14:35
13:23 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 13:59
13:58 Gunnislake to Plymouth due 14:43
14:12 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 14:54
15:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:42
15:45 Paignton to London Paddington due 19:45
16:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:58
17:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:56
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:56
19:15 Swansea to London Paddington due 23:24
19:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 21:24

……..plus another 20 or so "updated" services which amount to cancellations for large numbers of customers......ie Penzance to Paddingtons "starting from Exeter"

[bobm]

Seems it isn't just on train staff that are in short supply.   

Seen at Newquay yesterday

[Timmer]

Indeed, not looking too clever if you are travelling to/from the Southwest today. Much better if you are travelling to/from Bristol, South Wales and Cheltenham apart from late afternoon between Paddington and Bristol.

[CMRail]

Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). For the first time in 7 or 8 weeks you have only cancelled one of the Sunday Cheltenham service!

[TaplowGreen]

Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). For the first time in 7 or 8 weeks you have only cancelled one of the Sunday Cheltenham service!

Indeed. More than makes up for the other 50+ (and rising) cancellations in full or part! 

[old original]

Seems it isn't just on train staff that are in short supply.   

Seen at Newquay yesterday

Trouble recruiting seasonal staff. Relying on the regulars working overtime to cover. Should be full cover by mid July/school holidays

[Timmer]

Not been a great day on West local services with Bristol Parkway-Portsmouth particularly affected but cancellations and short running services across the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) West region. Can’t blame IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) training for that.

[TaplowGreen]

Latest state of play, the situation has deteriorated throughout the day, another 30 - odd "updates" in addition to these cancellations due to lack of crew.

13:00 Penzance to London Paddington due 18:25
15:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 17:42
15:45 Paignton to London Paddington due 19:45
15:52 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 18:52
16:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 17:58
16:04 Gunnislake to Plymouth due 16:49
16:14 Falmouth Docks to Truro due 16:39
16:36 London Paddington to Oxford due 17:46
17:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Parkway due 19:59
17:35 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour due 20:21
17:48 Reading to Redhill due 19:06
17:50 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 20:52
18:03 Weston-Super-Mare to Taunton due 18:34
18:39 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
19:00 Oxford to London Paddington due 20:06
19:15 Swansea to London Paddington due 23:24
19:20 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:47
19:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 21:24
19:42 Plymouth to Penzance due 21:40
19:43 Redhill to Reading due 21:07
19:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth due 20:17
19:55 Swindon to Westbury due 20:35
20:01 Plymouth to Gunnislake due 20:47
20:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Parkway due 23:00
20:22 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:50
20:50 Gunnislake to Plymouth due 21:35
20:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down due 21:06
21:02 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour due 23:50
21:23 Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads due 21:38
22:17 Reading to Gatwick Airport due 23:48
23:46 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads due 23:59

[Timmer]

This was posted earlier:
https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/live-network-updates/disruption-information

Amended train service Sunday 24th June

Last updated at 16:04 24/06/2018

Due to a shortage of traincrew, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services between London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, South Wales, Worcester and Cheltenham will be significantly amended today; Sunday 24th June 2018.

Impact on your journey:
Due to the large number of alterations, services are expected to be extremely busy. Most affected train services have another train service within 60 minutes.

Ticket acceptance:
If your train service has been cancelled, your ticket will be valid with CrossCountry between Penzance and Cheltenham Spa and also with South Western Railway between Exeter St David's and London Waterloo.

If you have a ticket(s) dated for today Sunday 24th June and have an advance purchase ticket(s), you will be able to travel on the train service before or after the cancelled train. If you have been unable to travel due to the cancellations today caused by a member of train crew being unavailable, your ticket(s) will be valid for travel tomorrow; Monday 25th June 2018.

Real-time travel updates for your journey can be found at GWR Today.

Train services between London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare
15:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, this service is cancelled.
16:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, this service is cancelled.
16:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, this service is running.
17:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, this service is cancelled.
18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, this service is cancelled.   
19:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, this service is running.       
19:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, this service is cancelled.
20:26 Weston-super-Mare to London Paddington will terminate at Bristol Temple Meads
21:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, this service is running.

Train services between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa
15:33 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington, this service is cancelled.           
12:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa, this service is cancelled.

Train services between London Paddington, Swansea, Hereford and Carmarthen   
16:27 London Paddington to Hereford, this service is running.
19:15 Swansea to London Paddington, this service is cancelled.

Train services between London Paddington, Exeter St David's, Plymouth and Penzance
11:27 London Paddington to Paignton, this service is cancelled.           
13:00 Penzance to London Paddington, this service will start at Exeter St David’s
13:37 Penzance to Exeter St David’s, this service will terminate at Plymouth.
14:50 Plymouth to Penzance, this service is cancelled.
14:57 London Paddington to Penzance, this service will terminate at Exeter St David’s.
15:00 Penzance to London Paddington, this service will start at Exeter St David’s
15:45 Paignton to London Paddington, this service is cancelled.   
16:12 Plymouth to London Paddington, this service is running and will call additionally at Ivybridge.
16:13 Penzance to London Paddington will start at Exeter St David’s.
16:57 London Paddington to Penzance, this service is running. 
19:00 London Paddington to Exeter St David’s, this service will terminate at Bristol Temple Meads.           
19:00 Penzance to Plymouth, this service is cancelled.           
19:42 Plymouth to Penzance, this service is cancelled.   
19:57 London Paddington to Plymouth will terminate at Exeter St David’s
22:58 Plymouth to Exeter St David’s, this service is cancelled.

Train services between Plymouth and Penzance
From 18:25 until 20:26 there are no train services running from Plymouth to Penzance. We are currently struggling to source replacement road transport to cover the gap in the train service

GWR
14:57 London Paddington to Penzance will terminate at Exeter St David's at 17:18.
CrossCountry
10:08 Edinburgh to Penzance will terminate at Plymouth at 18:53.
GWR
19:42 Plymouth to Penzance is cancelled.
The next train service to run on this route will be:
16:57 London Paddington to Penzance, due to depart Plymouth at 20:26. This train service is expected to be very busy as a result of the gap in the train service.

Compensation:
If your train service was delayed or cancelled, you could be entitled to a refund or compensation, please check our Refunds and Compensation page for more information

At least they are being up front about it with this appearing on the front page of the GWR. You have to ask when is this going to end?

This also appeared on GWR Twitter Feed about an hour ago:

From now until 20:25 there are no train services running from Plymouth to Penzance, and no replacement transport available. Next trains at 20:25, 20:50 & 21:35. Tickets on this route this evening will also be accepted on services tomorrow.