Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

TfW have managed to get Sunday’s inside the working week. They reportedly had to increase the number of drivers by a third, around an extra 300 drivers alone with an increase in salary to £71000. Even with my level of mathematical ability you can see what the major stumbling block is!  Your best is enhancing the hourly rate.

I think part of that extra recruitment was to enable the uplift in services on many routes, especially the Valley Lines, that are now starting to come on stream.

[a-driver]

I think part of that extra recruitment was to enable the uplift in services on many routes, especially the Valley Lines, that are now starting to come on stream.

I believe you are correct.  I seem to recall GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) needed between 15-20% more drivers to get Sunday's in the working week

[Wizard]

Of course, that has now compounded the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) problem as at least five drivers have moved over to TfW for a higher wage and guaranteed four day week.

[AMLAG]

Concerning to see that in this continuing UNJOINED Up and restrictive Railway that today’s
1004 Westbury to Exeter and return FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company) Route refresher etc jaunt took place.

[TaplowGreen]

I can’t see Sunday’s ever becoming part of the working week.  

TfW have managed to get Sunday’s inside the working week. They reportedly had to increase the number of drivers by a third, around an extra 300 drivers alone with an increase in salary to £71000. Even with my level of mathematical ability you can see what the major stumbling block is!  Your best is enhancing the hourly rate.

£71,000 a year + a 4 day week? ..................remind me why ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) keep going on strike? 

[Wizard]

I can’t see Sunday’s ever becoming part of the working week.  

TfW have managed to get Sunday’s inside the working week. They reportedly had to increase the number of drivers by a third, around an extra 300 drivers alone with an increase in salary to £71000. Even with my level of mathematical ability you can see what the major stumbling block is!  Your best is enhancing the hourly rate.

£71,000 a year + a 4 day week? ..................remind me why ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) keep going on strike? 

They don’t in Wales. That’s the point.

[TaplowGreen]

If you are going to approach GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), can I suggest you add (3) What representations are GWR senior management making/have made to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), and what plans/proposals have they presented by way of resolving the situation whereby particularly on Sundays, but increasingly on Saturdays and on weekdays, the service collapses due to crew shortages? If plans/proposals have been submitted, what responses have been received from DfT?

This may go some way to understanding what (if any) attempts are being made by the service provider to address the root cause of the problem.

Now there's a thought, thank you.  And I do wonder if that question could be tackled by asking the DfT what approaches that have had too, with a carefully worded FOI^▸ (Freedom of Information) request.

Worth a go.

They'd probably try to hide behind the "commercially sensitive" exemption however that's a qualified exemption and there's a very strong argument that it's in the public interest to disclose the information.

[a-driver]

I can’t see Sunday’s ever becoming part of the working week.  

TfW have managed to get Sunday’s inside the working week. They reportedly had to increase the number of drivers by a third, around an extra 300 drivers alone with an increase in salary to £71000. Even with my level of mathematical ability you can see what the major stumbling block is!  Your best is enhancing the hourly rate.

£71,000 a year + a 4 day week? ..................remind me why ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) keep going on strike? 

They’ve agreed RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) for a raise in April 2025 as well so who knows what that will take them to

[IndustryInsider]

They’ve agreed RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) for a raise in April 2025 as well so who knows what that will take them to

And how many more GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) drivers who live near TfW depots will jump ship if they’re still sat on the same way they were on 5 years ago.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Errrm ... where can I apply? 

[a-driver]

And how many more GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) drivers who live near TfW depots will jump ship if they’re still sat on the same way they were on 5 years ago.

It’s a no brainer, especially if you’re looking at retiring in the next few years.

[TaplowGreen]

And how many more GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) drivers who live near TfW depots will jump ship if they’re still sat on the same way they were on 5 years ago.

It’s a no brainer, especially if you’re looking at retiring in the next few years.

.....on a nice, taxpayer funded gold plated final salary pension too!

[TaplowGreen]

.....bit of advice......don't count on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) providing much of a service on Saturday.......naturally, that result was never in doubt! 

[Sleepy]

Bet the 1755 Penzance to Paddington is fun tonight given the 1418 1518 and 1618 are all cancelled 

[bobm]

As it approaches Newton Abbot it’s reported there are seats available in all coaches.

The 17:22 from Newquay running just ahead of it also has seats.