Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

Yes, I would prefer to see a 10%+ reduction in the timetable ahead of time - concrete into specific services being canned (and I have even suggested which of our own services to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) so that the rest run 98% reliable.  What that 10% must not become, though, is the new norm, with the remaining 90% being the base for the next 10% reduction.

10% reduction would be the new norm as there isn't the capacity. 

Spare trains in the depot?  Add them onto the trains that are going to be most crowded. 

That would require drivers so you would potentially be reducing your available crew.  Not only that, but what happens when a failure or disruption occurs during the day and you've already used your spare stock?

Spare train crew?  I can think of all sorts of jobs that need doing (such as doing some more revenue protection and some customer support at otherwise busy but un(der)staffed stations) - but of course that would raise all sorts of issues.   

That increases your training requirements for starters for individuals are recruited into roles based on their skill set.

A question for train crew / operational staff.   Do you feel / are you pressured to work lots of overtime and short notice shifts?   

No.

Would you prefer / be happier with a more planned and a bit less last minute / extra work, or is it vital for your income.   

Some individuals will be reliant on overtime to survive.  There will always be last minute / extra work, some individuals will love the variety, the unknown, some people love disruption because it's challenging, it throws something different to what could be a mundane day.

[eightonedee]

I would like to see some research done as to when (how far ahead) passengers do their research for their journey - and whether/how often they might then check again that it's running.

Until that is done, it is quite difficult to say that if they P-cancel a Saturday service on the Thursday before, whether reinstating it on Friday or even Saturday is pointless as no one will be aiming to travel on it. I think you'll be surprised that the vast majority don't plan that far ahead....and if they have, don't continually check it in the days/hours leading up to it.

Yes, such research would be useful. There's an assumption that all rail users do check, but I would guess that is only true for regular rail users. Other casual rail users will assume that if there's a train on a timetable, it will run, or possibly go no further than checking on-line at weekends for engineering closures. This is clearly acknowledged by "the authorities", who tend to give wide media coverage when major works are expected, that includes advice to "check on-line".

Having said that, a turn up and travel public transport system should run reliably most of the time. I am becoming concerned that some of my acquaintances, including some who used to be daily commuters are giving up on rail travel because of the hassle. Picking up on the exchange between Grahame and a-driver above, there is clearly not enough available rolling stock nor driving staff to cover eventualities, not helped by (currently) having two pools of trains for local and intermediate services that cannot operate in tandem, and which are both over 30 years old. Sadly, there's nothing in what little I have heard about the various parties' transport policies so far that demonstrates any priority to fund rail transport in the south-west to pay the cost of remedying this. I guess we ought to be grateful that we got Okehampton and the Dawlish Seawall.

Perhaps new branding - "the Cinderella Lines"? 

[Surrey 455]

I would like to see some research done as to when (how far ahead) passengers do their research for their journey - and whether/how often they might then check again that it's running.

When going to the coast, I tend to check the weather first then plan the train journey. I will then constantly recheck the weather forecast to see if it changes (A particular day will often be forecast as sunny then a few days later that same day may show as rainy and a day or two later will show as sunny again). I am not in the habit of rechecking the train journey until the day itself. I cannot ever remember seeing a train showing as cancelled a day or two in advance.

[TaplowGreen]

Large numbers of full and part cancellations for Saturday already rolling in on Journeycheck...................

[TaplowGreen]

If you're considering rail travel on Wednesday, best to have a Plan B.

[IndustryInsider]

If you're considering rail travel on Wednesday, best to have a Plan B.

Yes, I'm sure there will be some cancellations.

Along the same lines as yesterday which wasn't as bad as some suggested it might be.  Probably slightly better if anything.

If we get through to the final, which will be next Sunday of course, then that will be much worse.

[Wizard]

I’ll be in next Sunday evening at least. Not really bothered about the football.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I'm sure there will be some cancellations.

Along the same lines as yesterday which wasn't as bad as some suggested it might be.  Probably slightly better if anything.

Less than four hours until kick off and not very many cancellations listed so far due to crew shortages.

Come on England!

[TaplowGreen]

Yes, I'm sure there will be some cancellations.

Along the same lines as yesterday which wasn't as bad as some suggested it might be.  Probably slightly better if anything.

Less than four hours until kick off and not very many cancellations listed so far due to crew shortages.

Come on England!

Indeed, ironic isn't it?

The crew are working today but trains/rails are broken..............let's hope English hearts aren't broken and everyone gets home in time to watch the match!

[LiskeardRich]

Talking to a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) member of staff just after midnight this morning, following the football 30 drivers had already gone sick.

Now shall we run a sweepstake for how many cancellations on Sunday?

[Phantom]

Talking to a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) member of staff just after midnight this morning, following the football 30 drivers had already gone sick.

Now shall we run a sweepstake for how many cancellations on Sunday?

Was going to add, I know someone within GWR, they mentioned that 35 staff had called in sick
I guess at least they gave sufficient notice

[IndustryInsider]

Talking to a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) member of staff just after midnight this morning, following the football 30 drivers had already gone sick.

Now shall we run a sweepstake for how many cancellations on Sunday?

Hmmm, I would have expected to see rather more cancellations had that been the case?

Sunday likely to be pretty bad, though to make themselves unavailable drivers have to give 5 days notice, so they would have had to have faith England were going to win last night!

As for how bad?  Perhaps someone can trawl back to the Euro 2020 final in 2021…I guess it will be quite similar to that?

[GBM]

Sunday likely to be pretty bad, though to make themselves unavailable drivers have to give 5 days notice, so they would have had to have faith England were going to win last night!

Sorry, not understanding that portion.
If you are going sick you have to give 5 days notice?
If I test Covid positive now, I have to work for the next 4 days before I'm able to go sick.

Or can drivers give 5 days notice of 'not being available'.
That again sounds odd.  I wouldn't be able to give any notice of not being available in my present (part time) employ.
Arrange a swop with someone, or do it yourself.

[IndustryInsider]

Sorry, not understanding that portion.
If you are going sick you have to give 5 days notice?
If I test Covid positive now, I have to work for the next 4 days before I'm able to go sick.

Or can drivers give 5 days notice of 'not being available'.
That again sounds odd.  I wouldn't be able to give any notice of not being available in my present (part time) employ.
Arrange a swop with someone, or do it yourself.

This mainly affects HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) grade drivers who don’t have to work their booked Sunday’s.  They can make themselves ‘not available’ but in order to do so have to give the company five days notice.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) grade drivers can also make themselves ‘not available’ with the same notice but if they or the rostering department cannot cover their shift with a colleague then they still have to work it.

Staff can go sick at any time, but that will be dealt with under agreed procedures, and in the case of a Sunday, no sick pay is paid.  Whilst it’s possible a small number of drivers might do that, I doubt it will be too many.

There are also numerous drivers who volunteer for additional Sunday’s each week and that’s where the problem lies each Sunday as there is too much reliance on that to cover vacancies/open shifts.

[Fourbee]

Presumably even 5 days' notice gives little time to arrange cover before the rosters are published and sent out? If you were a driver wanting to commit to something socially on a Sunday by not making yourself available, unless you get cover from a colleague confirmed yourself, it is going to be uncertain until you receive your roster.