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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #2250 on: August 25, 2024, 12:11:03 » |
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Nothing will change unless the rostering structure/payment for Sunday's is changed.
It's probably worse now as there will be fewer volunteers due to more money being paid to drivers to volunteer to work an extra shift on Monday-Saturday (time and a half) than if they volunteer to work an extra Sunday (time and a quarter). And of course with drivers likely to shortly receive two years worth of back pay, as well as a generally enhanced rate of pay going forward, many won't need the money.
GWR▸ will no doubt ride the storm for the next couple of weeks as usual before it all pretty much dies down until next summer.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2251 on: August 25, 2024, 16:19:39 » |
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"No strings attached"
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bobm
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« Reply #2252 on: August 25, 2024, 17:04:43 » |
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The fact that it was cancelled then reinstated must have completely wound up anyone booked on that service that heard of the cancellation though. This is something that ought not to happen. More generally, it shouldn't be the practice to cancel trains and then reinstate them as staffing rosters settle.
Mark
Normally when the sleeper is disrupted Customer Services contact those with berth bookings to alert them. I wonder how far they got with that, if at all. |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2253 on: August 25, 2024, 18:43:15 » |
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We can ask Daryn McCombe, GWR▸ 's Director of Performance, when we 'meet the manager' online: see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29040.0  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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UstiImmigrunt
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« Reply #2254 on: August 30, 2024, 16:25:24 » |
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Apologies for the long reply.
The shortage of train crew on the majority of TOCs▸ goes back to May 1994. And yes, I'm being serious.
This is when all depots were split up into TOCs ready for privitisation.
So at this time train crew could only drive traction and routes TOC specific.
Taking Bristol Bath Road for example.
That was split into GWT, Cross Country, Regional Railways and RES. Also at Bath Road there was no RDW (Rest Day Work) agreement for drivers.
RES very quickly worked out that money could be made by hiring out drivers on weekends so a RDW policy was quickly implemented and drivers could keep previous traction and route knowledge.
Then along came DRI (Driver Restructuring Initivitive) where the old basic wage with non pensionable allowances and bonuses were considilated into a clean salary. Part of this included a reduction from 39 to 37 hours. But unfortunately no TOC took on extra drivers to cover the additional staff needed. So next up came poaching. Why run a drivers course at great expense and not no how the driver will turn out when you can cherry pick the best from other companies?
Unfortunately Wales and West were unable to convince qualified drivers to move, in fact drivers were leaving for GWT, VXC▸ and SWT▸ . Summer of 98 the drivers didn't wish to do RDW at bare time so the MD of W+W decided to give an interview to the South Wales Echo slagging off the drivers for having the cheek to enjoy the additional time off from the job. Never mind the minor fact that exactly zero driver's courses had been run for 4 years.
The next shortage that came to notice was in 2002/3 when Wessex trains came into being. We were around £5k behind FGW▸ and XC▸ so drivers were passing out, doing around 9 months to a year trouble free driving and moving to an Intercity TOC. Negotiations took place and over a 15 month period Wessex trains gave the drivers a 30% payrise in exchange for a few terms and conditions. Also on Wessex Trains we became the 2nd TOC to get the 35 hour week and 104 rest days a year.
So when the Greater Western franchise was created, or in the eyes of FG the unwanted Sprinters were taken on, the 35 hour for Wessex staff was eyed up by HSS▸ drivers on the 37 hour week. Management immediately capitulated but the additional drivers weren't recruited. The only way to run the service was RDW which Ailson Forster was completely against and the best MD of a TOC was eased out.
Finally the voluntarily Sundays. Put properly into the working week. But this needs an additional 17% extra crew to be taken on and with a mixture of franchise lengths and justifying the cost this will never happen. So on HSS Sundays are voluntary whilst for GWR▸ staff they are enforced overtime. Add in crew that are Sunday exempt, booked Sundays in the middle of fortnights leave or Sundays before and after leave there are plenty of vacancies.
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Retired and loving it! Pround owner of a brand new little red book and an annual first class https://oneticket.cz/networkPassSearchIt will be well used and I doubt I'll ever get any delay repay compensation. |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2255 on: August 30, 2024, 16:49:45 » |
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Apologies for the long reply.
The shortage of train crew on the majority of TOCs▸ goes back to May 1994. And yes, I'm being serious.
Thanks for your detailed post, UstiImmigrunt - there's no need to apologise for providing all of our readers with such interesting information. |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2256 on: August 30, 2024, 17:07:40 » |
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Apologies for the long reply.
The shortage of train crew on the majority of TOCs▸ goes back to May 1994. And yes, I'm being serious.
Thanks for your detailed post, UstiImmigrunt - there's no need to apologise for providing all of our readers with such interesting information. Agreed - really interesting to see all the missed opportunities and (ongoing) points of failure....................over 30 years!  |
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UstiImmigrunt
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« Reply #2257 on: August 30, 2024, 17:43:52 » |
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Many thanks for your kind comments.
And nationwide the next big shortage of staff.
Early 2000s there was a recruitment drive with lots of people late 30s or early 40s in a second career. Mainly ex forces but also other operational jobs, NHS, police etc. 2 decent pension pots.
Also the last of the BR▸ staff will be getting ready to finish.
Try to replace all that knowledge and experience.
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« Last Edit: August 30, 2024, 18:05:56 by UstiImmigrunt »
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Retired and loving it! Pround owner of a brand new little red book and an annual first class https://oneticket.cz/networkPassSearchIt will be well used and I doubt I'll ever get any delay repay compensation. |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2258 on: September 01, 2024, 06:50:32 » |
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Looking as bad, if not worse today than last Sunday.
Thoughts are with anyone having the courage to contemplate travel by train in the GWR▸ region today.
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GBM
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« Reply #2259 on: September 01, 2024, 07:52:58 » |
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Plus one 9 car instead of 10 on a Paddington - Penzance service, and a 5 car from Penzance to Paddington.
Cozy.
Feel for train managers and catering staff.
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Personal opinion only. Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)  |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2260 on: September 01, 2024, 08:50:51 » |
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Plus one 9 car instead of 10 on a Paddington - Penzance service, and a 5 car from Penzance to Paddington.
Cozy.
Feel for train managers and catering staff.
Given the level of overcrowding that can be expected, feeling for those in question may be more successful than looking for them. |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2261 on: September 07, 2024, 07:27:46 » |
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64 full/part cancellations already listed today.
Sunday appears to have arrived early this week.
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Sleepy
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« Reply #2262 on: September 08, 2024, 08:50:28 » |
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1418 & 1518 Penzance to Paddington also 1557 Paddington to Penzance cancelled today. 1657 from Pad will terminate at Plymouth.
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« Last Edit: September 08, 2024, 13:35:48 by Sleepy »
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2263 on: September 08, 2024, 10:36:53 » |
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1418 & 1518 Penzance to Paddington also 1557 Paddington to Penzance cancelled today.
1618 will be horrendous. It's always very busy on a Sunday in any case. |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2264 on: September 15, 2024, 08:39:33 » |
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Another dismal Sunday on GWR▸ , highlighted in the one area but as always, generally once again a demonstration that you can't rely on the railway on a Sunday..........
Due to a shortage of train crew between Swindon and Gloucester fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until 15:00 15/09.
Due to a shortage of train crew on Sunday 15th September, we have had severly limit the number of trains running between Swindon and Gloucester (via Kemble, Stonehouse and Stroud). As such no trains are running along the line until at least 14:00. LIMITED road transport is operating long the line, but it is proving very difficult to get anything more than a few taxis, therefore customers requiring intermediate stations are strongly advised to delay their journey until later this afternoon if at all possible.
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