Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

Next Sunday (17/11/24) could be interesting.  Ealing Broadway to Paddington will be closed and services diverted into Euston, so I can see a couple of scenarios....

- many 'bashers' may be stranded when (if) they reach Euston; or
- some drivers will want the opportunity of going into Euston, so rostering won't prove difficult.

[John D]

Quote from yesterday's (11 Nov) Parliamentary debate (relates to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staffing

 Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con) -  View Speech -  Hansard -
 -  - Excerpts
It has recently been brought to my attention that in Great Western Railway, which serves my constituency in Devon, drivers do not have contracts that ensure a seven-day-a-week service—the contracts do not include Sundays, so trains are regularly cancelled. In fact, four trains were cancelled yesterday, so one lady had been forced to catch the first train today instead. What plans does the Secretary of State have to equalise driver contracts under Great British Railways, to ensure that routes such as Paddington to Devon are fully staffed seven days a week, so that she can fulfil her promise to passengers?

 Louise Haigh Portrait Louise Haigh -  View Speech -  Hansard -
 -  - Excerpts
The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and unfortunately that is the picture across too much of our railways. The workforce terms and conditions are simply not fit for purpose. Part of our inheritance is that we do not have a workforce that can deliver a modern and efficient railway. We are working with Great Western Railway to address that egregious issue, and we will come back to the House shortly to set out our progress.

Later in the debate...

Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) -  View Speech -  Hansard -
 -  - Excerpts
GWR, which serves my Bath constituency, has been performing in the most disappointing way, to say the least. Especially on Sundays, cancellations and delays are the new norm. Engineering works are among the problems, but the train driver shortage is the biggest problem. What exactly will resolving what the Secretary of State calls the rest day working issue mean for my constituents? When does she expect them to see tangible change?

 Louise Haigh Portrait Louise Haigh -  View Speech -  Hansard -
 -  - Excerpts
The problem across the entire railway is that we do not have sufficient drivers or staff, so too many parts of the railways are reliant on rest day working agreements. We should not have to rely on people volunteering to come on shift in order to run a Sunday service, but unfortunately that is the case at Great Western Railway. We will not be harmonising contracts or terms and conditions at Great British Railways, as we have established, but we need to get drivers and conductors on modern terms and conditions that reflect the railway that we need. We are attempting to address the specific issue at Great Western Railway; as I say, we will come back to the House soon with an update on progress.

https://parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2024-11-11/commons/commons-chamber/rail-performance

[ChrisB]

It is well worth reading the whole thread referred to above - which started when the Secretary of State Louise Haigh made a statement on the progress that the set up of GBRailways was making through Parliament.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/our-progress-in-overhauling-the-railways

[a-driver]

Quote from yesterday's (11 Nov) Parliamentary debate (relates to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) staffing

“We will not be harmonising contracts or terms and conditions at Great British Railways, as we have established, but we need to get drivers and conductors on modern terms and conditions that reflect the railway that we need.

So basically, nothing will change.  Expect more disruption and industrial action.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, that's how 're-nationalising the railways' will solve all of the problems. 

[Timmer]

I’m slightly, just slightly mind, encouraged that there was an acknowledgment from the SoS that there is an issue with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), that they are aware of it and are working with GWR to address it.

[Timmer]

Early heads up: https://www.gwr.com/sunday-disruption

Due to engineering work between Reading and London Paddington, and crew availability, we expect significant disruption to service this Sunday.

The majority of long-distance services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to pick up TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Elizabeth line trains to Ealing Broadway and then change for London Underground services into central London.

Those travelling from South Wales, and from Devon and Cornwall, will have one service an hour into London Euston instead. These trains will not stop at Reading. To help keep customers comfortable and minimise crowding, these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Fewer trains will run on other long-distance routes to/from Reading, and those that do will be very busy. Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

Because of the late notice changes, and the complexity of updating timetable systems, journey planners will not show all changes correctly before Sunday morning.

We're sorry for the impact this will have on your journey. We advise customers to only travel if absolutely necessary and change plans if possible.

If you have already bought tickets for Sunday 17 November, they will be valid on Saturday 16 or Monday 18 November, or you can claim a full refund.

[grahame]

these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Is this a dangerous precedent - a move away from the turn up and go railway/ In the past I have seem occasional national franchise services that have been "reservation only" but there have always been alternative train not too long before or after that have served the same stations.

[TaplowGreen]

Early heads up: https://www.gwr.com/sunday-disruption

Due to engineering work between Reading and London Paddington, and crew availability, we expect significant disruption to service this Sunday.

The majority of long-distance services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to pick up TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Elizabeth line trains to Ealing Broadway and then change for London Underground services into central London.

Those travelling from South Wales, and from Devon and Cornwall, will have one service an hour into London Euston instead. These trains will not stop at Reading. To help keep customers comfortable and minimise crowding, these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Fewer trains will run on other long-distance routes to/from Reading, and those that do will be very busy. Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

Because of the late notice changes, and the complexity of updating timetable systems, journey planners will not show all changes correctly before Sunday morning.

We're sorry for the impact this will have on your journey. We advise customers to only travel if absolutely necessary and change plans if possible.

If you have already bought tickets for Sunday 17 November, they will be valid on Saturday 16 or Monday 18 November, or you can claim a full refund.

Elizabeth Line running a reduced service too on Sunday.

[Hafren]

these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Is this a dangerous precedent - a move away from the turn up and go railway/ In the past I have seem occasional national franchise services that have been "reservation only" but there have always been alternative train not too long before or after that have served the same stations.

Especially in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) setting where even long distance trains aren't running as dedicated high speed services and provide the local service especially on the periphery. I assume reservations only will only be properly enforced towards the London end (if at all) but going by the letter rather than spirit does the person popping into Cardiff or Plymouth "need" to reserve? Even if that's not going to be a problem it is technically saying they do and that's potentially off-putting.

Also it removes flexibility to replan given that delays and cancellations have been promised on this occasion, which will mean potentially two loads of reserved passengers on the next train, and perhaps soemone on a flexible ticket could usually choose to avoid that train. Maybe the Eustons will be "protected" from this but there's no guarantee of this.

[TaplowGreen]

these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Is this a dangerous precedent - a move away from the turn up and go railway/ In the past I have seem occasional national franchise services that have been "reservation only" but there have always been alternative train not too long before or after that have served the same stations.

Does this apply to any GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) journeys departing Euston too?

I have a vision of the scene at Euston, already unsafe*, whereby the platform is as usual announced at short notice & the resulting stampede is stopped in its tracks and backed up by Gateline staff trying to check reservations as well as tickets, and the inevitable arguments with those that don't have one.

* I've checked with my Boss and I won't be sacked for stating that!

[grahame]

these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Is this a dangerous precedent - a move away from the turn up and go railway/ In the past I have seem occasional national franchise services that have been "reservation only" but there have always been alternative train not too long before or after that have served the same stations.

Does this apply to any GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) journeys departing Euston too?

I have a vision of the scene at Euston, already unsafe*, whereby the platform is as usual announced at short notice & the resulting stampede is stopped in its tracks and backed up by Gateline staff trying to check reservations as well as tickets, and the inevitable arguments with those that don't have one.

* I've checked with my Boss and I won't be sacked for stating that!

Yes, Westbound too. One of the key purposes of "reservations only" if to ensure that passengers travelling from London are given that extra alert as they book and reserve to stop them turning up as usual at Paddington having made the assumption ...

[eightonedee]

The majority of long-distance services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to pick up TfL^» (Transport for London - about)» Elizabeth line trains to Ealing Broadway and then change for London Underground services into central London.

Those travelling from South Wales, and from Devon and Cornwall, will have one service an hour into London Euston instead. These trains will not stop at Reading. To help keep customers comfortable and minimise crowding, these trains will be reservation only and must be booked in advance.

Fewer trains will run on other long-distance routes to/from Reading, and those that do will be very busy. Services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

I have read this several times to try to understand what it is saying. Does this mean that no long distance trains from Devon, Cornwall and South Wales will stop at Reading, but those from everywhere else (Cotswolds, Bristol, Hereford/Worcester) will? But are these "the majority" of long distance trains? And what is a "long distance train"? London to Oxford, or Banbury, or Swindon, or Westbury? Should passengers from Reading or changing there - (for example coming in from Gatwick) and going to South Wales or Devon and Cornwall go somewhere else and change?

And in light of the concern and publicity about crowding at Euston (which presumably will still also be coping with its usual Sunday traffic to Birmingham, the North West and Scotland), wouldn't it be sensible to give passengers a stop at Reading (especially as it now has the through platform capacity) so they can change for Waterloo or Ealing Broadway as alternatives, or if they cannot book in advance?

As for

Because of the late notice changes, and the complexity of updating timetable systems, journey planners will not show all changes correctly before Sunday morning.

- this looks like "we are a bit of a shambles because we cannot sort out our systems for something we have known about in advance for months"

You have to carry on right to the end to get the "only travel if necessary" message. This surely is the main message. It should be at the beginning - the message should -

 1- start by saying that considerable disruption caused by major engineering works means Only travel to London by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) if absolutely necessary.

 2- Go on to advise passengers with alternative routes to London that they should use them if possible - from Oxford and beyond should travel to Marylebone, passengers from Reading or Exeter and beyond should consider trains to Waterloo.

 3 - Explain clearly which other services will run to and from Reading and which will go to Euston, and what you should do if your train terminates from, or starts at Reading.

Wouldn't that be clearer and better?

[eightonedee]

Apologies - somehow my whole post above has got wrapped up as a "Quote" and I cannot unravel it - perhaps I should become a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) message draftsman.......

[Chris from Nailsea]

I think (hope!) I have managed to undo those random quote marks in your post, eightonedee.

CfN.