Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Just quoting GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).............SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) also have a number of cancellations on their Gatwick services.

That really is newsworthy given SWR don’t serve Gatwick. 

[TaplowGreen]

Just quoting GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).............SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) also have a number of cancellations on their Gatwick services.

That really is newsworthy given SWR don’t serve Gatwick. 

Yes, my mistake, should have been Southern.

[JayMac]

......here we go again! Another weekend......so.....

The message on Twitter/X makes specific reference to crew shortage.....and as seems usual now GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have turned off the ability to reply with any questions etc....Great customer service!

I agree with having replies turned off, means GWR can put their own updates to the thread if need be without it being flooded with responses that may not be relevant. Anybody that wants to ask them a question can obviously still do so in the usual way of using X.

And of course, having replies turned off means that GWR don't have a public record of the justifiable complaints about the woeful service they provide far too often. Today is another example of the all too regular Sunday meltdown due to GWR's inaction in addressing crew shortages. Handily today though GWR can somewhat use the weather excuse to hide behind.

[TaplowGreen]

Now reporting that all trains between Plymouth/Cornwall to London are cancelled

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/trains-plymouth-cornwall-london-cancelled-9740819?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0l7rev06oErhJt_UhQ0Kn-CZzMUfqwGwKvX58hM0aKKtAU4aHqUvFOtxc_aem_wH6PWkvCEX59WFuDKklasw#Echobox=1732458165

[ChrisB]

Weather-related, it must be clarified

[JayMac]

Convenient weather for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

[ChrisB]

Maybe for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) - GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) aren't able to do much about the problem currently

[TaplowGreen]

Weather-related, it must be clarified

Direct quote from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) "We had a reduced timetable in place due to engineering work and crew shortages and severe weather has affected the remaining services I am afraid" - so a bit of everything.

They are also telling their customers that they won't be rearranging replacement transport but if you can arrange your own they will reimburse, and whilst not being quite so explicit, suggesting that hotel bills will be met for those stranded. Apparently Paddington is predictably appalling.

What arrangements will be made for any vulnerable customers, or those who don't have the means to make upfront payments, God knows.

[ChrisB]

Now reporting that all trains between Plymouth/Cornwall to London are cancelled

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/trains-plymouth-cornwall-london-cancelled-9740819?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0l7rev06oErhJt_UhQ0Kn-CZzMUfqwGwKvX58hM0aKKtAU4aHqUvFOtxc_aem_wH6PWkvCEX59WFuDKklasw#Echobox=1732458165

This is the post I was referring to - directly above mine, so reasonably obvious - and IS weather-related.

[a-driver]

They are also telling their customers that they won't be rearranging replacement transport but if you can arrange your own they will reimburse, and whilst not being quite so explicit, suggesting that hotel bills will be met for those stranded. Apparently Paddington is predictably appalling.

What arrangements will be made for any vulnerable customers, or those who don't have the means to make upfront payments, God knows.

To be fair to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), a lot of minor roads are impassable due to flooding…. and not many coach operators would be willing to risk damage to their vehicles by going through flood water

[ChrisB]

Many A roads up here in Oxfordshire.....

[a-driver]

Many A roads up here in Oxfordshire.....

I suspect Highway’s England have been run off their feet booking hotels for journeys motorists couldn’t complete because of flooding on their network!!!!

[GBM]

Noting several cancellations and short runs today - shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

Noting several cancellations and short runs today - shortage of train crew.

Yes - cancellations due to flooding, fallen trees etc are easing and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are returning to normal service......... ie cancellations due to a shortage of train crew 

[TaplowGreen]

.............and here we go again, for another weekend - I wonder if we will get to a point in the foreseeable future when GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) aren't telling its customers to "only travel if absolutely necessary and change plans if possible"?