Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Civil servants. 

[TaplowGreen]

Reading between the lines (so excuse the pun and apologies if incorrect) but I believe the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have refused a request from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for an enhanced rate for RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) members on Sunday 22nd/29th December.

Happy to authorise an enhanced rate at Northern Rail though. I wonder, who runs Northern?!

......which was rejected....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq525jvxng2o

[Chris from Nailsea]

Don't panic - MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) have now been informed of the issue.  From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Christmas train travel could be hit by staff shortages

The government is concerned that Christmas train services could be disrupted by staff shortages, the rail minister has said.

Lord Hendy said that the transport department was going to "keep a close watch on staffing" throughout the holidays.

Disruptions may also be exacerbated by fresh industrial action, with Avanti West Coast train managers voting to strike for three days over the festive period.

Recruitment has proven difficult across the rail industry, leaving train operating companies dependent on staff volunteering to work extra paid shifts, particularly during big occasions.

A Department for Transport official told MPs that the railway system was generally "over-reliant on overtime working" for train crew, particularly around Christmas.

[a-driver]

......which was rejected....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq525jvxng2o

…. But at least it was put to the vote.  GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) just get a flat refusal.

What’s the point in GWR wasting time and effort trying to resolve the issue if that’s the attitude of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

[TonyK]

Don't panic - MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) have now been informed of the issue.  From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Christmas train travel could be hit by staff shortages


Lord Hendy said that the transport department was going to "keep a close watch on staffing" throughout the holidays.

I still speak some Civil Service. "Keep a close watch" means the same as "ignore". Not that there are likely to be many in at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to do the ignoring.

I can't help wondering when I see tiffs between the DfT and a private TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) and then passing the blame to each other how excuses will be given out when the "whole thing" is in, supposedly, one set of hands

Exactly.  If it isn't sabotage, it's the government. The whole blame apportionment industry will have to be dismantled.

[TaplowGreen]

Don't panic - MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) have now been informed of the issue.  From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Christmas train travel could be hit by staff shortages


Lord Hendy said that the transport department was going to "keep a close watch on staffing" throughout the holidays.

I still speak some Civil Service. "Keep a close watch" means the same as "ignore". Not that there are likely to be many in at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to do the ignoring.

being Civil Servants they will no doubt be "Ignoring from home"

[UstiImmigrunt]

Old quotes revisited.

Around August 1998 the last restructuring deal for drivers was brought in. Mick Rix, then GS of ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) announced in the Journal that from December 1999 there would be no need for any drivers to work rest days.

I await your laughter.

And phew, my only UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train journeys left this year are Paddington Newport on December 20th and Newport BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) on the 23rd. I should be OK.

[TonyK]

being Civil Servants they will no doubt be "Ignoring from home"

I'll ignore that.


edited to fix quote box.

[Timmer]

The customary warning not to travel by train on Sunday, particularly to the final day of shed fest:

We expect significant disruption to services this Sunday because of crew availability.

A significantly reduced, amended timetable will be in place for long-distance trains between:

London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
London Paddington and South Wales
London Paddington and Devon and Cornwall
Local services in the Exeter and Bristol areas are also expected to be affected.

Customers should change their plans if possible and only travel if absolutely necessary.  

Fewer trains will run on these routes, and those that do will be extremely busy. Some further services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

Please do not travel by train to/from Bath Spa for the Christmas Market on Sunday.

Market organisers have published alternative travel options including:

Bath Park & Ride – services every five minutes from 0930-1800 on Sundays. More information at travelwest.info/parkandride
Local bus services – First West of England operates a number of routes from the outskirts of the city.

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

If you have already bought tickets for this Sunday, these will be valid on Monday 16 December or you can claim a full refund at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/refunds.

[TaplowGreen]

The customary warning not to travel by train on Sunday, particularly to the final day of shed fest:

We expect significant disruption to services this Sunday because of crew availability.

A significantly reduced, amended timetable will be in place for long-distance trains between:

London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
London Paddington and South Wales
London Paddington and Devon and Cornwall
Local services in the Exeter and Bristol areas are also expected to be affected.

Customers should change their plans if possible and only travel if absolutely necessary.  

Fewer trains will run on these routes, and those that do will be extremely busy. Some further services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

Please do not travel by train to/from Bath Spa for the Christmas Market on Sunday.

Market organisers have published alternative travel options including:

Bath Park & Ride – services every five minutes from 0930-1800 on Sundays. More information at travelwest.info/parkandride
Local bus services – First West of England operates a number of routes from the outskirts of the city.

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

If you have already bought tickets for this Sunday, these will be valid on Monday 16 December or you can claim a full refund at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/refunds.

No end to this shambles in sight, an embarrassment to all concerned.

Lock those who are responsible, necessary and capable of resolving it in a room, and don't let them out until they come up with a solution.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Please do not travel by train

That is the official wording, from that Train Operating Company. 

[PhilWakely]

No end to this shambles in sight, an embarrassment to all concerned.

Lock those who are responsible, necessary and capable of resolving it in a room, and don't let them out until they come up with a solution.

Purely as a matter of interest - as a very vocal critic, if you had the power, how would YOU resolve it?

[grahame]

No end to this shambles in sight, an embarrassment to all concerned.

Lock those who are responsible, necessary and capable of resolving it in a room, and don't let them out until they come up with a solution.

Purely as a matter of interest - as a very vocal critic, if you had the power, how would YOU resolve it?

Well - I know that wasn't addressed to me, but I think I would start off by working out where we want to be in 20 years, and would then look to motivate all sectors involved - at all levels to get us there with their ownership of the project from grass roots level up.  The problem is getting the right people with the right authority in the room ... there are some ideas which should form part of a solution which results in shocked responses when you suggest them.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Re-Nationalisation?

Is Heidi Alexander a member of this forum, by any chance?

CfN.

[Surrey 455]

Well - I know that wasn't addressed to me, but I think I would start off by working out where we want to be in 20 years, and would then look to motivate all sectors involved - at all levels to get us there with their ownership of the project from grass roots level up.  The problem is getting the right people with the right authority in the room ... there are some ideas which should form part of a solution which results in shocked responses when you suggest them.

I would hope that in 20 years time many / most of the train crew for who Sunday is not part of the working week and choose not to work overtime on this day will have either been offered an incentive to change their contract or will have retired and been replaced with new drivers whose shifts include Sundays.

I would also hope that not being able to drive certain routes because you haven't signed that route will be a thing of the past thanks to a rail equivalent of GPS which would notify you in advance of where the signals are, when to start braking for the next station etc.