Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) sets the staffing levels. A move to get Sundays into the working week would have required approval from the DfT. Again, you can’t hire more staff without the DfT approval.

Can you point out to me in the 2012 Greater Western Franchise Agreement or the Service Level Commitment where the staffing levels are prescribed by the DfT? Or elsewhere. I've found nothing yet that states the DfT were responsible for the hiring and training of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) staff or the numbers that can be employed. Indeed I've found nothing in ANY 'classic' franchise agreement where numbers of staff are prescribed. Beyond obligating franchisees to ensure sufficient staff to meet Service Level Commitments.

Section 15 of the (now superceded) 2020 Greater Western Franchise Agreement went into great detail about the operators' obligations to provide and train adequate staff. At no point in that agreement did it state that the DfT or Secretary of State had put limits on staff numbers, nor prescribed how many were to be recruited. It did however put obligations on the operator to enusre there were sufficient staff to run the timetabled service.

[a-driver]

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) sets the staffing levels. A move to get Sundays into the working week would have required approval from the DfT. Again, you can’t hire more staff without the DfT approval.

Can you point out to me in the 2012 Greater Western Franchise Agreement or the Service Level Commitment where the staffing levels are prescribed by the DfT? Or elsewhere. I've found nothing yet that states the DfT were responsible for the hiring and training of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) staff or the numbers that can be employed. Indeed I've found nothing in ANY 'classic' franchise agreement where numbers of staff are prescribed. Beyond obligating franchisees to ensure sufficient staff to meet Service Level Commitments.

Section 15 of the (now superceded) 2020 Greater Western Franchise Agreement went into great detail about the operators' obligations to provide and train adequate staff. At no point in that agreement did it state that the DfT or Secretary of State had put limits on staff numbers, nor prescribed how many were to be recruited. It did however put obligations on the operator to enusre there were sufficient staff to run the timetabled service.

And you seriously think that information is public?   

Who determines what is "sufficient".   You're clearly in the belief that a company can be as reckless as it likes with a franchise/contract and then just hand the keys back without penalty! 

[JayMac]

In the absence of publicly available information I'll go with what is available. The Franchise Agreements, Service Level Commitments and the current 2022 Greater Western National Rail Contract and Train Service Plans. Rather than hearsay and conspiracy.

Why would the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) prescribe a train service plan and then hamstring the operators ability to provide that service level? There would be contract breaches. If this is really happening and the DfT are preventing GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) from fulfilling their contractual obligations why aren't GWR saying so?

[a-driver]

In the absence of publicly available information I'll go with what is available. The Franchise Agreements, Service Level Commitments and the current 2022 Greater Western National Rail Contract and Train Service Plans. Rather than hearsay and conspiracy.

Why would the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) prescribe a train service plan and then hamstring the operators ability to provide that service level? There would be contract breaches. If this is really happening and the DfT are preventing GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) from fulfilling their contractual obligations why aren't GWR saying so?

If you think that a few hundred pages of A4 that forms a Franchise Agreement or National Rail Contract, a document that is very much word for word, the same for every TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) then you carry on thinking that!  The main details in any franchise is deemed commercially sensitive.

I assume you've also read the business plan? 

[CyclingSid]

Several drivers have told the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) that a recent pay deal means they do not need the extra money they earn by working on their rest days.

The deal included an element of backdated pay for the previous two years, which means drivers received a lump sum in their autumn payslips.

from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2yv19721xo

[bradshaw]

It is not just GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), Buses of Somerset, also part of First Group,  have been having problems over the past few days

  Yeovil Services Disruption: We are sorry to report, that due to ongoing issues with driver sickness and a shortage of buses, there will be disruption to various services throughout the day. We will notify you as soon as we know what we can or can't run.

(From X)

[JayMac]

Buses of Somerset staff shortages have been ongoing for several months.

It's all the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s fault of course.

[JayMac]

I assume you've also read the business plan? 

Yes. Nothing in that about DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) control over the hiring and training of staff.

[a-driver]

I assume you've also read the business plan? 

Yes. Nothing in that about DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) control over the hiring and training of staff.

You clearly haven't read it. 

[TaplowGreen]

Good article, worth a read;

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/uk-railways-sunday-overtime-trains-b2666301.html

[Witham Bobby]

Good article, worth a read;

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/uk-railways-sunday-overtime-trains-b2666301.html

I remember from working on the railways upwards of 40 years ago how most staff wanted to work on Sundays.  There would actually be major fallings-out sometimes, between colleagues or between staff and their roster clerk, if an expected Sunday turn didn't find its way onto the roster.  Many with families depended on the extra money.  The standard 40-hours' pay was no great shakes, back then

It was overtime (with a hefty premium) back then.  So it's a bit disingenuous of Mr Wheelan to claim that the present working arrangements for Sundays are the result of privatisation

[UstiImmigrunt]

The same with train crew.

Driver link 10 at Canton 1993 and 94 had 3 Sundays in 16 weeks along with 2 days marked xxx. The xxx meant first priority at any volunteer Sundays irrespective of the Sunday count and subject to Hidden along with route and traction knowledge. And there were plenty of experts who would check who had the short notice Sundays and if a mistake was made a claim for loss of earnings would be made.

Also it wasn't unknown to swap the fortnight summer leave if a booked Sunday feel in the middle. This was because a driver was always not available for the middle Sunday of a fortnights' block leave.

[TaplowGreen]

......guess it goes to show how much train drivers basic pay has increased since privatisation, certainly in comparison with similar jobs such as coach/bus drivers.

Overtime now no longer needed or wanted, and the policy of TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) relying on it to sustain weekend services rather than employing sufficient staff to do so has firmly bitten them in the arse.

[JayMac]

You clearly haven't read it. 

I have. Don't presume to tell me what I have and haven't done.

But do please help me out if I've missed something in the business plan about DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) control of hiring of staff. I've attached the document to aid you.

I can also attache previous franchise agreements and service level commitments if you'd like. I've read those from start to finish too. I continue to await PROOF that the DfT are, and have in the past, been dictating to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) whether they can or can't hire sufficient staff to meet their obligations to provide the timetabled service.

[ChrisB]

Just a note to say that, even if there's no proof in the public domain, you can't claim that it doesn't exist. Confidentiality clauses exist in most commercial contracts.