Shortage of train crews on Great Western Railway - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Another 3 HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) drivers retired today... With full depot route knowledge that won't be replaced.

Since the introduction of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) and the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) driver grade the company really has lost its way, the more HSS drivers that retire the more they are going to struggle to cover the work.
Route knowledge, productivity and flexibility are key, and they’re losing it quickly.

Zombie franchise now - why would GWR take on the cost and responsibility of recruitment and training when they know they only have a short time left in the driving seat? (so to speak!).

[ChrisB]

Indeed - DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) not requiring the extra knowledge - and will suffer from it later, but they won't mind (until everything goes tits up, and then they'll launch another 'enquiry')

[UstiImmigrunt]

Another 3 HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) drivers retired today... With full depot route knowledge that won't be replaced.

Since the introduction of the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) and the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) driver grade the company really has lost its way, the more HSS drivers that retire the more they are going to struggle to cover the work.
Route knowledge, productivity and flexibility are key, and they’re losing it quickly.

Zombie franchise now - why would GWR take on the cost and responsibility of recruitment and training when they know they only have a short time left in the driving seat? (so to speak!).

In the past driver training has been subsidised by DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about). I remember complaints from those awaiting a course being told postponed due to no money from DaFT. Then suddenly you start next month, normally after a holiday has been booked.

[GBM]

How are train crew notified of late amended station stops after they've started their shift?
As in, you book on at x o'clock with the station stops listed on your duty board for the day.
Then journeycheck throws in a few additional station stops 'because a train was cancelled'.
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) need to tell all the crew, not just the driver!

[IndustryInsider]

How are train crew notified of late amended station stops after they've started their shift?
As in, you book on at x o'clock with the station stops listed on your duty board for the day.
Then journeycheck throws in a few additional station stops 'because a train was cancelled'.
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) need to tell all the crew, not just the driver!

They usually receive a signed form known as a 'Stop Order' or 'Not to Stop Order' from a member of station staff (which is also given to the Guard).  Occasionally this isn't possible in which case they act on verbal authority from the signaller or control (both are on recorded lines).

[UstiImmigrunt]

I was the awkward one who always insisted on the correct paperwork. Never got questioned.

[UstiImmigrunt]

To explain the above comment, there was a brief time where in Swindon a controller could stop the tape recording. Keeping the piece of paper in your possession prevented the hindsight committee making accusations of missing calls or making additional stops causing delay minutes and as we all know the railway is now run on delay attribution.

A little story, Saturday afternoon many years ago I'm on the 1430 BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) Paddington. Sat in the front cab of my lovely HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) when a member of platform staff asks if I sign the B+H. Yep. He says he'll return, something has just happened. A few minutes later he returns with not to call orders for Chippenham, Swindon and Didcot. Off we go but at Barf Spa the screens are showing Chippenham etc and the dispatcher says you're now calling. I require a Special Stop Order to countermand the not to call order. But in the few minutes it takes to write out the paperwork it has been decided to go via the B+H. So I rip up the SSO and tell the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to do the same, I have the BTM issued not to call orders which is fine for me. During this time the passengers are off, on and back off. Left around 10 late, the Pompey has cleared off, an up WOE^▸ (West of England) is held at Hawkridge for me, so it's greens all the way from Barf to Reading excent for the distant approaching Hawkridge. Some very aggressive driving, black box compliant (ish) 3 late Reading and RT Paddington. Paperwork kept for a few weeks just in case

[TonyK]

There's always one rebel who follows the instructions...

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations for tomorrow already being listed on JourneyCheck.

School holiday season I guess?

(Although the BBQ weather is coming to an end!)

[UstiImmigrunt]

A good BBQ occurs anytime of the year and in any weather

[Timmer]

Two next to useless trains unless you’re fortunate enough to be travelling to/from Reading!

14:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:05
14:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:05 will be terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St Erth and Penzance.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

17:32 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 20:40
17:32 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 20:40 will be started from Reading.
It will no longer call at Exeter St Davids, Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge & Burnham, Weston-Super-Mare, Worle, Yatton, Nailsea & Backwell, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon and Didcot Parkway.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

Two next to useless trains unless you’re fortunate enough to be travelling to/from Reading!

14:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:05
14:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 19:05 will be terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St Erth and Penzance.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

17:32 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 20:40
17:32 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington due 20:40 will be started from Reading.
It will no longer call at Exeter St Davids, Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge & Burnham, Weston-Super-Mare, Worle, Yatton, Nailsea & Backwell, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon and Didcot Parkway.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

And perhaps as a consequence.....what a pleasant experience this will be......

12:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05
Facilities on the 12:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05.

Service full and standing from London Paddington.

[Timmer]

And perhaps as a consequence.....what a pleasant experience this will be......

12:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05
Facilities on the 12:02 London Paddington to Penzance due 17:05.

Service full and standing from London Paddington.

The good news was that the 14.02 was fully reinstated all the way to Penzance which is just as well as the 12.32, 14.32 and 16.32 semi fasts were all canned with the 13.02, 15.02 and 17.02 making additional stops to cover for the cancelled trains.