Christmas and Boxing Day trains - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[12hoursunday]

I have prior to your posting grahame already seen this video and must say I thought it was one of the most amusing ones I've seen during 2008.

On another note which croped up on the video re HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) staff it's worth pointing out that there was (and still is) friction amongst High Speed and West staff and likewise High Speed and LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) at the other end of the line. Whether this is because of the differing pay and conditions that still exist, or maybe that working a Sprinter is beneath some HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s staff I wouldn't know. I like a lot of staff will have the friendly banter with others from all sides of the buisness. However one thing will always stick in my mind, when the messing facilities were brought together on platform 7 at Bristol Temple Meads in the earlier part of the franchise ( which was previously the High Speed mess room) I happened to walk into the canteen area which at the time was being occupied by around 6 drivers and guards from the Wessex Trains brigade. A deadly silence came over the place as I entered and those looks as if I was dogs poo on their shoes will haunt me forever!

[vacman]

That vid was flippin funny! 

[jester]

Loving the ideo!!! Funniest thing I've seen all Christmas, I'll remember it everytime i have leave declined......

[Btline]

Excellent video. There is another version connected with the recent BNP^▸ (Barnstaple) member leak:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNUuqlG1a0

It contains bad language again.

[John R]

Graham - you should put a health warning on that video. I was already laughing my socks off even before the comments about Queen Alison, which left me in hysterics.   

[Super Guard]

That was hilarious 

[stebbo]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s when I lived in London and parents lived near Banbury there was, I recall, a basic service on London Underground and BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)). Totally agree with earlier comment that for those visiting relatives over Christmas but needing to work on the 27th, some service is needed if only to get back for work on the 27th.

[bobm]

Just to dig up an old chestnut.

Never really thought about there being no trains on Boxing Day before - I have just accepted they don't run and planned accordingly.

However I took a wander down to Teignmouth station and was there about 10 minutes.  During that time I was asked by four people on the platform when the next train was (and another tried to use the help point).  None had luggage so I suspect most were looking to make day trips - perhaps to the sales in Exeter or Plymouth.  One had even paid for a car park ticket before discovering there was no service.  Another was a family who were thinking of going to Paignton.

While I accept there is the ability to do major engineering work more easily during the 48 hour closure there does seem to be a demand for short distance travel.  Agreed this year it would have been more difficult because of the weather related problems but as we seem to be becoming an ever more 24 hour a day society perhaps it is time to revisit the Christmas shutdown.  I accept it means more railway staff would need to work but I suspect some may actually want to and there would be sufficient numbers to run a skeleton service of local services.

There might even be a demand for longer distance travel on some key routes in connection with sporting events.  These are planned some time in advance so services could be drawn up to cater for them.

[grahame]

Never really thought about there being no trains on Boxing Day before - I have just accepted they don't run and planned accordingly.

However I took a wander down to Teignmouth station and was there about 10 minutes.  During that time I was asked by four people on the platform when the next train was (and another tried to use the help point).  None had luggage so I suspect most were looking to make day trips ...

Some things I picked up ...

London Buses
London^s 700 bus routes are in operation throughout the day with extra buses for passengers heading to the West End or Westfield shopping centres in Stratford and White city. In previous years buses would start at approximately 8am but this year will be the first year where a full Sunday service is in operation with majority of services in operation by around 6am.

Times are, indeed, changing.  My gut feeling is that services could be well used, and from a passenger perspective this would be the day of the year when more newcomers to rail tried it out than on any other day.  Grandma and Grandad taking the family into Bristol ... the excitement of a first train ride followed by a trip round the sales, and the train home again.  But I would want to see it being done with everyone in the rail industry being fully in support as to how it's done, and I think that may be a hurdle too high.   In the meantime, you see four groups in just 10 minutes at quite a small station being turned away.

[TerminalJunkie]

Please note that in North Devon virtually all bus services are operating a normal Sunday Service on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

As they did in 2009. And 2010. And 2011. And again this year.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Teignmouth Facilities: Ticket Vending Machine problem At Teignmouth station.

The ticket vending machines are out of order.

Please purchase tickets at ticket offices, where applicable, or ticket barriers or on-train where no other means of purchasing is available.

Message Received: 24/12/2012 17:22

 

[IndustryInsider]

Wolmar has joined in the argument:

http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2012/12/time-to-run-trains-on-boxing-day/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feed%2Fchristianwolmar+%28Christian+Wolmar%29

[JayMac]

I'm firmly in the 'pro' camp for Boxing Day trains. But I think if fine to continue with having no service on Christmas Day.

In the past I've said that I'd like the option to escape home from the family on Boxing day afternoon/evening. This year it would have been even more ideal as I am working a night shift on the 27th and I'm left with the only option of travelling home in the morning and likely not getting enough sleep as a consequence. Would much have preferred to travel home Boxing Day evening.

There is a very vocal core of rail staff in all grades who want to keep their guaranteed two consecutive days off over Christmas and I understand that. However, if there are sufficient staff willing to work, who could provide perhaps at most a Sunday service on Boxing Day, then I think the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) and Network Rail should consider a trial one year to see if there is a market for services on the 26th December.

Sticking point as ever will be the unions and how the Boxing Day staff are remunerated.

[Electric train]

Would there be sufficient demand to make it worth while for the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s also NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have some huge blockages over Christmas and Boxing Days and get a lot done in those 54 hours, indeed there are some things that we can only do over those 2 days as they are too invasive and have a high risk

[swrural]

My Dutch friends are talking about removing BD as a public holiday and just adding it to annual leave entitlement.  In fairness, Christmas there is just a religious festival (for those so orientated) and not a period for trying to test whether alcohol producers can keep up with demand.