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broadgage
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« Reply #45 on: November 14, 2012, 11:21:26 » |
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He said trainees were expected to be a competent driver after 250 hours of driving accompanied by an instructor. Blimey! I flew solo after 15 hours' instruction. My then instructor did his first solo at 6 hours. A light aircraft is aguably easier to control than a car or a train. In the air, if one mistakes the position of another aircraft, or the position of a hill, there is often the chance to take last minute evasive action. In the cab of a train, the misreading of a signal can result in large scale loss of life, even if the mistake is realised, it may be too late to avert disaster. The controls of most trains are not that complicated, the extensive training is mainly learning the route, the numerous regulations and rules, and the actions to take in case of failures. I have driven a steam locomotive on a heritage line, after a days instruction and would feel competant to do so even with passengers. Would I be passed as competant to drive a steam or other locomotive on the main line ? no way! |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 6594
The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!
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« Reply #46 on: November 19, 2012, 20:14:55 » |
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He said trainees were expected to be a competent driver after 250 hours of driving accompanied by an instructor. Blimey! I flew solo after 15 hours' instruction. My then instructor did his first solo at 6 hours. A light aircraft is aguably easier to control than a car or a train. In the air, if one mistakes the position of another aircraft, or the position of a hill, there is often the chance to take last minute evasive action. In the cab of a train, the misreading of a signal can result in large scale loss of life, even if the mistake is realised, it may be too late to avert disaster. The controls of most trains are not that complicated, the extensive training is mainly learning the route, the numerous regulations and rules, and the actions to take in case of failures. I have driven a steam locomotive on a heritage line, after a days instruction and would feel competant to do so even with passengers. Would I be passed as competant to drive a steam or other locomotive on the main line ? no way! I don't disagree with you! Although if it all "goes quiet up front" in a steam train, it will coast to a halt. All aircraft without power will of course find their way to the ground, but not always in an acceptable manner. As it happens, the controls of light aircraft are not that complex, either. It's knowing what to do with them that is the tricky bit. My comment was meant to emphasise the complexity of driving a train, rather than to poke fun at how long it takes to get good enough to take responsibility for hundreds of peoples' safety. |
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Now, please!
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mjones
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« Reply #47 on: November 22, 2012, 18:46:06 » |
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I'm going to Nuneaton tomorrow via Coventry, and National Rail Enquiries doesn't seem to be showing any direct Coventry to Nuneaton trains in the morning peak. I assume they have been cancelled because of the staff shortages, but can't find anything on their website. NRE‡ is giving me routes via Birmingham, anyone know if the ticket for the direct route via Coventry will be accepted on that route?
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Brucey
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« Reply #48 on: November 22, 2012, 21:47:48 » |
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Where are you travelling from mjones? Best thing is to Tweet @londonmidland. Especially helpful in the evenings when usually manned by David Whitley (Head of Marketing).
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mjones
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« Reply #49 on: November 22, 2012, 22:38:47 » |
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From Didcot. Thanks- though I'm afraid I don't 'tweet'! But I've arranged to be picked up from Birmingham International now, so not an issue. That is, if I travel at all, given dire weather!
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eightf48544
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« Reply #50 on: November 23, 2012, 10:38:26 » |
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Had quick look at National Enquiries for Monday and there appears to be gap in direct trains between 09:06 and 10:42 (they then appear to be hourly at XX:42 from Coventry) both priced at ^4:50 off peak single. Seems same Tuesday as well!
It gives a 09:48 change Rugby at ^11.30 anytime single!
Another fare anomoly!
It goes along with Grahame's arguments that for any train service to be useful it ought to be regular and run at sensible intervals throughtout the day without gaps at a time, 10:00 in this case, when people might want to travel.
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Brucey
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« Reply #51 on: November 26, 2012, 20:45:11 » |
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This weekend I travelled up to Telford Central from London. The only reasonably priced options were "Via High Wycombe" or "ATW▸ and LM▸ Only". Not wanting my service to be cancelled, I thought I'd try out the High Wycombe route, thus travelling on Chiltern up to Birmingham.
An excellent choice. 2+2 seating throughout with plenty of tables, plus sockets at every pair of seats and completely free wi-fi which worked for the whole journey at a good speed. The platform numbers were announced at both ends thirty minutes before departure, with the trains ready for boarding at the same time.
I also liked the period design at Moor Street station. Even the TVMs▸ had a shell that matches the rest of the station.
Overall, a very refreshing experience. Everything exactly as it should be and I'm afraid to report that London Midland have just lost a London-Birmingham passenger.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #52 on: December 09, 2012, 20:26:11 » |
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From the BBC» : London Midland timetable changes tackle driver shortage
Changes to train timetables and work patterns have been introduced to reduce cancellations caused by a driver shortage, according to London Midland.
The shortage of drivers has caused the cancellation of more than 950 services since 14 October.
Train drivers' union Aslef said it agreed to the changes in rotas to "free up drivers to cover services".
London Midland said a number of trainee drivers are due to finish their training and start work "very soon".
This will also help the company to deal with short-notice problems such as sickness, a spokesman said.
Dicky Fisher from Aslef said the union would continue to work with London Midland to "assist them in delivering the train service".
London Midland said it was continuing to recruit and train more drivers. The train operator has apologised to anyone who has been affected by its recent problems.
In October the Rail Minister Norman Baker warned London Midland about its performance, and said commuters were not "getting the services they need".
The hundreds of cancellations were also raised in the House of Lords.
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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ellendune
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« Reply #53 on: December 09, 2012, 21:08:44 » |
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From the BBC» : London Midland timetable changes tackle driver shortage
Changes to train timetables and work patterns have been introduced to reduce cancellations caused by a driver shortage, according to London Midland.
The shortage of drivers has caused the cancellation of more than 950 services since 14 October.
Train drivers' union Aslef said it agreed to the changes in rotas to "free up drivers to cover services".
London Midland said a number of trainee drivers are due to finish their training and start work "very soon".
This will also help the company to deal with short-notice problems such as sickness, a spokesman said.
Dicky Fisher from Aslef said the union would continue to work with London Midland to "assist them in delivering the train service".
London Midland said it was continuing to recruit and train more drivers. The train operator has apologised to anyone who has been affected by its recent problems.
In October the Rail Minister Norman Baker warned London Midland about its performance, and said commuters were not "getting the services they need".
The hundreds of cancellations were also raised in the House of Lords.
The inference of the article is that the new timetable needs less drivers. So does it ahve less services. If so this is a step back. |
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Network SouthEast
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« Reply #54 on: December 10, 2012, 08:41:02 » |
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Can't comment if there are less services - however two things have changed in LM▸ 's favour in this timetable.
1: off-peak, some services are speeded up due to 110mph running on the WCML▸
2: a year or so ago, LM introduced new rostering/diagrams and initially these contained a bit of padding, which presumably will have been trimmed off. The risk is that during service disruption it might take longer for things to get back to normal
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Worcester_Passenger
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« Reply #55 on: December 11, 2012, 07:06:13 » |
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My understanding is that the level of service is unchanged, but that the drivers' diagrams have been recast. This has saved 18 diagrams per weekday. As a result, the driver establishment that LM▸ need (but that they're always short of, on account of drivers leaving to work for Virgin and CrossCountry) has come down by 36.
The negotiations about the recast diagrams were such that it was easiest to introduce these at the timetable change.
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JayMac
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« Reply #56 on: December 11, 2012, 10:12:21 » |
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From the BBC» : London Midland warned by PM over cancellations
Action may be taken against London Midland if the train operator does not reduce the number of cancellations, the prime minister has said.
A shortage of drivers has caused the cancellation of more than 950 services since 14 October.
A new timetable was introduced on Sunday but three services were affected on Monday morning because of a lack of staff, according to the firm's website.
David Cameron said the company was on a "warning list".
Mr Cameron, in an interview with BBC WM, said: "It's not acceptable what's been happening. Under the franchising system if there's unacceptable service then action can be taken. It has in the past and it would be in the future if things don't pick up."
No guarantees
The prime minister said he was confident the new timetable would help address the issue.
The company has a number of trainee drivers who are due to finish their training soon.
London Midland's operations and safety director, Wallace Weatherill, said he could not rule out further delays or cancellations.
"There's never a guarantee when you're dealing with people and you're running over 1,300 trains a day," Mr Weatherill said.
"But what I can guarantee is there is no shortage of focus in making sure that every single one of our trains is covered so people can get to work and do what they need to do. When you have short-term sickness it's sometimes very difficult to recover from that."
Mr Weatherill said the likelihood of cancellations had "significantly" reduced because of the recent timetable change and the support of staff.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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swrural
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« Reply #57 on: December 11, 2012, 11:01:43 » |
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Excuse my ignorance, but do staff all have to re-apply for their jobs when a franchise changes, or is it written into the Act that existing staff must be taken on?
If that were otherwise, it might concentrate minds rather! I was a freelancer in my career, so lived by my wits. I do sometimes wonder how some would fare in a truly private enterprise setup.
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #58 on: December 11, 2012, 12:05:10 » |
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Rank and file staff get transferred under the TUPE▸ arrangements. Senior management get to sweat a little!
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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