Recent content by GordonT

Currently and historically has there been a degree of interworking of traincrews across services worked by Class 156 units to/from Glasgow Central and Barrhead/Kilmarnock/Carlisle via Dumfries/East Kilbride/Stranraer? I wonder how efficient resource utilisation will be once part of the operation...

The operation or non operation of a journey resting upon the whim of whichever driver happens to be rostered for a journey without a second staff member seems a bit of a bodge. It has echoes of maybe c.50 years ago when there was similar contention around the need or otherwise for a second staff...

A good case study in why adopting the line of least resistance can expose weak management.

So am I right in saying that the train operator caved in and for no operational justification agreed that conductors would be retained on Barrhead and EK services? And instead of being consumed with glee at this bizarre concession the conductors are in dispute about who should work the doors?

That may be true in this case. However it illustrates how easily someone who might seek to wrongfully target a transport entity on a forum such as this can get their fingers burned.

An interesting illustration of why forum admins are right to get a bit jumpy if a post maligns a company or its representatives without compelling justification. From "Daily Record" online article dated 5 May 2024 by Norman Silvester Link: Billionaire McGill's bus tycoons bankrupt blogger over...

Genuine question. What are the distinctive features of the Barrhead and the East Kilbride lines that justify anything other than the arrangements originally enshrined in the Strathclyde Manning Agreement decades ago with trains being worked by Driver and Ticket Examiner and not subject to...

The train that is currently in the siding at St Neots at 2225. 1714944607 Nope I have made no allegations. I am merely seeking informed opinion as to whether these instances are acceptable or unacceptable in terms of any risk. Hopefully the one thing that is not disputed is that the effect on...

Fine, but should the fact that the problems recur in spite of proper maintenance taking place not be a concern? I hadn't but they appear to greatly substantiate the concerns to which my initial question alluded.

Doesn't exactly convey reassurance or inspire confidence regardless of where the fault lies. In a world where H & S is king it seems a tad surprising that we are continuing to see repeated instances.

1A87 the 1559 ex Bradford Interchange-Kings Cross coasted to a stand at St Neots this evening at 1811, where passengers were detrained at some point, with fire service attending due to smoke coming from 180114. Is this likely to be "just one of these things"? Or is there a possibility of too...

Indeed.

I think that back in the real world the ship has long since sailed on any tiny chance of him keeping his job post election. Industrial relations problems affecting the railways will barely be on his personal radar.

Regardless of the circumstances of this case which have still to be established, have there been many level crossing accidents in the past where a blameless motor vehicle driver and their passengers if any have been struck by a train due to total operating failure of the barrier?

I think your anger is totally justified. We have moved a long way from a culture where train cancellations were regarded as fundamentally unacceptable with significant consequences awaiting the operator if persistantly failing to run the timetable.