Once they've gone, as they have, it's seems an impossible task to get them back to meet what seems to be popular demand for things such as shopping (now prevalent on Boxing Day) and sporting events.
Once they've gone, as they have, it's seems an impossible task to get them back to meet what seems to be popular demand for things such as shopping (now prevalent on Boxing Day) and sporting events.
The removal in 1975 was strongly opposed by ASLEF.
A union opposing less work must be quite unusual!
Chiltern are running a half-hourly Marylebone to Oxford Parkway service on Boxing Day, and have been for the past few years. Obviously helps that Bicester Village is on the route, and Boxing Day happens to be when their sale starts
The piece I have seen from Ray Buckton indicated it might be good personally for his members, but a bad move for passengers who attended sporting occasions or visited relatives. No mention back then of shopping of course.A union opposing less work must be quite unusual!
Yet back in the 1960s, they even ran some relief trains on Boxing Day.
I think that one reason for the change is that workers started to get longer annual holiday allowances. At that time. some people only got 10 - 15 days holiday. Visit the family or friends over Christmas, but then they had to be back at work on 27 December, and that often required a rail journey on 26 December. I think that Boxing Day mornings had reduced services, but by late afternoon, some long distance trains could get very busy.
Yet back in the 1960s, they even ran some relief trains on Boxing Day.
I think that one reason for the change is that workers started to get longer annual holiday allowances. At that time. some people only got 10 - 15 days holiday. Visit the family or friends over Christmas, but then they had to be back at work on 27 December, and that often required a rail journey on 26 December. I think that Boxing Day mornings had reduced services, but by late afternoon, some long distance trains could get very busy.
Very nasty accident on the 26th December 1963 involving 2 long distance trains at Coppenhall Junction , Crewe , - one being "The Midday Scot" with 18 killed - both trains very well loaded. Stop and proceed working which went very wrong.