Tin Rocket
Member
Hi,Any views on London Midland's performance during this inclement weather?
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London Midland service performance
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87015
Established Member
CENSORED!!!
They have a service? I'm just looking for the thead to ask why there are no fast trains today and yesterday from Bushey (and I'm guessing much further out) to London Euston.
On Tuesday evening LM were a complete mess at Euston. The 19:04 was cancelled around 19:10 (train full, waiting to leave). Everyone hung around and moved over to the 19:34, only for LM to cancel that train at 19:35. Both trains had died in the station. It was complete farce and there were a lot of very angry passengers.
On Tuesday evening LM were a complete mess at Euston. The 19:04 was cancelled around 19:10 (train full, waiting to leave). Everyone hung around and moved over to the 19:34, only for LM to cancel that train at 19:35. Both trains had died in the station. It was complete farce and there were a lot of very angry passengers.
Daimler
Established Member
A 'performance' would be about right. They are a complete shambles.
Trying to get from Hemel to Watford this morning was impossible (I've just got back from the station). Their so-called 'emergency' timetable of one train every 30 mins was completely to pot - not just late, but some of those 30-minute trains were cancelled!
And as for yesterday, the less said the better!
Trying to get from Hemel to Watford this morning was impossible (I've just got back from the station). Their so-called 'emergency' timetable of one train every 30 mins was completely to pot - not just late, but some of those 30-minute trains were cancelled!
And as for yesterday, the less said the better!
87015
Established Member
There were NO TRAINS Euston-Northampton for most of yesterday. They ran a morning peak of sorts then abandoned all services after the 0854 Euston-Birmingham (caped Northampton 75 late) and approx 0945 Northampton-Euston last up. That was your lot until at least 1500 thence an hourly shuttle.
To add insult to injury to punters (and there were some, personal observation) the set off the 0854 was sent back empty to Euston with THREE sets of traincrew, thence back empty to Bletchley CS.
Service was all but abandoned Monday evening aswell, I got to MK station at 1920 and didn't get back to Leighton until 2205. There were only two northbounds in that period aswell.
****wits.
Trains06
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In my opinion they haven't got a clue what to do down at Euston...
Absolutely ridiculous. I was trying to get into London today, as my car was trapped, and getting off my hill was impossible. I got a train, but getting back... was interesting.
Danielo
Member
I've had a horrible week with London Midland from Harrow and Wealdstone. SHaring with passengers having to cram on the three coach Overground trains was not a pleasant experience. What beats me is that Virgin seemed to run a half decent service, and there were freight trains running on the slow lines. If anybody on here can explain this to me, I'd be grateful!
Had a Super Saver to Birmingham NS, tried getting out of Euston on Thursday only to find an Emergency service of one train on the hour calling at everywhere between Euston and Northampton.
At that point it hadn't been confirmed Virgin were accepting LM tickets, so I boarded the 16:00 departure (already busy at about 15:25) since the 15:00 was too crowded to get anywhere near. By the time it left, I don't think you could have got anyone else on the train it was that packed. Emptied a bit by Leighton Buzzard, but was still crowded. Ended up jumping off at MK Central and continued up to BNS with Virgin after it was finally announced LM tickets were valid on Virgin's services out of London.
Like others, I can't see the justification in cancelling all services. Virgin were running reduced timetables, yet there didn't appear to be an issue with congestion through any areas even running at reduced speeds. A half-hourly service would have been more reasonable, and manageable.
Absolute nightmare.
At that point it hadn't been confirmed Virgin were accepting LM tickets, so I boarded the 16:00 departure (already busy at about 15:25) since the 15:00 was too crowded to get anywhere near. By the time it left, I don't think you could have got anyone else on the train it was that packed. Emptied a bit by Leighton Buzzard, but was still crowded. Ended up jumping off at MK Central and continued up to BNS with Virgin after it was finally announced LM tickets were valid on Virgin's services out of London.
Like others, I can't see the justification in cancelling all services. Virgin were running reduced timetables, yet there didn't appear to be an issue with congestion through any areas even running at reduced speeds. A half-hourly service would have been more reasonable, and manageable.
Absolute nightmare.
87015
Established Member
"Management decision" according to Northampton staff.
Apparently there were "severe weather conditions" today requiring an emergency timetable (and AGAIN they couldn't even keep to that) despite every other operator running a normal service and there being absolutely NO weather between Northampton and Euston.
They are just useless. I never thought I'd see Central Trains look so good.
I agree. Staff had no idea why either. Most of them were miserable, and low on morale. One of the guys in Hemel station was letting people through without tickets as far as he was concerned London Midland didn't deserve their money for the service they were receiving.
Danielo
Member
LM also have a habit of cancelling trains due to 'defective units' or 'train faults' or 'staff shortages'
Will there be an investigation into LM's 'performance' during the last week? If so, then I hope they get stripped of their franchise. Their management are obviously incompetent if thier staff members are low on morale, and customers don't have any confidence in their ability to provide a decent service. Bring back Silverlink (County, not Metro!).
Will there be an investigation into LM's 'performance' during the last week? If so, then I hope they get stripped of their franchise. Their management are obviously incompetent if thier staff members are low on morale, and customers don't have any confidence in their ability to provide a decent service. Bring back Silverlink (County, not Metro!).
Well, the problems are the middle-management and staff are the same as Silverlink/Central. The top managers are the ex-Central, so all that's really changed are the people who put the money in, the colour-scheme, the aims of the company and the parent company. Middle-management is where the problems stem from, and top-level are responsible for this. Northern was a great example - Heidi Mottram cleaned out middle-management, and with a fresh set of aims, the company has been a great success.
Banaghan should be fired - he's failed to provide a decent level of service on the ex-Silverlink section of the franchise. I have no idea how the ex-Central side is going.
The staff shortage, which sees the Trings and until recently the MK terminator capped when possible is because Banaghan is an idiot, and so is the middle-management who failed to realise that to run the new timetable in December they would need more staff, and juggle around the rostering/training/bits for route/traction that the crews sign. They only realised in about the hour before the timetable commenced, and as a result has been a shambles.
The "defective units and train faults" I think have happened because of the closure of Bletchley depot, which has resulted in less-specialised maintenance of what where once the most reliable units in the country. Also, the introduction of more 350s will result in less time being allocated to a fleet on it's way out, so to speak.
Put shortly, to solve LMs problems, get rid of all the managers and get people in who care about the job, and have a decent level of capability. Oh - and tell their staff information in the first place so the passengers have a decent idea of what the hell's actually going on.
Banaghan should be fired - he's failed to provide a decent level of service on the ex-Silverlink section of the franchise. I have no idea how the ex-Central side is going.
The staff shortage, which sees the Trings and until recently the MK terminator capped when possible is because Banaghan is an idiot, and so is the middle-management who failed to realise that to run the new timetable in December they would need more staff, and juggle around the rostering/training/bits for route/traction that the crews sign. They only realised in about the hour before the timetable commenced, and as a result has been a shambles.
The "defective units and train faults" I think have happened because of the closure of Bletchley depot, which has resulted in less-specialised maintenance of what where once the most reliable units in the country. Also, the introduction of more 350s will result in less time being allocated to a fleet on it's way out, so to speak.
Put shortly, to solve LMs problems, get rid of all the managers and get people in who care about the job, and have a decent level of capability. Oh - and tell their staff information in the first place so the passengers have a decent idea of what the hell's actually going on.
87015
Established Member
Hourly service today (no idea why they can still use 'snow' as an excuse, it hasn't snowed in two days) and its up the swanny with cancellations already. Useless.
Danielo
Member
Makstaylor, thanks for the explanation. What you say makes a lot of sense. I've been using the H&W to Euston route for almost 18 years now, and this is the worst it has ever been.
The 321s were, as you say, highly reliable, and rarely was a service cancelled due to a defective unit. The closure of Bletchley depot seems to have coincided with the extraordinarily high rate of unit failures (350s and 321s!) recently.
The staff shortage problem smacks of incompetent management, and if Mr. Banaghan is responsible, then he should be fired and not be allowed near any transport franchise in the future, as he clearly has no clue!
I've just checked the live departure board for Euston this morning. Virgin once again running normally, whereas LM have cancellations across the board. The LM hierachy should be ashamed of themselves.
The 321s were, as you say, highly reliable, and rarely was a service cancelled due to a defective unit. The closure of Bletchley depot seems to have coincided with the extraordinarily high rate of unit failures (350s and 321s!) recently.
The staff shortage problem smacks of incompetent management, and if Mr. Banaghan is responsible, then he should be fired and not be allowed near any transport franchise in the future, as he clearly has no clue!
I've just checked the live departure board for Euston this morning. Virgin once again running normally, whereas LM have cancellations across the board. The LM hierachy should be ashamed of themselves.
Trains06
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Yesterday their service at Euston was a shambles due to the point failure at Rugby which disrupted Virgin heavily and also LM
87015
Established Member
Please explain how that affects LM out of Euston? No LM services from Euston were going anywhere near Rugby yesterday, only a self contained service south of Northampton was operating.
Oh, and it was a burst Voyager at Euston which was being blamed for the delays there (1830ish).
Danielo
Member
I can understand LM wanting to cancel the long distance runs up to Crewe and BNS, but the Northampton, MK and Tring services into Euston should not have been largely affected by a Rugby points failure.
There are also several paths out of Euston, so a 'burst' Voyager should only have affected trains parked on one side of the station. I can understand if an Overground unit had broken down that that would have severely blocked LM trains.
It seems that LM just like cancelling trains for the sheer hell of it, and do not care much for commuter feelings.
Does anyone know what they plan for tomorrow's AM rush hour?
There are also several paths out of Euston, so a 'burst' Voyager should only have affected trains parked on one side of the station. I can understand if an Overground unit had broken down that that would have severely blocked LM trains.
It seems that LM just like cancelling trains for the sheer hell of it, and do not care much for commuter feelings.
Does anyone know what they plan for tomorrow's AM rush hour?
Trains06
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Oh... LM trains were getting delayed then :P
I was booked on the 19:25 to Man Picc leaving at Crewe, train to form our service didn't arrive until atleast 19:50 and we actually went at just after 20:00, there was a Voyager in Platform 6 sitting there with a 57, which might have caused delays but I got talking with the Guard on the 19:25 (he came down on the terminater) and he said they were delayed due to points failing at Rugby, hence no trains sitting around in EUS.
When the tickets were sold they said 21:01
Then they changed there timetable to cope with the ice/snow and timetabled arrival 21:18 didn't get there until 22:12
I was booked on the 19:25 to Man Picc leaving at Crewe, train to form our service didn't arrive until atleast 19:50 and we actually went at just after 20:00, there was a Voyager in Platform 6 sitting there with a 57, which might have caused delays but I got talking with the Guard on the 19:25 (he came down on the terminater) and he said they were delayed due to points failing at Rugby, hence no trains sitting around in EUS.
When the tickets were sold they said 21:01
Then they changed there timetable to cope with the ice/snow and timetabled arrival 21:18 didn't get there until 22:12
Daimler
Established Member
Rumour has it that Richard Branson's been offered the LM franchise...
hock:hock:hock:
hock:hock:hock:
Trains06
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Since when?
Daimler
Established Member
I just found it on Railway Eye
http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2009/02/london-miidland-news.html
I'd be prepared to bet it's just a rumour, but it's an interesting thought!
That's hilarious - really really hilarious. If only it happened! Seeing Overground out of Euston, would IMO, be very good as well, mainly for the reasons listed there.
Danielo
Member
The DC service is often a back up for passengers left stranded by WCML problems. Although I am not a fan of the service, it would be highly unfortunate for passengers from the likes of Wembley and Willesden to be deprived of a direct route to the ideally placed Euston (i.e. 3 tube lines, St. Pancras).
clagmonster
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In fairness, when the DC into Euston was effected by an engineering blockade for a month, the Startford-Watford Jn service (efectively a merge of 2 curtailed services) was reasonably busy on the couple of occasions when I used it, even on the Camden Rd-South Hapstead section. However, I do agree that the Euston service is a necessity, so maybe the solution would be slightly increasing the frequency, and running the service to alternate destations.
Danielo
Member
Isn't the aim of the new Overground to have a turn up and go service, as opposed to the current timetabled 20 minute frequency on the Watford-Euston route? I doubt LM and VT would want to be held up by all those Overground trains in and out of Euston. Maybe a good solution would be to have a high frequency service up to Kilburn, and retain the 20 minute through service into Euston.
Danielo
Member
The LM website is reporting that plans for Monday morning will be available on the site from 9PM tonight. Looks like its not going to be a happy commute tomorrow morning!
Daimler
Established Member
While I'm inclined to partially agree with you, London Midland's performance has been atrocious. Even today - when there's no snow anywhere on the roads, and every operator (pretty much) has resumed normal service, and Virgin are running to time (bar a few trains that haven't run since Monday), London Midland still can't cope with running more than 1 train an hour today each way.
One train an hour! :-x
Danielo
Member
Somebody reporting on another forum that there is a rumour that the 350/1's and /2's have a brake problem.
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