Why is there no explanation given for these cancellations?
That's for Northern to answer.
Why is there no explanation given for these cancellations?
That's for Northern to answer.
Why is there no explanation given for these cancellations?
Sunday is not part of the contractual working week for Northern, so they rely solely on overtime and 'favours' to do Sundays
people pay for a train service. If they want a bus they would go to the bus station.I suppose at least the beleaguered passengers can be grateful they get a replacement bus service, as opposed to nothing at all!
One consolation of the rail replacement bus service at Liverpool Lime Street today from a bus enthusiasts point of view was the use of an Optare Excel bus formerly of Blackpool Transport. There were very few takers though!
People might think they are paying for a train service, and that is of course what everyone de facto realises they are paying for, but legally speaking the railways aren't obliged to convey you in a train at all. It's just that, most of the time, if they sent you by bus, they'd be liable to pay you delay compensation because it would be a lot slower for most journeys!people pay for a train service. If they want a bus they would go to the bus station.
If I get a sniff there is a replacement bus then i dont go by train.People might think they are paying for a train service, and that is of course what everyone de facto realises they are paying for, but legally speaking the railways aren't obliged to convey you in a train at all. It's just that, most of the time, if they sent you by bus, they'd be liable to pay you delay compensation because it would be a lot slower for most journeys!
It is at least a relief for those passengers who have a season ticket and want to travel on the weekend, or for example those who have a return portion of a Period Return ticket. It's also a welcome reprieve from Northern's frequent spiel of alleging they're not obliged to provide any replacement transport whenever they feel like cancelling the trains.
It's not unusual for there to be some sort of heritage bus out on RRB duties, Arriva appear to just get in anything they can, preserved or not.One consolation of the rail replacement bus service at Liverpool Lime Street today from a bus enthusiasts point of view was the use of an Optare Excel bus formerly of Blackpool Transport. There were very few takers though!
One consolation of the rail replacement bus service at Liverpool Lime Street today from a bus enthusiasts point of view was the use of an Optare Excel bus formerly of Blackpool Transport. There were very few takers though!
Which to me is almost offensive. To think that they can get away with commenting like this (it’s a stock reply they’ve used for months) is treating customers like dirt. When a line is disrupted by engineering works you get a different stock response about the actual works (such as Lincoln to Sheffield today and last Sunday) but when it’s a staff shortage issue they have the cheek and have the nerve to spout this rubbish about matching availability.The impact of ongoing engineering work means we have to adjust our Sunday timetable each and every week. This has an impact on matching drivers’ availability within their working agreements
Fully agree. It is treating your customers like absolute dirt. It is also a clear breach of contractual commitments and the DfT should be all over it. The fact that they made such a noise about boosting Sunday services makes the whole thing even more offensive. Shambles.The official comment from Northern on this matter is
Which to me is almost offensive. To think that they can get away with commenting like this (it’s a stock reply they’ve used for months) is treating customers like dirt. When a line is disrupted by engineering works you get a different stock response about the actual works (such as Lincoln to Sheffield today and last Sunday) but when it’s a staff shortage issue they have the cheek and have the nerve to spout this rubbish about matching availability.
Because an honest answer would embarrass both the Northern management and the DfT? (and it's only out in the provinces, of course!)Why is there no explanation given for these cancellations?
The official comment from Northern on this matter is
Which to me is almost offensive. To think that they can get away with commenting like this (it’s a stock reply they’ve used for months) is treating customers like dirt. When a line is disrupted by engineering works you get a different stock response about the actual works (such as Lincoln to Sheffield today and last Sunday) but when it’s a staff shortage issue they have the cheek and have the nerve to spout this rubbish about matching availability.
Then there would be cancellations on weekdays which for much of the Northern network would be far more disruptive. Whilst Northern have a rest day working agreement with ASLEF it would also be illegal rostering to not book an available driver to a diagram that requires cover on his/her rest day if they can rightfully catch that job.It is true that if there was no rest day working (from Monday to Saturday) then there would be no problem covering Sunday shifts.
It is true that if there was no rest day working (from Monday to Saturday) then there would be no problem covering Sunday shifts.
Then there would be cancellations on weekdays which for much of the Northern network would be far more disruptive. Whilst Northern have a rest day working agreement with ASLEF it would also be illegal rostering to not book an available driver to a diagram that requires cover on his/her rest day if they can rightfully catch that job.
It isn't accurate though is it? The root cause is an inadequate number of permanent staff. The fluff about engineering work and whatnot is intended to shift this blame.Actually that's quite accurate. Drivers on the west side are throwing their Sundays in if their diagrams are amended because there is no requirement to work amended diagrams on Sundays under their current Ts&Cs.
In my 35yrs on the railway there has never been adequate staffing no matter what they do with drivers. Even with several spares each day there is almost always a requirement for free day working due to lack of traction or route knowledge or just because it's a few minutes too far for the agreed spare movement.If there was adequate staffing there would be no need for midweek rest day working, excluding limited amounts for training.