Northern strike timetables

[skyhigh]

No they didn't. They said "do not travel" - which, while accurate I suppose, does not really convey enough information for most people to be able to ascertain what's going on and what alternative plans they should make. They did not say "the vast majority of Northern stations won't see a single train on strike days, and here is a list of the few that will", which is what they really should be doing.

As far as I can tell they're doing fairly well. Made a clear blanket statement before plans were finalised to alert passengers, now we have posters at stations and on trains, additional announcements warning that on strike days services will be very reduced with some lines unserved (both on and off train) and messages on platform CIS displays. The posters and announcements are asking passengers to vist www.northernrailway.co.uk/strike, which clearly states:

A nationwide rail strike has been called by RMT union to take place for 3 days on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 of June.

Customer safety is our priority, we advise you not to travel between Tuesday 21 and Sunday 26 June and make alternative plans.

There will be no replacement buses or alternative travel provided.

On strike days there will be extremely limited availability of both train crew and signalling staff and as such we will not be able to operate services on most routes. There will be no replacement buses or alternative travel provided.

Unfortunately, as we will not be able to position our fleet how we normally would, the significant impact of the strike will also be felt on non-strike days. Therefore, we regrettably advise customers not to travel on any day from Tuesday 21st through to Sunday 26th June.’

Where we are able to operate trains, services will be very limited, and trains will not start as early as normal and will finish much earlier than normal.

That's also linked right at the top of their website.

In addition, now the timetables are finalised they will begin to show on journey planners/the app.

What more would you like to see?

 

[ainsworth74]

What more would you like to see?

Just the timetables collated in one place not intermingled with all the regular timetables. By all means have them there as well but not as the only place for them.

 

[Bertie the bus]

There should really be a list, similar to that at the start of this thread, stating which lines will have services. The information isn't easy to find on their website. It is still early days and they might improve it but if they don't there isn't much use directing people to the strike page on their website which then just directs you to the timetable page, on which the information is poorly presented and difficult to find.

 

[Starmill]

Just the timetables collated in one place not intermingled with all the regular timetables. By all means have them there as well but not as the only place for them.

It does seem mighty odd that this hasn't been done.

Perhaps it will be tomorrow.

In addition they've only got strike date timetables so far so there are some things more to come.

Is there a chance a 195 might be able to make it to the Lakes line? Once it's there, it can shuttle all day (guard depending!)

Unfortunately this is incredibly unlikely. Operators are normally extremely reluctant to run where their rolling stock is "locked in" like this because there is no opportunity for refuelling or maintenance attention for a significant period of time. Also some sections worked by train staffs might still require a signal box to be attended. I don't know what the case would be with the Lakes line.

 

[xtpe]

I believe the units that work the Windermere services originate from or end up at either Barrow or Newton Heath. Someone has suggested that neither of those places are likely to be available on strike days.

Blackpool and Preston Croft Street

 

[johntea]

Northern also have advised due to things being in the wrong position outside of the strike days that there probably won't be a full service then either

Unfortunately, as we will not be able to position our fleet how we normally would, the significant impact of the strike will also be felt on non-strike days. Therefore, we regrettably advise customers not to travel on any day from Tuesday 21st through to Sunday 26th June.

 

[py_megapixel]

What more would you like to see?

The problem, fundementally, is that while http://www.northernrailway.co.uk/strike gives a decent summary of the situation, somebody who has a regular journey to make could read the whole thing and still not really know how their travel will be affected. I think there needs to be a clear list of what services are running on the strike days somewhere, rather than having to trawl through the timetable page for them.

Personally, I would have reworded the bold section at the top of the page as well, so that the first piece of information is that most stations will see no service at all. After all, that's the most important bit for a passenger, more so than which union caused the strike! But I appreciate that's nitpicking, and different people will have different perceptions of what is clearest.

In terms of the service they are running, I think Northern are doing a reasonable job of making the best of a bad situation, I just think the communication surrounding it has a little room for improvement. (They're one step ahead of the TOCs that haven't released timetables at all, as well.)

 

[RAPC]

Just the timetables collated in one place not intermingled with all the regular timetables. By all means have them there as well but not as the only place for them.

100% this. They have a dedicated strike page, so make use of it properly. Link to the strike timetables where available and make clear the timetables / services that won't have any services. Job done, nice and clear and no ambiguity.

 

[py_megapixel]

100% this. They have a dedicated strike page, so make use of it properly. Link to the strike timetables where available and make clear the timetables / services that won't have any services. Job done, nice and clear and no ambiguity.

Agreed.

 

[Starmill]

Worth noting that Deansgate Jn signal box near Navigation Road station is opening on strike days to permit Metrolink services to run. Same as elsewhere, maximum of twelve hours. Probably one of the smaller boxes to open.

 

[td97]

Rochdale

- Manchester

Metrolink will take care of that route

Worth noting that Deansgate Jn signal box near Navigation Road station is opening on strike days to permit Metrolink services to run. Same as elsewhere, maximum of twelve hours. Probably one of the smaller boxes to open.

Detailed on https://tfgm.com/rail-strike

 

[sonic2009]

Stockport requires 5 different grade 7 signalboxes to be open. So I imagine there won't be any services through there at all.

TFGM confirm on the website that Stockport station is indeed closed - so nothing to run by the looks of it.

Stockport rail station​

Stockport station will be closed on each of the three strike days. This means that the pedestrian access, via the underpass through Stockport Station, will be unavailable.

During this time, pedestrians should use Greek Street/King Street West

 

[janb]

The problem, fundementally, is that while http://www.northernrailway.co.uk/strike gives a decent summary of the situation, somebody who has a regular journey to make could read the whole thing and still not really know how their travel will be affected. I think there needs to be a clear list of what services are running on the strike days somewhere, rather than having to trawl through the timetable page for them.

Webpage has now been updated to this effect.

 

[py_megapixel]

Webpage has now been updated to this effect.

Good... that's much clearer.

It's a shame there's so many places without service, but I guess it is what it is. If they don't have the staff, they can't run the trains, and they can't do anything about that!

I assume the services will be doubled-up Civities if at all possible for the highest available capacity within the constraints of the limited timetable?

 

[RAPC]

Webpage has now been updated to this effect.

Perfect. Does the job needed.

 

[Agent_Squash]

The near total shut down of the North West is disappointing - but understand Newton Heath is a pain!

 

[Watershed]

The near total shut down of the North West is disappointing - but understand Newton Heath is a pain!

With so few lines open, Northern couldn't really run much more. Slightly surprised to see them not running anything down to Crewe though, as the line is open.

 

[Freemo]

The list now on the strike page misses off Sheffield to Leeds via Moorthorpe despite there being a strike timetable for it.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

The list now on the strike page misses off Sheffield to Leeds via Moorthorpe despite there being a strike timetable for it.

Yes, I spotted that too. I wonder why Northern are running a Sheffield to Leeds service via Moorthorpe but nothing via Barnsley?

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes, I spotted that too. I wonder why Northern are running a Sheffield to Leeds service via Moorthorpe but nothing via Barnsley?

No cover for Barnsley box I presume.

 

[Halish Railway]

No cover for Barnsley box I presume.

And Horbury.

 

[Watershed]

And Horbury.

Not to forget Woolley Coal Sidings!

 

[jfollows]

With so few lines open, Northern couldn't really run much more. Slightly surprised to see them not running anything down to Crewe though, as the line is open.

Avanti have (slightly incomplete) timetables on their Web site with an hourly service Crewe-Manchester, presumably via the Styal Line, but with no calls booked at Wilmslow.

 

[Watershed]

Avanti have (slightly incomplete) timetables on their Web site with an hourly service Crewe-Manchester, presumably via the Styal Line, but with no calls booked at Wilmslow.

Yes, Wilmslow loses out quite badly. Anyone wanting to head south will have to double back to Manchester on the Styal stopper! Meanwhile XC will also be running via Crewe and Wilmslow but won't be calling at any intermediate station between Stafford and Manchester.

I get there are concerns about overcrowding, but needlessly not calling at stations when there's a strike on is just counterproductive.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I get there are concerns about overcrowding, but needlessly not calling at stations when there's a strike on is just counterproductive.

One presumes the reason for this is to maximise utility from a smaller number of diagrams - remember it's guards too, not just signallers.

 

[Watershed]

One presumes the reason for this is to maximise utility from a smaller number of diagrams - remember it's guards too, not just signallers.

Not stopping at these stations makes no difference to the paths, they just have pathing added instead!

 

[Halish Railway]

Not to forget Woolley Coal Sidings!

Although Network Rail have managed to staff the boxes on the Chat Moss route which crazily weren’t closed when the route was electrified.

 

[py_megapixel]

I get there are concerns about overcrowding, but needlessly not calling at stations when there's a strike on is just counterproductive.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that at Wilmslow, Northern services are dispatched solely by the guard, but Pendolinos and Voyagers are dispatched with the assistance of platform staff. If there are no available station staff who are competent as dispatchers (which there may well not be, if station staff are striking also) then what solution is there other than services that require them simply not calling there?

That might not be the singular reason not to call at Wilmslow, but I imagine it will be a contributing factor if station staff are on strike.

 

[Peterthegreat]

The list now on the strike page misses off Sheffield to Leeds via Moorthorpe despite there being a strike timetable for it.

It has now been added to the list.

Yes, I spotted that too. I wonder why Northern are running a Sheffield to Leeds service via Moorthorpe but nothing via Barnsley?

The whole of the route via Moorthorpe comes under York.

 

[Watershed]

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that at Wilmslow, Northern services are dispatched solely by the guard, but Pendolinos and Voyagers are dispatched with the assistance of platform staff. If there are no available station staff who are competent as dispatchers (which there may well not be, if station staff are striking also) then what solution is there other than services that require them simply not calling there?

That might not be the singular reason not to call at Wilmslow, but I imagine it will be a contributing factor if station staff are on strike.

Correct, but as nearly every other Northern managed station on the west side is closed, I really wouldn't imagine it's beyond the realms of possibility to get a few dispatchers in place to allow Voyagers/Pendolini to stop there.

Certainly Crewe will be open so no excuse for not stopping there.

Although Network Rail have managed to staff the boxes on the Chat Moss route which crazily weren’t closed when the route was electrified.

There's just Astley and Eccles left now, but yes, it's a rather bizarre situation. Also somewhat odd that Northern aren't running any services between Preston and Manchester seeing as the Bolton route is open.