November strike action on National Rail suspended - impact on next week's service

[Sleepy]

Signallers are still rostered to work a shift at all boxes. It's just when a strike takes place not all locations will be staffed. With action suspended staff should report for their booked turn.

So a signaller that was rostered to work early turn tomorrow, was rest day today and has had a drink or
3 lunchtime or later this afternoon before hearing the strike has been called off isn't going to be able take duty tommorow at 04XX if they value their job ? This and any shifts to cover holidays or sickness that haven't been filled because no one put available for overtime bring a strike day ?

 

[12LDA28C]

Because he's now getting paid, not to sit at home but to go into work and drive trains.
Calling off the strike with such short notice effectively means train staff get 4 days pay for doing nothing & passengers do not get trains to travel on

He's getting paid to go into work at 1700, which is what he will be doing. Why should he start early? Is that what you do for your employer at 12 hours' notice?

Your second line gives a good insight into your attitudes towards the strikers - not all 'train staff' will 'get 4 days pay for doing nothing' and there will certainly be plenty of trains running tomorrow.

 

[nedchester]

Tbf I think a lot of operators are under-promising to over deliver tomorrow morning. It won't be anything like a full service, but there might be more than the strike plan running tomorrow. They just don't want to promise anything until everybody involved has said yes.

And actually I agree with that approach but at least have a go.

 

[JonathanH]

Calling off the strike with such short notice effectively means train staff get 4 days pay for doing nothing & passengers do not get trains to travel on

...and that means they can afford to call another strike later in November, which is superb tactics in a conflict they might not appear to be able to win. Disruption and confusion without losing any pay. You do understand the reason why people withdraw their labour? They are hoping to make a point to their employer about the power they still have as a collective. Calling a strike and cancelling it is an excellent way to show that.

 

[Lancy99]

He's getting paid to go into work at 1700, which is what he will be doing. Why should he start early? Is that what you do for your employer at 12 hours' notice?

Your second line gives a good insight into your attitudes towards the strikers - not all 'train staff' will 'get 4 days pay for doing nothing' and there will certainly be plenty of trains running tomorrow.

I’d give up pal, clueless

 

[Bluejays]

Hopefully some extra services will be brought back tomorrow . I'd imagine we might see some more services around big events and an attempt to schedule some trains for later than originally planned.

Hopefully this also means that a resolution will be on the cards soon

 

[Sunil_P]

"These services have been reinstated due to a short notice change to the timetable"

 

[InkyScrolls]

I’d give up pal, clueless

It's not cluelessness, it's being deliberately obstructive and provocative.

 

[LowLevel]

So a signaller that was rostered to work early turn tomorrow, was rest day today and has had a drink or
3 lunchtime or later this afternoon before hearing the strike has been called off isn't going to be able take duty tommorow at 04XX if they value their job ? This and any shifts to cover holidays or sickness that haven't been filled because no one put available for overtime bring a strike day ?

Our TOC has taken a very sensible line - given the short notice anyone who doesn't attend work tomorrow will have the loss of pay but there will be no further action taken for the non-attendance. Not just having a drink which is an issue either - on the assumption of both myself and the company that I wouldn't be in tomorrow I covered a vacant turn today that caused me to have insufficient rest for my booking on time tomorrow. Again, very sensibly, I am coming in to work after the appropriate amount of rest instead.

 

[12LDA28C]

"These services have been reinstated due to a short notice change to the timetable"

... is an announcement you'll be unlikely to hear tomorrow

 

[gazzaa2]

Yes, but someone planning on traveling from say Crawley to Amberley tomorrow (as I was) might be pleased to find out the journey is now possible?

In terms of tomorrow, yeah. Anything is a bonus but Monday to Thursday i've no idea if I have to find another way of getting into work (I have to leave early). I'm operating on the assumption I will.

 

[Granpuff]

Merseyrail are going to try and run a Sunday service

 

[306024]

Thats fair enough you can't try and reroster staff but that driver would be there for 1700 so could pick up a duty and perhaps each TOC should at least endeavour to prioritise high usage routes with additional services if possible although i get if you can't forewarn people whats possible better to stick with already published for tomorrow but maximum effort should be made for Monday and Wednesday.

Well in my experience maximum effort will be made, even if it doesn’t appear so to outsiders. But there is a limit to what can be achieved in the time available, the number of staff to do it, and the ability to communicate it effectively without causing further confusion. If you are going to make a bad situation worse, doing nothing is the correct, in fact brave, decision.

Of course all this is difficult to explain to those with little or no knowledge of rail industry operations, and no doubt will be dismissed as excuses by some. But if you are still in doubt, try dropping a 10,000 piece jigsaw on the floor and then complete it by 22.00 tonight

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Well in my experience maximum effort will be made, even if it doesn’t appear so to outsiders. But there is a limit to what can be achieved in the time available, the number of staff to do it, and the ability to communicate it effectively without causing further confusion. If you are going to make a bad situation worse, doing nothing is the correct, in fact brave, decision.

Of course all this is difficult to explain to those with little or no knowledge of rail industry operations, and no doubt will be dismissed as excuses by some. But if you are still in doubt, try dropping a 10,000 piece jigsaw on the floor and then complete it by 22.00 tonight

Not suggestion for one minute that you can possible reinstate the entire service and i know the staff on duty will do what they can to make improvements where they can be done reliably.

The other the issue the industry has to contend with is media outlets just run with headlines like

Rail strikes suspended after 'workers promised pay rise' but Tube and Overground strikes still on - ITV

RMT suspends rail strikes planned to start tomorrow - Telegraph

In both you have to read the bulk of the article to find out that services might not be fully restored but people going to a sporting event for example will just see the headline strikes are off and head to the station so im sure controls and resourcing teams will endeavour to put in place contingency arrangements on routes serving a sporting arena.

 

[Llandudno]

Merseyrail tomorrow

Strike Action

Find out about Strike Action Merseyrail. Timetables and ticket prices also available

www.merseyrail.org

Hats off to Merseyrail, the network may, more or less be self contained, but a great effort to get a 30 minute service on all lines and until 2330 as well..

 

[306024]

Our TOC has taken a very sensible line - given the short notice anyone who doesn't attend work tomorrow will have the loss of pay but there will be no further action taken for the non-attendance. Not just having a drink which is an issue either - on the assumption of both myself and the company that I wouldn't be in tomorrow I covered a vacant turn today that caused me to have insufficient rest for my booking on time tomorrow. Again, very sensibly, I am coming in to work after the appropriate amount of rest instead.

And I bet you aren’t the only one! A good example of the complexities that could undermine attempts to run an over ambitious service.

 

[Bantamzen]

Not necessary cynical so much as someone who seems to dislike the unions representing your front line colleagues. Not an unusual view on the railway, sadly.

How typical that action is called off and, rather than celebrating that as a positive development, people on here just start sticking the boot into unions (again).

Now come on, stop playing naive. I know you know this is a cynical move to keep the disruption going without having to cause members several days pay loss. The staff get to sit around on full pay whilst us punters get told to bugger off again.

 

[Kite159]

I suspect there will be some staff who would have been on strike tomorrow, but now have to report in to 'work' will be annoyed as they had made alternative plans for the day (like going shopping with family or going to a sports match).

I live in hope that something will come from the new talks, before Hunt does his Autumn statement (with the predicted budget cuts for various departments).

 

[Bald Rick]

just needs someone to do a roll back to what was there 3 or 4 weeks ago

what was there 3-4 weeks ago is very different to what would be running tomorrow if no strikes had been notified.

So are you telling me that all those trains lined up in the depot suddenly become unavailable? I’m sorry I don’t believe that these staffing issues can’t be sorted at short notice, if there’s a will, there’s a way…

But many of the trains aren’t going to be lined up at the depot tomorrow, that’s the point.

Just to wish good luck and sanity to all those planners, roster staff and controllers who are further amending and/or reinstating booked services. The workload is huge, never mind planned engineering work which further complicates things. For some TOCs, trying to replan at such short notice could be more disruptive than leaving things as they stand.

+1. Terrific effort from some very tired people who have been mucked around by the unions (in some cases by their own union. Not uncoincidentally, those unions members in the planning teams have largely ignored the calls to strike)

Drivers turn up for work, as per their rota. Units are sitting in the sidings at Horsham. I'd like to think that somehow, someone might be able to organise a service from Horsham to Three Bridges (for trains to London and Brighton). Whilst I could accept the full reintroduction of Arun Valley line services isn't going to happen tomorrow, perhaps some shuttle service could be?

What if there is a gap in the signalling roster, which if there had not been a strike would have been filled by a rest day, but because of the strike no one could be rostered for it? How do you fix that with 15 hours notice?

Tbf I think a lot of operators are under-promising to over deliver tomorrow morning. It won't be anything like a full service, but there might be more than the strike plan running tomorrow. They just don't want to promise anything until everybody involved has said yes.

tomorrow is going to be a strike timetable, with some very few changes for a couple of operators.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

what was there 3-4 weeks ago is very different to what would be running tomorrow if no strikes had been notified.



But many of the trains aren’t going to be lined up at the depot tomorrow, that’s the point.





+1. Terrific effort from some very tired people who have been mucked around by the unions (in some cases by their own union. Not uncoincidentally, those unions members in the planning teams have largely ignored the calls to strike)



What if there is a gap in the signalling roster, which if there had not been a strike would have been filled by a rest day, but because of the strike no one could be rostered for it? How do you fix that with 15 hours notice?




tomorrow is going to be a strike timetable, with some very few changes for a couple of operators.

Yes, I think one thing that has been forgotten is that train planners really have been pushed to the limits by these strikes. This week in particular has been particularly bad and I worry that a number of people are close to going over the edge or already have gone over the edge.

 

[dk1]

I suspect there will be some staff who would have been on strike tomorrow, but now have to report in to 'work' will be annoyed as they had made alternative plans for the day (like going shopping with family or going to a sports match).

Well yes of course. Whether it be afternoon tea or a good old fashioned booze up that was arranged it’s obviously going to be a disappointment regardless of the financial gain. That’s just human nature.

 

[306024]

Yes, I think one thing that has been forgotten is that train planners really have been pushed to the limits by these strikes. This week in particular has been particularly bad and I worry that a number of people are close to going over the edge or already have gone over the edge.

Following on from all the disruption caused by Covid this is no surprise. It really has been relentless. I’ve said before, planners by their very nature, pay meticulous attention to detail. Doing all this in a rush goes against all their natural instincts, the very qualities that make them good planners in the first place.

Meanwhile, who is planning Christmas and all the other engineering work etc. Yes the very same people.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Following on from all the disruption caused by Covid this is no surprise. It really has been relentless. I’ve said before, planners by their very nature, pay meticulous attention to detail. Doing all this in a rush goes against all their natural instincts, the very qualities that make them good planners in the first place.

Meanwhile, who is planning Christmas and all the other engineering work etc. Yes the very same people.

And often on considerably less money that many of the other people on strike. Not trying to make it a competition but it adds another layer to the whole situation.

 

[theageofthetra]

They are not. Similarly, I expect anybody who is on early turn tomorrow and was planning to strike, but now has to get up before the birds is less than happy with the notice given.

Plus not expecting to work tomorrow, they may not be at home or have had a drink?

 

[Watershed]

How typical that action is called off and, rather than celebrating that as a positive development, people on here just start sticking the boot into unions (again).

I would have celebrated the strike being called off in sufficient time for a normal service to resume - as the other unions did 3 days ago.

The RMT know perfectly well what they are doing by waiting until the 11th hour. The only question is whether the public will realise what is going on.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, I think one thing that has been forgotten is that train planners really have been pushed to the limits by these strikes. This week in particular has been particularly bad and I worry that a number of people are close to going over the edge or already have gone over the edge.

Keep the faith!

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Keep the faith!

I am, I've been good luckily! Just worry for a few other people, but I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

When this is all said and done, feel like everyone involved in strike planning and train planning could do with a massive celebration to show just how much has been achieved, and how many things have been done that everyone thought was impossible over the past year.

 

[306024]

I am, I've been good luckily! Just worry for a few other people, but I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

When this is all said and done, feel like everyone involved in strike planning and train planning could do with a massive celebration to show just how much has been achieved, and how many things have been done that everyone thought was impossible over the past year.

Ah the light at the end of the tunnel proverb, be very careful Your thanks could well be three timetables per year, with all the data management that entails, unless planning timescales are considerably reduced so that planning periods don’t overlap. Anyway I digress.

In my time our TOC planning team were twice rewarded with days out as recognition for the work they had done in similar circumstances. With the appropriate contacts we even made it to Holland within budget. It was very much appreciated, but then the operations director at the time understood just what was involved, and the toll it had taken on some of the team.

 

[zwk500]

I am, I've been good luckily! Just worry for a few other people, but I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

When this is all said and done, feel like everyone involved in strike planning and train planning could do with a massive celebration to show just how much has been achieved, and how many things have been done that everyone thought was impossible over the past year.

There's certainly a lot of people feeling rather underappreciated in the planning department, to put it mildly.

 

[43066]

Now come on, stop playing naive. I know you know this is a cynical move to keep the disruption going without having to cause members several days pay loss. The staff get to sit around on full pay whilst us punters get told to bugger off again.

Well, no, I don’t know that at all. Could it be there’s hope of movement and that’s why the strikes have been suspended?! No of course not, it’s all part of a big anti-passenger conspiracy theory! I also wonder if you’d feel like you were “sitting around” if you were expected to go to a traincrew depot for an 0400 book on.

It’s certainly ironic that you spent months complaining about the strikes being called in the first place, now you’re moaning about how they’ve been called off!

I would have celebrated the strike being called off in sufficient time for a normal service to resume - as the other unions did 3 days ago.

So why not just celebrate the fact there will now be more of a service next week (and hopefully the beginning of the end of the current disputes)?

The RMT know perfectly well what they are doing by waiting until the 11th hour. The only question is whether the public will realise what is going on.

Which, unless you were privy to the decision making, is just your own (heavily biased) interpretation of events…

There's certainly a lot of people feeling rather underappreciated in the planning department, to put it mildly.

I’m sure that’s true, to be fair.

Is there a single area of the railway where people do feel appreciated at the moment?