CrossCountry's Driver Shortage

[Travelmonkey]

On the 170's, I knew that EMR followed the practice you described on 170 double units since I've been on EMR services where the guard has made announcements to that effect (that he was only available in one portion of the train). But I wasn't sure if XC had different rules.

That's the case unless there is a short platform/passenger assit I know last year my guard laid the ramp for me at Peartree while working a double set, also told local teenagers off for loitering in the shelter but that's probably a discussion for a different thread.


XC is the neglected intercity soon to be the odd one out without any Hitachi trains too, the guards definitely do seem to try and put a brave face on for the passengers at least on the Turbostars, I don't see this issue being fixed any time soon though,

 

[WAB]

https://x.com/ChimeWhistle/status/1894075000132423927

Hotting up at CrossCountry over leaks regarding a possible emergency timetable in May. HR has sent out a stern warning to all staff not to leak info to the press. Journalists found out about the warning after someone leaked it!

 

[Trainman40083]

That might suggest that the corrective actions that the previous Transport Minister have not delivered an improvement.

 

[PG]

That might suggest that the corrective actions that the previous Transport Minister have not delivered an improvement.

We will have to see if the current Transport Secretary goes through with the threat to take action against Arriva as it sounds like any improvement that occurred isn't going to be sustained...

 

[Snow1964]

We will have to see if the current Transport Secretary goes through with the threat to take action against Arriva as it sounds like any improvement that occurred isn't going to be sustained...

It is worth reminding everyone that last summers remediation plan entitled the Secretary of State to a review of Operators performance in order to assess if sufficient progress has been made. ....... by 15th March 2025 (just over 2 weeks away)

Review is section 8e (which lists a number of criteria, and presumably tests the long list of requirements/targets in section 8c)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67814e1cd5422b88ec018458/xc-trains-limited-remedial-plan-notices-letter-26-july-2024.pdf

 

[43066]

It is worth reminding everyone that last summers remediation plan entitled the Secretary of State to a review of Operators performance in order to assess if sufficient progress has been made. ....... by 15th March 2025 (just over 2 weeks away)

Review is section 8e (which lists a number of criteria, and presumably tests the long list of requirements/targets in section 8c)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67814e1cd5422b88ec018458/xc-trains-limited-remedial-plan-notices-letter-26-july-2024.pdf

I can’t remember - is there currently a RDW agreement in place?

 

[Trainman40083]

We will have to see if the current Transport Secretary goes through with the threat to take action against Arriva as it sounds like any improvement that occurred isn't going to be sustained...

If nothing is done, it shows that they were empty threats. That might suggest that future threats would be ignored as there would be no consequences.

 

[Snow1964]

If nothing is done, it shows that they were empty threats. That might suggest that future threats would be ignored as there would be no consequences.

Totally agree, has to be a purpose of the 15th March 2025 review (as per letter clause 8e). If no purpose why add it to a letter.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67814e1cd5422b88ec018458/xc-trains-limited-remedial-plan-notices-letter-26-july-2024.pdf

Clearly any rumours of HR gagging employees, can only mean management knows they will fail the review and that drastic news should be imminent. Otherwise it's as you say, just empty threats and no consequences, which is open invitation for others to not bother either.

 

[Harpo]

Clearly any rumours of HR gagging employees….

Big difference between ‘gagging’ and reminding people of their contract of employment.

 

[PG]

Totally agree, has to be a purpose of the 15th March 2025 review (as per letter clause 8e). If no purpose why add it to a letter.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67814e1cd5422b88ec018458/xc-trains-limited-remedial-plan-notices-letter-26-july-2024.pdf

Clearly any rumours of HR gagging employees, can only mean management knows they will fail the review and that drastic news should be imminent. Otherwise it's as you say, just empty threats and no consequences, which is open invitation for others to not bother either.

I'd go with a slightly different scenario: The 15th March review compares performance pre emergency timetable with current performance and talk of another emergency timetable from May would suggest that this improvement can't be sustained. Hence the desire to keep the lid on these rumours so that the review focuses only on if there has been an improvement and not on future performance.

 

[class 9]

I can’t remember - is there currently a RDW agreement in place?

Yes, until March 22nd.

 

[4COR]

I was supposed to travel Cardiff - Gloucester (and onwards to Swindon) on Sunday just gone using XC. There was only one XC service to and one from Cardiff all day (from Nottingham 1925, to Leicester 1945) with every other single XC service being cancelled due to train crew issues. It suited me as I got re-routed on GWR via Bristol, but abysmal nonetheless.

 

[Russel]

I was supposed to travel Cardiff - Gloucester (and onwards to Swindon) on Sunday just gone using XC. There was only one XC service to and one from Cardiff all day (from Nottingham 1925, to Leicester 1945) with every other single XC service being cancelled due to train crew issues. It suited me as I got re-routed on GWR via Bristol, but abysmal nonetheless.

Yes, I was using XC on Sunday so was keeping an eye on the cancellations all day, the amount of cancellations between Cardiff and Nottingham all day was simply unacceptable.

 

[1D54]

So is there anything coming from XC to excuse this? It's been going on for the last three years. Where are the drivers that were promised by this company and yet the services they provide heading east out of New Street are generally good.

 

[D1015]

Ironically they're hiring yet more train guards for Bham, Manc and Edinburgh after a fevered campaign back over Christmas. Suspect the HR might have some responsibility for all these shortages.

 

[Bald Rick]

So is there anything coming from XC to excuse this? It's been going on for the last three years. Where are the drivers that were promised by this company and yet the services they provide heading east out of New Street are generally good.

Essentially, the drivers don’t want to work on Sundays.

 

[357]

I know people who applied for qualified driver vacancies in May last year and haven't heard anything since - people who would be more than willing to work Sundays too!

 

[43066]

Essentially, the drivers don’t want to work on Sundays.

You mean they don’t want to work on their days off?

Presumably a. The company hasn’t negotiated to bring Sundays inside, and b. They aren’t providing good enough incentives to get sufficient Sunday volunteers to cover the service.

 

[Bald Rick]

I know people who applied for qualified driver vacancies in May last year and haven't heard anything since - people who would be more than willing to work Sundays too!

There’s literally thousands of people who apply for every driver job. And Cross Country have a full set of training schools underway, albeit with more to come.

You mean they don’t want to work on their days off?

Presumably a. The company hasn’t negotiated to bring Sundays inside, and b. They aren’t providing good enough incentives to get sufficient Sunday volunteers to cover the service.

Not wuite that simlle old boy. They are more than happy to work their days off, so long as it isn’t a Sunday! (Incentives are the same AIUI)

 

[357]

There’s literally thousands of people who apply for every driver job. And Cross Country have a full set of training schools underway, albeit with more to come.

I can assure you there are not thousands of applicants for every qualified driver job.

 

[43066]

Not wuite that simlle old boy. They are more than happy to work their days off, so long as it isn’t a Sunday! (Incentives are the same AIUI)

Okay, so if that’s the case, presumably the company is aware of it, so why don’t they simply offer more for Sunday shifts, until the point where they have enough takers?

It just seems odd to focus on people not wanting to work on their days off, rather than the organisation that is supposed to provide the service to the public, and is failing to incentivise volunteers.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Not wuite that simlle old boy. They are more than happy to work their days off, so long as it isn’t a Sunday! (Incentives are the same AIUI)

Why does it matter what days they want to work? It’s their day off… they’re doing the company and the travelling public a favour by working overtime.

Presumably your disdain is misdirected, and therefore should be focussed more at speculated weaponised incompetence of TOCs by not hiring enough drivers (at least a 40% shortfall to cover Sundays inside the working week) and even refraining/failing to respond to applicants, as seen above.

 

[Bald Rick]

Okay, so if that’s the case, presumably the company is aware of it, so why don’t they simply offer more for Sunday shifts, until the point where they have enough takers?

Come on, you know why.

Why does it matter what days they want to work? It’s their day off

I didn’t say it did matter. It’s not my business, I was just stating facts.

Presumably your disdain is misdirected,

No disdain intended.

 

[43066]

Come on, you know why.

The DfT won’t let them, and take the revenue risk so XC don’t care.

But still - it’s important to remember that it’s the business that owes the duty to the passengers who buy tickets, not the staff members who are simply not working their days off, the same as people in any other job.

Personally I doubt I’ll work any more this tax year because I’ll only be getting a bill for extra tax next year. No doubt many at XC are in the same position.

 

[Bald Rick]

I can assure you there are not thousands of applicants for every qualified driver job.

Ok, perhaps not each and every job. But certainly I know people in TOCs responsible for driver recruitment who have had several thousand valid applications for each recruitment round they do for trainees. That excludes the applications rejected for not meeting minimum requirements, so the number who applied is obviously larger.

I feel very sorry for the people who have to wade through that lot to whittle it down to 8 or 10 for a training school intake.

 

[43066]

Ok, perhaps not each and every job. But certainly I know people in TOCs responsible for driver recruitment who have had several thousand valid applications for each recruitment round they do for trainees. That excludes the applications rejected for not meeting minimum requirements, so the number who applied is obviously larger.

I feel very sorry for the people who have to wade through that lot to whittle it down to 8 or 10 for a training school intake.

They could simply raise the minimum requirements to make the initial numbers easier to deal with.

The qualified market is much smaller, however.

 

[357]

Ok, perhaps not each and every job. But certainly I know people in TOCs responsible for driver recruitment who have had several thousand valid applications for each recruitment round they do for trainees. That excludes the applications rejected for not meeting minimum requirements, so the number who applied is obviously larger.

I feel very sorry for the people who have to wade through that lot to whittle it down to 8 or 10 for a training school intake.

What TOCs have depots that attract thousands of applications from already qualified drivers?

We all know who the popular TOCs are but even then I find it doubtful that even London depots are getting thousands of qualified applicants.

 

[PLY2AYS]

I didn’t say it did matter. It’s not my business, I was just stating facts.

But you brought up Sundays when talking about the driver shortage?

So what’s your point, when saying people don’t want to work their Sundays? It obviously matters to you to some degree…

And if it doesn’t matter, then why bring it up?

 

[Zerothebrake!]

If you had the chance to work your day off for let's say arguments sake, £600 and another much more religious day for £286 what would you be inclined to do

Go on let's be honest.

 

[Harpo]

Workers work and managers manage.

Unless there’s been an inexplicable surge of ‘sickness’, responsibility for XC’s cancellations rests solely with XC management or it’s DfT puppeteers.