Recent content by john349uk

You could say you enjoy having route learners with you, you enjoy keeping up to date with the latest changes to rules and procedures, you enjoy taking the time to help any new starters acclimatize to the depot. Also you enjoy doing the job to a high standard and that's something you want to pass...

It is.

Seemingly so, apparently the total closure is for later tonight, an emergency possession on both lines until at least Saturday morning.

Line closed at Dewsbury until Saturday morning. TPE to use emergency timetable and go via Normanton.

Ah, I was thinking the line was going to be totally blocked north of Newcastle so I didn't fancy two diversions (Carlisle and the Scottish one) but seemingly a limited amount of LNER's can get through. Am now thinking to give the train a go and see what happens.

I'm booked on the down Chieftain tomorrow, York to Inverness. Been hoping by some miracle everything would be OK. Acceptance of a long drive is slowly dawning on me!

"Apologies Officer, on this occasion the general aura of railwayness seems to have evaded my senses as I sped through the flashing lights and lowering barriers." "Easily done Sir, off you go."

That's interesting, and thanks!

Some rather passionate debates are occurring with regards to whether drivers should be working rest days or not, in the shadow of the national pay dispute. Seems like quite a few will be working them so I expect a significant improvement in service provision from next week, assuming that there's...

Yes they've offered the old rate again, time and 3/4, minimum 10 hours pay

Non-contractual overtime is banned by ASLEF currently on TPE, due in part to incorrect rostering and breaches of several terms and conditions. A promise from the new management that this wouldn't happen and strict adherence to drivers terms could see RDW restored sooner rather than later. Quite...

There's talk the strikes may go on until the election next year, when many think a Labour government is an absolute certainty. However that's over a year away, there could be a big scandal on the Labour front bench and it also looks like inflation will have reduced considerably by then, the...

Absolutely no chance this will get voted in, major sticking point is going to be that the unions won't get to have a hand in rosters/diagrams etc. The pay offer is rubbish as well, you could offer 10% for 2 years and I doubt this would get through. Both sides are absolutely miles apart...

I'd echo what others have said with regards to enjoying it and don't try and learn everything about the routes/rules/traction, there's plenty of time for that later, just being present in a working cab is enough at this stage. You'll pick things up without realizing. I'd also add that's its a...