Would it be the DfT or would it the ORR?
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The London Midland Staff Shortage and Cancellation/Bustitution Thread
- Thread starter Rich McLean
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Would it be the DfT or would it the ORR?
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BestWestern
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Umm, I think it's the DFT, but to be honest I don't know for sure. Like railways, couldn't give a toss about the politics! Somebody will do it before long though I'm sure. With the current hash of the West Coast, I would think the Government will want to be seen to have some sort of grip on the rest of the railway franchises at least!
87015
Established Member
Code:
Date: 20 Oct 2012
Due to a temporary shortfall of qualified train drivers, we have had to cancel a number of trains over recent weeks. We’re sorry if you have been affected.
Whilst the shortfall itself should be addressed by mid-December, we are working hard to ensure the impact on our passengers in the meantime is kept to an absolute minimum.
We have a dedicated team focusing on delivering the train service on a day by day basis and as a result we have been able to run a near-normal timetable on all but a few days, compensating for the shortage with drivers who have volunteered for overtime.
In addition, our people have agreed to a number of changes to the way we resource our train services in the short term, which will further reduce the need to cancel trains.
However, on those occasions when we don’t have enough people volunteering, we will still need to make temporary alterations to the timetable, and our priority is to ensure you have the information you need to plan your journey as early as possible.
As a result, we will be providing daily cancellation updates (Monday to Friday) between 22 October and 11 December. These will be listed on this page each day at 1700hrs, and include alterations for the next day and the day after that. The information will also be sent out through our free JourneyCheck email alert system.
Timetable alterations on Monday 22 October
The following list shows the trains at risk of cancellation on 22 October. Where there is a significant wait for the next train we will try to provide road transport or stop faster trains at intermediate stations – please listen for announcements or see the information screens on the station. However, if your travel plans are flexible, we suggest avoiding the affected times.
Remember, if you are delayed by 30 minutes or more as a result of these alterations, you can claim compensation at londonmidland.com/DelayRepay.
Please note that the following list details planned cancellations. Other external issues may of course still affect train services, so we advise you - as always - to check londonmidland.com/live or download our free iPhone App to check how things are running before you set off.
The following trains are cancelled unless otherwise stated
Northampton-Euston
2205 Milton Keynes-London Euston
2334 London Euston-Milton Keynes
Birmingham-Coventry/Northampton
From Birmingham New St
0739 Birmingham New St-Birmingham Intl
0813 Birmingham New St-Coventry
0839 Birmingham New St-Birmingham Intl
0939 Birmingham New St-Birmingham Intl
0953 Birmingham New St-London Euston will start from Rugby
1139 Birmingham New St-Birmingham Intl
1213 Birmingham New St-Northampton will terminate at Coventry
1313 Birmingham New St-London Euston will start from Coventry
1513 Birmingham New St-London Euston will start from Rugby
2353 Birmingham New St-Coventry
Towards Birmingham New St
0530 London Euston-Birmingham New St will terminate at Northampton
0817 Birmingham Intl-Birmingham New St
0911 Coventry-Birmingham New St
0917 Birmingham Intl-Birmingham New St
1017 Birmingham Intl-Birmingham New St
1217 Birmingham Intl-Birmingham New St
1046 London Euston-Birmingham New St will terminate at Northampton
1246 London Euston-Birmingham New St will terminate at Northampton
2113 London Euston-Birmingham New St will terminate at Coventry
Lichfield-Redditch via Birmingham New St
From Lichfield/Four Oaks
0747 Four Oaks-Redditch will terminate at New St
0850 Lichfield Trent Valley-Longbridge will terminate at New St
1013 Lichfield City-Longbridge
1050 Lichfield City-Longbridge will terminate at New St
1113 Lichfield City-Longbridge
1217 Four Oaks-Redditch will terminate at New St
1213 Lichfield City-Longbridge will terminate at New St
1220 Lichfield Trent Valley-Longbridge will terminate at New St
1317 Four Oaks-Redditch
1313 Lichfield City-Longbridge
1443 Lichfield City-Longbridge
1450 Lichfield Trent Valley-Longbridge
1550 Lichfield Trent Valley-Longbridge will start from New St
From Redditch/Longbridge
0652 Longbridge-Four Oaks will terminate at New St
0902 Longbridge-Lichfield City will terminate at Birmingham New St
0857 Redditch-Lichfield Trent Valley will start from New St
1002 Longbridge-Lichfield City
1122 Longbridge-Four Oaks will start from New St
1202 Longbridge-Lichfield City
1222 Longbridge-Four Oaks
1322 Longbridge-Four Oaks will start from New St
1332 Longbridge-Lichfield City
1327 Redditch-Lichfield Trent Valley
1422 Longbridge-Four Oaks starts from New St
1427 Redditch-Lichfield Trent Valley
1553 Longbridge-Four Oaks will start from New St
1602 Longbridge-Lichfield City will start from New St
Wolverhampton/Birmingham New St to Walsall/Rugeley
from Rugeley/Walsall
0701 Walsall-Birmingham New St
0704 Rugeley Trent Valley-Birmingham New St
0801 Walsall-Birmingham New St
1008 Birmingham New St-Wolverhampton
1210 Walsall-Birmingham New St
1501 Walsall-Wolverhampton will terminate at Birmingham New St
1531 Walsall-Wolverhampton
1731 Walsall-Wolverhampton
From Wolverhampton/Birmingham
0556 Birmingham New St-Rugeley Trent Valley
0621 Birmingham New St-Walsall
0721 Birmingham New St-Walsall
0908 Birmingham New St-Wolverhampton
0949 Wolverhampton-Walsall will start from New St
1107 Birmingham New St-Walsall
1049 Wolverhampton-Walsall will start from New St
1420 Wolverhampton-Walsall will terminate at New St
1620 Wolverhampton-Walsall will start from Birmingham New St
1649 Wolverhampton-Walsall will start from New St
1849 Wolverhampton-Birmingham New StSX as well now. What utter utter tripe.
All PG cancelled so do not fail PPM. A disgrace.
Bring back Central, all is forgiven...
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From the Londonmidland Website:
http://www.londonmidland.com/about-...ble-for-cross-city-line-from-22-october-2012/
Cross City Leaf Fall now abandoned. Its an interesting reason they give but surely given they haven't got enough drivers to run the existing service, running more services than planned will lead to even more cancellations than ever. So now your train will always be late if it does run.
http://www.londonmidland.com/about-...ble-for-cross-city-line-from-22-october-2012/
Cross City Leaf Fall now abandoned. Its an interesting reason they give but surely given they haven't got enough drivers to run the existing service, running more services than planned will lead to even more cancellations than ever. So now your train will always be late if it does run.
Ascot
Established Member
I'm caught up in this today and may well be for the next month at this rate. I can't moan too much as I get at least £2 a day in Delay Repay from my season ticket!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
More cancellations today, and again on the BBC News site..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20027895
http://www.londonmidland.com/about-us/latest-news/traincrew-shortage-22-october-2012/
Check out that list of trains "cancelled unless otherwise stated"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20027895
http://www.londonmidland.com/about-us/latest-news/traincrew-shortage-22-october-2012/
Check out that list of trains "cancelled unless otherwise stated"
SS4
Established Member
Apparently not on the driver turns.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just got to wait and see what Wednesday's cancellations will be. Rather hoped it'd be up today so I could amend my great escape plans (despite that they should be up).
LM said:
Unless I'm missing something the 24th is the "day after that"?
knight2004
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I have just watched a report on BBC Midlands Today about London Midland, poor passengers it seems the situation won't get better anytime soon. Mary Rhodes gave a London Midland manager a good grilling!
Rich McLean
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To be fair it hasn't been too bad the last couple weeks, but Half Term is upon us, which means no one wants to work the overtime and many parents take leave as there is often no one to look after the kids while they are off. So cancellations this week, especially friday, will be a nightmare
Tomonthetrain
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SS4
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Tomonthetrain
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Oooops didn't notice lol.
I'll be happy if London midland don't cancel my services on Saturday 0833 off Birmingham 1846 off London and the connecting snow hill bits
I'll be happy if London midland don't cancel my services on Saturday 0833 off Birmingham 1846 off London and the connecting snow hill bits
bronzeonion
Member
Would be nice if they just recruited more staff...
notadriver
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Aren't they doing that already ? Unfortunately there isn't a supply of qualified drivers. The bus industry doesn't seem to suffer the same problems however.
It is perhaps not the greatest PR move to say "the shortfall [in qualified train drivers] should be addressed by mid-December"
I know that the training process is thorough and a newly qualified driver is safe and closely monitored; but the perception of the general public may not be the same!
I know that the training process is thorough and a newly qualified driver is safe and closely monitored; but the perception of the general public may not be the same!
Ascot
Established Member
No delay repay today 
. Come on LM, cancel a few more!
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. Come on LM, cancel a few more!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rich McLean
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YorkshireBear
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They have enough applicants, not enough trained drivers....
What are people expecting them to do? Magic drivers out of thin air? They are doing the best they can out of a terrible situation!
I think we can safely presume that they don't want to be cancelling these services just as much as we don't want it!
I think we can safely presume that they don't want to be cancelling these services just as much as we don't want it!
ANorthernGuard
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Good business sense would have told the "Managers" to employ more drivers a long time ago, how come TOC's like my own who neither guards or drivers have to work Sundays have very few problems? Poor Management from LM pure and simple!
Don't give them credit - not hiring anyone for months on end *never* leads to good results. This was entirely avoidable and don't believe gratuitous PR balls telling you otherwise.
Morgsie
Member
This is taking the mickey, Just take away the Franchise
Tomonthetrain
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Wasn't just London Midland but Central Trains had major staff shortages too
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
For whatever reason, LM is one of the few franchises not in revenue support.
Probably seen (so far) as good guys by DfT.
bronzeonion
Member
What the hell would that do except cause even more problems! LM are a great TOC just shame about all this.
Travelled from Euston to Lichfield yesterday on the 1446, Crewe portion cancelled at Northampton, so punters for stations to Crewe were rammed onto the four cars to Brum and told to carry on from there.... one conductor on platform getting hassled, no other staff about giving directions. Being an enthusiast, I knew I could use the Cross City to Lichfield TV. 95 minutes late I arrived, thanks to delay repay I will get a full refund.
I agree with other posters, LM management were aware of the shortages long ago, but did nothing. I do hope someone will get spanked for this.
I agree with other posters, LM management were aware of the shortages long ago, but did nothing. I do hope someone will get spanked for this.
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Well said - relying on the good will of staff to work rest days just to keep a normal service on the go was bound to lead to this kind of mess eventually, if they failed to see it coming they shouldn't be left in charge of a paper bag, never mind a Train Operating Company. As has already been alluded to, it seems like a management hangover from Central's days, which leads me think a very deep seated belligerent attitude is at the core of the problem.
Though they aren't being helped by other TOC/FOCs poaching their qualified drivers. Admittedly, LM have been slow to react to this, but they're not solely to blame.
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