-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Information for GTR Southern passengers during strike (no DOO discussion)
- Thread starter ajb690
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
A poor start indeed. The 0730 Purley to London Bridge wasn't anywhere to be seen. Another train due to depart platform 5 (ex Cat/Tat) running late. Lots of trains in the area were running late around that time. One announcement claimed it was 'industrial action' and another 'power supply problems'.
This evening the 1908 London Bridge to Uckfield left on time but was advertised in the station as first stop Oxted, whereas RealTimeTrains shows it as first stop East Croydon. I'm on the 1912 London Bridge to Brighton which departed late at 1918. The 1906 stopper to Caterham left at 1914 too. Are GTR unable to run anything on time?
This evening the 1908 London Bridge to Uckfield left on time but was advertised in the station as first stop Oxted, whereas RealTimeTrains shows it as first stop East Croydon. I'm on the 1912 London Bridge to Brighton which departed late at 1918. The 1906 stopper to Caterham left at 1914 too. Are GTR unable to run anything on time?
According to data from raildar, there have been 100 trains delayed by 10 minutes or more so far today, and 168 cancelled. How does this stack up against the benchmarks in the franchise agreement?
I noticed the 1434, 1532 and 1632 Brighton to Ashford International services were cancelled. Some definition of 'full timetable'!!!
I noticed the 1434, 1532 and 1632 Brighton to Ashford International services were cancelled. Some definition of 'full timetable'!!!
Last edited:
causton
Established Member
Coulsdon Town - Watford Junction 0901 and 0915 Watford Junction - Clapham Junction were cancelled due to... "industrial action yesterday" :roll: and most, if not all, trains seemed to be 4 car vice 5. What happened to the 377/7s???
Bishopstone
Established Member
It's great to have a train service to Seaford again. Hot, stuffy buses full of people with winter germs were literally making me ill. And I can't read on road vehicles (travel sickness thing) so it was wasted time, too.
My train to Lewes this morning had THREE staff, plus driver: a Guard, a Guard/OBS trainee and their mentor. None of them explained our seven minute lateness, or apologised for the disappearing tail lights of the London 'connection' as we pulled in.
My train to Lewes this morning had THREE staff, plus driver: a Guard, a Guard/OBS trainee and their mentor. None of them explained our seven minute lateness, or apologised for the disappearing tail lights of the London 'connection' as we pulled in.
the 19.08 (and 16.08) was 2 car instead of 10 car so they advertised it as fast to oxted to ease congestion on the unit.
Probably cancelled because of the issues at Hastings with the failed SE train this afternoon.
Deepgreen
Established Member
I don't imagine anyone is taking any notice of anything in the franchise agreement any more. As far as I can see Southern can do what they like with no fear of penalties.
Presumably the Ashford cancellations were related to the 375 that lost its shoes.
Last edited:
Deepgreen
Established Member
What's happened to the 171s now?
Deepgreen
Established Member
Indeed - my 0831 from Redhill to Victoria was around 15 late at Clapham Junction this morning - not a word from the OBS during the entire journey. Yet again, too, platform staff en route appeared not to be able to get into position for timely despatch. The entire TOC just smacks of lax and sloppy operation.
Hi all...its been a while sinceI was on this board, but has any Season Ticket Holder actually been contacted by Southern about their additional "Season Ticket compensation scheme"?
No one I know has, so I was wondering if there is a list of lines/stations that Southern intend to apply this to.
No one I know has, so I was wondering if there is a list of lines/stations that Southern intend to apply this to.
Deepgreen
Established Member
I was wondering much the same thing yesterday. I have not, and Southern told us we would be contacted by "mid January". I think the 25th counts as 'late' January! Another Southern late running service!
Deepgreen
Established Member
Maybe it's Customer Services turn to go on strike...
Southern's so-called "Customer Services" is easily the worst of any TOC I have encountered, with a consistently poor standard (illiterate and irrelevant 'stock' responses). It's reasonable to expect that a key requirement for a department whose function is to communicate would be the ability to write properly, but...
I haven't been.
Shambles at Purley this morning. The 0730 to London Bridge was running late so was sent on through on the fast lines non-stop. I boarded the 0732 ex-Caterham/Tattenham on platform 4. The doors were then locked but platform staff were unable to get the units to couple, so we were trapped inside the train whilst they tried a few times. A fast Victoria train arrived on platform 3 but hung around for ages, presumably because there were no platform staff available to dispatch it.
The 0740 to Watford Jn arrived on platform 5 but wasn't dispatched on timeas staff were still trying to get the London Bridge train to couple and presumably send that first. After that had left, doors were released on the London Bridge train but there was no information as to whether passengers should stay put or move to alternative trains.
A fast London Bridge train then came in on platform 3 and a semi-fast Victoria train on 5. I decided to cut my losses then and move to the Victoria train. Both of these trains were dispatched late, with the stopping Victoria train put ahead of the fast London Bridge one inexplicably. When I left, some passengers were still on the uncouplable 0732 train hoping that the coupling would soon succeed.
I later saw on RTT that the 0732 eventually left 32 minutes late and was terminated at East Croydon. Whilst I understand that technical faults occur, staff seemed unprepared for it and didn't form a good plan about what to do. Because everyone was dealing with this train, trains on other platforms piled up and didn't get dispatched on time. I don't know if that was down to station staff or a signalling decision. Also, passengers weren't kept informed of alternative options, and that caused a handful to become irate at platform staff.
Last edited:
Deepgreen
Established Member
Sympathies. Sounds like the sort of thing that happens often at Redhill. Platform staff are just not in the right place for timely dispatch often enough. It seems that Southern have bludgeoned DOO through without proper account being taken of the requirements for dispatch staffing levels and availability.
BTW, does the 0732 normally use platform 4 (the down slow)? It must have caused significant delay to down trains as well.
My 0831 from Redhill (now back to five cars from the ten used during the industrial action) took the fast as usual at Stoats Nest, but then stopped at Purley in a queue of trains.
Last edited:
Yes it's scheduled for platform 4. There's a few northbound slow line trains that all leave in succession around that time, and a gap in the southbound trains calling at Purley and then going towards Stoats Nest, so it makes sense to use 4 as a duplicate for platform 5 at that time of day.
This evening I was running late so ended up on a Tattenham Corner train from Clapham Junction. It pulled in around 17.46, so two minutes late and then we boarded. Then some others arrived and boarded. Then some more, followed by some more. Eventually we left 5 minutes late and no reason was given.
Given the other train was now 5 minutes ahead and no fast trains in front, I'm not sure what the issue was.
I don't know if this train has an OBS.
Now we have stopped at Selhurst for no reason. I have a connection to make, which actually stops at Clapham Junction but I thought I'd be clever and get the first train that left and then catch the first train to leave East Croydon. Might have been a bad move, if the next train to leave Clapham Junction wasn't as delayed and leaves before I board it at East Croydon.
EDIT: I made the train. It dawned on me that if the Tattenham Corner train is stopped at Selhurst on a fast line, no other fast train could overtake it if also on the fast line.
My connecting train also left East Croydon 5 minutes late, having departed Victoria on time.
It seems more problems exist on the Victoria mainline than the London Bridge one. Still there's £300 million to fix some of the issues that might be causing this.
Next week I shall make an effort not to miss the bus then the enviable delays won't be such an issue for me.
Given the other train was now 5 minutes ahead and no fast trains in front, I'm not sure what the issue was.
I don't know if this train has an OBS.
Now we have stopped at Selhurst for no reason. I have a connection to make, which actually stops at Clapham Junction but I thought I'd be clever and get the first train that left and then catch the first train to leave East Croydon. Might have been a bad move, if the next train to leave Clapham Junction wasn't as delayed and leaves before I board it at East Croydon.
EDIT: I made the train. It dawned on me that if the Tattenham Corner train is stopped at Selhurst on a fast line, no other fast train could overtake it if also on the fast line.
My connecting train also left East Croydon 5 minutes late, having departed Victoria on time.
It seems more problems exist on the Victoria mainline than the London Bridge one. Still there's £300 million to fix some of the issues that might be causing this.
Next week I shall make an effort not to miss the bus then the enviable delays won't be such an issue for me.
Last edited:
So what caused the congestion. I see some trains to Redhill were almost 20 minutes late. 18.55 departed London Bridge on time. It was already 5 late by the time it reached East Croydon but then 19 late once it left Purley.
Not been the best evening it seems and there isn't even industrial action taking place.
Not been the best evening it seems and there isn't even industrial action taking place.
Last edited:
Continued reliability issues with the ex scotrail units for a start.
What is the reason for there being a bus at 23.59 from Haywards Heath to Three Bridges. It starts in Brighton at 23.13.
The reason I ask is that there is a train to Bedford from Haywards Heath at 23.58, which departs Brighton at 23.37, so later than the bus and up to Three Bridges they both stop at the same stations. In fact their is a Brighton train before that at 23.10, which only leaves 3 minutes before the bus. That's tops at every station, save Balcombe, which it skips.
I'm sure there's a good reason for the bus but given it runs so close to a train departing I'm not sure. Surely everyone would fit into the train at that time of night.
The reason I ask is that there is a train to Bedford from Haywards Heath at 23.58, which departs Brighton at 23.37, so later than the bus and up to Three Bridges they both stop at the same stations. In fact their is a Brighton train before that at 23.10, which only leaves 3 minutes before the bus. That's tops at every station, save Balcombe, which it skips.
I'm sure there's a good reason for the bus but given it runs so close to a train departing I'm not sure. Surely everyone would fit into the train at that time of night.
Last edited:
I have been saying for some time (to those that will listen which is no one!) that London Bridge is just a red herring when it comes to delays etc. Reality is that according to Southerns figures performance at Victoria is far worse.
I was stood waiting for the train at East Croydon today, along with many others and when a delayed one turned up just before 8am, we had to shuffle down as it was only 8 carriages and we were stood where a 12 carriage train might be. Only slightly out but you only need to be slightly off and you can't board the train.
That train was 15 minutes late however so already had extra passengers I'm sure. I'm sure it could do with more carriages though even if it were on time.
Now they do seem to announce the number of coaches but I don't remember hearing it for that service and clearly no one else in front of me did . l or if they did, they didn't know where an eight car train finishes.
I wasn't listening to any music at the time either but I wasn't paying close attention to the announcements either. Later on I was though and announcement did seem too quiet. Perhaps the announcements need to be louder.
Anyway next train was in 8 minutes later, another delayed service but this time 12 cars so ok. Standing room only of course but that is what I'd expect at East Croydon at this time so I don't mind that, as long as I can get on a train.
Quite a few delays this morning for various reasons, some known and others unknown. For example the 7.40 from Haywards Heath to Victoria left 10 minutes late. It's usually good at leaving there on time. Less good at reaching Clapham Junction on time mind you.
That train was 15 minutes late however so already had extra passengers I'm sure. I'm sure it could do with more carriages though even if it were on time.
Now they do seem to announce the number of coaches but I don't remember hearing it for that service and clearly no one else in front of me did . l or if they did, they didn't know where an eight car train finishes.
I wasn't listening to any music at the time either but I wasn't paying close attention to the announcements either. Later on I was though and announcement did seem too quiet. Perhaps the announcements need to be louder.
Anyway next train was in 8 minutes later, another delayed service but this time 12 cars so ok. Standing room only of course but that is what I'd expect at East Croydon at this time so I don't mind that, as long as I can get on a train.
Quite a few delays this morning for various reasons, some known and others unknown. For example the 7.40 from Haywards Heath to Victoria left 10 minutes late. It's usually good at leaving there on time. Less good at reaching Clapham Junction on time mind you.
Deepgreen
Established Member
Well, I'm not envious of the delays!
Deepgreen
Established Member
Wow - after all that time and money spent on them.
Deepgreen
Established Member
Well done!
I suspect that the CJ delay was another in the rapidly-growing number caused by DOO trains not being dispatched efficiently. I am seeing many instances of staff not being at the front of the train in time, either through being busy on other duties or simply not knowing which trains require them. It happened with my train from Redhill this morning - the already-late 0831 was kept waiting for a couple of minutes after it was ready to leave while the platform staff went to the front.
DOO seems to be causing a large amount of fairly minor delays, which can easily then escalate into significant ones. Still, it's all well worth it!
Probably becuase London Bridge has more important commuters who work at banks and in the city.
- Status