I admit that does surprise me, but would the chancers know where to say?
And then you just kick them off the train there!
-
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!
Drop in passenger numbers sees train services cut
- Thread starter js1000
- Start date
- Status
And then you just kick them off the train there!
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
MDB1images
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 654
With a BTP presence and many stations closing multiple entrances to control who is coming and going I think for now the majority of people on stations/trains fall into the bracket of key workers or have a justified reason to travel.
Did witness one idiot at Preston last night on his phone to his mate, he was going to meet him in Barrow for a party, as the station was dead (he was the only passenger)and he was so loud on his phone it proved an easy one to remove for the BTP who was listening to everyword!
There are times when you just have to wonder how we can even think that we are an intelligent species.
Indeed. I mentioned that earlier.
Killingworth
Established Member
I have an email from Northern dated 3rd saying they're having to reclose gatelines because too many are travelling when not in essential categories, and presumably some will be without tickets.
trainophile
Established Member
Oh really. I must have picked up on an old tweet then, although I'm sure it was there this morning. Why would they send you an email? Are you on their staff?
Ah I didn't see your post
CaptainHaddock
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 2,213
It's been like that for the past week at Leeds. Southern exit/entrance closed, main barriers open, albeit with a handful of staff on "staring at passengers" duty.
Killingworth
Established Member
No, but they send email updates to user groups and they get passed on.
" Ticket Gates: We’ve decided to re-close the gatelines. As said above, we are still seeing people other than key workers use our services for day trips and other unnecessary journeys. This is unacceptable. We hope that closing the gateline will go some way to discouraging these people. It will also help to secure the railway and hopefully prevent vandalism."
However, it's a moving picture and we must all know gatelines can't be provided, let alone manned, at all stations even at the best of times.
Morning peak day tickets are rather expensive on some railway lines. That might put we people off using the train for occasional use to work.
I'm not aware of the back entrance to Guildford Station being currently manned. Perhaps in the south there is less of a problem or they don't have staff to man it.
Talking of Guildford. Last week there was a 03:48am bus to Woking and Surbtion. This week it isn't running. The first service isn't until 5:14. Would that have solely run because they had already contracted the bus company to run the service, due to previously arranged engineering works? It's not as if the emgerency timetable was in place when they agree the engineering works, so couldn't they cancel the bus
They incorrectly tell passengers that delays are based on the revised timetable and not the one when they booked their ticket. Why don't they tell the bus companies we don't need you based on the revised timetbale, so go away? I'm not being serious with the go away but.
I also see there is a 4am bus this Good Friday. So that seems to confirm my suspicions. I mean if a 4am service isn't need Monday to Thursday this week, with no replacement rail service at that time, surely it isn't needed on Friday? The are unprecedented times.
It will be interesting to see what timetable is used due to the Guildford engineering works. There was going to be a rare chance to get a fast train from Effingham Junction to Waterloo but I suspect they will revert to the post Chirstmas engineering work strike timetable instead. I can't remember of hand if that included a fast train from Effingham Junction.
As for the rare chance to get that fast train. I wouldn't have been able to as I'm in the moderate risk group.
I've just noticed they are running a bus every 30 minutes this Friday between Guildford and Farnham. That must be the first time a rail replacement bus has run between Guildford and Farnham. Given the advice not to travel, a bus every 30 minutes seems overkill.
In contrast the trains are running once every 2 hours Monday to Thursday. So that an increase of 400% in service provision if I've done my maths correctly.
The buses from Guildford are starting at 5:56, whereas the trains don't start until 8:53 on other days.
Great Western Railway are not running any direct buses to Gatwick Airport on Friday and I'm sure they would have done, had we not been in this pandemic period. So surely it must be possible to cancel bus services and not run them as frequently, like they are doing with the train services.
In contrast the trains are running once every 2 hours Monday to Thursday. So that an increase of 400% in service provision if I've done my maths correctly.
The buses from Guildford are starting at 5:56, whereas the trains don't start until 8:53 on other days.
Great Western Railway are not running any direct buses to Gatwick Airport on Friday and I'm sure they would have done, had we not been in this pandemic period. So surely it must be possible to cancel bus services and not run them as frequently, like they are doing with the train services.
Last edited:
Social distancing during essential travel?
Maybe. How many do you get on a bus vers a train? Even if that is a good reason, surely services don't need to start 3 hours earlier and if they do, then surely they do on other days. I appreciate they may not have enough staff to run services earlier on other days.
Last edited:
Jamiescott1
Member
- Joined
- 22 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 964
Chiltern have further reduced their timetable from today, cut a few high wycombe stopping services.
They have also reduced train lengths. Services that were 4 coaches last week now down to 2 coaches.
They have also reduced train lengths. Services that were 4 coaches last week now down to 2 coaches.
LeylandLen
Member
One day soon ( I hope ) there is going to be an 'exit' strategy from this Lock-down of course. People asking how will it happen.
Surely it will take time for trains to be repositioned , and obviously to find out what staff from cleaners to drivers to work again. Presume sadly their will be some casualties from covid19 , and those who have worked who will need time off .
Surely it will take time for trains to be repositioned , and obviously to find out what staff from cleaners to drivers to work again. Presume sadly their will be some casualties from covid19 , and those who have worked who will need time off .
jamesst
Member
Yeah just on the timetabling point I suspect anyone who thinks the day after lockdown is lifted services will be back to there old frequencies is in for a shock.
That assumes that it's a binary thing (lockdown/no lockdown), chances are there'll be a more gradual move away from lockdown towards back to normal.
As such chances are there could be several weeks over which to sorry things out.
The big risk is that of deaths amongst staff, which would result in ongoing staff shortages. Another risk would be staff taking leave once it's all over rather than spread throughout the year, which could result in insufficient staff to run services.
bramling
Veteran Member
Yes the point about leave will be a big issue in time. Where I am a lot of leave has been cancelled, and people will be sure to take it when the time comes. Indeed they may well *need* to as many people will have been on full pelt for some time by then keeping the job going.
The shielding ones may well also have leave accruing. In some cases this will quite probably lead to quite a bit of bitterness I would imagine if they return to work and then go straight off on leave again. Some very sensitive and careful management will be required - something the railway industry has a habit of not doing particularly well!
No doubt it will be an issue, but I assume most TOCs front line staff with rostered leave are still requiring their staff to take the leave when rostered?
bramling
Veteran Member
I can only speak for where I am, however with there being such a desperation to get people in leave has been cancelled. They weren’t particularly happy about it and know it’s storing up a problem for the future, but the needs of the present evidently outweighed the needs of the future!
Having said that, I suspect this will be more of an issue in some other operational grades beside driver. As I say, expect a lot of trouble over the shielders. It’s simply not going to go down well for people to come back after 12 or more weeks off and then find the self-same people have 6 or more weeks of leave to take. Like with this week’s fine weather, it doesn’t help that this is falling over the summer...
I’d be surprised if any operator doesn’t abide by the Governments relaxation of carrying over annual leave to 2021 / 2022. This will help spread the pain.
bramling
Veteran Member
Sure that will be the case, however I suspect a lot of people will want leave this year if they can. I certainly will! And knowing some of the shielding ones where I work, I can bet they will too. As I say, some delicate handling of all this will be needed.
So far my first planned holiday starts second week of May. I then have three weeks in June, two weeks in July, and three weeks in September. I have already cancelled the first of three weeks in May, which has already been rebooked for September. I’m still hoping for my first holiday in Wales in May, but part of me already realises it’s probably not going to happen. Be that the case the leave will change to October.
Definitely a problem storing up there, and unfortunately it’s going to be politically impossible to deny people who have been keeping things ticking through all this. I suspect it may even be necessary to arrange some secondments in some areas to bump numbers back up, though clearly this wouldn’t be an option for grades like driver.
Last edited:
High Dyke
Established Member
EMR also looking at further reducing some services in the next week or so.
I know of someone working for GTR who has taken leave and may have been happy not to. Maybe it depends on staffing levels at a TOC.
MDB1images
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 654
Will depend on TOC status in terms of manpower.
My TOC says you have to take your leave (some have tried to cancel and it's been refused) .
Whilst quite a lot off its manageable at the moment.
Tbh most seem happy to take the allocated leave even though it was booked for a (now) cancelled holiday as it's felt less of a risk staying at home than having to go in work at the moment.
clagmonster
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 2,442
I understand that there are key workers into Grimsby affected by this and crowding is ocurring on the parallel local Stagecoach bus service which serves Stallingborough, Healing and Great Coates. Fully understand the need for the branch to close, just not necessarily the local stations.
SWR mainline suburban looks to have been further reduced - Hampton Court and Epsom are now only hourly, they were every 30 mins when the timetable was first reduced.
So only 7 per hour now:
1 x Guildford via Epsom
1 x Effingham J via Cobham
1 x Woking
1 x Chessington
1 x Hampton Court
2 x Kingston/Waterloo circular
So only 7 per hour now:
1 x Guildford via Epsom
1 x Effingham J via Cobham
1 x Woking
1 x Chessington
1 x Hampton Court
2 x Kingston/Waterloo circular
Metrolink and Merseyrail in trouble with comments from the Regional Mayors that services maybe cut or mothballed without a Government bailout.
lbndaily.co.uk
Merseyrail losing £1.2m a week due to coronavirus, says Rotheram - Liverpool Business News
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is joining forces with his Greater Manchester counterpart, Andy Burnham, to call for urgent Government support for local transport. Tony McDonough reports Merseyrail […]
lbndaily.co.uk
- Status