Magdalen Road
Member
That‘s good to read. How long is this likely to take, any idea? The commute is getting quite frustrating. Seems a bit odd to go live with new trains without having trained everyone.
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Lack of train crew on Great Northern?
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Steve Harris
Member
You might want to read https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...379s-introduction.247756/page-61#post-7318032 which sheds some light on the subject (and answers a question similar to yours in post 1,821 of that thread).
Overground mooted this when I drove for them. iirc they were considering Stratford , but apparently they would need more drivers and so they decided against at that time.
Magdalen Road
Member
Thanks, it does, a little. I see @MikeWM is also having problems at other times of the day.
Wondering whether my employer or me will run out of patience first before the drivers are signed off (or other mystery is sorted).
As luck would have it that was our planned return from South Ken via KGX. On the outbound service OH who has back pain was complaining vociferously about the ironing board and doesn't like the interchange at Finsbury Park, so I was looking forward to some peace and quiet!
Hope you weren't trying to get the 1512 off KGX today, cancelled throughout again.
As you say, it hasn't managed to get to KLN since Monday, ditto the 1710 back from Kings Lynn - the latter I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about, as I've mentioned a number of time recently it is the only service from Cambridge North to Cambridge between 1739 and 1832, making using Cambridge North a right pain for commuters - this train really needs to run, but it hasn't 4 days in a row.
Have you tried writing to your MP? You can send them a message from https://www.theyworkforyou.com/
They might not be able to get things to work any faster, but might get more information about why it is happening, and when it will improve
Magdalen Road
Member
bramling
Veteran Member
GTR just don’t have a “we must try and deliver the timetable come what may” attitude. It seems to be seen to be too easy just to cancel stuff. Clearly too many 387s have been sent away already if the 379 fleet, for whatever reason(s) aren’t currently able to fulfil their diagrams.
Intercity_225
Member
Many TL services to/from Peterborough are expected to be cancelled from 5.30pm onwards this evening due to a lack of train crew.
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Incident: Reduced Thameslink | National Rail
Reduced Thameslink service between Peterborough and London Kings Cross / Horsham. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.
I know we've discussed this before but it's bizarre that some TOCs have struggled with lack of crew for years, whilst other nearby TOCs seem to do okay. For example, London Overground seems to be fine. Does it pay a lot more than GTR or are there other reasons that make it more appealing?Many TL services to/from Peterborough are expected to be cancelled from 5.30pm onwards this evening due to a lack of train crew.
Incident: Reduced Thameslink | National Rail
Reduced Thameslink service between Peterborough and London Kings Cross / Horsham. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.
Robski
Member
- Joined
- 15 May 2016
- Messages
- 231
GTR seems to have forgotten to mention that they have cancelled a lot of the Brighton - Cambridge services as well...Many TL services to/from Peterborough are expected to be cancelled from 5.30pm onwards this evening due to a lack of train crew.
Incident: Reduced Thameslink | National Rail
Reduced Thameslink service between Peterborough and London Kings Cross / Horsham. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.
The cancellations this week have been and continue to be horrendous. At Kings Lynn this morning both the 11:42 and 12:42 trains were cancelled resulting in a replacement bus to Ely. Got to Ely at 13:05 but the 13:18 was cancelled. Just checked National Rail Journey planner and both the 22:39 and 23:09 (the last two trains ) are cancelled this evening. Not sure how I’m getting home. This is so stressful.
RailwayRookie
Member
Great Northerns journey planner cites urgent repairs to the railway for the cancellations and replacement busses as part of the journey.
The timetable is showing a shuttle service from Kings Lynn to Downham for the last few hours of service also.
Whatever the situation is. It seems there is a plan in place so although you may be delayed/inconvenienced. You'll make it home.
There are now a silly number of infrastructure problems causing chaos all over the place. And when it goes wrong in the south, we all know the impact on the service on the north. I don't know if the hot weather played a part in the issues last week, but it's cooler this week so I guess we wait and see if this week is a disaster or not.
I'm also seeing more train faults, including brake faults and DOO issues that mean skipping stops or late cancellations. The 379s continuing to cause issues that need to be addressed to try and resolve the delay problem.
I'm also seeing more train faults, including brake faults and DOO issues that mean skipping stops or late cancellations. The 379s continuing to cause issues that need to be addressed to try and resolve the delay problem.
The 1318 from Ely was the same (Cancelled) 1242 Train from Kings Lynn. - For those that have the mind and patience, they can check to see whether the inbound service to Kings Lynn ran past Ely or whether it even got to Ely etc. It's a pain but gives a better idea of whether a Train may be running.
As for tonight, the 2309 KGX - KLN appears to be running as far as Cambridge tonight. If that holds true, I'd imagine Station Staff at Cambridge will make onward travel arrangements for those wanting stations further North of Cambridge.
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Magdalen Road
Member
1442 KGX-KLN cancelled. 1512 KGX-KLN terminates at Cambridge. 1619 Cambridge to Ely cancelled. This means two trains load of people will either be trying to cram into the 1616 Norwich or getting the 1635 from Cambridge (i.e. the 1542 KGX-KLN) which will also be busy.
First thing this morning, I noticed at Ely station just past north ends of platforms 1 and 2 neon yellow square signs with 5R. The 0518 Ely-KGX.came into platform much slower than usual. Is this related to the urgent repairs?
Edit: the 1619 Cbg Ely seems to have been reinstated. That's running/ cancelled/ running within the space of 3 hours. Watch this space.
First thing this morning, I noticed at Ely station just past north ends of platforms 1 and 2 neon yellow square signs with 5R. The 0518 Ely-KGX.came into platform much slower than usual. Is this related to the urgent repairs?
Edit: the 1619 Cbg Ely seems to have been reinstated. That's running/ cancelled/ running within the space of 3 hours. Watch this space.
Seems like a 5mph Emergency Speed restriction which yes; could very well be related to Track repairs. 5mph is very restrictive.
...and so the 1710 KLN-KGX is cancelled yet again, resulting once again in the (increasingly infamous) 53 minute gap in service south from Cambridge North, right in the middle of the evening peak.
Magdalen Road
Member
Delightful. Pleased to report that a driver appeared and the 1619 is on. (I may have given him a little cheer). Not much help to the stranded KLN passengers or yourself though.
Cambridge platform staff said the gap in service had been several hours today.
TSGN Spotter
Member
I believe the cancellations tonight are to help facilitate work to remove the ESR of 5 mph just after ely station hence running shuttle services between Downham market and Kings Lynn.
The most likely explanation for an emergency 5mph speed restriction is a broken rail.
The lack of rain will be a key factor in the Fens.
Magdalen Road
Member
As per the shrunken tracks in the summer of 2022 (iirc) which nearly gave me a nervous breakdown. No direct services, an hour late each way and no you may not claim delay repay. Temporary timetable get out clause.
I am trying to head north as it happens, but they've now terminated the 1709 ex-KGX short at Cambridge so I'm stuck at North anyway.
Many thanks GN for wasting yet more of my life, plus all the other people here at CMB where there hasn't been a single departure in any direction, yet again, since 1739.
87015
Established Member
Do GA get asked/refuse/not offer to run 5H82 as a control relief passenger vice ECS? Passed Cambridge North 1803 and buckets of pathing time in it.
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Class 170101
Established Member
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- 1 Mar 2014
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- 8,454
I don't know, but given the number of people waiting to go south when I arrived, it clearly didn't happen.
I'm getting a bit fed up with GA now too, the big holes in the timetable at CMB are due to their missing and off-pattern trains, and they don't seem to do anything to help when GN fall over as they so often do. They run the service you mention ECS, and they don't stop the Liverpool Street to Ely passing CMB at 1822 - for no apparent reason - even when the services around it are cancelled. And tonight they terminated this short (admittedly it was late) at Cambridge when there was a platform full of passengers waiting to go north as nothing had left northwards for almost an hour. As a result the 1835 GN, also running very late, was packed to the rafters, picking up 4 trains worth of people. Moving 5 carriages of people in the Ely direction on that service would have helped immensely.
jammmmmsssssss
Member
1T51 started at Cambridge and 2K85 is at 1739
Yes, and 1T51 has been either cancelled or started short (ie. not calling at CMB) on 9 of the 17 weekdays so far in June, ie. it runs less than 50% of the time.