Chiltern's Boxing Day service

[SPADTrap]

We're opening the route to London on Boxing Day
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
We will trial running trains to London on Boxing Day for the first time, allowing you to plan a day out in the capital.
Traditionally train companies are closed on Boxing Day so the move is good news for passengers who would otherwise have been unable to travel.

Trains will run from 0800 to 2000 with the first train northbound from London to Bicester North at 0815 and the last to Princes Risborough at 1845. Southbound the first train will run from High Wycombe to London at 0829 and the last will run from Bicester North to Marylebone at 1857.

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/mobile/news/were-opening-route-london-boxing-day

 

[sonic2009]

I would expect these to be busy. Good on Chiltern to do this.

 

[SPADTrap]

I would expect these to be busy. Good on Chiltern to do this.

I bet! I would imagine the first TOC to do this would score epic franchise points with the passengers!

 

[MikeWh]

I bet! I would imagine the first TOC to do this would score epic franchise points with the passengers!

They're not the first TOC to do this. Southeastern have run trains on Boxing Day for years, as have Southern and FCC. What's on offer is highly dependant on Network Rail engineering work, of course, so I don't expect anything into London Bridge this year.

 

[radamfi]

so I don't expect anything into London Bridge this year.

Southern are running a service from London Bridge to East Grinstead on Boxing Day.

 

[Mojo]

And of course LUL has run a near-complete service on December 26th for some time now...

 

[starrymarkb]

Well when they are not on strike!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Be interesting to see the level of demand. Boxing Day Sale shoppers would be interested I am sure. I've never had an issue with working Boxing Day myself. I think there would be demand for a service to London and perhaps Reading to Gatwick?

 

[Mojo]

Well when they are not on strike!

It's only been Aslef Train Operators for the past three years I believe. The dispute is now resolved anyway so there will be a service this year.

 

[tbtc]

Good for Chiltern, good for passengers, good for PR, good news all round. I'd happily work Boxing Day, especially when the alternative is eating day-old sprouts!

It's only been Aslef Train Operators for the past three years I believe. The dispute is now resolved anyway so there will be a service this year.

I wonder what the odds are on it all running

 

[Bald Rick]

Southern are running a service from London Bridge to East Grinstead on Boxing Day.

And to Croydon. And Sutton.

 

[N Levers]

Southern are running from 5am till 10pm. (On the East Grinstead route, sutton slightly less)

 

[calc7]

Any idea whether Bicester Village has offered any erm...facilitating benefits...for Chiltern to provide this service?

 

[tsr]

Be interesting to see the level of demand. Boxing Day Sale shoppers would be interested I am sure. I've never had an issue with working Boxing Day myself. I think there would be demand for a service to London and perhaps Reading to Gatwick?

I don't think there'd be a way to do Reading to Gatwick this year, of course, due to the works at Gatwick. Hourly services, with one every two hours to the smaller stations (perhaps alternately for each side of Guildford) might be a good idea in future. I'd also think Southern would do better, where possible, to run the trains between Victoria & Brighton (or a mid-range point) via Redhill, to link in with the service. But, of course, if the option is there to run down the Quarry instead, hey, they'll probably just do that anyway.

 

[455driver]

On Boxing Day I will still be trying to put all the kids toys together, not easy after the wine with the dinner, sherry trifle, toast to anyone really etc!

I aint driving a train for no bugger in line with my* contract of employment.

* Actually its the guards contract thar prevents it because the stupid drivers sold it years ago, prats!

 

[bicbasher]

Southern used to operate a 2tph service on the Sydenham line from London Bridge. This changed when the East London line opened and now we get nothing as they route the trains normally used via Crystal Palace instead.

 

[E16 Cyclist]

Any idea whether Bicester Village has offered any erm...facilitating benefits...for Chiltern to provide this service?

I'd say thats almost certain to be the case as drivers were offered a sizeable package to volunteer to work boxing day and that wouldn't have happened if Bicester Village didn't contribute

 

[merlodlliw]

In my opinion good for Chiltern, putting the customer first,only one against so far, so Boxing Day travel must be catching on.

 

[E16 Cyclist]

In my opinion good for Chiltern, putting the customer first,only one against so far, so Boxing Day travel must be catching on.

Its important to note that it is a trial to see if its financially viable, because obviously it needs to be in staffs interest to work as its currently a contractual day off

What will be interesting is whether this becomes a regular thing or whether it falls by the wayside, but lets be clear its not putting the customer first its trying to cash in on the sales

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Its important to note that it is a trial to see if its financially viable, because obviously it needs to be in staffs interest to work as its currently a contractual day off

What will be interesting is whether this becomes a regular thing or whether it falls by the wayside, but lets be clear its not putting the customer first its trying to cash in on the sales

If the customer wants to travel on Boxing Day and it's at least cost neutral for the TOC bring it on!

 

[merlodlliw]

Its important to note that it is a trial to see if its financially viable, because obviously it needs to be in staffs interest to work as its currently a contractual day off

What will be interesting is whether this becomes a regular thing or whether it falls by the wayside, but lets be clear its not putting the customer first its trying to cash in on the sales

In my opinion the trains are being run for the customer,which is good news

 

[TDK]

Its important to note that it is a trial to see if its financially viable, because obviously it needs to be in staffs interest to work as its currently a contractual day off

It may a contractual day off but you have to use an annual leave day for it so if you work Boxing Day you will get most likely enhanced pay and a day off in lieu so I bet there is a draw to see who gets the jobs as it will be well over subscribed. It is all very well folks on here spouting on about railway workers working on Boxing Day so they can go shopping or out on a jolly why are they not at work and do they lose a days annual leave as a compulsory measure? I think not.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In my opinion the trains are being run for the customer,which is good news

The trains are being run to make a profit from the customer and for no other reason, don't kid yourself.

 

[The Ham]

On Boxing Day I will still be trying to put all the kids toys together, not easy after the wine with the dinner, sherry trifle, toast to anyone really etc!

I aint driving a train for no bugger in line with my* contract of employment.

* Actually its the guards contract thar prevents it because the stupid drivers sold it years ago, prats!

Conversly there would be staff who would rather work Boxing Day for a bit of extra money and take time off at another point in the year. For instance when the weather is nicer and they take part in a hobby which isn't so fun to do on Boxing Day or to get out of visiting in-laws.

Different people have different proirities and as such it souldn't be too hard to find enough staff willing to work to run a service at Sunday service levels or lower. It could even be done that the level of service was only anounced a few months before hand once the levels of staff willing to work had been confirmed.

 

[merlodlliw]

It may a contractual day off but you have to use an annual leave day for it so if you work Boxing Day you will get most likely enhanced pay and a day off in lieu so I bet there is a draw to see who gets the jobs as it will be well over subscribed. It is all very well folks on here spouting on about railway workers working on Boxing Day so they can go shopping or out on a jolly why are they not at work and do they lose a days annual leave as a compulsory measure? I think not.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The trains are being run to make a profit from the customer and for no other reason, don't kid yourself.

As a driver, well put TDK, makes us travelers more understanding of the job.
As for the sole reason profit, I am not naive, but its a helpful to the customer who in my opinion should be the first priority.

Bob

 

[TDK]

Has a driver,well put TDK,makes us travelers more understanding of the job.
as for the sole reason profit,I am not naive,but its a helpful to the customer who in my opinion should be the first priority.

Bob

Yes Bob, without the customer there will be no profit and paying customers apart from safety are the first priority however there must be a balance between all including customers, staff and stakeholders and in my experience I feel that the current company I work for has it almost spot on. The best company was obviously WSMR but this company was in a completely different league. Chiltern are doing a trial to see if it will be viable to run the trains (for profit) if it is not they will not repeat this service.

 

[merlodlliw]

Yes Bob, without the customer there will be no profit and paying customers apart from safety are the first priority however there must be a balance between all including customers, staff and stakeholders and in my experience I feel that the current company I work for has it almost spot on. The best company was obviously WSMR but this company was in a completely different league. Chiltern are doing a trial to see if it will be viable to run the trains (for profit) if it is not they will not repeat this service.

Nice to hear you speak so highly of your employer, I must say there has been a dramatic change in Management thinking. I agree WSMR was in a different league in DBs family of what was three.

 

[jimm]

The trains are being run to make a profit from the customer and for no other reason, don't kid yourself.

Well we could also try the very obvious reason that traffic trying to get to Bicester Village for the sales on Boxing Day has clogged up roads around the town for several years now. Reports below on the past couple of years' events:

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/archive/2011/12/30/9443521.Shopping_traffic__a_ticking_timebomb_/

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10128005.Bicester_Village_shoppers_cause_chaos_again/

To give some context to the figures of 30,000 to 40,000 shoppers turning up quoted in those stories, the population of Bicester is about 33,000. How many towns could cope with an influx on that scale?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I don't think there is anything wrong with providing a service there is obvious demand for, is there? I mean much as I like driving trains the only reason I turn up every day is because they pay me money.

 

[anme]

Well done to Chiltern for doing this.
Most European countries have a full service on Boxing Day. And Christmas Day. Check out the DB planner.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Well done to Chiltern for doing this.
Most European countries have a full service on Boxing Day. And Christmas Day. Check out the DB planner.

No, most European countries have a service on December 26th because 'Boxing Day' is not a holiday there. In Europe Boxing Day is only observed in the UK so saying what they do elsewhere is besides the point. You might as well tell an American that July 4th is a normal working day in Britain for all its worth.