Capvermell
On Moderation
- Joined
- 5 Jan 2014
- Messages
- 348
In the course of pursuing issues that I currently have with various rail fare websites (including that of National Rail who claim to be the "definitive source") not offering either any fare or a return fare on journeys from my local station (Ockley in Surrey) and its two neighbouring stations (Holmwood and Warnham) to stations on other train networks that seem to be caused by the stations not being in a station Routeing Group but only Associated with two Routeing Groups (Dorking Stations and Horsham) I have begun to worry about whether these totally unmanned stations still have any Station Manager assigned to them by Southern or its parent group (Govia Thameslink Railway). You can read my original thread re the fares issue at www.railforums.co.uk/threads/ockley-to-rainham-kent-no-fare-150-overcharge-fares.220702/
Having lived here for 24 years I can say that under the previous operator (Connex South Central) prior to Southern/Govia getting the franchise that posters showing a station manager for Ockley (along with their photo) were definitely displayed there even though the manager was located elsewhere at Horsham, two stops down the line. However under Southern they either didn't publish the station manager's name on any posters from the start or stopped doing so after a few years. I have tried asking Nick Parker, who is shown as being Head of Stations at Southern on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nickparkergb/ this question via a LinkedIn message (I seem to have good enough third party connections with him to be able to do so even though I am a free LinkedIn member) but although I have a read receipt for my message so far he has not responded to me.
As I frequently have station specific issues that include the failure of Southern to properly and adequately maintain and repair the Grade II listed station canopy at Ockley, the illogical long term lack of a Saturday evening train service (even though one was provided via a Dorking to Horsham shuttle train for nearly a year under the Lockdown timetable) and the recent removal of any train timetables from the 7 timetable sized display boards at the station next to the ticket vending machine (they now all only contain marketing and information posters) I really do feel it would be very helpful to know who the station manager is at Ockley and also for Holmwood and Warnham (if it is not in fact the same person as I would suspect it to be if there are still Station Managers for these three stations) but Southern/GoVia appears to prefer to keep the matter as a closely guarded secret.
Does anyone who reads this forum have access to any databases in relation to station staffing and management that could give me a definitive answer on the question of whether Holmwood, Ockley and Warnham unmanned stations do still have a named individual station manager that is responsible for their maintenance, upkeep, safety and security?
Having lived here for 24 years I can say that under the previous operator (Connex South Central) prior to Southern/Govia getting the franchise that posters showing a station manager for Ockley (along with their photo) were definitely displayed there even though the manager was located elsewhere at Horsham, two stops down the line. However under Southern they either didn't publish the station manager's name on any posters from the start or stopped doing so after a few years. I have tried asking Nick Parker, who is shown as being Head of Stations at Southern on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nickparkergb/ this question via a LinkedIn message (I seem to have good enough third party connections with him to be able to do so even though I am a free LinkedIn member) but although I have a read receipt for my message so far he has not responded to me.
As I frequently have station specific issues that include the failure of Southern to properly and adequately maintain and repair the Grade II listed station canopy at Ockley, the illogical long term lack of a Saturday evening train service (even though one was provided via a Dorking to Horsham shuttle train for nearly a year under the Lockdown timetable) and the recent removal of any train timetables from the 7 timetable sized display boards at the station next to the ticket vending machine (they now all only contain marketing and information posters) I really do feel it would be very helpful to know who the station manager is at Ockley and also for Holmwood and Warnham (if it is not in fact the same person as I would suspect it to be if there are still Station Managers for these three stations) but Southern/GoVia appears to prefer to keep the matter as a closely guarded secret.
Does anyone who reads this forum have access to any databases in relation to station staffing and management that could give me a definitive answer on the question of whether Holmwood, Ockley and Warnham unmanned stations do still have a named individual station manager that is responsible for their maintenance, upkeep, safety and security?
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