GWR Locking out carriages

[Anonymous10]

I can remember being on a Leeds - Blackpool train formed of a 3 coach 195. Rear coach was blocked out of use so all the remaining passengers forced into the front 2 coaches until Bradford where the train reversed direction and the guard refusing to dispatch until everybody in the now rear coach (the front coach on departure from Leeds) shifted to the middle coach.

They didn't even bother removing the "area out of use" barrier in the now leading front coach until some passengers at Halifax ignored it and sat in that area.

Although not as bad as coming back from Cardiff in September time last year, single 166 where the guard had the rear first class area unlocked, at Westbury a member of staff boarded and basically shouted at the passengers to get the hell out of his private area, sending a couple young children into tears as they were quite happy using the tables to do something with a colouring book. The member of staff alighted at warminster.

the point of them having a area i understand but not two sections of a high density unit with few seats that are even remotely acceptable if doing the full journey also that's no way to deal with a family

 

[bramling]

I can remember being on a Leeds - Blackpool train formed of a 3 coach 195. Rear coach was blocked out of use so all the remaining passengers forced into the front 2 coaches until Bradford where the train reversed direction and the guard refusing to dispatch until everybody in the now rear coach (the front coach on departure from Leeds) shifted to the middle coach.

They didn't even bother removing the "area out of use" barrier in the now leading front coach until some passengers at Halifax ignored it and sat in that area.

Although not as bad as coming back from Cardiff in September time last year, single 166 where the guard had the rear first class area unlocked, at Westbury a member of staff boarded and basically shouted at the passengers to get the hell out of his private area, sending a couple young children into tears as they were quite happy using the tables to do something with a colouring book. The member of staff alighted at warminster.

This does all seem rather naughty to be honest.

During the height of the “essentially journeys only” then it may have been appropriate, but there comes a point where taking up a significant proportion of a short train is poor. Especially if being used by staff travelling to/from work, as seems to be the case in the quoted example - if staff don’t want to travel with others then they can always drive to work, and for on-duty travel use unused cabs to travel round where possible, and if not practicable then perhaps the TOC should be looking at providing taxis.

It’s interesting GTR never chose to do this. It could have been quite easily done with the declassified first on the 700s, and GTR always have quite a few staff travelling round on the cushions.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I guess the TOCs who implemented this type of COVID measure will continue to do so until the need to isolate ceases to exist.

My TOC has never done anything like this, but at times I wished it had, especially towards the Xmas period as there were trans I was meant to pass on where it was far too busy to consider it safe to do so (weekend with football/rugby/drinks) and I know many colleagues also had the same feeling. This meant waiting for another service or contacting control to arrange personal transportation.

You may feel it shouldn't exist, or no longer exist, but Conductors have control of that train and are under instruction to use dynamic risk assessment when it comes to passenger loading and working the train (in saloon i.e. revenue).
If the conductor on that train deems it necessary to have a clear area around them if they need to operate doors from saloon for SDO then they have the right to do so.

 

[yorksrob]

I can remember being on a Leeds - Blackpool train formed of a 3 coach 195. Rear coach was blocked out of use so all the remaining passengers forced into the front 2 coaches until Bradford where the train reversed direction and the guard refusing to dispatch until everybody in the now rear coach (the front coach on departure from Leeds) shifted to the middle coach.

They didn't even bother removing the "area out of use" barrier in the now leading front coach until some passengers at Halifax ignored it and sat in that area.

Although not as bad as coming back from Cardiff in September time last year, single 166 where the guard had the rear first class area unlocked, at Westbury a member of staff boarded and basically shouted at the passengers to get the hell out of his private area, sending a couple young children into tears as they were quite happy using the tables to do something with a colouring book. The member of staff alighted at warminster.

Now you mention it, I do remember the back carriage on 195's being out of use on occasions. This was before passenger numbers started picking up though.

 

[Kite159]

Now you mention it, I do remember the back carriage on 195's being out of use on occasions. This was before passenger numbers started picking up though.

It was worse on the Manchester - Lancaster - Barrow/Windermere trains in terms of rear coach being blocked out of use

 

[AndrewE]

It was worse on the Manchester - Lancaster - Barrow/Windermere trains in terms of rear coach being blocked out of use

see post #49...

 

[Annetts key]

With respect to the GWR 166 Turbos running in the West…

I don’t think these doors are actually ‘locked’ shut, at least on any services into Wales as I believe this could cause issues in the Severn Tunnel.

I travelled regularly during the last two years including through all the lockdowns (me being a key worker apparently). None of these doors for the former first class compartments were actually locked out, at least not when I tried them. Some have labels or tape, and all have the automatic door control system isolated or disabled.

When the guard showed themselves, I just asked if they were okay with me sitting in that area. None told me that they had a problem. Obviously I showed them my season ticket.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

On a recent foray up the Cambrian line - units 158835 and 158839 for clarity -
Leaving Birmingham New Street at 0825, all doors were in use and as usual with these services full and standing after Wolverhampton.
Upon arrival at Machynlleth, several hours later, the guard vacated those within the two rows of seats at each end of 839 heading to Pwllheli, and made an announcement that they were not to be used and people were to leave the train via the middle doors only. This of course caused a lot of aggro between passengers trying to board/alight on a now packed to the seams 158!
It was in aid of “social distancing” apparently.
Totally unacceptable, I know the rules differ slightly when crossing the border, but this was a step too far.

 

[ScottGallagher]

Restrictions have now been largely lifted with the remainder to come shortly so why is anything still being allowed to be taped off?

 

[Fokx]

Restrictions have now been largely lifted with the remainder to come shortly so why is anything still being allowed to be taped off?

The nationwide shortage of traincrew across the UK due to staff having Covid or being required to isolate is your answer to that one

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I travelled regularly during the last two years including through all the lockdowns (me being a key worker apparently). None of these doors for the former first class compartments were actually locked out, at least not when I tried them. Some have labels or tape, and all have the automatic door control system isolated or disabled.

When the guard showed themselves, I just asked if they were okay with me sitting in that area. None told me that they had a problem. Obviously I showed them my season ticket.

I'm not sure what "season ticket" has to do with anything. I see no reason why anyone with one of those should be given different rules to those with a normal ticket. Also, sounds like you got lucky, as my experience with the guards on the Turbos has often been very different.

On a recent foray up the Cambrian line - units 158835 and 158839 for clarity -
Leaving Birmingham New Street at 0825, all doors were in use and as usual with these services full and standing after Wolverhampton.
Upon arrival at Machynlleth, several hours later, the guard vacated those within the two rows of seats at each end of 839 heading to Pwllheli, and made an announcement that they were not to be used and people were to leave the train via the middle doors only. This of course caused a lot of aggro between passengers trying to board/alight on a now packed to the seams 158!
It was in aid of “social distancing” apparently.
Totally unacceptable, I know the rules differ slightly when crossing the border, but this was a step too far.

Absolutely ridiculous, but unsurprising. I can tell you from living in Cardiff that they take restrictions to the extreme in Wales compared to England, and it's beginning to drive me up the wall.

 

[TPO]

This practice needs to stop - social distancing went months ago and we have all been vaccinated. It can't go on for ever particularly as more and more passengers return.

Exactly. It's beyond a joke. I've been told by several staff that GWR have officially ended the practice but many guards are still closing it off. And I know some people won't like me saying it, but it is selfish on journeys such as Cardiff Portsmouth, (the entirety of I make twice a month) especially when they close off both ends. One end would be more understandable.

Oh yes, this old chestnut.

Absolutely ridiculous. I could understand it back in the summer of 2020, but not now. It needs to stop, or at the very least just have one compartment shut, not two.

For me, seeing a single 166 on a Cardiff to Portsmouth service full and standing yet having both compartments blocked off for no staff in the end really boiled my p**s.

We need to move on. COVID is never going to go away anytime soon and we need to learn to live with it.

Agree.

I also wonder how many of those who maintain these blocked off areas then go out for a pint or out shopping or similar when not in work? Do they all forgo any social life so they don't mix with people?

TPO

 

[NoMorePacers]

I seem to recall that when we had such a system on Northern (it's long since gone) the guard would remove the sign at the back of the train when arriving at Leeds and reintroduce it at the other end of the train when going the other way (happily it seems a long time ago now though !)

The blocking off of the front/back cab areas still seems to happen in the west from time to time (based on what I've seen as well as what others have reported). Seems to have stopped in the east since the essential travel rules were lifted (at least in the Hull area - although I haven't seen them they might still pop up elsewhere, I don't frequent Leeds as much).

Last I remember TPE were still blocking off the section of seats between the front set of doors and the cab on the standard-class only driving coach.

 

[43096]

The nationwide shortage of traincrew across the UK due to staff having Covid or being required to isolate is your answer to that one

Doesn't that just illustrate the futility of these closed off areas? There's so many places the virus can be transmitted that closing off areas of trains is going to be doing the square root of stuff all to prevent infections to staff.

 

[43066]

The nationwide shortage of traincrew across the UK due to staff having Covid or being required to isolate is your answer to that one

The solution to that (in all industries not just the railway) is moving away from testing and any requirement to isolate. Covid now needs to be treated like any other illness.

 

[island]

If it’s that high a risk to them then they shouldn’t be out working trains. What did they do when flu was doing the rounds pre Covid?

Would you rather the train be cancelled for having no conductor or run with reduced capacity?

 

[kristiang85]

I was on a Cross Country on Saturday that had at least 3 carriages blocked off. Completely ridiculous if it was for COVID reasons.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I was on a Cross Country on Saturday that had at least 3 carriages blocked off. Completely ridiculous if it was for COVID reasons.

Highly unlikely, possible door faults or with it being a Saturday it could've been 'biohazard'