GWR Shortage of Traincrew Weekend and During Week

[gallafent]

Given this has been happening for many weeks now

52 weeks since the first post in this thread ………

the passenger is expected to know if the train they were delayed on might have been operated by Thames Trains, Great Western or Wessex Trains had it been operating 10 years previously

That made me laugh too, a while ago, when filling in a claim form for a London -> Oxford trip. I might (well) be wrong, but weren't the fast Oxford terminators (operated by Turbos) Thames Trains, but the effectively equivalent HST (in timetabling, to an Oxford user, not in terms of rolling stock, of course) services which continued down the Cotswold Line to Hereford Great Westerm (or whatever it was called back then) … but what about the turbos that went as far as Worcester? … I have no idea.

Given that even many of the denizens of this discussion in a very specialised area (myself included), even those familiar with a particular area, would have no idea which operator would have been responsible for a service, had that service hypothetically been operating a decade or more ago, it is utterly jaw-dropping that this distinction is still allowed to be made.

In an obliquely related note, I was wondering how to interpret the route decomposition on the per-operator performance pages at trains.im — how is each “route group” defined? — but that's even further off topic so I'll stop!

but I don't think the same is true for long distance services, particularly leisure travel (which a large portion of it will be, at weekends)

Absolutely. A Bristol friend now chooses coach over train for both leisure and in fact also (non-commuting) academic / work trips to London. The damage that's being done at the moment will take a long time to repair, if it ever is. What a pity.

In other news,

“PASSENGERS travelling from Oxford to London are more satisfied with Chiltern Railways' service than rivals Great Western Railway, a survey has revealed”

— http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/1...rd_commuters_prefer_Chiltern_Railways_or_GWR/ …

 

[Mag_seven]

Good luck finding “Hapless Hopwood”, though!!!! No one else has seen him....

I've seen him twice this week (today and on Monday) whilst on a GWR station - on both occasions he wearing an orange jacket with the words "GWR Managing Director" on it - now whether or not he is to be seen likewise on Sundays is a different matter!

 

[221129]

I've seen him twice this week (today and on Monday) whilst on a GWR station - on both occasions he wearing an orange jacket with the words "GWR Managing Director" on it - now whether or not he is to be seen likewise on Sundays is a different matter!

He's not.

 

[Dai Corner]

He's not.

Though he probably doesn't get paid for working his rest days.

 

[221129]

Though he probably doesn't get paid for working his rest days.

He walked through Didcot Parkway on Sunday in the middle of the railway going down the pan, not a word to Anyone, not to the punters or the staff trying to keep the place afloat.

 

[CC 72100]

He walked through Didcot Parkway on Sunday in the middle of the railway going down the pan, not a word to Anyone, not to the punters or the staff trying to keep the place afloat.

Saw that first-hand or from a friend of a friend who knows someone who works there? :P

 

[221129]

Saw that first-hand or from a friend of a friend who knows someone who works there? :P

First hand...

 

[CC 72100]

First hand...

Hmm wouldn't have expected that but who knows what could have been going on away from work - it's not all work!

 

[Furryanimal]

On Sunday August 12th I am travelling from Newport to Taunton for a 20/20 cricket match that I booked the tickets for in March when I was unaware of all the problems.I need GWR to get me to Bristol-Parkway or Temple Meads-it doesn't matter which.Once there I am the hands of Cross Country but I now wondering if I will make it out of South Wales.
I am seriously considering using National Express to get me to/from Bristol despite their times being really inconvenient.Better to be safe than sorry.
I might add that in two of the previous three summers I have made this trip without problem.Now I am worried.

 

[bnm]

Just(!) two dozen cancellations today across GWR due to lack of train crew. Along with a similar amount of alterations (starting/ending short) for the same reason.

But, everything's fine according to some. This is the new normal.

 

[bnm]

Cancellations continuing through the today. Currently 30.

 

[PHILIPE]

If this ongoing situation and also that of more trains than usual under repair attracted the same Media attention as GTR and Northern's woes Hopwood would be forced out into the open instead of just talking to a Cotswold Group

 

[Mag_seven]

Cancellations continuing through the today. Currently 30.

If week in week out BA cancelled half their services on a Sunday due no pilots or M&S closed half their shops on a Sunday due to no staff to open them, the man at the top would soon find himself out of a job - not seemingly on GWR.

 

[father_jack]

Ok here goes.............

Due to a "shortage of train crew" between Plymouth and Penzance fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until 21:00 24/06. :
From 18:25 until 20:26 (24/06/2018) there are no train services running from Plymouth to Penzance. We are unable to source replacement road transport to cover the gap in the train service. Customers are advised to travel on later train services or travel tomorrow where tickets will be accepted.

The only point I want to make is that the bit in quote marks is wrong. There is no shortage of traincrew because technically with the current arrangements there are NO traincrew on a Sunday until the vague arrangements are followed or people are asked to volunteer. And whether it's GWR or Fred and Tommy's rail company that wouldn't be different. Something has to give- the union have to be active in pushing the company (whoever it is) into solutions. (Oh and a fab fellow who works at Exeter got spliced yesterday at a jolly knees up so many might have not volunteered today !!!!).

 

[Dai Corner]

"Due to fewer than the expected number of traincrew deciding to work today" ?

 

[PHILIPE]

It's got worse today as the day has progressed and an alert put out on NRE that there are no trains between Plymouth and Penzance for much of the evening and unable to source road transport. Advice to wait until there is a train or tickets may be used tomorrow

 

[bnm]

The media are picking up on today's 'Sunday Shambles'™

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/local-news/gwr-train-chaos-leaves-passengers-1710987

Yes, there's some hyperbole for the GWR defender on here to pick apart, but the thing that stands out is the deafening silence from GWR higher management. No official comment from GWR when they were contacted by the media. Being a Sunday is not an excuse. Instead, it's the poor put upon social media team and the front line staff who are the ones taking the ire from passengers.

Come on Mark Hopwood. Show yourself. Explain. Apologise. Implement action plan.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I doubt there is a viable action plan that does not jeopardise the IET driver training programme. Great, let’s take the short term view, get the Sunday service going by suspending or reducing the training programme. Six months down the line, we’ll have twice the number of cancellations, every day not just at weekends, due to a shortage of trained drivers.

The DfT know this, and this is why GWR are not being publicly censured. The TOC are taking the best of a very limited number of very bad options, with a view to the longer term. After all, it is the DfT who continue to enforce the fleet change at the contractual dates, rather than allow some slippage so the training programme can be eased off, to rescue the weekends.

Politics currently trumps the weekend service reliability.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

There is a ballot whether to accept a pay offer at the moment, so maybe BBQ day to make feelings known ?

how much of the network is still reliant on rest day working to provide the Sunday services , exacerbated by a Operator reluctance to change contracts for new starters / moves / substantial changes of duty as is common in other organisations including safety and life critical ones.

 

[Llanigraham]

how much of the network is still reliant on rest day working to provide the Sunday services , exacerabtyed by a Operator reluctance to change contracts for new starters / moves / substantial changes of duty as is common in other prganisatiosn including safety and life critical ones

I would say all of it, including Network Rail.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Certainly large parts of it are, generally all the crucial bits!

 

[nickswift99]

Several press outlets reporting expected disruption on Sunday and stating that GWR have lifted ticket restrictions for tomorrow and Monday due to staff shortages. Can't find anything on GWR's site but here's an example from the Oxford Mail http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16353729.great-western-railway-blame-disruption-on-world-cup/

THE World Cup final will contribute to a significant disruption to Great Western Railway services this Sunday.

A revised timetable will be in place with a significantly reduced number of trains due to staff shortages, which the operator attributed to a range of factors including Sunday's football showpiece in Moscow.

On-going engineering work, the good weather and the start of the school holidays in some regions have also been blamed for the disruption.

Long-distance services, including routes between Paddington and Bristol, South Wales, Oxford and Devon and Cornwall will be most affected.

Local stopping services in the Thames Valley are expected to run as normal.

Passengers are advised to travel as early as possible, and to consider switching their travel plans to alternate days.

Great Western Railway has lifted ticket restrictions from its services tomorrow and Monday, so customers with tickets for Sunday can travel on other trains.

Tickets will also be accepted on CrossCountry trains.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We will have managers and volunteers throughout our network to help at stations and on board, but unfortunately we will not be able to deliver our planned timetable of services; and the trains we are able to operate will be extremely busy.

“I would encourage customers to travel on a different day if they are able to and we will happily offer refunds to those who choose not to travel.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience this disruption will cause.”

Full details of the revised timetable will be available online from tomorrow for customers to check journeys before they travel.

Those who choose not to travel will be entitled to a full refund on their unused ticket, with the GWR £10 administration fee also waivered.

To claim a refund visit gwr.com/help-and-support/refunds-and-compensation/unused-ticket-refunds

 

[PHILIPE]

Several press outlets reporting expected disruption on Sunday and stating that GWR have lifted ticket restrictions for tomorrow and Monday due to staff shortages. Can't find anything on GWR's site but here's an example from the Oxford Mail http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16353729.great-western-railway-blame-disruption-on-world-cup/

They will be published on Journey Check on the day. The cancellations are not posted before hand to allow for opportunities to cover. I don't think it will be quite as bad though - Reason Croatia

 

[nickswift99]

They will be published on Journey Check on the day. The cancellations are not posted before hand to allow for opportunities to cover. I don't think it will be quite as bad though - Reason Croatia

As the press only seem to be covering this today, it's fair to assume that GWR already knew who was in the final. I agree that it would be worse had England made the final but relaxing ticket restrictions on Monday isn't common so there must be some uncertainty/concern in GWR.

 

[PHILIPE]

GWR Twitter say that timetable details will be published tomorrow.

 

[Mag_seven]

I love the way they are talking about this as if it's just a "one off" event when it's been the same weekend after weekend!

 

[Tim456]

You couldn’t make it up...World Cup disrupts scheduled train services and England are not even in the flippin’ final!!!

What a sham and a disgrace. I can’t even believe GWR are using the World Cup as an excuse, that’s just plain embarrassing for a service sector led company to admit to. Shocking and quite frankly shameful.

The only consolation is that GWR are at least giving everyone advance notice that they could face an unpleasant journey or no journey at all.

 

[bnm]

And the excuse for last Sunday's poor service?

And the Sunday before that...?
And the Sunday before that...?
And the Sunday before that...?

 

[theironroad]

Crew are probably deciding not to work voluntary overtime due to wanting to enjoy the good weather, the world cup final (many people will watch anyway, even if England aren't in it), weekend BBQs, school hols starting etc etc.

 

[Dai Corner]

Spare a thought for those not be able to get to work and risking losing a day's pay or facing disciplinary action because somebody else didn't feel like working.