Information for GTR Southern passengers during strike (no DOO discussion)

[GodAtum]

Nope, everyday until further notice so enjoy first class.

So is there any point in renewing my 1st class season ticket to London?

 

[bicbasher]

Arriva Rail London/London Overground are adding extra ELL and WLL services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between Crystal Palace and Dalston Junction and Clapham Junction and Shepherd's Bush to help Southern passengers.

The New Cross services are diverted to Crystal Palace, so no connections between the LO and Southeastern services on ASLEF strike days.

 

[Starmill]

Arriva Rail London/London Overground are adding extra ELL and WLL services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between Crystal Palace and Dalston Junction and Clapham Junction and Shepherd's Bush to help Southern passengers.

The New Cross services are diverted to Crystal Palace, so no connections between the LO and Southeastern services on ASLEF strike days.

I've been looking for this - and also wondering if Tramlink have any scope for additional services. Do you have a source, or is it internal information?

So is there any point in renewing my 1st class season ticket to London?

NOPE

 

[neilm]

So is there any point in renewing my 1st class season ticket to London?

Nope!

 

[davidacton]

Brighton to London is worse under the overtime ban timetable, but on the other hand there are regular London trains from East and West Coastway, and to Uckfield, that don't run under the RMT strike timetable.

I'm confused why Gatwick Express is unable to operate south of the airport, as I thought we'd established earlier in the thread that GatEx had a dedicated pool of drivers who weren't balloted. Presumably they're declining to work overtime, but of their own volition rather than under union instruction?

Southern drivers cover a lot of gtx trains under there southern diagrams.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[chris11256]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread. There an article in the Telegraph today. Apatantly a group of commuters are trying to charter their own train during the next strike dates.

I can't link to it as I'm on my phone & don't know how.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread. There an article in the Telegraph today. Apatantly a group of commuters are trying to charter their own train during the next strike dates.

I can't link to it as I'm on my phone & don't know how.

Hopefully here you are

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...tering/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Bishopstone]

I thought Network Rail took about six months to agree or deny charter train paths, only to amend all the timings at the last minute, anyway?

Asking them to perform a piece of work by next week - and it's almost Christmas! - would bring on a serious case of nose bleeds.

 

[chris11256]

If successful, the charter is aimed at the January strikes.

 

[Bishopstone]

If successful, the charter is aimed at the January strikes.

My mistake, I missed that paragraph of the article. Even so, it wouldn't surprise me if the 'not enough time' excuse is trotted out. I thought the planning timeline for charter services was months, not weeks?

As the circumstances are unusual, it remains to be seen whether Network Rail would use bureaucratic obstacles to scupper this, or make a special effort to accommodate it. My money is on the former.

 

[king_walnut]

Given that Sundays aren't part of the drivers' working week, will there be any trains at all on Sundays going forward?

 

[infobleep]

Given that Sundays aren't part of the drivers' working week, will there be any trains at all on Sundays going forward?

We should know later today as timetables aren't loaded into the system until a day before. However it's actually less or more than a day before, depending on when you travel the next day.

For example Clapham Junction to Harrow and Wealdstone is in for tomorrow when searching so I know the updates haven't been done yet.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[Chrisgr31]

Given that Sundays aren't part of the drivers' working week, will there be any trains at all on Sundays going forward?

Haven't I read somewhere that drivers have to work Sundays if rostered? They are paid at the over-time rate and they don't count towards their 35 hour week but they have to work.

On that basis they should be running tomorrow however I might be wrong.

 

[highdyke]

Tomorrow will be hell as Sundays are overtime, Monday won't be good as everything will be in the wrong place, Tuesday virtually nothing, same with Wednesday, Thursday even worse than Monday, Friday another strike, virtually nothing. Saturday another Thursday, Sunday virtually nothing.

I wouldn't be surprised if problems spread to GTR sister franchises (and further afield) even though they are not on strike.

 

[bicbasher]

Looking at Monday, the Caterham stoppers via Sydenham are not operating during daytime off-peak again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I've been looking for this - and also wondering if Tramlink have any scope for additional services. Do you have a source, or is it internal information?

Sorry for not getting back to you earlier, it was a general email sent by TfL.

 

[swt class 450]

Is there any reason that Southern will not operate a Redhill to Tonbridge service during the Drivers strikes and Guards strikes using Southeastern Drivers and Southeastern Guards? Most of the services are already run by Southeastern staff so it would make sense to operate a Redhill to Tonbridge shuttle all day from 06:00 to 00:00 on strike days using Southeastern staff. But i guess this is just down to more poor planning from Southern management!

 

[74A]

Haven't I read somewhere that drivers have to work Sundays if rostered? They are paid at the over-time rate and they don't count towards their 35 hour week but they have to work.

On that basis they should be running tomorrow however I might be wrong.

I think you are right. ASLEF have instructed their member to not work non contractural overtime. As Sundays are part of their contract the over time is contractural so they will be working.

 

[infobleep]

Tomorrow will be hell as Sundays are overtime, Monday won't be good as everything will be in the wrong place, Tuesday virtually nothing, same with Wednesday, Thursday even worse than Monday, Friday another strike, virtually nothing. Saturday another Thursday, Sunday virtually nothing.

I wouldn't be surprised if problems spread to GTR sister franchises (and further afield) even though they are not on strike.

If the drivers have to work it then surely trains will be running and it won't be so bad?

 

[Sunset route]

Is there any reason that Southern will not operate a Redhill to Tonbridge service during the Drivers strikes and Guards strikes using Southeastern Drivers and Southeastern Guards? Most of the services are already run by Southeastern staff so it would make sense to operate a Redhill to Tonbridge shuttle all day from 06:00 to 00:00 on strike days using Southeastern staff. But i guess this is just down to more poor planning from Southern management!

Probably because South Eastern Trains would need to cover it on overtime if requested by GTR to work the line. Then they would have to ask their guards and drivers from Hastings and Tonbridge depots to wok extra turns of overtime knowing that the colleagues are in dispute in a highly unionised industry. Hmmmm any volunteers?

 

[Kevin_Brum12]

Hopefully here you are

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...tering/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

One option would be 442's, after all there are plenty in store and I seem to recall some were used on a charter in SWT land in the autumn.

"Ah, but what about getting a driver? The Southern ones will be on strike and your average charter train driver will not have the traction knowledge."

One answer may be doing what BR used to do with errant EMU's that broke down - couple up a 73 and drag it using the juice...however, do DB Cargo drivers still have the traction knowledge?

 

[infobleep]

Probably because South Eastern Trains would need to cover it on overtime if requested by GTR to work the line. Then they would have to ask their guards and drivers from Hastings and Tonbridge depots to wok extra turns of overtime knowing that the colleagues are in dispute in a highly unionised industry. Hmmmm any volunteers?

How about they just operate the services they are contracted to operate?

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

 

[LBSCR Times]

How about they just operate the services they are contracted to operate?

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

Because South Eastern drivers and Conductors don't work the same trains, and they work north of Redhill too.

 

[Sunset route]

How about they just operate the services they are contracted to operate?

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

Well there you may have a point on that, but I'm not sure how many turns South Eastern cover and how long the gaps in the service would be like inbetween trains that would of been GTR Southern worked. This one is well and truly in GTRs court, run an ad-hoc service or suspend the lot?

 

[infobleep]

Because South Eastern drivers and Conductors don't work the same trains, and they work north of Redhill too.

OK that's a shame.

I know when Great Western Railway have cancelled services on the North Downs Line, it has led to 2 hour gaps from some stations, so I don't think large gaps should be an issue here.

But not having staff on the same train might be but only if it's a South Eastern guard requiring a driver. After all the Southern guards aren't on strike.

I know the trains only go to Redhill but that's better than nothing. The other evening they did a positional move from Victoria to Eastbourne. It was the only passenger train that day which ran from. Victoira to Eastbourne in any direction!

Alternatively would it be possible to have the staff on the same train or do South Eastern staff operate South Eastern services in between?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I see, bar any changes on National Rail Enquiries, which you need to search for, all trains are running tomorrow across all line, engineering rocks not withstanding.

So tomorrow may not be he'll as High Dyke put it.

In fact it may be that Sundays are the best day to travel.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[bicbasher]

Have to give credit to the Southern dispatcher at Platform 15 at Clapham Junction who kept people informed when the CIS went pear shaped again and helped passengers find the right train, not helped when a Outer SLL service was cancelled to London Bridge due to the overtime ban.

 

[Starmill]

I see, bar any changes on National Rail Enquiries, which you need to search for, all trains are running tomorrow across all line, engineering rocks notwithstanding.

So tomorrow may not be hell as High Dyke put it.

In fact it may be that Sundays are the best day to travel.

Difficult to say based on the information they have published:

What services will be affected?

A train service will run between Lewes and Seaford.

On all other routes we expect services to be subject to cancellation.

http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/strike/travel-advice-for-driver-overtime-ban-on-sundays

Certainly by contrast with the current information for Monday:

What services will be affected?

...

No Gatwick Express services between Gatwick Airport and Brighton
No Southern services to/from Beckenham Junction
No Southern services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes Central via Kensington Olympia
No Southern trains between Lewes and Seaford (bus service in operation)
A very limited peak service between Brighton and London
No direct service between London and either Portsmouth or Southampton (a change of trains will be required)
Very limited peak services between Tulse Hill and London Bridge
No Southern peak-only service to/from Guildford
No Southern peak-only service to/from Wimbledon

You are advised to avoid travelling at peak times and to allow extra time for your journey if at all possible.

http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/strike/travel-advice-for-aslef-overtime-ban/

 

[highdyke]

The farce continues:

The unions have now said the GTR is cancelling more trains than it needs to.

Trade unionists have accused Southern Rail of “deliberately sabotaging” its service by cancelling trains and blaming industrial action despite drivers and other crew members being available.

Union officials have said a number of trains from Eastbourne in Sussex were cancelled on Saturday morning even though drivers were available.

But Southern Rail maintains that “if anyone is sabotaging services it’s the union”.

Aslef official Graham Morris told the Press Association: “Southern is deliberately sabotaging the service to strengthen its argument in court on Monday by suggesting that Aslef is responsible for the cancellations.

“Drivers and other crew were sitting around in Eastbourne this morning available to work.”

A Southern spokesman said: “This is absolute fabricated nonsense. It is the unjustified industrial action by the union which is causing disruption for passengers.

“We are trying to provide the best possible service under very challenging circumstances. If anyone is sabotaging services it’s the union.”

Aslef said cancellations included the 06.45 to Ore, the 06.55 to London Victoria, and 07.21 to Ore.

“There is a crew room full of frustrated drivers and guards who are puzzled as to why the company would create this disruption and blame it on us,” a source said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...ing-train-service_uk_584c23b7e4b040989fa6e258

The bid to run a charter service has failed due to the ASLEF blacking all services in the area.

A group of rail users have failed in an attempt to charter a train from Surrey to London on strike days next week.

Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users Association (RRDRUA) began talks with the Train Chartering Company about a service from Redhill to Victoria.
Commuter Antony Sims said they simply had to get to work during the strikes planned by unions on Southern services.
But the group's idea stalled when it was told no driver or train was available for a service.

Mr Sims had hoped to run one return service a day on strike days but said the charter company was concerned about the "short notice".
Simon Pielow, co-owner of Train Chartering Company, said: "Although it was theoretically possible and we believed Network Rail would support it, we were unable to find a train or a driver to charter the service."
'Horrific service'

The trip would have cost about £60 per person with the number of tickets limited and no standing room allowed, he added.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Britain's railways are open to all and so long as the relevant competencies and safety checks are done and cleared then we would welcome any train operator onto our network."
Mr Pielow of the Train Chartering Company said he did not know why a train and driver could not be found but said the request was received at short notice.

The rail users group has not given up on finding a solution and is now actively looking into other options, including a coach service.
Mr Sims said: "Service has been horrific for a whole year but when there are no trains at all that is a whole different ball game. A lot of commuters have jobs they can't not go to."

He added: "I just wish [all sides] would all get together and sort the problem out. As rail users we do not have a voice but we are the ones who are most affected."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38275995

Meanwhile said user group are now calling the the Prime Minister to get involved.

A group of "fed up" train passengers have called on the Prime Minister to meet with union leaders in a bid to end their travel misery.

An open letter on behalf of people who use Southern Rail and Thameslink services said the ongoing disruption causes the breakdown of family life, leads to stress, health issues, job losses and reduced productivity for British business.

The letter to Theresa May comes as members of drivers' union Aslef are set to stage three days of strikes next week which will halt all Southern Railway's services.

Written on behalf of the Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users Association, the letter says: "The residents of Southern England are fed up with the continuing disruption to their daily lives caused by the problems at Southern and Thameslink Railway companies."

It adds: "We have listened to your rhetoric that your government will be for the ordinary people of this country.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/tran...e-minister-to-end-travel-misery-a3417271.html

 

[infobleep]

The farce continues:

The unions have now said the GTR is cancelling more trains than it needs to.



http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...ing-train-service_uk_584c23b7e4b040989fa6e258

The bid to run a charter service has failed due to the ASLEF blacking all services in the area.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38275995

Meanwhile said user group are now calling the the Prime Minister to get involved.



http://www.standard.co.uk/news/tran...e-minister-to-end-travel-misery-a3417271.html

Interesting to note they mention Thameslink, whose drivers aren't even striking!

I think GTR need to investigate why the Eastbourne services couldn't run and put out a full statement. If the union is wrong when it says staff were sat doing nothing then GTR need to publicly prove it. If they don't then it doesn't look good for them.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

 

[sarahj]

All I can say on the matter is the vending machines in the mess room were doing great business today.

 

[infobleep]

I note that Southern are advising passengers not to travel on Tuesday on the lines that are shown on a map in red and purple. The red line is Gatwick Express and the purple one is Thameslink.

Of course Thameslink are not saying that on their Web Site and Gatwick Express only link back to Southern for some strange reason. So should one follow the Southern advice and not travel or ignore that because Thameslink don't advise such a thing?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The only cancellations or part cancellations I can see from Brighton today are Thameslink.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk