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

[Chrisgr31]

My guess is they don't want thousands of commuters using morning services to get to work and then getting stranded with no way of getting home. Imagine if they ran a normal morning peak service and most people went to work as on a normal weekday. The chaos this evening would be quite something!

If that was the reason it would be the first time Southern have given any consideration to the passengers.


Incidentally great day for roadworks on the A26 between Uckfield and Crowborough,mresulting delays for the Brighton and Hove 29 bus now mean I am at least 90 minutes late for work!

 

[infobleep]

I don't believe GWR are accepting Southern tickets - so,depending on your ticket, you may need to buy an extra ticket.

Wonder why they chose not to do that, given that in sure they do during service disruption.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My guess is they don't want thousands of commuters using morning services to get to work and then getting stranded with no way of getting home. Imagine if they ran a normal morning peak service and most people went to work as on a normal weekday. The chaos this evening would be quite something!

So what. If a passenger incorrectly buys the wrong ticket because they don't understand the rules, they may get a penalty fare.

So surely if a passenger travels when a strike has been advertised and gets stuck then tough. A strike and train service not running is far more easier to understand than ticketing.

Yes passengers must read posters but equally they also must read up on their ticketing restrictions.

Out of interest, hoe are the trains today? I'm thinking of travelling on May 11 in the evening to Haywards Heath and again the following morning to Clapham Junction. Well beyond Clapham Junction but that far with Southern at least.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[87015]

Wonder why they chose not to do that, given that in sure they do during service disruption.

Probably because they GTR advertised it without asking. It wouldn't be the only operator they've wound up, even those trying to help move people are banging heads against walls. Meanwhile Southern staff just send everyone that way when they've restricted the ability to run additionals to help - they really are a shower.

 

[radamfi]

So was this morning peak bearable? Did people manage to squeeze onto trains or did get a lot of people get left on the platform? I'm thinking particularly of Thameslink trains north of Brighton.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Probably because they GTR advertised it without asking. It wouldn't be the only operator they've wound up, even those trying to help move people are banging heads against walls. Meanwhile Southern staff just send everyone that way when they've restricted the ability to run additionals to help - they really are a shower.

During disruption Southern (or more to the point GTR) do ask the other companies for assistance in sending passengers via alternative routes.
Just because the other companies cannot get the information out to their staff is another matter.

 

[Stew998]

So was this morning peak bearable? Did people manage to squeeze onto trains or did get a lot of people get left on the platform? I'm thinking particularly of Thameslink trains north of Brighton.

I'd be interested to know how it's been today as well, I've worked from home today but have some meetings tomorrow that I'd prefer to attend if possible.

I travel from Haywards Heath to London Bridge although I can go via any London terminus if necessary.

 

[infobleep]

During disruption Southern (or more to the point GTR) do ask the other companies for assistance in sending passengers via alternative routes.
Just because the other companies cannot get the information out to their staff is another matter.

That doesn't answer the question of why in particular, GWR didn't help today with ticket acceptance.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I asked on Southern's Twitter feed and they just said there were no reported issues with station overcrowding this morning.

That means although it will be more awkward to get from Haywards Heath to Clapham Junction during the peak rush hours it won't be impossible. Outside of the peaks of course there will be trains from Haywards Heath stopping at Clapham Junction, just not during the peaks.

I hope to make use of the services in May then. I'm keen to travel to see what it's like.

I once got to and from Worcester Park during a South West Trains strike.

I took one of the rush hour only Southern trains to I can't remember where and for the journey back traveled via Dorking and the night coach that First Great Western use to run on the North Downs Line.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[cookie365]

I travelled on today's 12:50 from Victoria to Brighton. 12 coaches, at times it felt like I had my own personal train it was that empty.

All sorts of issues on the Thameslink services judging by realtimetrains.

And Brighton Buses tweeted to say no ticket acceptance.

 

[maniacmartin]

I travelled from Purley to London Bridge around 07:30am. The ex-Horsham services didn't exist so I took the ex-Caterham/Tattenham Corner semi-fast. It was very busy and there was a lot of extra dwell time due to slow boarding, but as far as I could see from my standing position we didn't start leaving people on the platform until the last pick-up station at Norwood Junction

 

[tony6499]

They could have run a full morning service on all routes but chose not to and had instead crews sitting doing nothing, not sure why they couldn't have run a decent service.

 

[ainsworth74]

They could have run a full morning service on all routes but chose not to and had instead crews sitting doing nothing, not sure why they couldn't have run a decent service.

How would everyone that used the train to get to work get home in the evening when there were far fewer trains?

 

[infobleep]

How would everyone that used the train to get to work get home in the evening when there were far fewer trains?

It would be travelers choice whether to travel. Not everyone wants to return the same evening?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[tony6499]

How would everyone that used the train to get to work get home in the evening when there were far fewer trains?

Up to the passenger but what is the point having depots full of crews doing nothing when they could have run a service ?

Unless of course they wished to blame the RMT for not being able to run trains on 2 days.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Up to the passenger but what is the point having depots full of crews doing nothing when they could have run a service ?

Unless of course they wished to blame the RMT for not being able to run trains on 2 days.

Easier to say than plan.
However, GTR could run a complete service all day, with most of those during the strike cancelled (except for those covered by managers), but running DOO(Non Passenger), to enable stock to be in place for the next day, and any crews that are booked pass can still go pass!
Don't think the drivers might be happy though!

 

[PHILIPE]

The 158/9 on GWR 0900 Brighton to Great Malvern this morning had a 150/2 attached. Helping out ?

 

[387star]

The 158/9 on GWR 0900 Brighton to Great Malvern this morning had a 150/2 attached. Helping out ?

yeah told booked for a 5-car again tomorrow

 

[theblackwatch]

Up to the passenger but what is the point having depots full of crews doing nothing when they could have run a service ?

Unless of course they wished to blame the RMT for not being able to run trains on 2 days.

One issue is that rolling stock needs to be returned to a suitable depot/stabling point. Similarly, if there's (say) a strike until 15.00, it doesn't mean that the full evening peak service can be run as normal -it takes a while to get things up and running, as I'm sure anyone involved in rostering (whether it be staff, rolling stock etc) could explain in more detail.

 

[tony6499]

One issue is that rolling stock needs to be returned to a suitable depot/stabling point. Similarly, if there's (say) a strike until 15.00, it doesn't mean that the full evening peak service can be run as normal -it takes a while to get things up and running, as I'm sure anyone involved in rostering (whether it be staff, rolling stock etc) could explain in more detail.

I rostered for many years thanks, I know the principles very well. The service could have easily been run up to midday before shutting down into the emergency one , the main reason they didn't was they didn't want to not that they weren't able to run a better service this morning than they did.

 

[PHILIPE]

yeah told booked for a 5-car again tomorrow

Posted on Facebook that the Brightons in each direction changed over at Bristol TM (times fit in) in order to strengthen the afternoon trip also. Somebody on Facebook has accused GWR of strike breaking.

 

[LowLevel]

Posted on Facebook that the Brightons in each direction changed over at Bristol TM (times fit in) in order to strengthen the afternoon trip also. Somebody on Facebook has accused GWR of strike breaking.

That's not really fair I don't think even as a vehement supporter of the strike - folk will still try to get from a to b and running more coaches helps GWR ensure their own passengers have more of a chance of getting on the thing. 2 round trips running with 2 more coaches is hardly strike breaking.

 

[D1009]

Southern website states:

Southern tickets will also be accepted as part of any reasonable journey on the following operators:

Southeastern (Southern tickets will not be accepted on high speed services)
South West Trains
London Overground
London Midland
London Underground (this includes journeys between London Victoria, London Blackfriars, and London Bridge)

I would argue Havant to Clapham on SWT with a Southern only must surely be reasonable however SWT website says nothing about acceptance at all and they sent an email saying:

Tickets for Southern services in the affected areas will be valid on our trains between Southampton Central and Chichester via Fareham, between Portsmouth Harbour and Havant and between Dorking and Epsom.

So Southern say I can use SWT and SWT say I can't. Also SWT haven't run to Chichester for a few years!! I'm guessing a few excesses on the Pompey Direct today and probably from Southampton to Clapham too!

How much price difference is there between Southern only tickets and normal walk-up ones?

 

[PHILIPE]

That's not really fair I don't think even as a vehement supporter of the strike - folk will still try to get from a to b and running more coaches helps GWR ensure their own passengers have more of a chance of getting on the thing. 2 round trips running with 2 more coaches is hardly strike breaking.

It's the type of comment some people post on Facebook. Amounts to trolling.

 

[D1009]

Posted on Facebook that the Brightons in each direction changed over at Bristol TM (times fit in) in order to strengthen the afternoon trip also.

I can confirm that happened as I used the afternoon service from Parkway to Temple Meads earlier.

 

[yorkie]

Somebody on Facebook has accused GWR of strike breaking.

You get trolls anywhere, but nowhere is worse than Farcebook!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's the type of comment some people post on Facebook. Amounts to trolling.

Ah, just seen your follow up. Indeed. Best ignored/blocked and not given any publicity elsewhere.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Easier to say than plan.

Indeed.

Edit: I have spoken with some planners (including a GTR planner directly involved) who disagree with tony6499's post and agree with theblackwatch's response above. But enough of that; this thread is meant to be for passengers info.

So, let's all focus on information from passengers now?

 

[greaterwest]

The 158/9 on GWR 0900 Brighton to Great Malvern this morning had a 150/2 attached. Helping out ?

That's the service I was worried about being chronically overcrowded (I mentioned it earlier in the thread.) Good to hear they strengthened it, I wasn't sure whether they would or not.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Posted on Facebook that the Brightons in each direction changed over at Bristol TM (times fit in) in order to strengthen the afternoon trip also. Somebody on Facebook has accused GWR of strike breaking.

That move was good thinking on GWR's part, props to the people at Swindon today.

I hardly think it's strike breaking, they're providing their regular (even if only twice a day in each direction) service to Brighton, with additional carriages. If anything, that would make the service a little safer and people should be grateful for what capacity that offers, especially between Chichester, Havant and Cosham.

 

[jimbo99]

For those asking about loadings earlier:

I went to East Croydon at 17:20 yesterday, Tuesday. It was very quiet compared with a normal day. But all seats taken in the waiting room on platforms 1/2. I was waiting for a delayed Thameslink (?17:26) expected at 17:42 on platform 2. As is often the style at East Croydon, it was announced that the next Thameslink would depart from platform 4, being the 17:39 (?) which was running on time. Most of the (few) people on platform 2 rushed to 4 just in time to pick it up. As it left, I could see there were still plenty of seats free. About this time, a train to Victoria came in on platform 1. 12 coaches. People were standing by the doors in the middle of the train, but it was by no means a crush. I stuck with the late Thameslink coming in on 2 at 17:42ish. Probably 6 of us in the 4th carriage of this 8 car train.

Returned City Thameslink (21:49) to East Croydon, arriving at 22:21. It was like a ghost station, hardly anybody about.

It does seem that these days at the first sign of a strike, many passengers don't travel - or at least not by rail.

 

[Deepgreen]

I was mildly amused this morning when I heard a radio news item which opened with; "Commuters using Southern trains are being warned to expect slow and frustrating journeys..." - the following thought popped into my head; "oh, and there's a strike too"!

 

[Stew998]

For those asking about loadings earlier:

I went to East Croydon at 17:20 yesterday, Tuesday. It was very quiet compared with a normal day. But all seats taken in the waiting room on platforms 1/2. I was waiting for a delayed Thameslink (?17:26) expected at 17:42 on platform 2. As is often the style at East Croydon, it was announced that the next Thameslink would depart from platform 4, being the 17:39 (?) which was running on time. Most of the (few) people on platform 2 rushed to 4 just in time to pick it up. As it left, I could see there were still plenty of seats free. About this time, a train to Victoria came in on platform 1. 12 coaches. People were standing by the doors in the middle of the train, but it was by no means a crush. I stuck with the late Thameslink coming in on 2 at 17:42ish. Probably 6 of us in the 4th carriage of this 8 car train.

Returned City Thameslink (21:49) to East Croydon, arriving at 22:21. It was like a ghost station, hardly anybody about.

It does seem that these days at the first sign of a strike, many passengers don't travel - or at least not by rail.

That's interesting and thanks for posting but it sounds like those Thameslink trains were heading North which is not the busy direction in the evening.

For that reason I doubt that a train to Victoria would be crowded on a normal day at that time and hardly surprising that there were not many people about at 22:21

But you are right that people tend not the travel if they can avoid it. What with flexible working and working from home these things can be worked around given a little notice.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It would be travelers choice whether to travel. Not everyone wants to return the same evening?

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

I would have thought that the vast majority of commuters would very much like to return the same evening!

 

[infobleep]

That's interesting and thanks for posting but it sounds like those Thameslink trains were heading North which is not the busy direction in the evening.

For that reason I doubt that a train to Victoria would be crowded on a normal day at that time and hardly surprising that there were not many people about at 22:21

But you are right that people tend not the travel if they can avoid it. What with flexible working and working from home these things can be worked around given a little notice.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I would have thought that the vast majority of commuters would very much like to return the same evening!

The choice is whether to travel not I'll travel and moan I can't get home.

Its far simpler to understand than ticketing regulations.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[ainsworth74]

I was mildly amused this morning when I heard a radio news item which opened with; "Commuters using Southern trains are being warned to expect slow and frustrating journeys..." - the following thought popped into my head; "oh, and there's a strike too"!

Naughty