Mitigation of disruption announced in advance

[setdown]

So West Midlands Trains have already announced a service gap this evening of over 5 hours between Birmingham and Liverpool. Utterly predictable, it’s a shame you can’t bet on service cancellations!

However, despite the causes of failing to run trains (discussed elsewhere I’m sure), what can be done to mitigate this on the day? This is a recurring issue with said operator (has been since the Central Trains days), and it’s obviously unable to fix the issues, or they would have been by now. So what can be done on the day when it happens?

Try and put on some replacement buses?

Work with other operators to make additional calls at stations missing services?

I’m keen to hear if other operators have different approaches when this happens. What else can be done to help in this situation?

 

[father_jack]

Try and put on some replacement buses?

Erm, what makes you think bus drivers will not be doing the same thing as the choo choo drivers on their day off ?

 

[Brunswick]

Don’t see why passengers should suffer over a bag of wind, it’s a disgrace how this country is shutting down over bloody football

 

[dk1]

Don’t see why passengers should suffer over a bag of wind, it’s a disgrace how this country is shutting down over bloody football

It’s just how it is. Many love their football & it doesn’t come much bigger or rarer than this.

 

[Watershed]

Erm, what makes you think bus drivers will not be doing the same thing as the choo choo drivers on their day off ?

The fact that they're much less well paid, and so don't have the luxury of choosing not to come into work.

At the very least, I imagine that WMT are arranging ticket acceptance on Avanti and Merseyrail. Of course, that doesn't help the good denizens of Winsford, Hartford or Acton Bridge.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It’s just how it is. Many love their football & it doesn’t come much bigger or rarer than this.

This. It's not as if it happens every weekend, it is very much a one-off... well, apart from when a member of the royal family pops their clogs.

 

[dk1]

This. It's not as if it happens every weekend, it is very much a one-off... well, apart from when a member of the royal family pops their clogs.

Just seen that local Coop stores are closing at 19:45 tonight so staff can see the game. Overwhelming messages of support for it too.

 

[ExRes]

Just seen that local Coop stores are closing at 19:45 tonight so staff can see the game. Overwhelming messages of support for it too.

And Tesco, hopefully all the railway staff single handedly crippling the entire country will remember to get their beer in before Tesco closes ...........

 

[dk1]

And Tesco, hopefully all the railway staff single handedly crippling the entire country will remember to get their beer in before Tesco closes ...........

The fridges, garages & outbuildings are all ready brimming full.

 

[Kite159]

It's a bit like SWR cancelling the majority of the Salisbury - Basingstoke/Reading stoppers today but not putting in extra calls on the Exeter - London services to give the stations missed (Overton/Whitchurch/Grateley) an service to fill the 10 hour gap towards Basingstoke & 10.5 hours towards Salisbury).

Wait they have decided to waste taxpayer money on hiring in buses which most likely are not being advertised at the stations so will be going back and forth carrying fresh air costing the taxpayer money as well as requiring extra staff to monitor the buses at the major stations (which won't get used as they get overtaken by the train for anybody boarding at Andover wanting Salisbury or Basingstoke & beyond).

Most likely anybody at the stations pressing the help button will be put to the useless NRE helpline in India.

 

[43096]

It’s just how it is. Many love their football & it doesn’t come much bigger or rarer than this.

I hope never to see any reference to rail workers as “key workers” ever again, then. Because I bet doctors and nurses aren’t staying at home to watch the football rather than working.

 

[PHILIPE]

The line being peddled from official rail sources is due to staff self isolating

 

[miklcct]

Don’t see why passengers should suffer over a bag of wind, it’s a disgrace how this country is shutting down over bloody football

Sorry, but this is once in a few decades achievement and national pride of England!

 

[roversfan2001]

I hope never to see any reference to rail workers as “key workers” ever again, then. Because I bet doctors and nurses aren’t staying at home to watch the football rather than working.

Rail staff choosing not to work their days off is perfectly acceptable.

 

[185]

I believe the Birmingham drivers on the route work a mix of local and Liverpool trains. Are there similar, proportional cancellations of 100% on the West Midlands local services over five hours

So West Midlands Trains have already announced a service gap this evening of over 5 hours between Birmingham and Liverpool. Utterly predictable, it’s a shame you can’t bet on service cancellations!

However, despite the causes of failing to run trains (discussed elsewhere I’m sure), what can be done to mitigate this on the day? This is a recurring issue with said operator (has been since the Central Trains days), and it’s obviously unable to fix the issues, or they would have been by now. So what can be done on the day when it happens?

Try and put on some replacement buses?

Work with other operators to make additional calls at stations missing services?

I’m keen to hear if other operators have different approaches when this happens. What else can be done to help in this situation?

I believe the Birmingham drivers on the route work a mix of local and Liverpool trains. Are there similar, proportional cancellations on the West Midlands local services of 100% over five hours? If not, it could be argued the operator is choosing to abandon a major long distance hourly route over a local more frequent Birmingham service.

 

[yorkie]

The matter has already been debated extensively here:

Disruption on Sunday/Monday if England win

But work pays the bills, the mortgage etc. Unless you have thousands in the bank.... I think managers and HR will be paying a close eye on sickies come Monday morning. I certainly won't be impressed if my staff fail to turn up and lists have to be cancelled on the day - appointments have...

www.railforums.co.uk

What else can be done to help in this situation?

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions for solutions, feel free to post in the following thread:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/what-could-be-done-to-mitigate-mass-cancellations-when-staff-availability-is-low.219722/

If anyone would like travel advice for today, please use the following thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/travel-advice-for-cancellations-11-07.219720/