Indeed. There's no requirement for route knowledge
But you need to know where the low bridges are, or you could be scoring a bit of an own-goal
Indeed. There's no requirement for route knowledge
But you need to know where the low bridges are, or you could be scoring a bit of an own-goal
All the ScotRail electric services that are covered by the 1986 Strathclyde DOO agreement - and have booked Sunday services in normal times - are running: Helensburgh Central-Edinburgh via Yoker and Bathgate, Balloch-Airdrie via Singer, Glasgow Central-Gourock/Wemyss Bay/Ayr/Ardrossan Harbour/Largs/Lanark and Dalmuir-Motherwell via the Hamilton Circle. They may, however, be subject to alteration/bustitution/cancellation due to engineering works.Where's it possible to get to by rail in Scotland on Sundays just now, presumably using non Scotrail services only.
You'd be amazed what some drivers will do for overtime !
There's no need to. That's why there are road signs.But you need to know where the low bridges are, or you could be scoring a bit of an own-goal
Think outside the box. If the train drivers and guards are going to drive the buses, then surely the train fitters can do the maintenance. And if there aren't enough fitters then maybe we can train up the station cleaners and catering crews to help out?
But you would only find that out when you were approaching the bridge. My point was that low bridges may not be apparent when the driver was plotting the route, and the worse thing to happen would be if he did not notice the low bridge sign and have a bridge strike, closing the railway line.There's no need to. That's why there are road signs.
Serious reply: lots of coaches set off each day unware of full route details. It's the professional drivers that stop them hitting things. Most bus and coach journeys happen without hitting a thing.But you would only find that out when you were approaching the bridge. My point was that low bridges may not be apparent when the driver was plotting the route, and the worse thing to happen would be if he did not notice the low bridge sign and have a bridge strike, closing the railway line.
The Shearings coaches are being used - www.shearings.com.There are indeed yards full of coaches. Not just Shearings. Since lockdown many coach companies have gone. However, most (all?) of these coaches are not PVSAR compliant, so are of no use.
I don't think all of the Strathclyde suburban services DOO are running - it's less than that. There is no Ardrossan or Wemyss Bay trains for example and no Cathcart Circle at all. Largs does occasionally run but isn't showing this weekend.All the ScotRail electric services that are covered by the 1986 Strathclyde DOO agreement - and have booked Sunday services in normal times - are running: Helensburgh Central-Edinburgh via Yoker and Bathgate, Balloch-Airdrie via Singer, Glasgow Central-Gourock/Wemyss Bay/Ayr/Ardrossan Harbour/Largs/Lanark and Dalmuir-Motherwell via the Hamilton Circle. They may, however, be subject to alteration/bustitution/cancellation due to engineering works.
I thought those are a new fleetThe Shearings coaches are being used - www.shearings.com.
There are no services to Wemyss Bay, Ardrossan Harbour, Lanark, the Hamilton Circle, or stations between Clydebank and JordanhillAll the ScotRail electric services that are covered by the 1986 Strathclyde DOO agreement - and have booked Sunday services in normal times - are running: Helensburgh Central-Edinburgh via Yoker and Bathgate, Balloch-Airdrie via Singer, Glasgow Central-Gourock/Wemyss Bay/Ayr/Ardrossan Harbour/Largs/Lanark and Dalmuir-Motherwell via the Hamilton Circle. They may, however, be subject to alteration/bustitution/cancellation due to engineering works.
Pretty sure the Argyle line has been closed in its entirety for the duration of the current action. Cathcart Circle seems to be the same.There are no services to Wemyss Bay, Ardrossan Harbour, Lanark, the Hamilton Circle, or stations between Clydebank and Jordanhill
The current Shearings is no connection to the previous Shearings. It is a franchise of various operators running their own vehicles with a common brand and livery.The Shearings coaches are being used - www.shearings.com.
Unsympathetic 'what do you expect us to do about it?' attitudes do public transport much repetitional damage. The first question for any successful business has to be 'how do we make our customers feel looked after really well so thry want to use us again?'And where were Scotrail going to magic these busses and drivers from a no notice? Or do you think they should have fleets of busses fully manned 24/7 strategically sited round the country just in case?
It's a new company with nothing but the name in common. There are plenty of the original Shearings coaches sitting around in dealers yards. None of the original fleet have turned a wheel for the new company.The Shearings coaches are being used - www.shearings.com.
Surely if this happens it is up to the train company to get the passengers home? Or pay for alternative travel arrangements/hotel if needed.
There comes a point where the volume of affected passengers exceeds the local resources, regardless of the costs.So passengers need to go to greater expense to get home, I hope the train company will re-imsburse them for this extra cost!
So improve the resources by training the staff to drive buses. It can't be much harder than driving a train. Though I appreciate having a clutch and steering wheel might confuse some, as might driving without signals.There comes a point where the volume of affected passengers exceeds the local resources, regardless of the costs.
Unfortunately that's not how it works. People's minds work differently. Some people use road signs as intended. But some people can't do the level of arithmetic required to determine if the bus will fit under the bridge. Others don't read road signs if they think they are on the correct route. Others can't understand or read the signs and use their visual judgement as to whether or not the bus will fit. As a result for some people it's almost certainly only a matter of time until they hit a bridge. These skills are not tested for during the process of getting the licence so the system is set up to allow people without them to drive buses of any size.There's no need to. That's why there are road signs.
It is very much part of the training and features in the theory & Hazard Perception tests. It's also on test routes where possible. It's also part of various CPC training modules. Anyone unable to work out if their vehicle fits under a signposted bridge should not hold a driving license for any category. It's a regular, several times a day, occurrence for lorry and coach drivers, it's a basic part of the job. It's a legal requirement of the licence.Unfortunately that's not how it works. People's minds work differently. Some people use road signs as intended. But some people can't do the level of arithmetic required to determine if the bus will fit under the bridge. Others don't read road signs if they think they are on the correct route. Others can't understand or read the signs and use their visual judgement as to whether or not the bus will fit. As a result for some people it's almost certainly only a matter of time until they hit a bridge. These skills are not tested for during the process of getting the licence so the system is set up to allow people without them to drive buses of any size.
Rail replacement bus driving has been my preferred line of work for 9 years and I am familiar with the labour market. Not so much on the coach side but certainly on the bus side. It varies - in suburban areas there are a fair few people who drive part time on weekdays who do it on weekends. There are also a lot of people in 9-5 office roles who have a PCV licence (and an interest in some cases) who'd gladly jump on a bus at short notice. I wouldn't recommend forcing it as part of a train driver or guard's job responsibilities. The skills required to do rail replacement properly aren't as trivial as people think.
It is very much part of the training and features in the theory & Hazard Perception tests. It's also on test routes where possible. It's also part of various CPC training modules. Anyone unable to work out if their vehicle fits under a signposted bridge should not hold a driving license for any category. It's a regular, several times a day, occurrence for lorry and coach drivers, it's a basic part of the job. It's a legal requirement of the licence.
But as previously mentioned, where do the buses come from? How do the staff get to the buses? How do the trains start running again when crew are all away driving buses?So improve the resources by training the staff to drive buses. It can't be much harder than driving a train. Though I appreciate having a clutch and steering wheel might confuse some, as might driving without signals.
And will the staff go on strike if they aren't offer a considerable pay rise for accepting this pie in the sky idea?But as previously mentioned, where do the buses come from? How do the staff get to the buses? How do the trains start running again when crew are all away driving buses?
Unsympathetic 'what do you expect us to do about it?' attitudes do public transport much repetitional damage. The first question for any successful business has to be 'how do we make our customers feel looked after really well so they want to use us again?'
The reality is that, in a choice between Scotrail and its customers who is in the better position to resolve the problem, the answer is Scotrail every time.
It is very much part of the training and features in the theory & Hazard Perception tests. It's also on test routes where possible. It's also part of various CPC training modules. Anyone unable to work out if their vehicle fits under a signposted bridge should not hold a driving license for any category. It's a regular, several times a day, occurrence for lorry and coach drivers, it's a basic part of the job. It's a legal requirement of the licence.
Unless it's Friday or Saturday night, or school run time for example.Many medium to large stations will have taxi ranks and in all but the remotest locations it wouldn't take long to rustle-up a minicab.
CPC training is 100% useless as a compulsory qualification because there is no syllabus whatsoever. I did a course the other week and two hours were spent showing us how to fill out a log card, which is a daily exercise for drivers at that company.