St Ives Branch - Covid restrictions - why?

[Requeststop]

The St Ives Branch has been reduced to an hourly service - ostensibly because of covid. I find this strange as the train has only two staff operating the train. the driver and the conductor/guard. The train now sits at St Erth for 30 minutes with both staff close by before setting off back and forth to St Ives? Can anyone tell me why?

 

[36270k]

The St Ives Branch has been reduced to an hourly service - ostensibly because of covid. I find this strange as the train has only two staff operating the train. the driver and the conductor/guard. The train now sits at St Erth for 30 minutes with both staff close by before setting off back and forth to St Ives? Can anyone tell me why?

Probably because the timetable planner had no knowledge of the crew diagrams.

 

[Kite159]

Someone in the DafT probably decided it saves money on track access/fuel

 

[steamybrian]

How many passengers use the branch on an average day in January....?
Many other lines have reduced levels of train services due to lower numbers of passengers travelling.

 

[306024]

Probably because the timetable planner had no knowledge of the crew diagrams.

Probably not.

Someone in the DafT probably decided it saves money on track access/fuel

Much more probable.

 

[davetheguard]

Someone in the DafT probably decided it saves money on track access/fuel

Much more probable.

What's the chance that the DMU's engines will be shut down while it's sat out of service in the bay at St. Erth for 30 minutes of every hour? Even less so on a cold Winter's day I'd of thought.

 

[Watershed]

What's the chance that the DMU's engines will be shut down while it's sat out of service in the bay at St. Erth for 30 minutes of every hour? Even less so on a cold Winter's day I'd of thought.

Most drivers are taught to shut down the engine if they're anticipating a turnaround of more than 15 minutes or so - although of course that duration varies significantly depending on the unit type and operator.

Even if they're idling throughout, whilst obviously that's "wasteful" in a sense, the train will be using a lot less fuel than if it were traversing the steeply graded branch line. Though of course, that needs to be balanced against the off-putting effect of an hourly service.

 

[richw]

Covid could be responsible for many reasons.
Some of which to consider:

Break arrangements for crew have changed in many places due to covid distancing requirements.

Reduction in passenger numbers not justifying half hourly in winter as a result of covid

Probably many more changes to
Working practices that may not be obvious

 

[RPI]

Although its one driver and one guard at any one time, there are several pairs of crew who cover the branch over a day, I expect at the moment its simply two turns, one early and one late. Though in January an hourly service is more than adequate on the St Ives branch!

 

[Kite159]

I guess it will be similar to when Greenford & Henley dropped to hourly instead of half hourly, the driver sits around at West Ealing/Twyford doing not a lot during the 30 minutes+ sat there.

Must get boring having a day like that