Services would be more reliable with the timetable in its current form. And the training backlog that exists could start to be worked through. The DfT could sign RDW off tomorrow. It's the key to bring reliability back. I'd suggest a few people I know would jump at RDW given rising cost of living and Xmas on the horizon... but it is a fair point - there are equally those who have no drive to do so. However, it's the first unblocker to resolve the current crisis. DfT won't though - as it costs money and thanks to Loony Liz and Kami Kwasi that's at a premium!
The decisions, as has been mentioned on here before, about 3/4 drivers/conductors working one service are a key driver to cancellations currently. Only takes one driver to be missing for that service to be cancelled. Throw in lack of traction/route knowledge in some depots for covering services and you lose resilience. That issue will take years to resolve.
Current directors? Golton talks a good game but from what I've seen/heard isn't being forward enough about the current situation. Whether that's anything to do with the NRC and not being allowed to slag off the DfT... who knows. But I hope they get some stark realisation at how bad it all is, as we've been asked to fill in some check in survey and nothing positive from me.
Very interesting, thankyou. Sounds like a total nightmare.
I think forum members previously said that approach was designed around "efficiencies" / cost cutting. Do you know when it first began being implemented i.e. which timetable change?
It seems from what you've suggested that the solution comes in two sections. Firstly, agreeing rest days to ease the shortage of traincrew. Secondly, undoing the Leo & FirstGroup approach of 3/4 traincrew per train, which may take a lot longer.
@SuperNova Here here is Mr.Galton at the TfN Committee Meeting from 31.05.2022 …
In summary, the TPE MD tells us that in the six month period leading up to Autumn 2021, TPE put in its best performance ever. I wonder what were the reasons behind that stunning performance?
The reasons he gives for the dip in performance since are:
1. Higher than usual sickness rates amongst train crew, up to 20% at some depots.
2. Withdrawal of drivers rest day working agreement.
3. RMT dispute mainly affecting Sunday, but also resulted in removal of RDW and overtime during the week. Things have now moved on with this point, but it’s interesting that you wouldn’t really notice it from the reduced Sunday timetable in operation.
4. Training backlog due to COVID.
@gimmea50anyday regarding trains being covered from Newcastle, that’s very interesting. Was it the case though that parts of the diagrams allocated to other depots were not covered?
As an outsider, it’s quite hard to fathom what’s really going on. As I understand it, TPE have had/have a big training backlog due to the pandemic stopping training. At the same time there is currently no Rest Day Working agreement with drivers, which makes it very difficult to carry out training without the knock on effect of cancelling services.
I’m supposing that they must be getting through the training backlog by now, hopefully with a consequent improvement in performance sometime soon. A statement from the company as to when they expect things to improve/progress made wouldn’t go amiss.