What Happens to all trains over Christmas?

[northernrail2009]

I was thinking about this yesterday while on a train and wanted to know what happens to all the trains on Christmas day and Boxing day while not in use?

Will there be any staff working on the 2 days cleaning the trains ready for service 1st thing on the 27th Dec and are all the train taken to the yards or do they keep some in Stations ready for the 27th?

Is there any room for all trains to be kepted in yards?

Is it a big task to sort out where to leave trains and to lock all mainline stations for the Christmas shutdown?

 

[O L Leigh]

It's the same thing that happens when the service stops overnight.

Trains will be stabled in yards and depots and, if necessary, station platforms. They will generally be cleaned before being stabled and will be prepped for service before they come out again on the 27th. Likewise, stations will be secured in the normal way as if it was the end of service on any other night.

O L Leigh

 

[gordonthemoron]

over here, they'll be running as normal, sleeper trains too

 

[First class]

Security Staff/Police generally will still patrol the stations/depots all days of the year.

An Electrical Control Officer is still usually present in the IECC (as the current is not isolated over Christmas) along with member(s) of staff from the TOC Control Room, (monitoring CCTV, Fire Panels, Security Alarms etc).

Well that's what happens in our network (Merseyrail) anyway...

 

[GodAtum]

It's a shame there are no trains running on Christmas Day as that means I will not be able to get home from work. I'm working during the night on Christmas Eve so it looks like I will be spending Christmas Day in a hotel on my own.

 

[harz99]

I hope Network Rail remember the past and man Kilmarnock signal box over Christmas this year........................

 

[321446]

It's a shame there are no trains running on Christmas Day as that means I will not be able to get home from work. I'm working during the night on Christmas Eve so it looks like I will be spending Christmas Day in a hotel on my own.

This raises a good seasonal point. In today's 24/7 society, what are people's views regarding the demand for a TRUE 24/7 railway? I think that Christmas Day is the only day this year when the majority of rail-staff have something approaching a whole day off on the same day (taking into account late finishes on Christmas Eve and those who have to go in on Saturday to liven things up again). I know there will be some hardy p-way folk out there doing their best to repaire the crumbling infastructure over the break, between mince-pies in the wagon at ungodly hours of the night.

So, if you are staff, would you work on Christmas Day? Would there be any point? Or is there a demand out there from passengers for a service? Or is this really the only chance for some intense maintenance with the least distruption?

 

[ungreat]

I was thinking about this yesterday while on a train and wanted to know what happens to all the trains on Christmas day and Boxing day while not in use?

They all have a big Christmas dinner and a choo choo party!

 

[Ticket Man]

Id work christmas day (although the missus would never forgive me) but i dont think there would be much point. Even though britain has a large percentage of the population that dont celebrate christmas, the rest of the economy is closed. Aside from emergancy and safety critical staff (with the odd christmas tourist thrown in) who would use the trains? Saying all this though, dont think it will be too many years before one bright toc thinks there's enough demand on boxing day!

 

[ungreat]

This raises a good seasonal point. In today's 24/7 society, what are people's views regarding the demand for a TRUE 24/7 railway? I think that Christmas Day is the only day this year when the majority of rail-staff have something approaching a whole day off on the same day (taking into account late finishes on Christmas Eve and those who have to go in on Saturday to liven things up again). I know there will be some hardy p-way folk out there doing their best to repaire the crumbling infastructure over the break, between mince-pies in the wagon at ungodly hours of the night.

So, if you are staff, would you work on Christmas Day? Would there be any point? Or is there a demand out there from passengers for a service? Or is this really the only chance for some intense maintenance with the least distruption?

Oh god,not this again.....the usual argument for the season approacheth!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Trains should run on Boxing Day as the shops are open by then, when I worked for BR in the 80s, hardly any trains ran on New Year's Day, things are a bit different now

 

[GB]

I'd maybe offer to work Christmas day or boxing day if my company made a decent offer in return.

As for a service on boxing day, yes ok alot of shops are open (though not all of them) but just how many out of those boxing day shoppers would use the train? How many busses would run on Boxing day for connections to the town?

Its my opinion its more worth while undertaking significant engineering projects on these days.

 

[Kneedown]

I was thinking about this yesterday while on a train and wanted to know what happens to all the trains on Christmas day and Boxing day while not in use?

They tend to get graffiti'd to bu****y (Just like 158813, fresh out of refurbishment, did this week!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So, if you are staff, would you work on Christmas Day? Would there be any point?

No i wouldn't, and no there wouldn't.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Even though britain has a large percentage of the population that dont celebrate christmas,

I disagree, i'd say the vast majority of the British population celebrate Christmas, whether it be in a religious way or family orientated way, or even in an indulgent and materialistic way.

 

[EM2]

I worked Christmas Day last year even though the station was closed. But we still had people trying to catch trains!

 

[MrC]

I'd maybe offer to work Christmas day or boxing day if my company made a decent offer in return.

At least one TOC has Xmas and Boxing days as part of the normal driver's working week (just like any other bank holiday). If the TOC wanted to run services on those days then drivers whose rostered work days fell on those dates would work at normal rates (unless the TOC made some form of goodwill gesture ). This doesn't necessarily apply for other grades though.

I can certainly see Boxing Day services coming in the next year or so - not so sure there's enough demand for Xmas Day though.

 

[dk1]

We get offered double time & an extra days lieu leave for coming in Boxing day night to prepare trains for the 27th. This however doesnt interest me. You will only ever get a token service if at all on Boxing let alone Christmas day as can only go via volunteers. ASLEF would never tolerate compulsary working.

 

[MrC]

ASLEF would never tolerate compulsary working.

You don't need compulsory working you just agree to 25/26 Dec being treated as normal working days as part of ASLE&F pay/conditions negotiations. BTDTGTTS.

 

[Tom B]

If someone offered me what is effectively triple time to work on a day when otherwise I'd be lounging around, I'd jump at the chance!

 

[northernrail2009]

Do they man Signal boxes over the 2 days?

 

[royaloak]

It's a shame there are no trains running on Christmas Day as that means I will not be able to get home from work. I'm working during the night on Christmas Eve so it looks like I will be spending Christmas Day in a hotel on my own.

perhaps you would like to get a job on the trains then you could volunteer to work, there is no real call for a service on Christmas day, and as these are the only 2 bank holidays we get off it would be hoped that people would stop this every year it does get boring!
Are there no buses running, what about taxis or a car/ motorbike or push bike, plenty of alternatives.

 

[gordonthemoron]

london underground is running on Boxing Day

 

[GB]

Do they man Signal boxes over the 2 days?

Yes and No. Big boxes tend to have at least 1 person on duty for security reasons. If theres lots of engineering work going on then there is usually more than one signaller on duty at a time.

Crossing boxes are almost certainly switched out after the last train. Smaller boxes are usually closed after the last train but only if there are no other trains to signal or if there is no engineering work to grant.

It is possible for a box to grant a possession, switch out and close the box and then switch in again when its time to give up the possession.

The electrical control room will almost certainly have staff working through Christmas.

 

[33056]

So, if you are staff, would you work on Christmas Day?

Absolutely yes, will be working next week as I have done for most years recently. BAH HUMBUG!

 

[HSTfan!!!]

as I mentioned in another thread the other day, drivers will actually go in and warm up the engines. Must be a nice pay packet from that

 

[bluenoxid]

Yes, plenty of people work on Christmas Day on the railways. I think that this is the time to not forget the hard work that those people, especially the infrastructure peeps will put in.

I think Boxing Day is becoming a day when it is becoming harder to justify a lack of service

But those who wish to travel might want to look at Megabus.

 

[Skie]

They are each given a berth in a warm shed with a stocking hung on the wall for santa.



Some trains, usually freights, will auto-start their own engines as frost prevention whenever temperatures drop sufficiently.

 

[323235]

.

As for a service on boxing day, How many busses would run on Boxing day for connections to the town?

In Manchester for the past few years its been as follows :-

Christmas Day

Nightbuses operate til 4am
The 43 Bus Operates all day

Boxing Day

All the main bus routes operate the usual high frequency service

e.g. 192 Hazel Grove-Manchester Every 10 Minutes
Stockport - Manchester Every 5 Minutes

The Metrolink Trams operate every 15 Minutes

 

[ChrisTheRef]

If I was in charge, I'd have at LEAST a Sunday service in place on Boxing Day.

People start visiting who they'd avoided on Christmas Day (or at least we do!), all of the shops are open (Next are open at 5am??) and there's a full programme of football fixtures.

Fair enough, I don't think the demand is there on Christmas Day

 

[jon0844]

I'm really biting my lip here, but I do believe there would be usage of trains on Christmas Day - but only if it was advertised.

I wouldn't expect a frequent service, but anything that helped people save money on sky-high taxi fares (or be tempted to drink and drive) would have many benefits.

But drivers don't want to work Christmas Day and I don't want to start that argument up again! Boxing Day is a different kettle of fish; to many it's a near normal day now.

 

[MrC]

I wouldn't expect a frequent service, but anything that helped people save money on sky-high taxi fares (or be tempted to drink and drive) would have many benefits.

I think this would have to be looked at on a regional basis. In suburban areas with a good rail infrastructure then Xmas day services probably make sense, especially if there's bus services running as well to fill in the gaps. In areas with less rail services (& XC) I'm not sure there's sufficient demand to make it worth the effort. I suspect Government will ask the TOCs/NR to have a trial run one Xmas with lots of advertising etc and future arrangements will depend on how successful that year was.

But drivers don't want to work Christmas Day......

I think a few would and I expect Xmas/Boxing day working to appear in a few pay negotiations at some point. As previously mentioned upthread ASLE&F have already agreed to drivers on one TOC having those days in the normal working week.

However drivers are only one part of the picture - you'd need a whole load of other staff to work as well (although management might get kicked out of bed to cover instead ).