The 1st point I find myself having to agree with you. 2nd point and with the greatest reguard you sir are a prat! I dont think anyone that was in that room last night is taking this with "a pinch of salt". To see people that have become family to me and TDK over the last 3 years crying and this was fully growen men is one of the most heart breaking things. to come home and tell my wife that our unborn child has an unemployed farther has ripped another piece out of me. How dare you as an outsider judge the effort we have put in. If half the story came out of what we have had to work with or the conditions weve have worked through you would soon take it back. What do you think our trains have been like? Ive worked many that have been full and standing. that have had more reservations than seats. Ive worked many commuter trains that there have been problems with or on and had stressed passengers on. How dare you judge us from the outside. Weve all gone that extra mile and that is because we have had too, if we didnt this would have come to the point it has alot sooner. May i suggest in future before commenting on something you know nothing about you ask those involved!!!
Okay, a few items here.
Firstly, this was never a massive surprise, there was always going to be a chance WMSR wouldn't last long term (before DB got involved), as it's a very niche product.
Secondly, DB's involvement (and their takeover of Arriva) means that they have other uses for paths/ stock/ staff. It may be more profitable for them to use the paths/ stock/ staff elsewhere. How WMSR fared may have had no bearing on the decision to terminate, it may just be that the ultimate owners could get more return on other routes
Thirdly, since its been a possibility for some time, its strange to close the operation at such short notice
Fourthly, where am I judging the effort that you have put in? I'm just countering the "worship" of WMSR staff from some people on here by saying that *all* TOCs have staff who deserve praise, and that some trains are a lot harder to "work" than others
Finally, my comment about taking the job losses "with a pinch of salt" was because not all of these will be lost. DB clearly have plans to expand some other services, so will need staff to work on these
Alternative employment opportunities within the railway industry are being sought for the 55 employees
I've been made redundant before, I may be again before long, I know what its like. I was just saying that (whilst there will be *some* staff losing jobs) not all of the fifty five will, in fact it sounds like a lot of them will be needed to run the expanded ATW/Chiltern services (such as the Aberytwyth - London proposal, the extra WAG service being talked about, additional loco-hauled services from Moor Street to Marylebone...). I wasn't making a personal comment (though you have taken it as one)
PS: I should also say that I don't expect this to have an impact on Hull Trains or GC to Sunderland, both of which seem to have sound business cases serving reasonable sized cities, and can tap into some ORCATs money from the ECML. However, it may stop future plans like London - Barrow in Furness - Whitehaven - Carlisle from happening