I would hope that the boards on the platform at say Victoria would say what part of a train that you need to be sitting within to say travel to Lewes, Eastbourne, Hastings or Ore. Certainly did last year, when I travelled back home from London Victoria to get to Lewes.
I suspect that it's a case of lawyers being involved, resulting in everyone who's even somewhat involved with the project keeping their lips sealed.
They said that last year. And the year before. And……
From what I have heard internally its looking unlikely.
So what you're saying is that people have already decided that in nine months time none of these trains will be in service?
I wouldn't be surprised if the same issues arose whoever the trains were ordered from, even a repeat order of 707s. Just seems to be an institutional incapability to get anything introduced at SWR. Basket case operator.
The endless circle of woe that is the 701 units. Money usually oils a few wheels...pun intended.
Why don't other TOCs have issues with training?
they do, it has delayed many fleet introductions across TOCs, and contributed to the GTR timetable meltdown back in 2018 for example
When I last looked there were plenty of new classes of trains being introduced around the country. Even the first of the Class 230s on TfW entered service today.
The 701s are delayed to a rather unique extend. and I don't think we even know why the 701s are delayed, and to what extend (if at all) it is related to crew training.
Yes, I'm not denying that, but there were suggestions on above that no training is possible on SWR rather than just delayed training.
Traincrew don't get to pick and choose if/when they do training - you simply get rostered to attend a training course / company day / rules exam with the agreed x days notice (generally a letter in your pigeon hole a week or two in advance depending on your company's T&Cs), and you then attend accordingly.
That certainly seems the most credible reason for lack of any visible progress.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Does the union have to sign off that its members are prepared to work on the trains? At a collective level, there is still the opportunity to object to a new and unsuitable workplace.
That is correct provided the training suits the crew's T&Cs.
Are you saying that train drivers are not allowed to travel on rail replacement buses? If the RRBs are good enough for the paying passengers, why can't staff use them?
Guards as well in my time, on the patch to which your forum name hints! Taxi's were the order of the day.
Doesn’t look good if passengers can’t get on the bus but traincrew can so better to avoid the conflict. Also, if the traincrew can’t get on the bus, further trains may be cancelled elsewhere if they’re late
Are RRBs ever that busy? The ones I see usually have a only a dozen or so passnegers on board
Yeah, I saw this one at Derby.47749 701026
Realtime Trains | 5Q10 1017 Derby Litchurch Lane to Eastleigh Trsmd | 04/04/2023
Real-time train running information for 5Q10 1017 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Eastleigh Trsmd on 04/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
The route on which my depot is on certainly gets full and standing, even with a Decker on Sundays, but this will obviously vary from place to place across the country. There’s also the issue of buses sometimes missing connecting trains due to roadworks, or in the current climate buses simply not showing up, which would have the obvious result of crews not being in position and trains being cancelled. That said, I’ve known of both Drivers and Guards being rostered to travel passenger on rail replacement buses in my area at least, but I’d say it has seemingly become less frequent.
