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Avanti West Coast Cancellations
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dk1
Veteran Member
Nope
185
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I've just come to this thread to see if anyone else is discussing a potential demise of AWC. Observed a handful of senior figures
Some back at GWR…I've just come to this thread to see if anyone else is discussing a potential demise of AWC. Observed a handful of senior figuresscurrying off the titanicerr... "departing for pastures new" in the last few days
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
If it is OLR they will do a TPE and cut services back so be careful what you wish for
thomas_2312
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- 8
Speaking of cancellations, right as i’m sat reading this thread I have just had an email from Avanti telling me my train to Euston is cancelled tomorrow.
Or an LNER and abolish cheaper flexible fares... At least in many situations TPE can just half the service, and have the ability to run double-length formations, Avanti doesn't have that luxury with the Pendolino's already being as long as infrastructure permits.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Would be preferable to the timetable being a work of fiction.
They’ve just agreed a RDW deal with ASLEF, which will solve many of the issues at a stroke, just as it did with TPE. We can speculate as to why they, or more specifically the DfT, have left it until now to do so…
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Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Thank goodness for that. I'm fed up driving up the M6 because I can't trust them. When does that come into effect?
paul1609
Established Member
Dont you mean the WCML is the least bucket case railway the Dft has? if you believe Roger Fords National Rail P & L estimations for the rail industry the whole thing is just a huge money pit for the taxpayer post pandemic.
Not sure exactly when, but once agreed implementation is usually pretty imminent.
@Efini92 might know more.
Hardly a “huge” money pit in the context of wider government spending, and in any case is being kept so by the DfT ensuring large parts of it remain chronically unreliable, by squeezing operational expenditure, which does little to reduce fixed costs.
Roger Ford has also suggested we stop making pointless comparison to the pre Covid situation, and has stated:
Passenger revenue recovery stabilising
■ Revenue now consistently just under £10.5bn a year ■ Long-distance travel leads recovery ■ Elizabeth Line success distorting data
www.modernrailways.com
philosopher
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This Saturday does look like a better Saturday than last Saturday, “only” 23 cancellations and 24 other service updates (mostly part cancellations) at 08:00 this morning according to Avanti JourneyCheck.
Of course, if you are have booked one of those cancelled trains, this will be of no consolation.
dk1
Veteran Member
Yes I seem to recall seeing 49 last weekend so an improvement.
dk1
Veteran Member
Yes very much so. The odd cancellation is accepted especially as it’s often communicated via email too these days.
D1537
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Yes, I am in the usual dilemma tomorrow. I am going from Rugby to a gig in London. I can make the 9G70 2324 Euston-Wolverhampton. If it is shown as running tomorrow (it does get cancelled occasionally despite being the last train), I *still* worry about it having an issue during the day after I have left. So ... do I risk it with Avanti, drive to Milton Keynes (there is a 2340 Euston-Northampton behind 9G70), or do I give it a miss completely and drive to Harpenden for a Thameslink to Kentish Town (which is over an hour's drive but more convenient for the show)? Decisions, decisions.
ScottGallagher
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Let's see if Avanti get the boot, hopefully not just a rumour. A rare trip to the onboard shop on one of my journeys last year led to a conversation with the lovely lady behind the counter who said since Virgin , staff were at their wits end with Avanti
Mcr Warrior
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Same here last weekend when the 18:40 from Glasgow Central and the 18:52 from Edinburgh both got binned.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Better to publish a timetable you can operate.
Hopefully this development will mean they can without cuts, though.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Yes but they basically got the NRC on the basis they had 100 odd drivers coming through training and that would allow the normal timetable to operate which it has until recently but sounds like underlying issues not resolved.
How long do you think that it takes to train a driver from scratch?
Should have happened last year, but the government knew best...
A standard class table of four will see more revenue in a day than that £600 rest day payment. It really isn't cheaper to cancel services and refund/compensate everyone.
Apologies if it’s already been answered.Not sure exactly when, but once agreed implementation is usually pretty imminent.
@Efini92 might know more.
Hardly a “huge” money pit in the context of wider government spending, and in any case is being kept so by the DfT ensuring large parts of it remain chronically unreliable, by squeezing operational expenditure, which does little to reduce fixed costs.
Roger Ford has also suggested we stop making pointless comparison to the pre Covid situation, and has stated:
Passenger revenue recovery stabilising
■ Revenue now consistently just under £10.5bn a year ■ Long-distance travel leads recovery ■ Elizabeth Line success distorting data
It’s already started, came into effect yesterday.
185
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The £600 is a bargain compared to the cancellation fee. It's also a measure of how utterly hated FirstGroup are in West Coast, having to reach such a figure for staff to agree to work a rest day. If there is a lessons learnt exercise for Mr Bailey and the DfT in this, it is next time you consider a bidder, add in the question, "Will this bidder cause World War 3 & upset all the TUPEd staff?"
dk1
Veteran Member
I detested working for National Express after they took over from GB Railways at my TOC. Money talks though and that is all soon forgotten when they crossed my palm with silver
Deafdoggie
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I've no idea. But as everyone on here says the drivers are now out driving trains, I don't see it's relevant.
I detested working for National Express after they took over from GB Railways at my TOC. Money talks though and that is all soon forgotten when they crossed my palm with silver
Exactly!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I detested working for National Express after they took over from GB Railways at my TOC. Money talks though and that is all soon forgotten when they crossed my palm with silver
In the end the reason we work is to get money, so if that's reasonably generous other things tend to fade into the background. True of most I reckon.
dk1
Veteran Member
Completely true. When it comes to money little else is of importance. No point spiting your own nose off.
HamworthyGoods
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£600 is the same rate as at the OLR TPE operation.