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It is incredibly sad. Andy Cooper was not perfect - the lack of driver training school at his direction is having serious consequences now. But the real culture issues started when Cooper left. Some Managers were appointed who had no idea of how to run a railway, not even having a good record...

Not an inaccurate assessment. Much would be solved by having sufficient rolling stock to meet demand.

CrossCountry’s problems were rooted deep, long before Covid compounded them. There is just no excusing the culture that has been created there. Joyner’s departure should only be the start, there are several others who need to follow him out of the exit door. Starting with HR and the entire...

It’s like he has the reverse-midas touch. The acid test for someone in a leadership role is did they leave things in a better state than they found them in? It’s impossible to argue that Joyner did that. When you look at the state of the XC Operation: - Traincrew shortages. - Stock shortages...

Most CrossCountry staff seem delighted by this development, which perhaps tells you all you need to know? Whatever happened seemed very abrupt - it was a matter of weeks ago that he was ‘re-imagining the train service to Cardiff’ or some such nonsense (just run trains FFS, without the word salad...

The basic gist is that the RMT have a huge fight on their hands. As it stands, I believe they are something that rhymes with ‘butterly ducked’! The latest missive from Mick Lynch suggests RDG plan to implement reforms without negotiating with RMT - it’s a like it or lump it scenario. A...

The political horseshoe theory is real.

I mean, what does he expect? Russia invades a sovereign nation on the edge of Europe, and the rest of the world stands idly by and lets him get on with it? Make no mistake, if the world hadn’t got involved now, Putin would’ve had aimed at other European nations next. Still might. It’s...

It really does scare me that we have people so devoid of the ability to think for themselves that they blindly repeat Putin propaganda and think they are on the right side of the argument. It’s truly face-palm inducing stuff. What next? Pol Pot was just misunderstood? Chairman Mao is a hero?

How the hell is NATO to blame for Putin’s imperialism?! Jesus Christ, these people walk among us…

As I understand it, there is a requirement to train drivers for New St at the very least, so if you’re after a job there, then I expect it will still happen.

I must say I’m bewildered by the outpouring on social media over this. How many people actually watch C4?! Everybody seems convinced privatisation will ruin it, but I’ve yet to see compelling evidence as to why that should be the case. Is it just an automatic assumption that Murdoch is going to...

As I understand it, 2023’s recruitment drive is under review. A lot can happen between now and then in terms of pax demand driving service reinstatement, but they have recruited in locations where there isn’t really the work to justify the need, resulting in paying people to be at home. No...

Meanwhile, having turned catering into a form of Russian Roulette, Tom Joyner has at least managed to appoint yet another Director today, so all is not lost!:lol:

That would imply an accidental cock-up, but one that could be foreseen. This is more of a deliberate act.

A member of catering crew who works there quoted the new XC Catering chief as saying ‘we’re not sure of the strategy for catering going forward as yet; we’ll see who we have left after Voluntary Severance and go from there’! Read into that what you will.

Not really; they were instructed to lower the wage bill and they have done so. Catering on XC is believed to be heavily loss-making, after all. The DfT/Treasury call the tune nowadays - and they really don’t care if Bert and Ada don’t get a cuppa/biscuit in First Class. Sad but true.

Try CrossCountry; they accept national standard passes…

Utterly gutted by this, as are many at XC. All the times I spoke to him, and I never knew he was a fellow avgeek‍ He was one of the very best, great customer service, always a friendly word for passing crews and customers alike. We shall miss him.

Derby drivers sign 22x/HST, no 170 work. Voyagers are all on CZ. Derby men (for it is an all-male depot!) sign Brizzle-Newdastle with diversions including S&K, Beighton, Erewash, Leicester, Worcester, Lichfield, I think Wakey-Donny and perhaps even via Lydney/Chepstow to Newport and back via...