Interesting i agree but again, any traincrew route learning does not come cheap. Union agreement on such changes takes time and they will not agree to minimum numbers signing any particular route. It’s often all or nothing. Such things are so deeply routed now it’s so hard to find a break through.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
I think that he means that instead of hourly Carmarthen (or beyond) to Manchester and hourly Cardiff to Birmingham, you would have two hourly each of Carmarthen to Manchester, Carmarthen to Birmingham, Cardiff to Manchester and Cardiff to Birmingham. Which does have some merit, the existing frequencies on the local journeys are all maintained (two-hourly Cardiff to Manchester has been happening anyway) and Birmingham gains a through service to Swansea (at the expense of Nottingham's Cardiff service).
It might be possible just for one link to sign it. Not all links at Cardiff Mainline sign all routes - for that matter I believe that even at a smaller depot like Carmarthen there are differences in route knowledge between links.
Presumably why XC bussed around a Wolves to Stafford block this last weekend?
I've no idea about XC's diversionary route knowledge. I would think that they need it more than most.
How are EMR going miraculously sort the train crew shortages?
Back in loco days, they diverted the trains via Nuneaton, with a run round or loco change there. It happened right up to the end of class 47 haulage. It ought to be easier with units.
Don't think so. The Penzance extensions are just being re-timed so one is in the morning with the other late afternoon and will take the path of existing GWR services.
I’m sure they have done this ad-hoc very occasionally in much more recent times, when there have been problems between Stafford and Wolverhampton.
That sounds interesting. Pre voyager XC always ran a service from the north east that arrived in Cornwall late afternoon, far more useful for tourists than arriving at 2200 after everywhere to get some food has closed and trying to navigate to find your hotel.
No drivers then no go. What other arrangements would be possible?
When you say plenty of notice are you talking about drivers giving notice? Wouldn’t that mean a huge change to their T&Cs?
Not helped today with problems with the bridge between Cardiff Central and Queen Street. GWR seem to have given up with trains terminating at Bristol TM. Not a good day to travel to south Wales.
No, I mean the operator sending out a notice at least a month ahead to the effect of "Any staff booking on for duty on Sunday 20th will earn a bonus of £x in addition to their usual Sunday payment.
Everyone has their price. The more you increase the offer, the more people you will tempt.
We get a Sunday availability payment and have just gone from time & a quarter to time and three quarters too thanks to an excellent agreement wits ASLEF. Ironically though we never have a problem covering this day at most of our depots and have committed Sundays as part of our contract so this sudden increase was surprising yet welcome.
Thanks
Why do that now though? Why not wait until XC falls under GBR and then - "Look how much better things are! Look at the improvement bringing these train companies under state control has made!"
