New South Western franchise: Awarded to First/MTR

[Wolfie]

This has the potential to be really interesting. If SWR does indeed guarantee a second person on the train, as in, it will not operate if the second man is not there, just as currently, but the driver operates the doors... will the RMT still complain? If that's the only change in the role of the guard, then there will no longer be any argument about assisting disabled passengers or having two persons in an emergency.

I agree albeit there are also the safety concerns expressed. I expect an issue, as has been seen elsewhere, would also be the length of validity of the assurance ie does it only last to franchise-end?

 

[Quickthorn]

This has the potential to be really interesting. If SWR does indeed guarantee a second person on the train, as in, it will not operate if the second man is not there, just as currently, but the driver operates the doors... will the RMT still complain? If that's the only change in the role of the guard, then there will no longer be any argument about assisting disabled passengers or having two persons in an emergency.

The quote from the spokesman was “This is why we will always plan to retain two people on our services.”

They choose their words very carefully.

 

[30909]

Deleted

 

[30909]

A journey check is available, just not a link off the website
https://www.journeycheck.com/swr/?

Also 13 stations are having gatelines added, does anyone know which stations these could be?

Ah! thanks much more useful to me

 

[Kite159]

A journey check is available, just not a link off the website
https://www.journeycheck.com/swr/?

Also 13 stations are having gatelines added, does anyone know which stations these could be?

Thanks

At a completely random guess for the stations to gain gatelines (on the theory of passenger numbers):
Poole
Southampton Airport
Weymouth
Andover
Fratton
Berrylands

 

[Suraggu]

Thanks

At a completely random guess for the stations to gain gatelines (on the theory of passenger numbers):
Poole
Southampton Airport
Weymouth
Andover
Fratton
Berrylands

That is going to be an interesting setup at Andover if this happens.

 

[Kite159]

That is going to be an interesting setup at Andover if this happens.

Just thinking about it, side gates closed during the day with passengers having to travel via the ticket office into a layout similar to Slough/Newbury, maybe with remote gates for the car-park.

 

[Harbouring]

Thanks

At a completely random guess for the stations to gain gatelines (on the theory of passenger numbers):
Poole
Southampton Airport
Weymouth
Andover
Fratton
Berrylands

I can see why barriers at Fratton would be very attractive to all parties But I do question whether there is enough room, there is only a double door from ticket office to platform. Plus there are the issues with the old over bridge exits/entries. I do agree with the premise but it would need a lot of work.

 

[spark001uk]

Any SWR staff got their uniforms yet? All I've seen today is swt uniforms with a SWR orange vest thrown over them!

 

[Monty]

Any SWR staff got their uniforms yet? All I've seen today is swt uniforms with a SWR orange vest thrown over them!

We have been told it could be a while before we see a full uniform roll out, up to 18 months. Thoses vests are probably all you are likely to see for some time (apart from a lanyard and perhaps a tie).

 

[moley]

I can see why barriers at Fratton would be very attractive to all parties But I do question whether there is enough room, there is only a double door from ticket office to platform. Plus there are the issues with the old over bridge exits/entries. I do agree with the premise but it would need a lot of work.

There are two double doors, one opposite the entrance to the ticket office and one opposite the entrance to the toilets. The original idea was that the gate line would go across the ticket hall between the two and the former would be shut when the gates are in use.

The design required that platform access from the older footbridge was closed when the gates were in use.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

We have been told it could be a while before we see a full uniform roll out, up to 18 months. Thoses vests are probably all you are likely to see for some time (apart from a lanyard and perhaps a tie).

As staff are involved in designing the new uniforms, they will probably just keep the old SWT until the new SWR ones are decided.

 

[pompeyfan]

Personally I think SWR could be playing a very tactile game, they have to opportunity to say we WILL have 2 train crew, the driver and someone who is competent of XY & Z while we are the custodians of this franchise, but they choose not to. I suppose it's possible that even the very top haven't yet made a decision.

 

[3141]

Glad to hear that! I was just wondering whether the jelly beans kind of supercharged staff at the opening of a new franchise!

 

[AlexNL]

I suppose it's possible that even the very top haven't yet made a decision.

Didn't they recently say that the new train fleet might bring new ways of operating the doors (e.g. driver releasing) but that they don't know yet what they want to do?

On their staff site there's this FAQ:

Will you be introducing DOO/DCO?
Our bid proposals do not rely on driver controlled operation, and it was not mandated in the invitation to tender. Any changes we might make would be subject to consultation in the normal way, as you would expect.

Maybe RMT missed this question?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I've been out and about on SWT trains today.

I think I may have ended up in some footage filmed for the RMT action described above, there was someone being interviewed (or recorded) on camera stood outside Waterloo discussing the usual nationalisation v. privatisation debate.

99% of the SWT branding is still about, I don't think I saw the new logo or theme once; though I did notice a platform assistant at Waterloo wearing the new hi-vi previously shown (presumably not exactly the same one!), and the announcements and screens did reference SWR.

The new timetables and other paper literature were being put on the racks at Waterloo this morning; they are in keeping with the grey, black and white theme and show just a rehashed route map from the old SWT covers. The inside has been recoloured too but looks seriously good for it. I dread to think how much it cost to reprint all 60 odd forms of SWT timetables for the sake of three months...

 

[Dougal2345]

At a completely random guess for the stations to gain gatelines (on the theory of passenger numbers):
Poole

Poole would need a lot of new fencing on the up platform for that to work...

 

[Kite159]

Poole would need a lot of new fencing on the up platform for that to work...

Have you seen the lovely new fencing at Newton Abbot to limit fare dodgers from jumping over it?

Only time will tell which stations get barriers. London Road Guildford might also be a potential one due to the fare dodgers jumping off early

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Just received the jelly beans... does anyone know whether its suitable for vegetarians? (or whether jelly beans are usually suitable for vegetarians?)

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Just thinking about it, side gates closed during the day with passengers having to travel via the ticket office into a layout similar to Slough/Newbury, maybe with remote gates for the car-park.

Which side gate at Slough? I thought the barriers just remain open, or at least the entrance from platform 5 is like this.

 

[Andyh82]

The new timetables and other paper literature were being put on the racks at Waterloo this morning; they are in keeping with the grey, black and white theme and show just a rehashed route map from the old SWT covers. The inside has been recoloured too but looks seriously good for it. I dread to think how much it cost to reprint all 60 odd forms of SWT timetables for the sake of three months...

That's something that doesn't always happen, they often use the old ones until the next timetable change.

But in this case, SWT are currently using the Waterloo blockade timetables, so they'll need new ones for next week onwards anyway.

At least they are still doing proper full sized paper timetables.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

That's something that doesn't always happen, they often use the old ones until the next timetable change.

But in this case, SWT are currently using the Waterloo blockade timetables, so they'll need new ones for next week onwards anyway.

At least they are still doing proper full sized paper timetables.

That is true; I had forgotten that the timetable booklets from May only ran until August anyway.

 

[infobleep]

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tra...nion-warn-of-industrial-dispute-a3616386.html

Andy Mellors, managing director of South Western Railway, said: “I am disappointed that despite our reassurances about retaining two people on our services, the RMT has gone ahead with this protest.”

Commuters face increased disruption at Waterloo from Thursday due to engineering delays caused by last week’s train derailment. Platforms 1-14 will be out of use throughout the Bank Holiday weekend."

I don't want to turn this into a discussion on DOO but I just want to state the following:
"I am disappointed that there have been no reassurances about retaining a guard on South Western Railway services, from Andy Mellors, managing director; FirstGroup or MTR. I am not surprised RMT has gone ahead with this protest."

 

[spark001uk]

Website is still a bit slapped together. Looked on the SWR smartcard info page, nicely laid out with a photo of one, etc. Click the link, and it takes you to an old SWT season ticket page. At the bottom of which, it says to order your new SWR smartcard click here. So you do that, and it just takes you right back to the SWR smartcard info page again! If I were a little more dense I'd probably still be going round in circles!!

 

[jon0844]

The RMT is perhaps, quite rightly (looking from its point of view) making it clear from day one that any changes to plans will be met with lots of resistance.

I remember the RMT threatening strike action ahead of the Olympics shortly after we won the games.. in 2005! Seven years before the event.

Then the RMT was making it quite clear what it wanted and making it clear what might happen if it didn't get what it wanted.

 

[Goldfish62]

I've been out and about on SWT trains today.

I think I may have ended up in some footage filmed for the RMT action described above, there was someone being interviewed (or recorded) on camera stood outside Waterloo discussing the usual nationalisation v. privatisation debate.

99% of the SWT branding is still about, I don't think I saw the new logo or theme once; though I did notice a platform assistant at Waterloo wearing the new hi-vi previously shown (presumably not exactly the same one!), and the announcements and screens did reference SWR.

The new timetables and other paper literature were being put on the racks at Waterloo this morning; they are in keeping with the grey, black and white theme and show just a rehashed route map from the old SWT covers. The inside has been recoloured too but looks seriously good for it. I dread to think how much it cost to reprint all 60 odd forms of SWT timetables for the sake of three months...

But even if it was still SWT they would have had to print new timetables as the previous ones were dated until 4 August. In any case some times have changed. There are additional peak Reading services, for example.

 

[TEW]

The RMT is perhaps, quite rightly (looking from its point of view) making it clear from day one that any changes to plans will be met with lots of resistance.

I remember the RMT threatening strike action ahead of the Olympics shortly after we won the games.. in 2005! Seven years before the event.

Then the RMT was making it quite clear what it wanted and making it clear what might happen if it didn't get what it wanted.

It's a tactic that worked quite well on Scotrail and GWR. There they had a few strikes very early on, but then things were resolved pretty quickly, and in both cases deals were agreed that were pretty good from the RMT's perspective. Scotrail and GWR are relevant examples because in both cases it seems the franchise agreements did not mandate DOO, and the government weren't pushing the operators to introduce it. SWR have said previously that their plans do not rely on DOO. So a few strikes early on, with the threat of long term, disruptive action and you would think that the RMT will achieve a similarly good deal.

 

[[.n]]

Just received the jelly beans... does anyone know whether its suitable for vegetarians? (or whether jelly beans are usually suitable for vegetarians?)

Generally jelly beans have gelatain in them (derived from animals), so not usually suitable for veggies

 

[theironroad]

It's a tactic that worked quite well on Scotrail and GWR. There they had a few strikes very early on, but then things were resolved pretty quickly, and in both cases deals were agreed that were pretty good from the RMT's perspective. Scotrail and GWR are relevant examples because in both cases it seems the franchise agreements did not mandate DOO, and the government weren't pushing the operators to introduce it. SWR have said previously that their plans do not rely on DOO. So a few strikes early on, with the threat of long term, disruptive action and you would think that the RMT will achieve a similarly good deal.

What was the end result of the gwr dispute? I recall the gwr guards striking over the planned introduction of new IEP trains but not sure whether someone deal was done.

 

[TEW]

What was the end result of the gwr dispute? I recall the gwr guards striking over the planned introduction of new IEP trains but not sure whether someone deal was done.

A deal has been agreed. There will be no extension of DOO beyond the current boundaries. (Oxford, Didcot and Bedwyn) IEP may operate DOO on Oxford and Bedwyn services, but a guard will be provided for the full length of the journey on other routes. That means services on the Cotswold Line which currently operate DOO between London and Oxford when formed of a Turbo will have a guard throughout. I believe the system employed will be driver door release and guard close. GWR have also dropped their plans for DOO on Turbos which are being moved West.