Scotrail collects 2nd improvement notice

[Mingulay]

Make sure you put a claim in for it.



Well, he's the MSP for Falkirk West - you'd hope his own constituents were expressing direct concern!

Perhaps it's time that a crossover was installed just to the East of Edinburgh Park and Edinburgh Gateway?

That way, at times of severe disruption, services could be turned back there with onward connection by tram?

I will get a delay and pay for my ticket if I do the paperwork. I will have to take the taxis on the chin. No chance!! That said they never processed my last claim fully claiming the form was incorrectly conpleted . Bad faith in the delay and pay team I think.

I don’t have a smart card but I am told it’s harder to get a refund using that ticketing? That was a complaint I heard yesterday. I would steer clear of anything with the words smart in it tho!

In my experience your MSP is largely ineffective or disinterested and you get a reply from a junior TS administrator if you write or complain.

I sense Transport brief is a poison chalice so they are just taking a turn at being minister . They have a growing poor record on transport issues now .

 

[Chrism20]

Is it time to split the alliance and go back to ScotRail and Network Rail being separate entities with individual bosses?

When it originally happened I didn't think it was the right time to do it given the amount of infrastructure work that was ahead combined with the rolling stock changes etc.

Separate teams heading things up may actually help move forward here.

 

[Mingulay]

Is it time to split the alliance and go back to ScotRail and Network Rail being separate entities with individual bosses?

When it originally happened I didn't think it was the right time to do it given the amount of infrastructure work that was ahead combined with the rolling stock changes etc.

Separate teams heading things up may actually help move forward here.

That feels counter intuitive to me but I don’t know enough to have a firm view one way or another

 

[Highlandspring]

The Alliance is more or less in name only away from the Operations side anyway. There is some good joined up stuff happening in Operations though.

 

[kilonewton]

I don’t have a smart card but I am told it’s harder to get a refund using that ticketing? That was a complaint I heard yesterday. I would steer clear of anything with the words smart in it tho!

On the contrary, I’ve found getting delay repay very easy using my Smart Card. Only once it’s been over a week for the money to be back in my account, and that was due to me having to appeal the original decision, and they were correct in initially denying the claim, as the claim form only allows for one reason, and my delay was due to two.
The online claim form is quite simple in my opinion.

 

[Dr Hoo]

The Alliance is more or less in name only away from the Operations side anyway. There is some good joined up stuff happening in Operations though.

As a former ScotRail manager myself (but long moved back down south) it would be great to hear about this good stuff in Operations. Some local contributors on this thread don’t seem to be seeing it for whatever reason.
So please tell us more.

 

[alangla]

Spotted this on a reply to ScotRail’s Twitter feed - https://www.sorryfortheinconvenience.co.uk/scotrail

 

[Deltic1961]

4,420 apologies this year. Average 55 per day.

The word "sorry" loses it's impact when used constantly with no improvement in service levels.

 

[snookertam]

A2I is a great project in theory, but given years of poor service on that line (even going back to First) many people have literally walked away. Great having a redoubled line and all that but there are far too many other variables causing issues. The end customer doesn't care about all the excuses. Many people in Dyce where I live (and also Inverurie) won't touch the train service with a bargepole now.

Every time I complained to my MSP, I got the same canned were investing in the best ever railway blah blah response. It's as iff they stupidly thought spending £170m would magically cure all the problems overnight

Just out of interest, does the A2I project involve removing the absolute block (ie. old fashioned) signalling? Because if not, there won't be any great improvements in service no matter how much extra track is put down.

 

[Deltic1961]

I believe it is new doubled track and digital signal replacement. The signals between Aberdeen and Inverurie are ancient and all rusted from what I have seen walking beside the track so well overdue to be replaced.

 

[GusB]

Just out of interest, does the A2I project involve removing the absolute block (ie. old fashioned) signalling? Because if not, there won't be any great improvements in service no matter how much extra track is put down.

There's only one section of Absolute Block on A2I - Kennethmont to Insch, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure someone in the know will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's tokenless block from Inverurie to Kennethmont and then again from Insch to Elgin.

 

[route:oxford]

I will get a delay and pay for my ticket if I do the paperwork. I will have to take the taxis on the chin. No chance!! That said they never processed my last claim fully claiming the form was incorrectly conpleted . Bad faith in the delay and pay team I think.

Put in a claim for the Taxi, if refused small claims court.

They'll protest and whine, but even though a SCC ruling isn't case law and doesn't set a precedent, they don't like it and will pay up reluctantly.

 

[Highlandspring]

Currently:
TCB Aberdeen - Dyce
ScR Tokenless Dyce - Inverurie - Insch
AB Insch - Kennethmont
ScR Tokenless Kennethmont - Huntly - Keith - Elgin
TCB Elgin - Forres - Nairn - Inverness

Once Kittybrewster to Inverurie redoubling is commissioned Aberdeen to Inverurie becomes TCB throughout with the former Dyce and Inverurie areas of control transferring to Inverness SC.

 

[Esker-pades]

Currently:
TCB Aberdeen - Dyce
ScR Tokenless Dyce - Inverurie - Insch
AB Insch - Kennethmont
ScR Tokenless Kennethmont - Huntly - Keith - Elgin
TCB Elgin - Forres - Nairn - Inverness

Once Kittybrewster to Inverurie redoubling is commissioned Aberdeen to Inverurie becomes TCB throughout with the former Dyce and Inverurie areas of control transferring to Inverness SC.

Sorry, what do those three acronyms stand for?

 

[GusB]

Currently:
TCB Aberdeen - Dyce
ScR Tokenless Dyce - Inverurie - Insch
AB Insch - Kennethmont
ScR Tokenless Kennethmont - Huntly - Keith - Elgin
TCB Elgin - Forres - Nairn - Inverness

Once Kittybrewster to Inverurie redoubling is commissioned Aberdeen to Inverurie becomes TCB throughout with the former Dyce and Inverurie areas of control transferring to Inverness SC.

Ah, thanks for the correction. I forgot Dyce - Inverurie was still Tokenless.

Sorry, what do those three acronyms stand for?

TCB - track circuit block
AB - absolute block
ScR - Scottish Region

 

[ld0595]

I believe it is new doubled track and digital signal replacement. The signals between Aberdeen and Inverurie are ancient and all rusted from what I have seen walking beside the track so well overdue to be replaced.

It seems like every other day there is a signalling failure between Aberdeen and Inverurie - about time.

 

[Esker-pades]

TCB - track circuit block
AB - absolute block
ScR - Scottish Region

Brilliant. Thanks very much.

What does "Scottish Region" actually mean in signalling terms?

 

[Deesiderails]

I've been getting a couple of issues with ScotRail recently with canceled trains on the line from Dundee to Aberdeen. There were also issues with signals etc, which more of Network Rail's problem. Also, I do think that they should have kept more 170s in case of any issues with overcrowding, football events are an example of the mass overcrowding the trains get. I mean there is no way they're able to fit hundreds of people on just 4-5 mk3 carriages it's going to be a total disaster.

 

[Highlandspring]

What does "Scottish Region" actually mean in signalling terms?

It differentiates the system from the later Western Region Tokenless system which is very different in almost every way.

 

[cb a1]

I've been getting a couple of issues with ScotRail recently with canceled trains on the line from Dundee to Aberdeen. There were also issues with signals etc, which more of Network Rail's problem. Also, I do think that they should have kept more 170s in case of any issues with overcrowding, football events are an example of the mass overcrowding the trains get. I mean there is no way they're able to fit hundreds of people on just 4-5 mk3 carriages it's going to be a total disaster.

Can you explain your reasoning a bit more? AIUI, the mk3 trains are bigger than the 3-car 170's that they're replacing so, compared to what was there, trains should be less crowded shouldn't they?

 

[Deltic1961]

ScotRail unveils customer service improvement plan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47669506

They've leased 3 extra trains. That's going to fix it all then.

 

[Altnabreac]

ScotRail unveils customer service improvement plan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47669506

They've leased 3 extra trains. That's going to fix it all then.

The problems have never really been a lack of trains under lease. The problems have been either the leased trains haven't been built yet, you can't see out of the windscreens even if they have been built, they haven't been refurbished yet or if they have been built / refurbished they can't be driven by staff who haven't yet had enough training.

Training more drivers is much more likely to resolve the issues than leasing a few trains but of course that takes time to have an effect.

 

[Stopper]

How much will this actually solve? ScotRail have proven they are not very good at delivering promises so I think we all have the right to be uncertain about this latest one.

 

[47421]

Full plan available here https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...ervice_performance_remedial_plan_redacted.pdf

 

[Deltic1961]

Interesting read. Thanks for that.

 

[47421]

page 8 para 3.1.2 they will recruit 55 new drivers, 30 conductors, but per page 25 drivers not available to operate services until May 2020, conductors July 2019
page 12 para 3.2.4 and page 26 point 12, loco hauled Fife services to continue to May 2020 with option to extend to Dec 2020

 

[Stopper]

All of that is good in the long term, but aside from blaming everyone else (as usual) in the report, they should take a look at their handling of situations when things go wrong. Departure boards showing incorrect information, last minute cancellations and a lack of communication will not be solved by employing more conductors and drivers.

Their Dec 2018 timetable change was a shambles and it resulted in an even more shambolic month or two, yet they aren’t changing much over the next two changes which has resulted in myself and many other walking away from the railway.

ScotRail will obviously need to be helped by future infrastructure changes and late stock arriving to solve the huge overcrowding issues on the E-G, SDA & Fife which is where I give them a little bit of sympathy. However their bizarre new timetable reminds me instantly why I do not feel sorry for them.

 

[Deltic1961]

They changed a 7pm train at out station that was constantly cancelled (late arriving from Edinburgh most days so skipped the last two stations) with a local service and now they just cancel that instead due to "train faults"

 

[Mingulay]

How much will this actually solve? ScotRail have proven they are not very good at delivering promises so I think we all have the right to be uncertain about this latest one.

Whilst I expect TS and our dim witted politicians to be hoodwinked. I had rather assumed our press would have more investigative journalistic prowess not to let Hynes off so lightly so unchallenged


Questions to answer

1 why are your drivers leaving? Poor pay poor conditions ?
2 how many new drivers net of leaving staff?
3 why have scotrail Abellio been so unprepared for your new trains so long anticipated?
4 How long till you will have zero cancellations for reasons of no staff available? Date please?
5 why have we endured so many signal failures?
6 when will the refurbished HST fleet be delivered?

In the absence of an effective press and a government with a clear sense of duty. I pose these questions to Scotrail and Mr Hynes in particular ?

 

[380101]

Whilst I expect TS and our dim witted politicians to be hoodwinked. I had rather assumed our press would have more investigative journalistic prowess not to let Hynes off so lightly so unchallenged


Questions to answer

1 why are your drivers leaving? Poor pay poor conditions ?
2 how many new drivers net of leaving staff?
3 why have scotrail Abellio been so unprepared for your new trains so long anticipated?
4 How long till you will have zero cancellations for reasons of no staff available? Date please?
5 why have we endured so many signal failures?
6 when will the refurbished HST fleet be delivered?

In the absence of an effective press and a government with a clear sense of duty. I pose these questions to Scotrail and Mr Hynes in particular ?

I can offer an answer for question 1, but not the others. Qualified driver's are leaving ScotRail to go to Virgin WC, LNER, TPE and X-Country plus various FOCs because of the lower pay and intense workloads/job content within ScotRail - more so in the Strathclyde area. DOO drivers in some depots have over 150 stops a day with ScotRail for approx. 48k basic a year and have moved to TOCs with maybe 10 stops a day for approx. 65k+ basic. One depot alone loses 20+ drivers in May to Trans Pennine.