Route knowledge for GWR diversions via Yeovil?

[125Spotter]

There's engineering works taking place at Taunton this week and GWR are operating some services via Yeovil. It's novel to be able to ride an 802 through the single line sections (despite the often delays due to single line working) but while doing so, I can't help but wonder what preparation needs to take place for this in terms of route knowledge for drivers of the IETs? There are no regular GWR services beyond Axminster and certainly no IETs that frequent this route. Is this a route that GWR drivers sign anyway or some other special arrangements put in place for planned re-routings of this nature?

 

[MiNi]

A couple of times a year the Gwr services are diverted up 'The Mule' via Yeovil. The night sleeper sometimes goes that way aswell. Plenty of drivers sign this route,maybe more of the older drivers but enough know the route.

 

[125Spotter]

A couple of times a year the Gwr services are diverted up 'The Mule' via Yeovil. The night sleeper sometimes goes that way aswell. Plenty of drivers sign this route,maybe more of the older drivers but enough know the route.

Thanks, nothing particular special, then. This presumably explains (or at least partially motivates) the crew change observed at Castle Cary. Use the crew from Exeter that sign the route to shuttle services to/from Exeter, and position crew to CLC that then only need to have signed the regular line to Reading to take the train onwards to London.

 

[pdeaves]

There are no regular GWR services beyond Axminster

I believe at least some of the Axminsters continue empty to Yeovil.

 

[TheBigD]

The ECS off the evening Barnstaple - Axminster...

Realtime Trains | 5C90 1847 Axminster to Exeter Tmd | 01/06/2023

Real-time train running information for 5C90 1847 departure from Axminster to Exeter Tmd on 01/06/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The schedule gets amended as required so can return via Yeovil if required.

 

[irish_rail]

These trains are crewed entirely by Exeter HSS drivers of which there are 30 odd in total. When you bear in mind a good proportion will be rest day / annual leave / sick / off driving for whatever reason and then you see why there is such a strain when Yeovil diversions occur. And yet still Exeter drivers are being sent to Cornwall this week whilst Plymouth drivers sit around doing not alot!!!!

 

[125Spotter]

The ECS off the evening Barnstaple - Axminster...

Realtime Trains | 5C90 1847 Axminster to Exeter Tmd | 01/06/2023

Real-time train running information for 5C90 1847 departure from Axminster to Exeter Tmd on 01/06/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The schedule gets amended as required so can return via Yeovil if required.

So a possibly stupid and naïve question from this railway enthusiast and I suspect this has been covered before – do drivers regularly move around between different types of traction? Otherwise the IET drivers would never operate the Sprinters that work that ECS movement to maintain route knowledge. Or is it just based on the periodic diversions for IETs to maintain? And presumably each traction requires separate training resulting in there being a market for most efficiently using drivers on the traction for which they're trained?

I always assumed this was similar to the airline industry where drivers are trained on a particular type and then typically do not move to other types unless there is a type equivalency. But perhaps it's more like a road driving licence – types and routes are cumulative and not dissimilar to being certified in a car, then with a trailer, then a PSV etc.?

 

[banjo125]

So a possibly stupid and naïve question from this railway enthusiast and I suspect this has been covered before – do drivers regularly move around between different types of traction? Otherwise the IET drivers would never operate the Sprinters that work that ECS movement to maintain route knowledge. Or is it just based on the periodic diversions for IETs to maintain? And presumably each traction requires separate training resulting in there being a market for most efficiently using drivers on the traction for which they're trained?

I always assumed this was similar to the airline industry where drivers are trained on a particular type and then typically do not move to other types unless there is a type equivalency. But perhaps it's more like a road driving licence – types and routes are cumulative and not dissimilar to being certified in a car, then with a trailer, then a PSV etc.?

Safety critical staff (Drivers & Guards), sign certain traction (so are classed as competent to operate certain traction), they also have route knowledge, & that's what identifys them as competent to operate over a route, so long as both parts of the "jigsaw" fit then that's what matters for operating services.

 

[fgwrich]

The IETs have certainly been cleared for this route for some years now too, I passed a few on the last HST diversions along The Mule in 2019. However, as I found out both then and now, the line at the best of times is subject to a considerable number of knock on delays (particularly with 2 TSRs between Salisbury and Yeovil) and it doesn't take much to find yourself looped for some time. Eg, on last weekends trip to Exeter, we found ourselves held back at Honition (10 late already) to wait for the up 159 which had just departed Exeter St Davids - End result, 40 late for us and a 2 minute turn around for the 159! Something really, really needs to be done about adding another dynamic loop between Pinhoe and Chard Junction!

 

[125Spotter]

The IETs have certainly been cleared for this route for some years now too, I passed a few on the last HST diversions along The Mule in 2019. However, as I found out both then and now, the line at the best of times is subject to a considerable number of knock on delays (particularly with 2 TSRs between Salisbury and Yeovil) and it doesn't take much to find yourself looped for some time. Eg, on last weekends trip to Exeter, we found ourselves held back at Honition (10 late already) to wait for the up 159 which had just departed Exeter St Davids - End result, 40 late for us and a 2 minute turn around for the 159! Something really, really needs to be done about adding another dynamic loop between Pinhoe and Chard Junction!

Yes I've experienced this too, on Waterloo services and this morning on the diverted IET service to Paddington while we awaited a late running down Waterloo and down diverted IET. After a brief stop it appears some deft work from the signallers helped reduce the delay by calling my service forward to wait in the loop at Chard (originally due to pass around Axminster) – consequently reducing the initial delay to a slightly more acceptable 14 minutes on arrival in London. But I agree, personal experience on the Waterloo services by me and family has resulted in perhaps 50% of journeys travelled having a delay repay claim in the last year or so.

 

[Class 170101]

Previously before the Axminster loop was created GWR had run of the whole route and SWR withdrew wast of Yeovil as I recall, on diversion days.