Paddington to Cornwall today (19/5/23)

[Ian10]

Today:
1704 Paddinton to Penzance terminating at Exeter
1804 & 1904 Paddington to Penzance both terminating at Plymouth.
Last train is now 1604.
How does that happen on a busy Friday evening especially as GWR have been performing well recently?

 

[SargeNpton]

Shortage of train crew according to the GWR website, though that does also say that the 1704 will terminate at Plymouth, not Exeter.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

Aslef overtime ban probably having an effect.

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is minor - GTR (at least the Southern and Thameslink bit) appear to be operating a strike day style service tomorrow!

 

[paul1609]

This is minor - GTR (at least the Southern and Thameslink bit) appear to be operating a strike day style service tomorrow!

Southern have been operating an even more reduced service all week on the West Coastway.

 

[Horizon22]

This used to happen regularly during the pandemic too with staff sickness. West of England services generally hit worse.

Paddington crew normally don't sign beyond Exeter and so any shortages at further West depots means the service is curtailed there or the unit doesn't get back to Paddington. And those late departures get in approaching midnight.

Journey planners still says there is a connection off the 1804 at Exeter or Plymouth towards Penzance.

 

[Parallel]

There is a connection for the 1804 at Plymouth onto the Cardiff to Penzance Castle Class departing Plymouth at 2146. No good for anyone on the 1904 though!

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Today:
1704 Paddinton to Penzance terminating at Exeter
1804 & 1904 Paddington to Penzance both terminating at Plymouth.
Last train is now 1604.
How does that happen on a busy Friday evening especially as GWR have been performing well recently?

There’s Industrial Action by ASLEF today - Action Short of a Strike (Rest day Working ban)

 

[Master29]

Seeing as both are pathed as 10 car trains on RTT which still says they are running at the moment, I wonder what the staff difference is between 9 and 10 car trains?

 

[Horizon22]

Seeing as both are pathed as 10 car trains on RTT which still says they are running at the moment, I wonder what the staff difference is between 9 and 10 car trains?

A "lead host" on the 10-car (for the front 5 car).

Probably unrelated as its an ASLEF overtime ban.

 

[Benjwri]

Seeing as both are pathed as 10 car trains on RTT which still says they are running at the moment, I wonder what the staff difference is between 9 and 10 car trains?

Only need one Train Manager, one trolley service etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2023 ==

Seeing as both are pathed as 10 car trains on RTT which still says they are running at the moment, I wonder what the staff difference is between 9 and 10 car trains?

The long form of the 1804 isn’t to do with the the staff shortage. It is shown as a 10 car on RTT, as it should run, however it is diagramed as a 9 car.

The cancellation likely won’t show on RTT till it arrives at Plymouth because RealTime Trains doesn’t have access to Darwin information, and it won’t be cancelled in TRUST till then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2023 ==

Does anyone know what the plan is tomorrow morning? I assume these services are being cancelled because as mentioned the Paddington drivers don’t sign to Penzance. Presumably this means there isn’t the manpower for ECS movements to Long Rock from Laira today, or tomorrow morning, and as the 3 early terminated services form the 3 services to Long Rock for the first 3 services out of Penzance tomorrow, should these be expected to be started late from Plymouth too?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Only need one Train Manager, one trolley service etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2023 ==


The long form of the 1804 isn’t to do with the the staff shortage. It is shown as a 10 car on RTT, as it should run, however it is diagramed as a 9 car.

The cancellation likely won’t show on RTT till it arrives at Plymouth because RealTime Trains doesn’t have access to Darwin information, and it won’t be cancelled in TRUST till then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2023 ==

Does anyone know what the plan is tomorrow morning? I assume these services are being cancelled because as mentioned the Paddington drivers don’t sign to Penzance. Presumably this means there isn’t the manpower for ECS movements to Long Rock from Laira today, or tomorrow morning, and as the 3 early terminated services form the 3 services to Long Rock for the first 3 services out of Penzance tomorrow, should these be expected to be started late from Plymouth too?

The ASLEF industrial action also continues on Saturday 20th so it’s likely there would be cancellations then anyway.

 

[irish_rail]

The fact that the 1804 and 1904 are able to run at all are testament to the fact Plymouth drivers do long runs up to Reading and Paddington, much the opposite to the way TPE services get split up into little chunks. I only hope this method of operation continues, but fear if GWR go the way of TPE, then neither of these two services would even get as far as Plymouth.....beyond Plymouth, both these are crewed by Penzance drivers, so presume this is where the shortage lies on this occasion.

 

[RPI]

This used to happen regularly during the pandemic too with staff sickness. West of England services generally hit worse.

Paddington crew normally don't sign beyond Exeter and so any shortages at further West depots means the service is curtailed there or the unit doesn't get back to Paddington. And those late departures get in approaching midnight.

Journey planners still says there is a connection off the 1804 at Exeter or Plymouth towards Penzance.

Paddington Crews generally sign to Plymouth. (Guards anyway)

 

[Master29]

The fact that the 1804 and 1904 are able to run at all are testament to the fact Plymouth drivers do long runs up to Reading and Paddington, much the opposite to the way TPE services get split up into little chunks. I only hope this method of operation continues, but fear if GWR go the way of TPE, then neither of these two services would even get as far as Plymouth.....beyond Plymouth, both these are crewed by Penzance drivers, so presume this is where the shortage lies on this occasiL

Looks like The Paddington to Penzance route might have some uncomfortable moments at times during the summer period and beyond. Perhaps more than it already does.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Looks like The Paddington to Penzance route might have some uncomfortable moments at times during the summer period and beyond. Perhaps more than it already does.

Depends if there’s an industrial dispute or not which is what has caused this evenings cancellations.

 

[Master29]

Depends if there’s an industrial dispute or not which is what has caused this evenings cancellations.

Indeed, especially if they continue.

 

[irish_rail]

Paddington Crews generally sign to Plymouth. (Guards anyway)

Paddington drivers only go as far as Exeter

 

[dk1]

Looks like those two have caused a couple of up Penzance services to start from Plymouth this morning as well probably a mixture if stock in the wrong place and again shortage of drivers are affecting GWR today as with other TOCs. This is the last day of working to rule although another is planned on 1st June.

 

[Towers]

Only need one Train Manager, one trolley service etc.

Only one of each required anyway in this instance, provided the catering colleague is of a certain grade (which the overwhelming majority are). Two Train Managers on 10 car formations is not standard practice at GWR.