Chiltern London-Oxford Reduced Services

[JustPassingBy]

Chiltern are operating a reduced service yesterday and today between London and Oxford / "short notice cancellations". Does anybody know the cause of this? Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Oct 2024 ==

My guess is staff shortages given this is school half-term week?

 

[Taplowgreen]

Most likely staff shortages yes. GWR was the usual shambles on Sunday and pretty awful yesterday in that regard.

Seems basic workforce management is lacking in respect of school holidays.

 

[Taunton]

Seems basic workforce management is lacking in respect of school holidays.

Or a trend of more recent times, HR "managers" who strut their stuff and insist that holiday allowances can no longer be taken forward from one calendar year to the next. As a result the operating side gets frustrated where this former practice is withdrawn, and they can no longer realistically deny leave requests after a certain number have made them, as people try and use up their allowances. Impacts the Christmas period as well.

 

[riceuten]

Or a trend of more recent times, HR "managers" who strut their stuff and insist that holiday allowances can no longer be taken forward from one calendar year to the next. As a result the operating side gets frustrated where this former practice is withdrawn, and they can no longer realistically deny leave requests after a certain number have made them, as people try and use up their allowances. Impacts the Christmas period as well.

This is so true, not just on the railways. I was talking with an RMT comrade recently and he was refused leave carry over last year, but was then refused leave (to use his allocation up before the 1st April) - this was in December.

 

[sammyg901]

I thought it was curious it was a set of off peak Oxfords that were cancelled each day. Presumably diagrams are more complex than that so presumably that has required a lot of swapping around duties rather than cancelling entire diagrams

 

[JustPassingBy]

If the issue is available driver shortage, guessing they have prioritised the peaks.
If there is anyone here familiar with the situation (i.e. is it driver shortage?) would be good to know.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Are any of Chiltern's drivers being 'borrowed' from the already stretched pool for EWR testing/training?

 

[Cjay144]

It’s a fuelling problem, nothing to do with staff shortages

 

[JustPassingBy]

Thanks for clarifying.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Oct 2024 ==

Is this a problem at the Aylesbury depot again?

 

[TheBadger]

Thanks for clarifying.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Oct 2024 ==

Is this a problem at the Aylesbury depot again?

Yes. Restricted fuelling capacity at Aylesbury depot.

 

[sammyg901]

Interesting, that makes more sense! Not ideal with it being half term week for many - saw a southbound service reported as full and standing at Warwick Parkway!

 

[43066]

This is so true, not just on the railways. I was talking with an RMT comrade recently and he was refused leave carry over last year, but was then refused leave (to use his allocation up before the 1st April) - this was in December.

Of course in that situation people will often simply go sick, so it’s a counterproductive approach.

 

[12LDA28C]

Are any of Chiltern's drivers being 'borrowed' from the already stretched pool for EWR testing/training?

EWR testing was last week and there is no training planned until Class 196 traction training, so no.